[[Godai Tomoatsu]] and [[Niiro Hisanaga]] led a group of 14 [[Satsuma students]] on a tour of Britain, Belgium, France, and Prussia in [[1865]]. In March [[1866]], Godai and Niiro completed a contract with a group of British engineers, four of whom arrived in Japan in November of that year, and began construction on spinning factories. Three more engineers arrived in January the following year, and [[Iso cotton mill|the first modern spinning mill]] in Japan was completed that May. The engineers came on a two year contract, and were paid 5000 pieces of silver each year; their travel expenses to and from England were also paid by [[Satsuma han]]. | [[Godai Tomoatsu]] and [[Niiro Hisanaga]] led a group of 14 [[Satsuma students]] on a tour of Britain, Belgium, France, and Prussia in [[1865]]. In March [[1866]], Godai and Niiro completed a contract with a group of British engineers, four of whom arrived in Japan in November of that year, and began construction on spinning factories. Three more engineers arrived in January the following year, and [[Iso cotton mill|the first modern spinning mill]] in Japan was completed that May. The engineers came on a two year contract, and were paid 5000 pieces of silver each year; their travel expenses to and from England were also paid by [[Satsuma han]]. |