Background
Nazaemon was born in 1817 in Hizen Province, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. He was assassinated in May 1863, by several young samurais who favored war.
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Nazaemon Nakajima
Edit Profile名左衞門 中島
also known as
Shodo
Education
Nazaemon learned Dutch and gunnery from Dutchmen directly. Nazaemon was the first disciple of Shuhan who was directly taught by Dutchmen.
Career
In 1832 Nazaemon became a servant of Shuhan Takashima, a Western gunnery expert in Nagasaki. Together with Shuhan, he was allowed to visit the Dutch commercial house in the city. In 1855 he became a teacher of gunnery to clan officials of Nagasaki, lived in the villa of Shuhan and taught samurai of various clans. He moved to Hagi in Nagato Province (Yamaguchi Prefecture) and in 1868 served Lord Takachika Mori of Nagato at the latter's invitation. He worked for the Mori clan's coastal defense and its various reforms. At the time, the clan was divided into two factions, one favoring war against foreigners and the other objecting it. Nazaemon opposed war because the clan still was not fully prepared militarily.
