JAPANESE SAMURAI / Shoin Yoshida

Shoin Yoshida lived and flourished during the period of the Meiji Restoration, when the Edo shogunate, which had been at the top of Japan until then, fell, and a new Japan that incorporated Western culture began. During this era, many significant figures worked to create a better Japan, but among them, Shoin stood out as a thinker and educator who, both as a samurai and as a teacher, stayed true to his beliefs and influenced many people. Shoin lived for only 29 years. Let’s delve into his short life.

A Child Prodigy Becomes a Teacher

Shoin was born as the second son of a samurai family in Choshu-han (present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture). Although he was adopted by his uncle’s family at a young age, his uncle passed away due to illness, and Shoin became the head of the Yoshida family at the mere age of 5. (In Japan, the father is the head of the family, and his son inherits this position.) The Yoshida family’s job was to teach about warfare to the leaders and samurai who governed various towns in Japan, so Shoin, despite his young age, needed to continue this work after his father’s death.

Shoin received a strict education from his relatives and became an apprentice teacher at a local school at the age of 9. By the age of 11, he was giving lectures to the leader of his town, Choshu-han, and his talent was recognized by those around him.

A Journey He Wanted to Take, Even If It Meant Breaking the Law

There were multiple types of Military Studies that Shoin taught, and after mastering them all, he began to learn about the world situation of the time. This was an era when the entire world was wary of Western powers, and upon learning that China had lost a war to Britain (the Opium War), Shoin realized the danger Japan was in. So, at the age of 20, Shoin set out on a journey across Japan. He believed that to prevent Japan from being invaded by Western powers like China, it was necessary to learn about global warfare strategies and prepare Japan accordingly. During this journey, he deepened his interactions with many notable figures. In less than five years, he walked over 8000 miles from Aomori in the north to Nagasaki in the south.

In Japan at that time, traveling without submitting an application to the town was forbidden. Shoin, unable to get his application approved, escaped from town and set out on his journey illegally, resulting in his capture by Choshu-han. He fell from being a universally recognized genius teacher to a major criminal.

The Unfulfilled Dream of Studying Abroad

In 1854, when Shoin was 24 years old, Commodore Perry arrived in Japan with his black ships from America. Perry was a foreigner who came to Japan to demand its opening, and this “black ship” incident is one of the most significant events in Japanese history. While everyone feared these black ships, Shoin begged to be taken aboard and brought to America. However, Perry refused his request for a stowaway, and upon returning to land, Shoin was imprisoned.

Shoin spent his time in prison productively. He read about 600 books in a year and wrote “Yushu-roku” (Prison Reflections), looking back on his attempt to stow away on the black ships. He also interacted with other prisoners, giving lectures while learning haiku and calligraphy from those who excelled in these areas. During this time, he was once again moved by the teaching of a Chinese scholar that “the most important thing for a nation is its people,” and he joined the faction that aimed to overthrow the shogunate and establish a new Japan.

Establishing a School That Produced Many Great Figures

Shouka-son-juku is the name of the school that Shoin opened after leaving prison. It is said that Shoin, who had further deepened his studies in prison and discovered the joy of teaching, started this school, inheriting the name from his relative’s school, where he first taught Military Studies as a child.

At this school, anyone could study regardless of social status or class. There was no fixed schedule, and classes were held day and night in a free atmosphere. Shoin respected each student’s individuality and provided guidance to develop their abilities. Although he taught at this school for only a year, he nurtured many students. Among them were many great figures who became central to the Meiji Restoration.

Shoin’s Teaching Style

Shoin’s school rules and teaching style were uncommon in that era, and there might be something we can learn from them even today. Firstly, Shoin not only taught from the front but also emphasized discussions among students. Secondly, he stressed the importance of taking action. Thirdly, he focused on utilizing students’ weaknesses.

Takasugi, who later became a great leader of Choshu-han, was one of Shoin’s students. Takasugi’s grades were poor because his pride was too high to listen to others. Recognizing this, Shoin deliberately praised other students in front of Takasugi, igniting his competitive spirit and improving his grades. Shoin was an excellent teacher who was also skilled in observing people.

Shoin’s Execution

Meanwhile, the shogunate, which controlled Japan’s politics, saw the people trying to overthrow them as a threat and implemented a terrifying policy of imprisoning and torturing people indiscriminately. Shoin, who firmly believed in “overcoming threats from abroad and making Japan better,” felt distrust and anger towards these actions of the shogunate. Shoin planned to assassinate important figures to overthrow the shogunate and asked his students to cooperate. His actions became too conspicuous, leading to his capture by the shogunate and execution. He was 29 years old.

The day before his execution, Shoin wrote in his will: “Even if I die, I want my feelings for the country to remain forever.” These words were passed down to the people and became the driving force for overthrowing the shogunate and shaping Japan’s future.

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