Seki Shinpachi

For those studying foreign languages during the Bakumatsu and Meiji periods, translation work was extremely difficult. The "English-Japanese Pocket Dictionary" published in 1862 by the Shogunate's Institute for the Investigation of Foreign Books (Bansho Shirabesho) was the first full-scale English-Japanese dictionary, but its usability was poor, partly because it was translated based on an English-Dutch dictionary.

Seki Shinpachi's "Meiji English-Japanese Dictionary," published in the mid-Meiji period, was a breakthrough for being both accurate and easy to use. Additionally, his translation of Herbert Spencer's educational theories, "S-shi Kyoikuron" (Spencer's Education), had a major impact on Meiji education. Furthermore, he founded "Kyoritsu Gakusha," which was as highly regarded as Keio University at the time, and produced figures such as the economist Taguchi Ukichi (Teiken). The difficult negotiations between Japan and the United States at the end of the Edo period could not have been accomplished without Shinpachi's superior language skills. Because of these achievements, Shinpachi is referred to as the "grandfather of modern English studies," a "first-rate English scholar," and a "pioneer of English studies." The expression "pioneer" is used in the biography of Shinpachi written by Mr. Tsugiro Seki ("who succeeded the Seki family by chance" and is a "fourth-generation descendant of Shinpachi"), titled "Pioneer of English Studies: Seki Shinpachi—Leading the Way in the Bakumatsu and Meiji Periods" (1996, hereinafter referred to as "Pioneer of English Studies"). However, despite being highly evaluated as an English scholar, educator, translator, and interpreter, he is not as well-known as other Western scholars and educators of the same era. What kind of life did Shinpachi, who was also a close friend of Fukuzawa, lead?

Details of Shinpachi's life can be found in the "Short Biography Selected by Otsukotsu Tarootsu" (hereinafter "Short Biography") written by his lifelong friend Otsukotsu Tarootsu in the "Great Japanese Biographical Dictionary" after Shinpachi's death.

According to Mr. Tsugiro Seki, Otsukotsu's evaluation of Shinpachi was: "He has strong self-esteem and will, but on the other hand, he is deeply compassionate. Therefore, even if someone is a high-ranking government official, if they take a condescending attitude, he will stand tall and respond without backing down. On the other hand, even if it is someone he does not usually associate with, if he hears they are trying to do something with sincere intent, he will do his utmost to look after them. That is the kind of person he was" ("Pioneer of English Studies").

Shinpachi was born in Edo on August 9, 1839, as the son of Suzuki Hakuju, a physician for the Takaoka Domain in Shimosa. According to Otsukotsu, Shinpachi first studied under the Confucian scholars Tanabe Sekian and Fujimori Tenzan (Koan). Taichi, the second son of Sekian whom he met at that time, was Shinpachi's "lifelong friend" who accompanied him on the mission to Europe. He also formed a friendship with Niijima Jo, the founder of Doshisha. Later, Niijima described Shinpachi as his "best friend in Edo."

Mr. Tsugiro Seki states that Shinpachi's encounter with Western studies was related to Tanabe Sekian's eldest son, Magojiro. Magojiro studied under the gunnery expert Takashima Shuhan, and it seems that discussions about Dutch studies were lively at the Tanabe Juku.

Afterward, he was to enter the Shoheiko, but it is known that just before that, he "assumed the Seki surname" and succeeded the Seki family. Although details are unclear, by entering the Seki family as the younger brother of Seki Kanejiro, a shogunal vassal and Confucian scholar, he was able to enter the dormitory of the Shoheiko, which was limited to the children of shogunal vassals. However, he left the dormitory after a few years due to illness. In his distress, Shinpachi decided on the path of Western studies after hearing Tanabe Taichi's words: "Those who wish to serve the nation should learn Western studies as soon as possible" ("Pioneer of English Studies"). He was 20 years old.

In 1860, Shinpachi learned English from Nakahama (John) Manjiro and also studied under Nishi Kijuro (Narinori), where he also learned grammar. Through blood-soaked efforts, the "Short Biography" states that "in less than a year, his language skills advanced greatly."

In August 1861, Shinpachi was appointed as a foreign affairs interpreter along with Yano Jiro, Masuda Takashi, and Tsuda Sen. It was here that he first met his lifelong friend, Fukuzawa. Shinpachi and the others were immediately assigned to work at the American Legation at Zenpuku-ji Temple in Azabu. At a time when the movement to expel foreigners was gaining momentum, being associated with the legation was a dangerous position. However, Shinpachi and his colleagues did not hesitate to learn English from legation staff and interpreters to polish their language skills. He also worked at the Yokohama Customs House for about a year, during which time he also sought the teachings of the interpreter Tateishi Onojiro.

Having refined their language skills, Shinpachi and others accompanied the second mission to Europe (the Yokohama Port Closure Negotiation Mission) in 1863 with Nishi Kijuro and others, finally setting foot on foreign soil. Shinpachi, who took a photograph in Western clothing, was disciplined after returning to Japan. Shortly thereafter, Shinpachi and the others resigned from their foreign affairs positions, and in 1865, Shinpachi became an interpreter for the American Legation. The presence of Shinpachi, with his outstanding language skills, at the difficult negotiations of the late Edo period was a great help to both Japan and the United States.

In "Fukuo Jiden" (hereinafter "Autobiography"), Shinpachi appears in two episodes from this period. The first describes how, during the second mission to the United States, a drunken Fukuzawa openly declared, "Overthrow the Shogunate," and Shinpachi, who was present, calmly rebuked him. According to the "Diary of the Third Year of Keio," Shinpachi visited Fukuzawa several times, staying overnight, while Fukuzawa was under house arrest after returning to Japan. Takashi Morikawa states that the Western books Fukuzawa purchased in the U.S. were selected based on Shinpachi's advice ("English Scholar Seki Shinpachi and His Circle," 1978). This shows the close relationship between the two.

The second is a record of Fukuzawa's reaction when Shinpachi, while working as an interpreter for the American Legation, remarked that the Meiji government's old-fashioned behavior had reached as far as America and asked, "Isn't it a great laugh?" to which Fukuzawa felt "bitter."

Also, in "The Spirit of Deceased Members Still Lives Today," it is mentioned that during the Boshin War, Shinpachi proposed to Fukuzawa that the legation could protect Keio students if it issued certificates. Shinpachi went out of his way to negotiate with the minister for the sake of the Keio students and visited Fukuzawa (though the student Obata Jinzaburo declined the offer).

After the surrender of Edo Castle, Shinpachi taught English at his home in Yokohama and at Meiji Gijuku, and in early 1870, he opened a school for English studies near Asakusa. This was "Kyoritsu Gakudosha" (Kyoritsu Gakusha, hereinafter "Gakusha"). Yoshida Kensuke is identified as a co-founder of the Gakusha. Yoshida Kensuke studied with Shinpachi under Sekian, formed a friendship with Fukuzawa during his time as a shogunal vassal, and taught Confucianism at Keio University at Fukuzawa's request after the Restoration. Later, he also studied English and cooperated in the founding of the Gakusha.

Because the number of Keio students increased shortly after opening, the school was moved to Honjo across the Ryogoku Bridge. According to the "Application for Opening" submitted to Tokyo Prefecture, this was in July 1870, when Shinpachi was 32 years old.

What is noteworthy here is the "Gakusha Company Agreement." Eiki Suzuki, in "Seki Shinpachi's Founding of Kyoritsu Gakusha and Fukuzawa Yukichi" (1990), points out that this agreement is almost identical to the "Regulations" and "Dining Hall Regulations" of Keio University from April of the 4th year of Keio. In addition to practical English education, Shinpachi also emphasized Confucianism, aiming for a dual education in Western and Chinese studies. He also adopted a "teaching assistant" system where excellent Keio students helped with classes. This is also similar to Fukuzawa's system of "learning while teaching, teaching while learning."

About six months after moving to Honjo, the "Shinbun Zasshi" (No. 5, June 1871) reported 111 students, making it one of the leading schools for English studies in Tokyo.

The reason Seki is highly evaluated as an educator lies in the success of his students from his time at the Ministry of Finance Translation Bureau. Shinpachi was scouted with exceptional treatment as the Officer of the Translation Bureau established in October 1872 (detailed in Eiki Suzuki's "Enlightenment Policy and Translation/Western Studies Education: The Ministry of Finance Translation Bureau and Seki Shinpachi/Kyoritsu Gakusha," 1994). The staff was composed of people close to Shinpachi, and Otsukotsu from the Shizuoka Gakumonjo was also recruited. The aforementioned Taguchi Ukichi and Shimada Saburo (later Speaker of the House of Representatives) gained strength at the Translation Bureau and were active on the political and economic stages.

After leaving the Ministry of Finance with Otsukotsu in September 1875, Shinpachi devoted himself to education at the Gakusha, but around 1879, he began considering closing the school due to his own health problems. In the end, his student Hatano Denzaburo and others cooperated to take over the school management and education, avoiding closure.

During this period, Shinpachi poured his energy into translating the British philosopher Herbert Spencer's "Education: Intellectual, Moral, Physical" (1875). He was so dedicated that he wrote letters directly to Spencer to clarify doubts and uncertainties. Thus, in April 1880, "S-shi Kyoikuron" was published. It was not only read by people interested in free Western education, but its accurate translation, which was so natural in Japanese that it was called "better prose than the original" (Tokiomi Kaigo, "Explanatory Notes on S-shi Kyoikuron," 1928), continues to be highly evaluated today (Takashi Morikawa, "Translation Attitudes of Early Meiji English Scholars: A Partial Examination of Seki Shinpachi's Translation of 'S-shi Kyoikuron'", etc.). Furthermore, Mr. Morikawa states that "translators of the late Edo and early Meiji periods, including Seki Shinpachi, mastered English through the lens of Classical Chinese." Shinpachi was likely able to demonstrate such outstanding language skills because he was a kind of "trilingual" who could freely handle Japanese, Chinese, and English.

Around the time "S-shi Kyoikuron" was published, the Gakusha closed. It is thought that the closure was due to the fact that core members of the Gakusha formed the Omeisha and actively engaged in the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, leading many disciples to become targets of crackdowns, as well as Shinpachi's worsening illness.

In his final years, Shinpachi began working on an English-Japanese dictionary. At the time, there were no suitable dictionaries for beginners, and he was conscious of making it accurate and easy to understand. However, his health did not improve, and Nagamine Hideki worked on the parts from the letter F onward. Ultimately, the "Meiji English-Japanese Dictionary" was completed in April 1889, about two and a half years after Shinpachi's death.

Shinpachi died of pulmonary tuberculosis on November 28, 1886, in Atami, where he had been recuperating. Due to Shinpachi's will, which feared the spread of the disease, almost all of his personal belongings were burned, and very few historical materials remain today.

Mr. Tsugiro Seki carefully analyzed the rare historical materials and clearly summarized Shinpachi's life in a biography. What caught my attention in the "Afterword" of "Pioneer of English Studies" was that Mr. Tsugiro lamented Shinpachi's "treatment in Kanagawa and Yokohama." In Tokyo, there is a monument for the "Former Site of the Seki Family Residence" and an explanatory board for "Seki Shinpachi's Achievements" in Kitayamabushi-cho, Shinjuku-ku, and an explanatory board by the Curriculum Advisory Committee titled "Site of Seki Shinpachi's Kyoritsu Gakusha" is installed at the site of the Kyoritsu Gakusha (on the grounds of Sumida Municipal Ryogoku Elementary School).

On the other hand, in Yokohama, although he worked at the Customs House, sheltered Iba Hachiro (who had lost an arm in Hakone) at his home (the exact location is unknown), and must have opened his first English Juku at that home, no mention of Shinpachi can be found even in official publications. I sincerely hope that this article will serve as an opportunity to respond to the feelings of Mr. Tsugiro, who left behind the sentiment that it is "somewhat regrettable" that so little interest is directed toward Shinpachi in Yokohama.