Young Years of Takuhei Kikuchi, one of Ayasaburo Takeda's Students, and also Kyunin, a Country Samurai in Nambu Han (Clan)

Abstract

In March, 1868 (4th year of Keio) after the establishment of Meiji Restoration government, Takatoh Ohshima, mining and metallurgical engineer, and president of Nisshindo, Educational Institute of Mine and Applied Science in Morioka, Nambu Han Capital, north-eastern Japan presented his opinion to the authorities. In it he maintained an idea to furnish a chance to some of his students taking a course in mining and metallurgical engineering for study of Western new navigation art on a steamship (named Hishunmaru, 200 ton), which Nambu Han Government purchased in Hakodate. Accordingly, as Nambu Han employed Englishmen, who were captain and mates of its ship till that time, it was necessary to make use of a JapaneseEnglish interpreter for students.Making historical researches into this interpreter, I have found that he was Takuhei Kikuchi (1845-1928), engaged by Nambu Han Government as Kyunin, a country samurai, in 1862 (the 2th of Bunkyu). His father came from Ohata, Shimokita peninsula, however, he was born and grew up in Hakodate. And he learned Dutch, English, and schooner-ship building at Shojutsu-shirabesho, Tokugawa Shogunate College of Engineering in Hakodate. Moreover, under Prof. Ayasaburo Takeda, who was wellknown not only as Dutch and English scholar, but also as one of recognized authorities of Military engineering, to put it concretely, planner of Goryokaku castle and blast furnace constructed in and arround Hakodate, Kikuchi gained various experiences for the new art of navigation, and so on.In May 4th, 1868 Ohshima, and Takuhei Kikuchi as interpreter with other samurais in Nambu Han sailed from port of Hakodate for Osaka on steamship Hishunmaru stated above. But, at port of Uraga, Tokyo bay, on the way to Osaka this ship was captured by the authorities of Meiji Restoration Government. Because, Nambu Han turned its policy to hostile against Satsuma Han, Choshu Han and south-western others, that is to say, the leading Han which founded the core of the new Government. It was just after the Civil War in Meiji Ishin, or Boshin-senso's outburst.In this article I have described how young Kikuchi learned English and the act of navigation, grew to mate, and afterwards was appointed an interpreter. Then, he became the first president of Kokyo-gakusha, English School of Methodist Church, a root of the University of Aoyama-gakuin, Tokyo, soon after he was baptized in Hakodate.