Difference between revisions of "Satsuma students"

From SamuraiWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
 
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
 
Nineteen young men from [[Satsuma han]] were among the first Japanese to study overseas in the West, departing Japan in [[1865]], a year before the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] lifted bans on overseas travel. A number of these students went on to become prominent figures in the [[Meiji government]], or in [[Meiji period]] society otherwise.
 
Nineteen young men from [[Satsuma han]] were among the first Japanese to study overseas in the West, departing Japan in [[1865]], a year before the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] lifted bans on overseas travel. A number of these students went on to become prominent figures in the [[Meiji government]], or in [[Meiji period]] society otherwise.
  
The students, aided by the Scotsman [[Thomas Glover]], claimed to be merely traveling to the [[Koshiki Islands]] just off the coast of Kyushu, when they departed from Hashima (an area in Kushikino city, on the Kyushu mainland<!--串木野 羽島-->). In fact, they left Japan entirely, arriving in Singapore twenty days later; 46 days after that, they arrived in London. All adopted new names while overseas, but most are known today by their "real" names.
+
The students, aided by the Scotsman [[Thomas Glover]], claimed to be merely traveling to the [[Koshiki Islands]] just off the coast of Kyushu, when they departed from Hashima (an area in Kushikino city, on the Kyushu mainland<!--串木野 羽島-->). In fact, they left Japan entirely, arriving in Singapore twenty days later; 46 days after that, they arrived in London. All adopted new names while overseas, but most are known today by their "real" names. While in London, they studied at University College London (UCL) under chemistry professor Alexander Williamson, as the [[Choshu Five|Chôshû Five]] had before them, beginning in [[1863]]. Williamson also arranged for the Satsuma students to visit industrial cities in the UK, to study railroad engineering, shipbuilding, surveying, and other industrial and technical fields.<ref>Plaques on-site at University College London.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/25574315256/sizes/k/]</ref>
 +
 
 +
The mission was led by 34-year-old [[Niiro Hisanobu]] and 31-year-old [[Godai Tomoatsu]], and included a set of three brothers: 28-year-old [[Machida Hisanari]], 19-year-old [[Machida Sanetsumi]], and 15-year-old [[Machida Seijiro|Machida Seijirô]].
  
 
The students returned to Japan with examples of numerous new technologies, including spinning machines, and also made arrangements for Satsuma to show a pavilion, separate from that of the shogunate, at the [[1867 Paris World's Fair]]. Members of the mission also arranged to gain Britain's support for Satsuma in the upcoming [[Meiji Restoration|rebellion against the shogunate]].
 
The students returned to Japan with examples of numerous new technologies, including spinning machines, and also made arrangements for Satsuma to show a pavilion, separate from that of the shogunate, at the [[1867 Paris World's Fair]]. Members of the mission also arranged to gain Britain's support for Satsuma in the upcoming [[Meiji Restoration|rebellion against the shogunate]].
 +
 +
Several members of the mission, including [[Nakamura Hironari]], [[Samejima Hisanobu]], and [[Yoshida Kiyonari]], later went on to serve as Japanese ambassadors to Western countries, while others, including [[Mori Arinori]] and [[Matsuki Koan|Terashima Munenori]] became top-ranking government ministers. A number of the students went on to study at Rutgers University in New Jersey, or at other institutions in the United States. [[Hatakeyama Yoshinari]] and Machida Hisanari became the first heads of the institutions that would later develop into the [[University of Tokyo]] and [[Tokyo National Museum]], respectively.
  
 
==Members of the Mission==
 
==Members of the Mission==
(listed along with age at the time of the mission, and later historical significance)
+
(listed along with age at the time of the mission, and notes)
 
*[[Niiro Hisanobu]] (34) - leader of the mission
 
*[[Niiro Hisanobu]] (34) - leader of the mission
 
*[[Godai Tomoatsu]] (31)
 
*[[Godai Tomoatsu]] (31)
 
*[[Hatakeyama Yoshinari]] (23) - first president of [[University of Tokyo]]
 
*[[Hatakeyama Yoshinari]] (23) - first president of [[University of Tokyo]]
 +
*[[Hori Takayuki]] - from [[Nagasaki]]
 
*[[Ichiki Kazuhiko]] (24) - first Japanese to graduate from Annapolis
 
*[[Ichiki Kazuhiko]] (24) - first Japanese to graduate from Annapolis
 
*[[Machida Hisanari]] (28) - first director of [[Tokyo National Museum]]
 
*[[Machida Hisanari]] (28) - first director of [[Tokyo National Museum]]
 +
*[[Machida Sanetsumi]] (19)
 +
*[[Machida Seijiro|Machida Seijirô]] (15)
 
*[[Matsuki Koan|Matsuki Kôan]] (34)(aka Terashima Munenori)
 
*[[Matsuki Koan|Matsuki Kôan]] (34)(aka Terashima Munenori)
 
*[[Mori Arinori]] (19) - first [[Ministry of Education|Minister of Education]]
 
*[[Mori Arinori]] (19) - first [[Ministry of Education|Minister of Education]]
Line 22: Line 29:
 
*[[Nakamura Hironari]] (25) - ambassador to the Netherlands, Portugal, and Denmark
 
*[[Nakamura Hironari]] (25) - ambassador to the Netherlands, Portugal, and Denmark
 
*[[Samejima Hisanobu]] (21) - ambassador to France
 
*[[Samejima Hisanobu]] (21) - ambassador to France
 +
*[[Takami Yaichi]] (31) - from [[Tosa han]]
 
*[[Tanaka Moriaki]] (23)
 
*[[Tanaka Moriaki]] (23)
 +
*[[Togo Ainoshin|Tôgô Ainoshin]] (23)
 
*[[Yoshida Kiyonari]] (21) - ambassador to the United States
 
*[[Yoshida Kiyonari]] (21) - ambassador to the United States
  
Line 29: Line 38:
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
*Plaque at Kagoshima-Chûô train station, Kagoshima City.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/21519295436/sizes/o/]
 
*Plaque at Kagoshima-Chûô train station, Kagoshima City.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/21519295436/sizes/o/]
 +
<references/>
  
 
[[Category:Bakumatsu]]
 
[[Category:Bakumatsu]]
 
[[Category:Groups]]
 
[[Category:Groups]]

Latest revision as of 01:07, 16 April 2020

Monument to the Satsuma students, outside Kagoshima Chûô train station

Nineteen young men from Satsuma han were among the first Japanese to study overseas in the West, departing Japan in 1865, a year before the Tokugawa shogunate lifted bans on overseas travel. A number of these students went on to become prominent figures in the Meiji government, or in Meiji period society otherwise.

The students, aided by the Scotsman Thomas Glover, claimed to be merely traveling to the Koshiki Islands just off the coast of Kyushu, when they departed from Hashima (an area in Kushikino city, on the Kyushu mainland). In fact, they left Japan entirely, arriving in Singapore twenty days later; 46 days after that, they arrived in London. All adopted new names while overseas, but most are known today by their "real" names. While in London, they studied at University College London (UCL) under chemistry professor Alexander Williamson, as the Chôshû Five had before them, beginning in 1863. Williamson also arranged for the Satsuma students to visit industrial cities in the UK, to study railroad engineering, shipbuilding, surveying, and other industrial and technical fields.[1]

The mission was led by 34-year-old Niiro Hisanobu and 31-year-old Godai Tomoatsu, and included a set of three brothers: 28-year-old Machida Hisanari, 19-year-old Machida Sanetsumi, and 15-year-old Machida Seijirô.

The students returned to Japan with examples of numerous new technologies, including spinning machines, and also made arrangements for Satsuma to show a pavilion, separate from that of the shogunate, at the 1867 Paris World's Fair. Members of the mission also arranged to gain Britain's support for Satsuma in the upcoming rebellion against the shogunate.

Several members of the mission, including Nakamura Hironari, Samejima Hisanobu, and Yoshida Kiyonari, later went on to serve as Japanese ambassadors to Western countries, while others, including Mori Arinori and Terashima Munenori became top-ranking government ministers. A number of the students went on to study at Rutgers University in New Jersey, or at other institutions in the United States. Hatakeyama Yoshinari and Machida Hisanari became the first heads of the institutions that would later develop into the University of Tokyo and Tokyo National Museum, respectively.

Members of the Mission

(listed along with age at the time of the mission, and notes)

References

  • Plaque at Kagoshima-Chûô train station, Kagoshima City.[2]
  1. Plaques on-site at University College London.[1]