Kumpei Gamō

Background

Gamō Kumpei was born in 1768 in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Originally he was named Hidezane and was also called Isaburō.

Education

Gamō Kumpei was a pupil of Hokuzan Yamamoto, who was a Japanese shakuhachi (bamboo flute) player, composer and lecturer.

Career

A learned scholar, he realized the importance of coastal defense when Russian warships began approaching the northern coasts of Japan. To drive home his theory, in 1807, he published Fujutsui in an attempt to alter the situation. The book offended the Shogunate and it was only after Shihei Hayashi intervened that he was spared punishment. After this he remained in seclusion devoting his time to teaching.

Works

• book

  • Fujutsui

    1807

Personality

Gamō Kumpei was a Confucian scholar who was considered as one of the three most eccentric persons of the Kansei Era, the other two being Hikokuro Takayama and Shihei Hayashi.