Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: explorer

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Hasekura Tsunenaga

支倉常長
alternative words: Tsunenaga Hasekura
keywords: explorer , famous person
related topics: Date Masamune
related web sites: http://www.town.osato.miyagi.jp/introduce/kanko/memorial.htm , http://www.city.sendai.jp/kyouiku/museum/hasekura/
explanation: Born a high ranked samurai family and vassal of Date clan near Sendai in 1571, Hasekura Tsunenaga was the first Japanese who reached Europe to meet the Pope in the 17th century by passing through Pacific Ocean, Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. After he had returned back to Japan, he was confined in a secret place because Christianity became forbidden in Japan during his voyage. He died in 1622 in obscurity. The replica of San Juan Bautista, the ship used by him to cross the Pacific is moored at Ishinomaki harbor.

Ino Tadataka

伊能忠敬
alternative words: Tadataka Ino, Inou Tadataka, Tadataka Inou
keywords: explorer , famous person , northern territory
related topics: Edo shogunate , Mamiya Rinzo
related web sites: http://www.sawara.com/tadataka/ , http://www.sokuryo.or.jp/kaishi/inou/inou1.html , http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~meibun/inouzu/inouzu-1.htm , http://www.izumishobo.co.jp/iode27-3a.htm
explanation: Born in 1745 in Chiba prefecture as a rich farmer, but thanks to his generous donation, he became a samurai. After retired at the age of 50, he went to Tokyo to learn astronomy and survey technique from Takahashi Yoshitoki. By his recommendation, Ino had been engaged by Edo shogunate as an official surveyor. He traveled for 17 years the whole Japan on foot to create a detailed map (Dai nihon enkai yochi zenzu) with scientific instruments. He died in 1818.

Kondo Juzo

近藤重蔵
alternative words: Juzo Kondo, Kondou Juzou, Juzou Kondou
keywords: explorer , famous person , northern territory
related topics: Edo shogunate , Ezochi
related web sites: http://www.marimo.or.jp/~nmcinfo/mugenko/p05/P043_1.htm
explanation: Born in 1771 at Tokyo in an important family of samurai. After divers official functions of Edo shogunate, he had been nominated to a responsible of Ezochi administration in 1798. After having explored different parts of Hokkaido, he reached Etorofu Island in South Kuril and erected there a Japanese landmark. In advanced age, his life turned to be less glorious. Accused of a murder committed by his son, he was sentenced to a banishment and died in 1829.

Mamiya Rinzo

間宮林蔵
alternative words: Rinzo Mamiya, Mamiya Rinzou, Rinzou Mamiya
keywords: explorer , famous person , northern territory
related topics: Edo shogunate , Ezochi , Ino Tadataka , Siebold
related web sites: http://www.karafuto.com , http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~XC8M-MMY/ , http://www.town.ina.ibaraki.jp/mamiya.htm
explanation: Born in 1775 in Ibaraki prefecture. Being very clever at mathematics, he went to Tokyo to learn the surveying technique from Ino Tadataka. After repeated incursions of Russians to "Ezochi", Edo shogunate gave him an order to explore the northern part of Sakhalin island. In 1809, he reached the north Sakhalin and showed that it is an island separated by a narrow channel. In 1828, he denounced a plan to export secretly a detailed Japanese map by von Siebold. He died in 1844.

Matsuura Takeshiro

松浦武四郎
alternative words: Takeshiro Matsuura, Matsuura Takeshirou, Takeshirou Matsuura
keywords: explorer , famous person , northern territory , statesman
related topics: Edo period , Meiji period , Ezochi
explanation: Explorer of the late Edo period and the beginning of Meiji period. Born in 1818 in Mie prefecture. First he became an itinerant Buddhist monk to travel all over Japan. He was then engaged by Edo shogunate to explore all the regions of Ezochi and gave the name of Hokkaido to it. In 1868, he was nominated to an administrator of Hokkaido by the newly created Meiji government but quickly quit the post. He spent the remaining of his life with travel and writing. He died in 1888.

Mogami Tokunai

最上徳内
alternative words: Tokunai Mogami
keywords: explorer , famous person , northern territory
related topics: Edo shogunate , Ezochi , Honda Toshiaki
related web sites: http://www.marimo.or.jp/~nmcinfo/mugenko/p05/P043_1.htm
explanation: Explorer of Ezochi, actual Hokkaido, Sakhalin and Kuril, at the end of Edo period. Born in 1754 in Yamagata prefecture, he learned first astronomy and surveying technique at Tokyo from a mathematician, Honda Toshiaki. Engaged by Edo shogunate instead of Toshiaki, he explored different parts of Ezochi, especially south Kuril (1786) and south Sakhalin (1792). Knowing Ainu and Russian languages, he gave good advises about Ezochi to Edo shogunate. He died in 1836.

Nakahama Manjiro

中浜万次郎ジョン万次郎
alternative words: Manjiro Nakahama, Manjiro, Manjirou, John Manjiro, John Manjirou
keywords: explorer , famous person , meiji revolution
related topics: Tosa domain , Edo shogunate , Meiji revolution
related web sites: http://www.city.tosashimizu.kochi.jp/john/ , http://www2.netwave.or.jp/~okadas/dan/jonman.htm
explanation: Born in 1827 in a fisher family of Tosa domain. In 1841, his ships was wrecked and drifted but saved a half year later by an American whaler. He went then to USA and learnt English , navigation and mining techniques. After having worked in a gold mine and whaling, he returned back to Japan in 1851. Edo shogunate engaged him as a translator of foreign books. He taught also navigation and whaling techniques. After Meiji revolution, he became an English teacher. He died in 1898.

Okamoto Kansuke

岡本監輔
alternative words: Kansuke Okamoto, Okamoto Kanpo, Kanpo Okamoto
keywords: explorer , famous person , northern territory
related topics: Ezochi
related web sites: http://www.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/collection/makuake/tenji4.html
explanation: Born in 1839 in Tokushima prefecture. In 1856, he organized Hokumonsha association to defend the interests of Sakhalin island and explored between 1863 and 65 as the first Japanese the whole Sakhalin island. In 1870, he became chief of Sakhalin colonial office but quickly resigned due to a conflict with Kuroda Kiyotaka who was willing to concentrate the effort on to Hokkaido by giving up Sakhalin. In 1892, he tried to exploit Kuril island by creating Chishimagikai association. He died in 1904.
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8 articles extracted from postgresql database.