1. Why Takeaki Enomoto?

First, I would like to introduce Takeaki Enomoto briefly since he has also been largely forgotten by the Japanese themselves, and give a very quick overview of his life:
*He was born into a Samurai family and studied abroad.
*He fought against the new government and lost.
*He turned to the new government and served as minister of foreign affairs and became an accomplished statesman.

When he is 18 years old, Enomoto becomes the assistant of Toshihiro Hori* who is working for the Bakufu in charge of Ezo(Hokkaido) and Sakhalin. Later, Hori becomes a negotiator to the Prussians who are asking the Bakufu to open the country up to trade because he speaks good Dutch and possesses impressive knowledge of European affairs. Later, in 1860 he commits suicide due to differences over thoughts and opinions between him and Nobumasa Ando*,the Bakufu’s chief councilor. Alongside Hori, Enomoto goes to places such as Ezo (in Hokkaido) and Sakhalin. Through this exploration, Enomoto recognizes the importance of homeland security especially the protection of Japan from Russia.

In order to contribute to strengthen the Japanese navy, Enomoto enters the Nagasaki naval training center and subsequently goes to Holland for further study.

After his return from Holland, despite bringing back his knowledge of foreign cultures, he joins the old Bakufu regime, helping to fight the new Meiji government. This fight is called the Boshin War and then following the Battle of Hakodate. Enomoto and his troops are defeated and he and his five commanders are imprisoned, but with the help of Kiyotaka Kuroda*, his wartime enemy, and Yukichi Fukuzawa*, the founder of Keio university, Enomoto and his five commanders manage to survive.

After his release, Enomoto turns over a new leaf and takes part in the pioneering of Hokkaido on Kuroda’s proposition. Later on, when Kuroda established a new government cabinet, Enomoto is welcomed into the Cabinet, where he works as Minister of Education, a general diplomat and also as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Enomoto is entrusted with all of the negotiations with Russia due to his language ability and his personality. After making agreements with Russia, he returns to Japan from Saint Petersburg through Siberia by horse-drawn carriage. (This seemingly relates to his activity and interest in surveying the North in his early years.)

Probably the period needed a modernized person like Enomoto’s another character but Samurai, after the new Meiji government was established. I would like to look further into Enomoto’s traits and flaws, by introducing some of his works, talents, his achievements as a technician and battle leader, and his impressive diplomatic skills. After doing so, I would like to explain his decision to support the old regime (as opposed to Kaishu Katsu) and also to give some suggestions about education inspired by Enomoto’s example.

( p.2 )