The Choshu five (長州五傑 Chōshū Goketsu) were members of the Choshu han of western Japan who studied in England at University College London under the guidance of Professor Alexander William Williamson. It was still illegal to leave Japan when they left, as sakoku was still practically in force until the Meiji Restoration. Nagato (Ja. ... The Han (è—©) were the fiefs of feudal clans of Japan that existed during all the Edo period and for a few years after the Meiji Restoration. ... University College London, commonly known as UCL, is one of the colleges that make up the University of London. ... Sakoku (Japanese: 鎖国, literally country in chains) was the foreign relations policy of the Tokugawa shogunate, whereby nobody, whether foreign or Japanese, could enter or leave Japan on pain of death. ... The Meiji Restoration (Japanese: 明治維新, Meiji-ishin), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to a change in Japans political and social structure. ...

A Mr. Weigal, Thomas Glover's manager in Yokohama, put the Choshu youths, disguised as English sailors, aboard a reluctant Captain J. S. Gower's vessel at 1000 ryo each, bound for Shanghai where they were sheltered on an opium storage ship before dividing into two groups for the long voyage to London. For the town of Yokohama in Aomori Prefecture, see Yokohama, Aomori. ... Shanghai (Chinese: 上海; pinyin: ; Shanghainese IPA: ), situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta, is Chinas largest city. ... The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ...

When they reached London the Choshu students were introduced by William Matheson to Professor Alexander Williamson.

Inoue Kaoru and Ito Hirobumi, destined to be two of the greatest Japanese statesmen of the age, worked as deckhands aboard the 1500 ton steamer Pegasus on the voyage to Europe. They also returned earlier than the other three when they realised that the Choshu clan was in danger of attack by the allied powers for trying to close the Straits of Shimonoseki to foreign shipping. Kanmonkyo Bridge from the Moji side The Kanmon Straits (関門海峡 Kanmon Kaikyō) or Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating two of Japans four main islands. ...

Identity of the Choshu Five

• Ito Shunsuke (later Ito Hirobumi)
• Inoue Monta (later Inoue Kaoru)
• Yamao Yozo who later studied engineering at the Andersonian Institute, Glasgow, 1866-68 while working at the River Clyde shipyards by day
• Endo Kinsuke
• Nomura Yakichi (later Inoue Masaru).

Born in Hagi, Yamaguchi, Prince Itō Hirobumi (伊藤 博文 Itō Hirobumi 1841–1909, also called Hirofumi/Hakubun) was a Japanese politician and the countrys first Prime Minister (and the 5th, 7th and 10th). ... 1880 (Meiji 13) Inoue Kaoru (井上 馨 Inoue Kaoru, January 16, 1836 - September 1, 1915;) was a Japanese statesman. ... Glasgows location in Scotland Glasgow (or Glaschu in Gaelic) is Scotlands largest city, situated on the River Clyde in the countrys west central lowlands. ... The River Clyde, looking eastwards upstream, as it passes beneath the Kingston Bridge. ...

See also

• Japanese students in Britain

External Links

• Nagasaki in the Meiji Restoration - links Thomas Glover and the Choshu Five