Background
Shonan Yokoi (his real name was Yokoi Tokiari) was born on September 22, 1808 in Kumamoto, Japan. He was a samurai and a distant descendant of Hojo Takatoki.
小楠 横井
Shonan Yokoi (his real name was Yokoi Tokiari) was born on September 22, 1808 in Kumamoto, Japan. He was a samurai and a distant descendant of Hojo Takatoki.
He was sent by the domain to Edo in 1839 for studies, and developed contacts with pro-reform members of the Mito domain.
Shonan Yokoi was sent by the domain to Edo (now Tokyo) in 1839 for studies, and developed contacts with pro-reform members of the Mito domain. After his return to Kumamoto, he started a group to promote the reform of domain administration along Neo-Confucianism lines, opening a domain school called Shonan-do.
In 1857, he was invited by the daimyo of Echizen, Matsudaira Yoshinaga to become his political advisor. While in Fukui, Yokoi wrote "Kokuze Sanron" (the Three Major Discussion of State Policy).
In 1862, Matsudaira was unexpectedly made acting prime minister of the Tokugawa administration (seiji sosai) in a move calculated to obtain imperial approval for the Shōgun's actions in signing unequal treaties (similar to those signed by Qing dynasty China) with the western powers in 1858, ending the national seclusion policy which was supported by the Imperial Court, and Yokoi accompanied him to Edo (now Tokyo).
Shonan Yokoi called for a complete reform of the Tokugawa government, including reconciliation between the Shogunate and the Imperial Court. He also called for the complete opening of Japan to foreign trade, economic reform, and establishment of a modern military along western lines. He also called for a national assembly of the major domains, with the Shōgun evolving into something that resembled a prime minister. Outraged and astounded by these radical ideas, conservatives within the government quickly stripped Yokoi of his posts, and even his samurai status, and placed him under house arrest in Kumamoto. However, while in exile, Yokoi continued to maintain contact with Katsu Kaishū and other reform-minded members of government.
After the Meiji Restoration, Yokoi was freed by the new Meiji government, and honored with the title of san'yo (councilor). However, Yokoi was assassinated in 1869 by conservative samurai who suspected him of being a Christian, and of harboring secret republican sentiments.
Shonan Yokoi married Yajima Tsuseko and had two children with her, Miyako and Tokio. Yokoi’s eldest son, Yokoi Tokio (1857-1928), was a Christian minister and president of Doshisha University in Kyoto. He edited a volume of his father’s posthumous works, which was published in 1889 under the title Shonan iko.
