Nakahama Manjiro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nakahama Manjirō (中濱 万次郎 Nakahama Manjirō, 1827-1898), also known as John Manjiro, was one of the first Japanese people to visit the United States and an important translator during the Opening of Japan.
Contents |
[edit] American education and world travel
During his early life, he lived as a simple fisherman. However, in 1841 at the age of 14 he was rescued from the wreck of his ship by an American whaler. He stayed on the whaler and was taken to the United States where he learned English and received a Western high school education in the town of Fairhaven, Massachusetts.
As he matured his life continued to revolve around the sea. John Manjiro, as he was now known, had the opportunity to travel around the world on a sailing ship. Eventually his travels allowed him to return to Japan. He detailed his travels in a report to the Bakufu, which is kept today at the Tokyo National Museum.
[edit] Return to Japan
John returned to Japan at the age of 24. This return coincided with Japan's period of isolation when leaving the country was an offense punishable by death. He was initially treated with deep suspicion; however, he was allowed to return to the village of his birth.
In 1853, when Commodore Matthew Perry's Black Ships arrived to force the opening of Japan, Manjiro became an interpreter and translator for the Shogunate and was instrumental in negotiating the Convention of Kanagawa.
John Manjiro apparently used his know-how of western shipbuilding to contribute to the effort of the Bakufu to build a modern Navy. In particular, he allegedly contributed to the construction of the Shohei Maru, Japan's first post-seclusion foreign-style warship.
[edit] First diplomatic mission to the US
Nakahama Manjiro also participated to the first-ever Japanese embassy to the United States on board Kanrin Maru, Japan's first screw-driven steam warship, in 1860.
He was officially appointed as a translator, but his navigation skills and knowledge of Western countries gave him a prominent role in guiding the mission. According to several reports, he was the de-facto captain of the ship during the mission.
[edit] See also
- Hasekura Tsunenaga, the first recorded Japanese to reach the American continent, in 1614.
- Otokichi, a famous Japanese castaway to the United States, 10 years before Nakahama Manjiro.
- Einosuke Moriyama, another translator in the negotiation with Perry.
- Ranald MacDonald, the first teacher of English in Japan.
