The ambition of Iwasaki Yataro, the unprecedented eccentric of Tosa

   Iwasaki Yataro was born in Aki City, Inokuchi. He was one of the most prominent businessmen of  he end of the Edo Period and built the foundation for the Mitsubishi Group. It is said that in 1854, in order to let Yataro go study in Edo, his parents raised the necessary funds by selling a mountain that had been passed down for generations. It’s a very brave act even in this day and age, and it became clear why Yataro had developed such a bold personality. In 1855, Yataro returned home because his father had unfortunately gotten hurt. When he went to the magistrate’s office to lodge a complaint against the village headman who had injured his father, he drew graffiti on the walls and was thrown into jail. His experience in jail stirred up his rebellious spirit (perhaps he was hot blooded by nature), and he changed course from studying to be a Confucian scholar. This event made him decide to go into business for the Tosa domain and for the country. Additionally, it is said that he met a merchant and was able to learn sales tactics. This is a perfect example of the saying from the classic Chinese text Tao Te Ching, “Disaster is that upon which good fortune depends, and good fortune is that in which disaster lurks.” After this, Yataro enrolled in Yoshida Toyo※’s Shaolin cram school, became friends with Goto Shojiro※, and was mentored by Yoshida Toyo as he began his new life in business.

Nakaoka Shintaro- an ally of Sakamoto Ryoma

   Sakamoto Ryoma※’s ally Nakaoka Shintaro※ was also one of the heroes of the Bakumatsu who drove the era forward. The Nakaoka Shintaro Museum is surrounded by green mountains and is an ideal location for getting a feel for Shintaro’s way of life. Taking a bus along the mountain roads, there is a sense of calmness as if you’ve gone back in time.

Tosa Omotenashi Kinnoto

   “Tosa Omotenashi Kinnoto” a.k.a. “Motekin” is a group of six members from Kochi Prefecture who are dressed as famous samurai warriors in the late Edo period. The group was formed in April, 2011 to liven up tourism in Kochi and performs at Kochi Tabi Hiroba located near the south exit of JR Kochi Station.

 

   The members of “Motekin” are Ryoma Sakamoto, Hanpeita Takechi, Izo Okada, Shintaro Nakaoka, Yataro Iwasaki and the only woman in the group, Kawaraban-ya (news-sheets seller) Ryo. Their original songs and dance performances are partly inspired by Yosakoi and the colors of their costumes are based on specialties of where they were from.

Museums of Ryoma

Here are brief explanations about three museums in Kochi about Ryoma.

 

Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Houses easy-to-understand exhibits of valuable historical documents about Ryoma and explanations of his personality, achievements and his visions. The building is located near the Katsurahama beach and the observatory lends a panoramic view of the horizon and Pacific Ocean.
Open: 9a.m- 5p.m.
Directions: Get on a Kenkotsu bus bound for Katsurahama, then get off the Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop and then walk one minute.
Entrance fee: ¥500 for 18 and older, free for high school and younger students, ¥400 for groups of 20 and over
HP: http://www.ryoma-kinenkan.jp/en/ (in English)

TEL: 088-841-0001

 

I’m a BIG FAN of Ryoma!

   There are many Ryoma fans all over Japan and abroad. 120 groups are registered as Ryoma Fan Club homepages. Each group holds seminars and study tours related to the history of Ryoma with broad networks thoughout Japan. Since 1989, “The National Conference of Ryoma” has been held annually.

Exams to know about Ryoma

   “Sakamoto Ryoma Kentei” is an Internet certificate exam which was introduced by the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum in 2008. The museum wishes to use the exam to help young people who will become future contributors to Japanese society learn more about Ryoma, and to promote Ryoma to anyone who is interested.

Japan’s First Honeymoon

Monument of the couple
 in Shiobitashi

   After the Saccho-Domei alliance in 1866, Ryoma was attacked in Teradaya Inn and wounded. Encouraged by others, he decided to take a trip to relax and let his wounds heal. Along with his new wife Oryo, Ryoma and others including Takamori Saigo and Kosuke Yoshii (1828-1891) sailed from Osaka to Satsuma aboard the “Mikuni-maru”.

How popular is Ryoma?

Kochi Ryoma Airport

   What do John F. Kennedy, John Lennon and Leonardo da Vinci have in common?

Political state in Kochi during Ryoma’s life

Toyo Yoshida

   In the late and the end of Edo period when Ryoma lived, the centralized administrative framework of the Tokugawa Shogunate (Bakufu) began to collapse as it mismanaged domestic politics. It was bogged down with how to deal with foreign countries seeking for their diplomatic channel with Japan which was stuck to a policy of isolation. Meanwhile, some powerful local governments called Yuhan, including Satsuma and Choshu domains, got to meddle in the central government’s politics.

Ryoma’s Dappan – Secession from his Fief

Dappan route in Yusuhara Town

   During the Edo period, a youngman named John Manjiro (1827-1898) was shipwrecked and saved by an American whaling boat. Later, he would become the first Japanese to settle in America and return to Japan to work toward opening up Japan to foreign trade.

Outline of Ryoma Sakamoto

   Ryoma Sakamoto is a nationally popular hero who lived around the end of the Samurai period, and always ranks high in surveys that ask “who do you like the most among Japan’s historical figures?”

Great Figures in Kochi - Osachi Hamaguchi (1870-1931)

   Osachi Hamaguchi, one of the greatest politicians from Kochi Prefecture was prime minister of Japan in the early Showa period.

Great Figures in Kochi - Chiyo (1557-1617)

   Chiyo was the wife of the first Tosa feudal lord Katsutoyo Yamauchi. Her husband was renowned for his achievements in the Battle of Sekigahara of 1600, and she is widely known as his “devoted wife.”

Great Figures in Kochi - Manjiro Nakahama (1827-1898)

   When he was 14 years old, Manjiro Nakahama was shipwrecked on his first fishing trip. He was rescued by a passing American whaling ship, and was taken to America. He learned English and the art of navigation in America and later returned to Japan. He became a bridge of communication between these two countries. There is a statue of Manjiro at Ashizuri Promontory.

Great Figures in Kochi - Ryoma Sakamoto (1835-1867)

   Ryoma Sakamoto is Kochi’s greatest son. You can't think of Kochi without thinking of Ryoma Sakamoto, and he is well known not only in Kochi but also nationwide.

   He was born in 1835 in Kochi City and he was said to be a very weak crybaby. His elder sister Otome, a quintessential Hachikin woman – as strong as 4 men – toughened him up. By the time he was a young man, he had been awarded a swordsmanship license.He also studied a lot of things about foreign countries and had remarkably progressive views considering Japan was then officially sealed off from the outside world.

Great Figures in Kochi - Taisuke Itagaki (1837-1919)

   After you enter Ote-mon, the main gate of Kochi Castle, you will find a statue of Itagaki Taisuke. He was an upper class samurai of Tosa domain and contributed to the establishment of the new government after the Meiji Restoration. He resigned from the government and returned to Kochi to found the ‘Liberal Party,’ and later led ‘the Liberty and People’s Rights Movement.’He was a strong advocate for liberty, people’s rights and democracy (these concepts were not common in Japan at that time), and his influence spread across Japan.

Ryoma Sakamoto’s postmark only at Ryoma post office!

Ryoma Sakamoto’s postmark on card.
Very rare!

   Ryoma Sakamoto, born in Kamimachi of Kochi city, is one of the most famous samurai in Japan. Till this day people love and honor him and his merchandise are sold everywhere in Kochi Prefecture. In his honor, there is even a post office dedicated to him called ‘’Ryoma Post Office’’ in Kamimachi! It is believed that this remains the only post office to be named after a person in Japan!

Great Figures in Kochi - Frank Champion(1884-1917)

   Frank Champion is an American. I’m ashamed to say that it was not until just recently that I learned of his achievements and the stone monument erected in his honor in Kochi City. I would firstly like to apologize for my ignorance, and write a short article so that as many people as possible can know about this figure.