Count , best known by his nickname , was a Japanese statesman and naval engineer during the late Tokugawa shogunate and early Meiji period. Kaishū was a nickname which he took from a piece of calligraphy (Kaishū Shooku ) by Sakuma Shōzan. He went through a series of

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

s throughout his life; his childhood name was . He was often called from his ceremonial title during the late Tokugawa shogunate and later changed his name to Yasuyoshi after the Meiji Restoration. Katsu Kaishū eventually rose to occupy the position of commissioner ''(Gunkan-bugyō)'' in the Tokugawa navy. He is particularly known for his role in the surrender of

Edo Edo ( ja, , , "bay-entrance" or "estuary"), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a ''jōkamachi'' (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the ''de facto'' capital of ...

Early life

Born Katsu Yoshikuni on March 12, 1823, in

to a low-ranking retainer of the Tokugawa shogunate. His father,

Katsu Kokichi was born Otani Kokichi in Edo Edo ( ja, , , "bay-entrance" or "estuary"), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a ''jōkamachi'' (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, b ...

, the subject of the autobiography, '' Musui's Story'', was the ill-behaved head of a minor samurai family. As a youth whose given childhood name as Katsu Rintarō (Kaishu was a pseudonym), he studied Dutch and European military science, and was eventually appointed translator by the government when European powers attempted to open contact with Japan. Katsu developed the reputation as an expert in western military technology. Under the advice of Dutch naval officers, Katsu served as head naval cadet at the Nagasaki Naval Academy between 1855 and 1859.

Military service

In 1860, Katsu served as captain of the warship '' Kanrin-maru'' (with assistance from US naval officer Lt.

John M. Brooke John Mercer Brooke (December 18, 1826 – December 14, 1906) was an American sailor, engineer, scientist, and educator. He was instrumental in the creation of the Transatlantic Cable, and was a noted marine and military innovator. Early lif ...

), to escort the first Japanese delegation to San Francisco, California, en route to Washington, DC, for the formal ratification of the Harris Treaty. The ''Kanrin Maru'', built by the Dutch, was the first Japanese vessel to sail to the Western world. Kaishū remained in San Francisco for nearly two months, observing American society, culture and technology. Following his return to Japan, Katsu held a series of high-ranking posts in the Tokugawa navy, arguing before government councils in favor of a unified Japanese naval force led by professionally trained officers in disregard of promotion and assignment due to hereditary status. During his command as director of the Kobe Naval School, the institute would become a major source of activity for progressive thinking and reformists between 1863 and 1864. In 1862, the then '' rōnin'' Sakamoto Ryōma decided to assassinate Katsu due to his support of both modernization and westernization. However, Katsu persuaded Ryōma of the necessity of a long-term plan to increase Japan's military strength in the face of Western influence that led to the Convention of Kanagawa. Instead of killing Katsu, Ryōma started working as his assistant and

protégé Mentorship is the influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the personal and p ...

. In 1866, Katsu was appointed negotiator between the ''bakufu'' forces and the anti-shogunal domain of Chōshū, and later served as chief negotiator for the Tokugawa bakufu, ensuring a relatively peaceful and

orderly transition of power A peaceful transition or transfer of power is a concept important to democratic governments in which the leadership of a government peacefully hands over control of government to a newly-elected leadership. This may be after elections or during t ...

in the Meiji Restoration. Although sympathetic to the anti-Tokugawa cause, Katsu remained loyal to the Tokugawa ''bakufu'' during the

Boshin War The , sometimes known as the Japanese Revolution or Japanese Civil War, was a civil war in Japan fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and a clique seeking to seize political power in the name of the Imperi ...

. After the collapse of the Tokugawa forces in late 1867, Katsu negotiated the surrender of Edo castle to Saigō Takamori on 11 April 1868.

Later years

Katsu relocated to Shizuoka after the new Imperial government took control of the shogun's former capital, which was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital"). He returned briefly to government service as Vice Minister of the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1872, followed by first Minister of the Navy from 1873 until 1878. As Katsu Yasuyoshi, he was the most prominent of the former Tokugawa retainers who found employment within the new Meiji government, and was between 1869 and 1885 who did not come from one of the four paramount domains. Although his influence within the navy was minimal, as the Navy was largely dominated by a core of Satsuma officers, Katsu served in a senior advisory capacity on national policy. During the next two decades, Katsu served on the

Privy Council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...

and wrote extensively on naval issues. He also made efforts to restore the honor of

Tokugawa Yoshinobu Prince was the 15th and last ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He was part of a movement which aimed to reform the aging shogunate, but was ultimately unsuccessful. He resigned of his position as shogun in late 1867, while aiming ...

and Saigō Takamori. In 1887, he was elevated to the title of ''hakushaku'' (count) in the '' kazoku'' peerage system. Katsu recorded his memoirs in the book ''Hikawa Seiwa''.

Death

In 1891, through a connection of Tsuda Sen, the father of

Tsuda Ume was a Japanese educator and a pioneer in education for women in Meiji period Japan.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tsuda Umeko" in . Originally named Tsuda Ume, with ''ume'' referring to the Japanese plum, she went by the name Ume Tsuda ...

, Katsu Yasuyoshi purchased a plot of land at , and built his retirement home there. Following his death in 1899, he was buried with his wife Tami near the site of their home, on the shores of Senzoku Pond, in what is today in Tokyo.

Honours

''Translated from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia'' *Count (9 May 1887)

Order of precedence

*Fourth rank (15 June 1872) *Senior fourth rank (18 February 1874) *Third rank (December 1887) *Senior third rank (October 1888) *Junior Second rank (30 June 1894) * Senior second rank (20 January 1899; posthumous) * JPN Zuiho-sho (WW2) 1Class BAR

Grand Cordon of the

Order of the Sacred Treasure The is a Japanese order, established on 4 January 1888 by Emperor Meiji as the Order of Meiji. Originally awarded in eight classes (from 8th to 1st, in ascending order of importance), since 2003 it has been awarded in six classes, the lowest ...

(December 1889) * JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR

Grand Cordon of the

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight ...

(26 February 1898)

Gallery

File:Kaishu Katsu 2.jpg, upKaishū Katsu File:Surrender of Edo Castle (Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery).jpg, Negotiations between Saigō Takamori (left) and Katsu regarding the surrender of the capital. File:Katsu Kaishu by Motoyama Hakuun - Edo-Tokyo Museum - Sumida, Tokyo, Japan - DSC06901.jpg, upleft, A bust of Katsu Kaishu by Motoyama Hakuun (1871–1952) File:Grave of Katsu Kaishū.JPG, Grave of Katsu Kaishū at Senzoku Pond Public Park, Tokyo, Japan

Notes

References

*Hillsborough, Romulus. ''Samurai Revolution: The Dawn of Modern Japan Through the Eyes of the Shogun's Last Samurai.'' Tuttle, 2013. * Jansen, Marius B. (1961). ''Sakamoto Ryoma and the Meiji Restoration.'' Princeton: Princeton University Press
OCLC 413111
*Katsu, Kokichi; translated by Teruko Craig. ''Musui's Story: The Autobiography of a Tokugawa Samurai'' University of Arizona Press, 1988. * Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005)
''Japan encyclopedia.''
Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
OCLC 58053128

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Katsu, Kaishu Japanese swordfighters 1823 births 1899 deaths Boshin War Hatamoto Imperial Japanese Navy officers Japanese military leaders Meiji Restoration People from Tokyo Samurai Japanese politicians Kazoku People of Meiji-period Japan Wakadoshiyori People of the Boshin War Members of the Japanese Embassy to the United States