Katsu Kaishū

Count Katsu Yasuyoshi (勝 安芳) (born Katsu Yoshikuni (勝 義邦); March 12, 1823January 21, 1899, best known by his nickname Katsu Kaishū (勝 海舟)) was a Japanese statesman and naval engineer during the late Tokugawa shogunate and early Meiji period.


Katsu Yasuyoshi
Katsu Kaishū (as Katsu Yasuyoshi) in his later years
Native name
勝 安芳
Birth nameKatsu Yoshikuni
Other name(s)Katsu Rintarō
Nickname(s)Katsu Kaishū (勝 海舟)
Awa Katsū
Born(1823-03-12)March 12, 1823
Edo, Japan
DiedJanuary 21, 1899(1899-01-21) (aged 75)
Tokyo, Japan
Buried
Senzoku Pond Public Park, Tokyo, Japan
Allegiance Tokugawa Shogunate  Empire of Japan
Service/branch Imperial Japanese Navy
Years of service1855–1868 (Tokugawa), 1872–1899 (Japanese Empire)
RankGunkan-bugyō (commissioner), Vice Minister, Naval Lord (海軍卿)
Commands heldKanrin-maru (warship), Kobe Naval School
Battles/warsBoshin War
AwardsSee Honours
Spouse(s)Katsu Tamiko, Masuda Ito, 4 other concubines
Children9 children
RelationsKatsu Kokichi (father)
Katsu Nobuko (mother)
Other workMilitary theorist

Kaishū was a nickname which he took from a piece of calligraphy (Kaishū Shooku 海舟書屋) by Sakuma Shōzan. He went through a series of given names throughout his life; his childhood name was Rintarō (麟太郎). He was often called Awa (安房) from his ceremonial title Awa-no-kami (安房守) during the late Tokugawa shogunate and later changed his name to Yasuyoshi after the Meiji Restoration.

An advocate of modernization and westernization, Katsu was an influential figure during the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate (Bakumatsu) and subsequent Meiji Restoration. He eventually rose to occupy the position of commissioner (Gunkan-bugyō) in the Tokugawa navy and was a chief negotiator of the bakufu. As a major Tokugawa commander during the Boshin War, he is particularly known for his surrender of Edo to Imperial forces commanded by Saigō Takamori.

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