25. John Mung

Today, I write about “Story of John Mung”.
His name is “Nakahama Manjiro”.
1841, He was 14 years old.
He and friends met with a disaster in the middle of fishing.
The American whaler ship John Howland rescued them.

He look at the world map for the first time.
He was surprised that Japan is small.

Friends leave the ship in Hawaii.
He wanted to stay on the ship.
At the time, Japan closed the country.
He thought that he could not come back to Japan.
He makes a voyage to the United States and becomes the adopted child of the captain.
He was called “John Mung”.

He learns English, mathematics, the navigation, shipbuilding in the United States.
1846, He becomes a whaler member.

1850, He determines the homecoming to Japan.
He becomes a gold digger in order to get funds.
He gets 600 dollars there and goes back to Japan.

Japan still closed the country.
1851, He receives the investigation in “Satsuma”,”Nagasaki” and “Tosa”
1852, He comes back to the hometown.

The Shogunate needed his knowledge.
1953, He was invited by the Shogunate.
He becomes a teacher of navy.
1954, He marries.
1860, He participated in the Japanese Embassy to the United States.
1868, The period of samurai are over, and the Meiji period begin.
1869, He was appointed the English teacher of the university by the Meiji government.

1870, during the Franco-Prussian War ,He studied military science in Europe.
He returned to Japan by way of the United States.
He visit his “foster father”, Captain Whitfield.
He present a Japanese sword to foster father.

1898, He dies from 72 years old.

Now, descendant of “John Mung” and descendant of American foster father are friends.

If you can’t find items you’re looking for, please feel free to contact me.
I will find item which you want.

Thank you.

Bid Agent in “Yahoo Japan auction”
Kazuyoshi Kawahara
kaw8456@salsa.ocn.ne.jp
menkoicm@ark.ocn.ne.jp