1871 Era Photo Of Young Count Tokugawa Atsumori With Sword - Enjoy!

[kanjite]

I am currently researching some photos of Japanese students that were sent to the U.S. in 1870s to be educated. This group is referenced in the following Japanese & English pdf:

 

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jeigakushi1969/1999/31/1999_31_111/_pdf

 

Here is the latest student I was able to identify:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79zxdt-CItza0FXZlhjWmZ6eEU/view?usp=sharing

 

This student is listed in the above pdf asShimidzu, A. 清 水 篤 守. I think this image was likely taken upon his arrival in America around 1871 which would make him about 15.

 

I've been able to determine who he is; however, many of the sources appear to be written in Japanese or Chinese so I must use a service such as Google translate which is often lacking.

 

https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ja&u=http://admiral3166.ddo.jp/wiki31/en/index.php/%25E5%25BE%25B3%25E5%25B7%259D%25E7%25AF%25A4%25E6%2595%25AC&usg=ALkJrhgd2ZSTyN1Mh-e5V-504L0EA8FDmA

 

https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=zh-CN&u=https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25E5%25BE%25B7%25E5%25B7%259D%25E7%25AF%25A4%25E5%25AE%2588&usg=ALkJrhjdlGXeGhqOGIdHSl2JKbsmJPCsXg

 

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25E5%25BE%25B3%25E5%25B7%259D%25E7%25AF%25A4%25E5%25AE%2588&prev=search

 

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=https://reichsarchiv.jp/%25E5%25AE%25B6%25E7%25B3%25BB%25E3%2583%25AA%25E3%2582%25B9%25E3%2583%2588/%25E5%25BE%25B3%25E5%25B7%259D%25EF%25BC%2588%25E5%25BE%25B7%25E5%25B7%259D%25EF%25BC%2589%25E6%25B0%258F%25EF%25BC%2588%25E5%25BE%25A1%25E4%25B8%2589%25E5%258D%25BF%25E3%2583%25BB%25E6%25B8%2585%25E6%25B0%25B4%25E5%25BE%25B3%25E5%25B7%259D%25E5%25AE%25B6%25EF%25BC%2589&prev=search

 

Depending on the time period there is actually several versions to his name (see below) and he is referred to various titles such earl, prince, lord, and count:

Tsunesaburo Matsudaira (childhood name)

Tokugawa Atsumori (1856-1924)

Tokugawa AtsushiMamoru

 

Count Tokugawa Atsumori

"1871 changing one's family name Shimizu"

"1877 changing one's family name Tokugawa"

 

By the 1890s he was involved in some financial problems and was convicted of criminal activity which forced him to resign his position:

 

 

https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=shFDAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA662

 

His son (Yoshitoshi Tokugawa); however, was an important figure in Japanese aviation:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshitoshi_Tokugawa

 

His name is recorded on the back of the photo as (probably written by a member of host family he was living with in America):

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79zxdt-CItzQW1jNlpPQktYdTQ/view?usp=sharing

 

Sword:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79zxdt-CItzeWZMaUpDZlJMNWM/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79zxdt-CItzYmVhal9wcy10cVk/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79zxdt-CItzbDc0aHFiRnF6VUE/view?usp=sharing

 

Hair:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79zxdt-CItzanFrOUh4S0FSeTQ/view?usp=sharing

 

Clothing:

 

The outer clothing appears to covered in a pattern from top to bottom which perhaps pertains to his clan

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79zxdt-CItzVkpBSGI2RTZ3U0k/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79zxdt-CItzMXNhR0JEbUdWRFE/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79zxdt-CItzNmNrSjNJRzVZZm8/view?usp=sharing

 

I would appreciate any input regarding the sword, clothing, & hair.

 

[SteveM]

Hello George,

 

The Shimizus are a privileged branch of the Tokugawa family. Google Translate doesn't handle the many variations of Japanese names well, and so the two characters that make up the name Atsumori (篤 + 守) sometimes get rendered awkwardly, such as the "AtsushiMamoru" that you have above. Atsumori would have had fairly high status as a member of the Shimizu clan, and so he would have been referred to as lord or possibly prince (even though he was far down on the succession list). In the late 1800's, the Japanese government implemented an almost European royal hierarchy system, using royal titles imported from China. Shimizu was given the title of "伯爵" (Hakushaku) which is sometimes translated as Count, and sometimes as Earl.

 

In the picture, he is wearing a kanmuri-type crown. His hair is pulled and oiled back, and the crown is fixed to the head using a strap that goes under the chin.

http://www.shouzokushi.com/item/detail.php?no=19

 

The sword is a tachi. Not much to say about it from the outside - one can only guess as to what the scabbard is holding inside. Given that he is just a boy in this picture, we might guess that it is a smallish sword, and probably not anything of huge value, but that is just my speculation.

 

Clothing...very far from my area of expertise, I'm afraid. To me, the picture you have posted looks like it might have been taken on the occasion of his "coming of age". It looks more like formal Japanese court attire, rather than traveling gear. He looks very boyish!. Great picture.

 

Here is a picture of him in later life (the first picture)

http://omugio.exblog.jp/17544006/

 

[BIG]

Hi George,

 

a link to the costume....

 

http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/

 

Best Regards

[Geraint]

Dear George,

 

The sword mounting is a type called hoso tachi which is specifically for court wear.  The mounting style is very slim so while it does look small it may be a normal size sword.  We will never know what the blade is like but you can do a search for images of hoso tachi and find some examples.

 

All the best.