150th Anniversary of Manjiro's Return to Nakanohahma--Special Report!

Masao Tsujioka of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers(JOCV),Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) participated in a very interesting event on the 13th October, with Mr. Aono of Tosa-City. He sent us the following information and photos for which we are grateful.

  

The mayor of Tosa-shimizu City was the host of the event, and Dr and Mrs Nakahama attended as guests.
Nearly all of the villagers of Nakanohama gathered at the event. Everybody looked happy to have this happy event. Mr. Tsujika was very much impressed to directly feel that John Man [Manjiro] is still alive in the mind of people of his hometown and he continues to encourage people through his way of life, forwards thinking.

Dr. and Mrs Nakahama visited the descendant of the boat captain, Mr Fudenojo and pay tribute to the cemetery of Fudenojo and his brothers Goemon, and Jusuke at Usa on the day before the new monument opening ceremony at Nakanohama. This is really a big and impressive meeting between John Mung's and Fudenojoo's families realized for the first time since one hundred fifty years ago. Dr. Nakahama particularly looked very much happy at the meeting, having explained why John Mung was not able to visit Fudenojoo's at that period, according to Mr. Aono, who arranged their historical meeting.

  

From left; Dr. and Mrs Nakahama pay tribute to the tombs of Fudenojoo(Denzo) , his younger brothers Goemon and Juusuke. (Juusuke died in Hawaii, however his family made his tomb, though it is an empty tomb, beside his brothers at the same place.)
Dr. Nakahama and Mrs. Morita, now head of the house, fourth generation as a descendant Fudenojoo of direct lineage. They are both fourth generation of John Mung and Fudenojoo, the captain of the fishing boat.
Dr.Nakahama and Mr. Aono in front of the new monument.

What impressed me is that Dr. Nakahama, for his ancestor John Manjiroo, has long waited this opportunity to greet the family of Fudenojoo. Because John Mung, after having been employed an officer in the government, was not able to visit his old friends in Usa, the port village which they departed to the fateful voyage. Dr. Nakahahama thought that he should visit Fudenojoo brothers' descendant to restore nice relationship as the members on the small fishing boat must have been so.

Masao Tsujioka of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers(JOCV),Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA)

Back to the Manjiro Page.