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1305–1358 足利尊氏 Ashikaga Takauji The general who toppled a shogunate and honored a rival . Early life as the second son Seven centuries ago, Japan’s political center stood in Kamakura, where the shogunate united the warriors who governed the land. In that world of competing samurai families, Ashikaga Takauji was born into the prestigious Ashikaga clan. His mother was not his father’s principal wife, and the young Takauji may not have been highly regarded within the household. His exact birthplace is uncertain, which adds to the sense that he began life slightly off the main stage. Fate turned in 1317,…

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1827~1898 ジョン万次郎 John Manjirō The Castaway Who Bridged Japan and America Early Life in Tosa John Manjirō, born as Nakahama Manjirō in 1827, was the second son of a poor fisherman in Tosa Province, present-day Kōchi Prefecture.  His childhood was marked by hardship.  At the age of nine, he lost his father, leaving his family in poverty.  His mother and elder brother were in poor health and unable to work regularly, so young Manjirō began to support his family by fishing.  Though still a boy, he quickly gained a reputation for courage and resourcefulness at sea. Shipwreck and Life on…

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