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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 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]].

==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]]

*[[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]]

*[[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

*[[Tanaka Moriaki]] (23)

*[[Tanaka Moriaki]] (23)

*[[Togo Ainoshin|Tôgô Ainoshin]] (23)

*[[Togo Ainoshin|Tôgô Ainoshin]] (23)

==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/]

[[Category:Bakumatsu]]

[[Category:Bakumatsu]]

[[Category:Groups]]

[[Category:Groups]]