Manjirō: The First Japanese Student in America

Vocabulary and historical facts regarding Manjirō's life, his travels to America, and the Edo period isolation policies.

Kochi

The location of the small village in Japan where Manjirō was born in $1827$.

Torishima

The uninhabited island (mujintō) where Manjirō and $4$ other men lived for $143$ days after their ship was drifted by strong winds in $1841$.

Whaling ship

The type of American vessel (hogeisen) that rescued Manjirō and his companions from the uninhabited island.

Hawaii

The destination where the $4$ men from the village got off the whaling ship while Manjirō chose to go to America.

Captain (Senchō)

The individual who took a liking to Manjirō, treated him as a son, and brought him to America to study in $1843$.

Shipbuilding (Zōsen)

One of the specific subjects Manjirō studied at school in America, along with English and mathematics.

Edo period

The era in Japanese history when Manjirō lived, characterized by the prohibition of Japanese people leaving the country.

Bakufu

The Japanese Shogunate/military government that prohibited foreigners from entering Japan and forbade citizens who left from returning.

$$1851$$

The year Manjirō and his companions returned to Japan, despite the country's strict isolationist laws.

Investigation (Shiravera reta)

The process that lasted $1$ year and $9$ months after Manjirō was captured upon his return to Japan.