Sakuma Shôzan was a scholar of Western learning (''[[Rangaku]]'') and a prominent figure of the [[Bakumatsu Period]]. He opened a private school in [[Edo]] in [[1839]], and in [[1842]] wrote the ''[[Kaibo Hassaku|Kaibô Hassaku]]'' (海防八策, "Eight Plans for Naval Defense"). He was imprisoned by the shogunate beginning on [[1854]]/4/6<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 581.</ref> under suspicion that he was involved in an assassination planned by [[Yoshida Shoin|Yoshida Shôin]], but was eventually released as it was determined Shôzan was not involved. | Sakuma Shôzan was a scholar of Western learning (''[[Rangaku]]'') and a prominent figure of the [[Bakumatsu Period]]. He opened a private school in [[Edo]] in [[1839]], and in [[1842]] wrote the ''[[Kaibo Hassaku|Kaibô Hassaku]]'' (海防八策, "Eight Plans for Naval Defense"). He was imprisoned by the shogunate beginning on [[1854]]/4/6<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 581.</ref> under suspicion that he was involved in an assassination planned by [[Yoshida Shoin|Yoshida Shôin]], but was eventually released as it was determined Shôzan was not involved. |