Satsuma Domain

Satsuma was connected to the world even before the country opened up to the world - History tells us about Kagoshima's international character

During the Edo period, Japan was under a policy of national isolation, which severely restricted direct exchange with the outside world. However, there was one domain that remained an exception and maintained contact with the "outside world." This domain was the Satsuma Domain , which ruled over what is now Kagoshima Prefecture.

The Satsuma Domain was not just a local feudal lord. It was an extremely forward-thinking entity, with an open outlook on diplomacy, trade, and technological exchanges that was hard to imagine in the Edo period, and it achieved modernization ahead of the Meiji Restoration.

The network of "secret diplomacy" built through the Ryukyu Kingdom

A major turning point was the Satsuma invasion of Ryukyu in 1609. The Satsuma domain effectively placed Ryukyu, which was then an independent kingdom, under its control. However, on the surface, they respected the independence of the Ryukyu Kingdom and allowed it to continue tributary trade with Qing China (present-day China).

This allowed the Satsuma domain to evade the shogunate's watchful eye and maintain indirect trade routes with China and Southeast Asia , strengthening the domain's economic power by obtaining valuable goods such as medicines, silk, and ceramics from China, and spices and precious metals from Southeast Asia.

This system could be called "backroom diplomacy," and it fostered an international perspective and economic sense not found in other domains.

Shimazu Nariakira, who introduced the world's most advanced technology to Kagoshima

As the 19th century began, contacts with overseas countries became even stronger.
Shimazu Nariakira, the 11th lord of the Satsuma domain , had a strong interest in Western civilization and used all of the domain's resources to promote the introduction of modern industry .

Nariakira built Sengan-en Garden in Kagoshima City and established a group of factories called Shoko Shuseikan in one corner of the garden . Here, prototypes of steam engines, reverberatory furnaces (for melting iron to cast cannons), glass products, spinning machines, and more were produced, and the place was even called "the birthplace of modern Japanese industry."

At the time, no other domain in Japan had adopted Western technology so quickly.

Sending young people abroad: The achievements of Satsuma students studying in Britain

The most notable incident was the stowaway of students from the Satsuma domain to Britain in 1865.
This is a shocking story in which the Satsuma domain unilaterally sent 19 young people to England without permission from the shogunate.

These young men studied law, engineering, military affairs, and languages ​​in what is now London and Manchester, and after returning to Japan, they held important positions in the Meiji government and became founders of educational institutions.
The ship they were on was called the " Student Ship ," and their feat is still talked about today.

The Satsuma-British War and the Transformation from "Enemy" to "Partner"

In addition, the Satsuma domain experienced war with Britain (the Anglo-Satsuma War) in 1863.
After this clash, in which Kagoshima City was subjected to naval bombardment, relations between the Satsuma Domain and Britain rapidly improved and they built a cooperative relationship.

The Satsuma domain's attitude of learning from the war and realizing the importance of diplomacy provided important insights into the subsequent opening of the country and restoration of Japan.

Evidence of international exchange remaining in Kagoshima

In present-day Kagoshima City, there are many spots where you can experience the international footprint of the Satsuma domain.

• Sengan-en : This was Shimazu Nariakira's villa and a stage for exchanges with foreigners. Along with the beautiful garden, you can learn about the history of the introduction of technology.

• Shoko Shuseikan : Exhibits showcasing the introduction of Western technology and the process of industrialization. A valuable facility as an industrial heritage site.

• Studentship Memorial : This monument was erected at the point where students from the UK embarked, and is an inspiring place for young people today.
  

A journey to experience a "global mind" that transcends history

The true greatness of the Satsuma domain lies not just in its military and economic power, but also in its "flexible thinking that transcends the times" and "will to learn from the world."

In an era when contact with the outside world was prohibited, Kagoshima looked out to the world by cultivating knowledge, technology, and human resources .
This spirit can be said to be a "true global mind" that is applicable in today's international society.

When traveling to Kagoshima, be sure to take a look at this international side and experience the depth of its history.