Kaientai

Flag of Kaientai

Kameyama Shachū Memorial Museum

The Kaientai (海援隊, Kaientai, "Maritime Support Group") was a trading and shipping company and private navy, considered to be the first modern corporation in Japan. Originally named Kameyama Shachū (亀山社中, "Kameyama Company"), it was founded by Sakamoto Ryōma in Nagasaki in 1865 during the Bakumatsu – a period of upheaval when Japan was seeking modernisation and shedding its feudal system and isolationist policies. It was funded by the Satsuma Domain and other groups.

Members of Kaientai

Kaientai members, around January 1867. From left: Nagaoka Kenkichi, Mizobuchi Hironojō, Sakamoto Ryōma, Yamamoto Kōdō, Sugano Kakubei, Shiramine Shunme.

Born in Tosa Domain

• Sakamoto Ryōma – a commanding officer of Kaientai
• Sawamura Sōnojho
• Sasaki Takayuki – a second commanding officer of Kaientai after Ryōma's death
• Nagaoka Ken'ichi
• Ishida Eikichi
• Sakamoto Nao – Ryōma's adopted child
• Sugano Kakubei
• Jingū Umanosuke
• Nomura Koreaki

Born in Echizen Province

• Seki Yoshiomi
• Watanabe Gōhachi
• Odani Kōzō

Born in Kishū Domain

• Mutsu Munemitsu

External links

Japanese Wikisource has original text related to this article: Rules of Kaientai

• Nagasaki Kameyamashachū Memorial Museum (Japanese)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kaientai.