New Journal of Japanese history

I've been dragged away from Bakumatsu research due to a consulting gig
that had me focus on the 1850s, so I haven't had much time to get
deeper in, but I wanted to let everyone here know that I am working
with a group of people to publish a new history journal - simply
titled "The Samurai Archives Journal of Japanese History". Our focus
will be on pre-20th century Japan, although we'll make allowances for
Meiji era histories as well. Pretty much everything is set up and
ready to go, including publishing and distribution; we're in the
process of accepting submissions, so if anyone is interested, here is
the website with information on the journal, the staff, and the
submission process:
http://www.samurai-archives.com/journal/index.html

Thanks!

Dear Kitsuno, thank you for posting to the list to announce this
venture, I had some questions...


*I wanted to let everyone here know that I am working

> with a group of people to publish a new history journal - simply
> titled "The Samurai Archives Journal of Japanese History".

1) has this journal consulted with other publications such as Monumenta
Nipponica or Journal of Asian Studies, in other words what will your
journal provide which these older publications cannot---I think that
your journal will allow for opportunities to encourage and refine
independent scholarship (especially for undergrads). So I'm glad to
see you enter this field and hopefully inform JAS or MN (by providing a
new venue). JAS and MN have very strict rules on what they accept and
what they publish. I'm not saying your publication was intended to
compete with JAS/MN but perhaps offer something different (^_^)

*Our focus will be on pre-20th century Japan, although we'll make
allowances for

> Meiji era histories as well.

2) I noticed the strength of your staff are the prestigious
qualifications of some individuals and the wide ranging interests of
others which will serve as a key to your future success. However, let's
say if I were to submit an article on the Meiji Educational system as
it relates to the perversion of bushido and rise of fascism (yes as
early as 1890s...predating good ole Italian model but it's evident in
the many works dealing w/ the topic)...your staff may not be able to
provide a peer evaluation.

Would you seek qualified guest editors to assist in oversight of the
scholarship (even if it is from someone not traditionally part of the
field?). Have you approached maybe the young up and coming open minded
professors to assist in this effort?

> ready to go, including publishing and distribution; we're in the

3) how will SA-JJH sustain itself? I am worried because I feel that
it's tough if you guys have to pay out of pocket. Have you acquired a
grant? If so then perhaps a grant to back you on this project will
also help this magazine be distributed to research libraries in the
USA. My concern is, from my own experience many magazines after a
certain number of issues do have to close down and in the process the
meticulously written work ends up becoming a rarity for students to
find/read. Aside from the online format which everyone can read and I
assume the print formatting, will you consider CD formats for libraries
too? Will you try to get this publication onto library databases
(which can subscribe to you or link to articles?). Ofcourse the online
format will be most accessible however students in school would feel
more comfortable if perhaps their library's East Asian bibliographer
has approved of the journal as a source of info as well---and with the
qualifcations of your staff I'm sure they would be able to devise a
good strategy for penetrating academia and make this a valuable
resource.

what are the long term goals of this magazine? will it exist years
from now? part of why JAS/MN are held in high esteem is that they are
very stable and authors feel that their work will be preserved for
decades...do you have a back up plan for your magazine if someone
should need to take a break from it? For the SHQ we are just
volunteers so we don't have to worry about it really. But your journal
is a very ambitious effort and I was concerned with its stability.

Kitsuno,

I had some ideas, have some of your friends or yourself with some ties
in academia announced this to Japanese studies departments in the USA,
UK and AU? I think some undergrads in teh field would be very grateful
for this opportunity to submit their work. You may also state very
clearly (several times) on the site that the work remains the property
of the author etc. Also universities have cultural centers which are
interdisciplinary and can bring in people from different fields to
explore samurai history from different angles...example the science
of "martial arts".

Have you tried to contact some of the older professors in teh field and
gotten their take on this project?

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, "secretary" wrote:

>
> Kitsuno,
>
> I had some ideas, have some of your friends or yourself with some ties
> in academia announced this to Japanese studies departments in the USA,
> UK and AU? I think some undergrads in teh field would be very grateful
> for this opportunity to submit their work. You may also state very
> clearly (several times) on the site that the work remains the property
> of the author etc. Also universities have cultural centers which are
> interdisciplinary and can bring in people from different fields to
> explore samurai history from different angles...example the science
> of "martial arts".
>
> Have you tried to contact some of the older professors in teh field and
> gotten their take on this project?
>

I have friends in the Japanese history department at the University of
Hawaii who are informing the staff, and once we get things really
rolling we hope to involve Dr. Paul Varley in the process (he was the
thesis advisor of one of my friends). I also have a friend at the
University of London who is doing the same. I have a few more
contacts at Harvard and some west coast universities, but I can't
honestly expect much from harvard (a harvard student would probably
have to stoop pretty low to submit a paper for publication in a
non-academic journal :D), but that is the extent of my connections,
although I do know "a few people who know people", so it probably
would be a good idea to look to them for input. I am encouraging
anyone in a history program to inform the staff of their respective
universities.

We have indicated on the website that the authors retain their own
copyright, but like you said, I should probably really highlight that.
Also, I like the word "interdisciplinary" - that was the intent of
"free to approach from whichever discipline you wish", but
"interdisciplinary" is a great word to use, I'll fix it up with my
next update. I am really interested in the interdisciplinary concept,
and also to really go after the topics that "regular" academics and
journals avoid, i.e. biography, military history, and narrative
history. I find dry meta-analysis boring, but narrative histories that
bring the history to life has always been my favorite.

The initial ideas for articles that I've heard so far have been
interesting and encouraging (including a person who is using medical
databases and research to examine the cause of death of some Sengoku
era Daimyo based on the various symptoms listed in primary sources).
It should be all around interesting. I've been translating the early
17 century text "Shinchokoki" (record of Oda Nobunaga), so my first
part will go into the first issue. I'm also really fascinated with
Nagakura Shinpachi's journal, so I hope to translate some of that for
the future. The main thing at the moment is to really get the word
out about the journal and get the submissions. I have a good group of
editors, as well as some "informal" editors in the UH Japanese history
PhD program, so I'm hoping for a pretty high quality product.

Not to mention, I have to admit I like the concept of the copyright
laws that protect published material far better than the spotty laws
on "publishing" on the internet - I think this is the logical next
step. I can publish my translations and make them available, and
frankly not have to worry about them being copied and pasted into
wikipedia or other random web pages.

Oops, I missed the second half of your email - my answers are below.

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, "secretary" wrote:
>
>
> 2) I noticed the strength of your staff are the prestigious
> qualifications of some individuals and the wide ranging interests of
> others which will serve as a key to your future success. However, let's
> say if I were to submit an article on the Meiji Educational system as
> it relates to the perversion of bushido and rise of fascism (yes as
> early as 1890s...predating good ole Italian model but it's evident in
> the many works dealing w/ the topic)...your staff may not be able to
> provide a peer evaluation.
>
> Would you seek qualified guest editors to assist in oversight of the
> scholarship (even if it is from someone not traditionally part of the
> field?). Have you approached maybe the young up and coming open minded
> professors to assist in this effort?

"Peer Review" is a tough one. I'm trying to cover the bases with the
official staff, but like you said, there are some holes. The major
advantage of having people who know the history read it is that they
can notice inconsistencies and questionable sources, etc. I hadn't put
a large amount of thought into it, but I do know enough people who
know other people to hopefully cover all the bases. It will be on a
case by case basis - I don't forsee a big problem, but I hope to get
applicable papers to at least one relative expert before okaying
anything for publication. I haven't approached any upcoming professors
per se (yet), but I do have a fair pool of Graduate level historians
who are qualified to either help directly with the process, or point
me in the right direction. I don't expect to be ready to publish the
first issue until february or march of next year, so that should give
me enough time to get everything squared away.



>
> 3) how will SA-JJH sustain itself? I am worried because I feel that
> it's tough if you guys have to pay out of pocket. Have you acquired a
> grant? If so then perhaps a grant to back you on this project will
> also help this magazine be distributed to research libraries in the
> USA. My concern is, from my own experience many magazines after a
> certain number of issues do have to close down and in the process the
> meticulously written work ends up becoming a rarity for students to
> find/read. Aside from the online format which everyone can read and I
> assume the print formatting, will you consider CD formats for libraries
> too? Will you try to get this publication onto library databases
> (which can subscribe to you or link to articles?). Ofcourse the online
> format will be most accessible however students in school would feel
> more comfortable if perhaps their library's East Asian bibliographer
> has approved of the journal as a source of info as well---and with the
> qualifcations of your staff I'm sure they would be able to devise a
> good strategy for penetrating academia and make this a valuable
> resource.


To make a long story short, I'm in the process of creating my own
publishing company (so I'll be doing more than just this journal) - I
have a "print on demand" distributor with rates that are extremely
affordable, and the journal would be made available immediately on
amazon.com (and the canada and UK version) and barnesandnoble.com). I
will also have the option of e-books. Basically, since there are no
"bells and whistles" (no editors, no designers, no getting them on the
shelves in bookstores, pretty much nothing- they publish what I give
them), all they do is publish and distribute, so it is extremely
affordable, and there are no limits to how many issues they publish. I
can also buy them very cheaply to distribute myself. Which means that
I would have to go to bookstores personally (or my other staff
members) to get them on the shelves or in libraries. Another friend
of mine has already done this, and I was extremely impressed with the
service and the finished products, so I am more than confident in the
distributor. But like I said, aside from online sources, the rest is
up to myself and the staff. So, on the one hand, it is very
affordable, but on the other hand, it is up to us to market. Having
it on the various amazon.com and B&N sites is a huge help though.

I have looked at grants from the government, nothing really is
applicable. Frankly, I don't *need* a grant, but it would be very
nice. I'm not entirely sure where to look.


>
> what are the long term goals of this magazine? will it exist years
> from now? part of why JAS/MN are held in high esteem is that they are
> very stable and authors feel that their work will be preserved for
> decades...do you have a back up plan for your magazine if someone
> should need to take a break from it? For the SHQ we are just
> volunteers so we don't have to worry about it really. But your journal
> is a very ambitious effort and I was concerned with its stability.
>


Basically (and this could be a problem), we can only keep it going for
as long as we get quality submissions. That aside, the book will be
available online for as long as I'm willing to pay $12 per year per
issue. The goal, of course, is to build a base of both readers and
contributors, and hopefully it will become self sustaining. I plan to
wait until I have enough papers for a year of issues (4 issues) - they
will be in book form, rather than "magazine" form, and I also have the
option of hardcover or softcover, whichever I prefer, although I'm
planning on paperback. I also intend to republish 19th century books
on Japan, written by sailors and academics and diplomats to help
sustain the business. I actually have a book coming out within a
couple months - "Japan and Her People" by Anna Hartshorne, edited by
myself and my publisher friend, so that should give me some indication
of the market for that type of book. Here is the link to that:
http://www.typeandculture.com/?page_id=36

Lian Hearn (Author of the Tales of the Otori series) was kind enough
to write the introduction to this edition.

So, right now I just have an ambitious plan. Hopefully by the end of
this year it will come together.

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it!

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, "secretary" wrote:

>
> 1) has this journal consulted with other publications such as Monumenta
> Nipponica or Journal of Asian Studies, in other words what will your
> journal provide which these older publications cannot---I think that
> your journal will allow for opportunities to encourage and refine
> independent scholarship (especially for undergrads). So I'm glad to
> see you enter this field and hopefully inform JAS or MN (by providing a
> new venue). JAS and MN have very strict rules on what they accept and
> what they publish. I'm not saying your publication was intended to
> compete with JAS/MN but perhaps offer something different (^_^)

Oh, looks like I mixed your two messages, and then missed this one.
Obviously we are on a different playing field than the MN and JAS or
the journal of Japanese Studies, and one of the reasons for our
journal is specifically what you stated - no one I know can ever hope
to be published in any of the above. Also, the above are restricted by
what is in vogue in academia, so we are able to sidestep that and
hopefully be able to publish what people want to read, rather than
what academia wants to publish. No academic is going to attempt to put
time and effort into something that interests them if they didn't
think that an academic journal would publish it. And, like I said,
Japanese military history, narrative history, and biography is
apparently frowned upon currently. If you don't believe me, check out
the PMJS mailing list :P - it's all about heian books, art history,
intellectual history, and other things that I have no interest in ever
actually reading :D

(my apologies ahead of time to SHQ ML friends for deviating off-topic)

I will ask Kitsuno for infos about a western female educator in Japan
during the later Meiji Era. You may wonder well "and this has
something to do with the Shinsengumi how???".

The answer is this:
Fujita Goro and Fujita Tokio had devoted *years* of their life at the
Tokyo Women's Normal School (it had some name changes, won't list them
here) but the TWNS had *EXTENSIVE* interaction with Jyoshi Eigakujyuku
(Tsuda Jyuku Univ)---students interacted and observed classes, in fact
staff and faculty were friends and there were even shared social
gathers (parties!)...I am casting a wide net here and even in the
published (and censored) letters of Tsuda Ume, some details about TWNS
did emerge (not to mention some serious dirt on MEIJI VIPS). Tsuda Ume
is a confirmed gal pal of Yamakawa Futaba (WHO WAS A FRIEND OF TOKIO,
actually Tokio's superior at the school).

My gameplan was, study TWNS and sooner or later Mr. and Mrs. Fujita
WILL appear (the issue for me friends is money...intuition tells me
that Mr. and Mrs. Fujita are sitting at the WOmen's STudies Library in
Ochanomizu---which has one of the largest collections on the topic
from that era...lots of stuff still there! I just can't get to Tokyo
nor can I hire someone who can read Japanese from that era....)

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, "Kitsuno" wrote:
"I actually have a book coming out within a
couple months - "Japan and Her People" by Anna Hartshorne, edited by
myself and my publisher friend, so that should give me some indication
of the market for that type of book. Here is the link to that:
http://www.typeandculture.com/?page_id=36

Lian Hearn (Author of the Tales of the Otori series) was kind enough
to write the introduction to this edition."

Dear Kitsuno,
I am a bit familiar with Anna C. Hartshorne, her contribution to
Tsuda's institution and the role Hartshorne played in preserving the
Tsuda's famous Attic Letters. ACH, is a major figure in Christian
education in that era, I was always curious to read her works because
I'd like to see if she mentions Takamine Hideo who played a key role
in establishing Jyoshi Eigakujyuku's Scholarship committee for Tsuda
Ume (and sent her packing to Oswego NY). Sometimes Takamine comes off
as shady and a bit cunning (perfectly understandable given the
politics). If you come across something on T-sensei or TWNS send me
an email---I have some pieces of the puzzle still. The Min. of
Education was really functioning like a gigantic gang most of the time
and detractors set up their own "gangs" if you will and one posse was
the pro-women's education group (which ofcourse ACH was part of).

So you were so lucky to work on ACH's book!

It's my understanding that this book was already pubished (however I
cannot acquire it through my library) as noted here
http://www.ilab.org/db/book804_HB8225.html

so this a republication of her 1902 book correct? But refined by you.
Does she discuss women's educ. much? You know scholars like LIncicome
would want it (if it does cover education).

Alot of people here on SHQ ML may like LIan Hearn's fiction and it's
very awesome she wrote the intro to your book. She's like the JK
ROWLING of Japan/fantasy. Please tell us of all your future projects
so if some of us have the money we can snap up the books.

I hear Lian Hearn is planning possibly a BAKUMATSU BOOK----likely set
in KYOTO? Will the Shinsengumi make a cameo appearance? YOU MUST
TELL US...we'll keep it our little secret (^_^)...don't hold out on
us...we fans don't have a whole lot to wait for.

Kitsuno "I've been translating the early
17 century text "Shinchokoki" (record of Oda Nobunaga), so my first
part will go into the first issue. I'm also really fascinated with
Nagakura Shinpachi's journal, so I hope to translate some of that for
the future."

Then you are gem!...do try to get the chance to translate Nagakura's
journal...the new one (actually the older/original one...not the
historically innaccurate one muddled by the newspaper)

You know Kitsuno...we'd buy your book if you could trans Nagakura's
journal. (^_^)....wanna make some money for the journal?

I think a couple hundred people here would buy a standard translated
bio on OKITA :P (I'm serious)

SInce you can translate 17th century text...Nagakura's journal should
be a cinch for you to finish.

We really want a good scholar to give us the facts (or firsthand
accounts) as opposed to Hillsborough's sad attempt at cashing in on
the Shinsengumi---kind of scary that he seemed to not have tried to
get the solid Japanese books on the era/Shinsengumi to use as
references....
-------------------------------------------

Kitsuno "The main thing at the moment is to really get the word
out about the journal and get the submissions."

you need to contact:
UCLA, CORNELL, YALE, UPENN at Philadelphia and
University of Georgia (just because the no nonsense Prof. Karl Friday,
the true authority of samurai/bushido and spectacular academic and
practitioner of koryu---Kashima Shinryu teaches there still--I think).

These schools are also considered to be major pillars in this
discipline (aside from the ones you listed). I know many professors
may not warm up to this idea right away...but you just need to get on
the departmental email lists and make one announcement...for
students...because those universities have libraries with TONS OF
MATERIAL...they can help setup a network and even provide resources to
your writers.

Heck, at UW MADISON we have tons of works from the Meiji, first
prints, of books in English written in the spirit of "Orientalism"
along the same vein as Hartshorne's work (I know she had a very deep
understanding of Japan having lived and worked there).

I wonder if Cameron Hurst would write just a bit and help give advice
to people interested in samurai studies...(note for shinsengumi
fans...) Hurst is outstanding. Author of a book worthy BUYING The
Armed Martial Arts of Japan: Swordsmanship and Archery. (Yale, 1998)

and these people http://wason.library.cornell.edu/CEAL/ who may have
advice on marketing this journal

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, "secretary" wrote:

>
> It's my understanding that this book was already pubished (however I
> cannot acquire it through my library) as noted here
> http://www.ilab.org/db/book804_HB8225.html
>
> so this a republication of her 1902 book correct? But refined by you.
> Does she discuss women's educ. much? You know scholars like LIncicome
> would want it (if it does cover education).
>
> Alot of people here on SHQ ML may like LIan Hearn's fiction and it's
> very awesome she wrote the intro to your book. She's like the JK
> ROWLING of Japan/fantasy. Please tell us of all your future projects
> so if some of us have the money we can snap up the books.
>
> I hear Lian Hearn is planning possibly a BAKUMATSU BOOK----likely set
> in KYOTO? Will the Shinsengumi make a cameo appearance? YOU MUST
> TELL US...we'll keep it our little secret (^_^)...don't hold out on
> us...we fans don't have a whole lot to wait for.
>

Not sure the topic of her bakumatsu book, but Hearn actually
participated in the Shinsengumi discussion group a few months back
under a pseudonym. So... maybe? :D I sent her a bunch of journal
articles about the bakumatsu for her research, but there really wasn't
much on the shinsengumi in them.

Also, Haverford College has a huge collection of Anna Hartshorne's
letters - I got about 10 of them copied and sent to me, hoping to get
information on her life, but they were mostly letters written to her -
one appeared to be a love letter, and another one mentioned Tsuda Ume,
and also Inazo Nitobe. You can find the collection with a google
search on anna hartshorne - they have a huge collection if you are
interested - I think it was $10 plus 25 cents per page. One problem is
that since they are hand written, they are hard to read, at least for
me. I'm too used to reading Times New Roman.

"Japan and Her People" is a reprint of the 1902 book. It is mostly a
travelogue and history of the places she visited, most of the
contemporary information is on what the cities and places look like.
The cultural references are more general, things like food and
clothing, etc. - but I've only edited half the book, my friend edited
the other half. I guess it's possible she looks at education in the
first half of the book, but I'm not sure, I haven't read the entire
book yet. We are just publishing the first volume, at least for now.

Good luck to you. It sounds like quite an impressive endeavor.

--
~ Barbara Sheridan
http://www.barbarasheridan.net
http://chloemichelle.com

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, "Kitsuno"
I sent her a bunch of journal

> articles about the bakumatsu for her research, but there really

wasn't

> much on the shinsengumi in them.

Dear Kitsuno,
I understand that Ms. Hearn may be concerned about privacy issues, I
hope you direct her to our list and she is welcome to post questions
on teh Shinsengumi and we have people here who have spent many years
in both (English & Japanese) researching them and are happy to help.
We certainly do not know who is who and will not pry...identity is
never an issue.

If the list seems quiet it's because there are no questions posted
and people may not have found an aspect of fandom (movies etc) which
are coming out to post about. In the past a handful of members had a
posting frenzy during the early ears of SHQ and it misled people to
think that we were trying to impose our will on the many (which
wasn't the case)---so we essentially stopped and wanted people to
direct the conversation.

Please be sure she reads our recommended list here
http://www.shinsengumihq.com/bibliography.html

the solid text on teh origins of the SHinsengumi and their hometown
Steele, M. William. Alternative Narratives in Modern Japanese History.
New York: Routledge Curzon, 2003.Isbn 0415305705
summarized here http://www.shinsengumihq.com/farmersofedo.html
Steele is the only guy who laid a really good groundwork on the
dynamic background of Tama and its politics in the Meiji Era too (^_^)

Other than Hillsborough's book I *urge* her to read KINSE SHIRIAKU: A
HISTORY OF JAPAN which mentions the Shinsengumi and is pretty
detailed up until the very end of the war. Kinse is a good companion
to Boyer, Samuel Pellman, 1839-1875. Naval Surgeon; The Diary of Dr.
Samuel Pellman Boyer. Edited by Elinor Barnes and James A. Barnes.
Introd. by Allan Nevins. Bloomington, Indiana University Press [1963]
if she wants to take a peek at the Hakodate/Hokkaido theatre of 1869.

Hirotada Tokugawa, a member here, could recommend a number of solid
books in Japanese on the Bakumatsu (these are not the flimsy texts on
the era printed during the height of SHinsengumi popularity---but
academic texts)...and those books also approach teh Shinsengumi
maturely. I don't know how long Ms. Hearn has studied Japanese but I
think she is lucky to have you to help with some research. So if she
does give the Shinsengumi a cameo role it would be an interesting
episode (^_^). Fans here are pretty familiar with "Robot Shinsengumi
whose job was to Kill. Kill. and Kill some more" and we know better.
I know she writes fiction/fantasy which frees her from all the
historical details but still based on the popularity of her work I
think people like her complex characterizations, and even the bad
boys in blue can offer alot of that.

Kitsuno:
"Also, Haverford College has a huge collection of Anna Hartshorne's

> letters - I got about 10 of them copied and sent to me, hoping to

get information on her life, but they were mostly letters written to
her -one appeared to be a love letter, and another one mentioned
Tsuda Ume, and also Inazo Nitobe. "

If you and your co-editor have not already finished the book...and I
think you have....you will like THE ATTIC LETTERS compiled by
students at TSUDA COLLEGE...those letters Ume wrote to her American
mother could give a good parallel account to any info you had on
Hartshorne and would fill in the blanks or atleast lay a foundation
for the world in which ACH worked. But if you read it already, just
ignore my rant.

The problem I have with the Attic Letters was that it was not indexed
(really that detailed without an index is sad) and CENSORED by
students desperate to preserve an "image" of Ume (really Ume was a
good/normal human being, it is totally unnecessary for them to do
this). This is the same problem we have with some Shinsengumi
research...the need to white wash -or- the other extreme can be seen
with Hillsborough, the obsession with painting them to be nothing but
villains. Nothing like good ole' bias to stand in the way of a fair
inquiry.

If you visit Japan...just go to the TSUDA COLLEGE collections and
don't tell them you research Hartshorne...otherwise that would tip
them off. Just "mix" your research and request access to alot of
stuff. Even if the book comes out next year, maybe you can still
continue ACH research because you have insight into her! (^__^)

"Love Letter" then you are lucky Haverford didn't put a restriction
on the collection...it was probably a cute letter yeah? (*^_^*).
The historical society where I work and other places must honor
family restrictions and time extensions on privacy (30, 50 years
etc). So it was very kind of the Hartshornes not to have done that.
Since Tsuda was essentially Hartshorne's "boss", I assume that more
ACH material will discuss not only Tsuda but also Yamakawa Sutematsu
a key figure of the school.

Kitsuno:
"You can find the collection with a google search on anna
hartshorne ...it was $10 plus 25 cents per page. One problem is that
since they are hand written, they are hard to read, at least for
me."

yes, as I mentioned in my previous reply, one can spend easily
hundreds of dollars on acquiring primary material and many places
will not let you take in a digital camera to photograph letters etc.
Actually I'm pretty sure Hirotada and I have spent easily hundreds of
dollars, and I spent...well weeks scanning books in Japanese. I've
done alot of research using Eng. handwritten material...you would
think that back in the day when they took penmanship classes they
would try to make their cursive look more than lines across a page....

Also if you ever come across Hartshorne and DOSHISHA UNIV. in Kyoto
send me an email too cuz, we have a major AIzu family who
established/ran that Christian school. I wager that Hartshorne dealt
directly with Ibuka Kajinosuke (Aizu samurai) of Meiji Gakuin too.
It's a small small world of education and especially western style
education. Everyone knew each other too well.

sorry about the rant...I'm obsessed with the post 1868 Aizu
network....where there is Aizu...there is the FUJITA family and
Saitou ofcourse :P

Ok - Just thought I'd let everyone know that at long last "Japan and
Her People" by Anna C. Hartshorne is now available on amazon.com, and
barnesandnoble.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Japan-Her-People-Anna-Hartshorne/dp/097903972X/

This is the original text, with a new introduction by Lian Hearn. I
found it pretty fascinating; she covers history and culture equally well.

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, "secretary" wrote:

>
> Dear Kitsuno,
> I am a bit familiar with Anna C. Hartshorne, her contribution to
> Tsuda's institution and the role Hartshorne played in preserving the
> Tsuda's famous Attic Letters. ACH, is a major figure in Christian
> education in that era, I was always curious to read her works because
> I'd like to see if she mentions Takamine Hideo who played a key role
> in establishing Jyoshi Eigakujyuku's Scholarship committee for Tsuda
> Ume (and sent her packing to Oswego NY). Sometimes Takamine comes off
> as shady and a bit cunning (perfectly understandable given the
> politics). If you come across something on T-sensei or TWNS send me
> an email---I have some pieces of the puzzle still. The Min. of
> Education was really functioning like a gigantic gang most of the time
> and detractors set up their own "gangs" if you will and one posse was
> the pro-women's education group (which ofcourse ACH was part of).
>
> So you were so lucky to work on ACH's book!
>
> It's my understanding that this book was already pubished (however I
> cannot acquire it through my library) as noted here
> http://www.ilab.org/db/book804_HB8225.html
>
> so this a republication of her 1902 book correct? But refined by you.
> Does she discuss women's educ. much? You know scholars like LIncicome
> would want it (if it does cover education).
>
> Alot of people here on SHQ ML may like LIan Hearn's fiction and it's
> very awesome she wrote the intro to your book. She's like the JK
> ROWLING of Japan/fantasy. Please tell us of all your future projects
> so if some of us have the money we can snap up the books.
>
> I hear Lian Hearn is planning possibly a BAKUMATSU BOOK----likely set
> in KYOTO? Will the Shinsengumi make a cameo appearance? YOU MUST
> TELL US...we'll keep it our little secret (^_^)...don't hold out on
> us...we fans don't have a whole lot to wait for.
>

Im sorry!! I forgot to ask these questions :

1. Why bakufu allowed a peasant to become their troop ? (Roshigumi case)
I can't find the reason in any books.
2. When the bakufu government about to collapse, are the daimyou still doing sankin koutai
or other bakufu laws ?
3. Yamanami Keisuke no jutsuryuu wa Hokushin Ittouryuu or Tennen Rishin Ryuu ?
( cause both is exist in different book )
4. What did Kiyokawa do when Kondo and Serizawa (and their team) chosed to stay in
Kyoto instead follow him ? Didnt he make any execution ? (since he was the leader of
Roshigumi)
5. Hows the real relation between Kondo (or Hijikata) with Yamanami Keisuke ?
I know theyre friend. But in Oishi Manabu (Shinsengumi. Saigo no bushi no jitsuzou),
why Kondo was so happy when Yamanami will commit seppuku ? (or its just me who
cant read the kanji)
6. May I know what do you think about Shinsengumi beliefe ?

Please give me some book references !!!
Thanks in advance !!

Rei


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Shinoda-dono, here are my answers:

1. Why bakufu allowed a peasant to become their troop ? (Roshigumi case)

The shogunate needed manpower, and anyone who could hold a sword counted.
Think about it: Serizawa was in *jail* and he was allowed to join.

2. When the bakufu government about to collapse, are the daimyou still doing
sankin koutai
or other bakufu laws ?

Sankin-kotai was revised (essentially eliminated) in the early 1860s. Not
everyone stopped obeying the shogunate all at once...for instance, when
Satsuma had their ronin terrorizing Edo in early 1868, the shogunate ordered
Shonai, Kaminoyama, and other domains to surround the Satsuma yashiki, and
Shonai (and the others) obeyed.
(See: Totman, Conrad. Collapse of the Tokugawa Bakufu. Honolulu: University
of Hawai'i Press, 1980)

3. Yamanami Keisuke no jutsuryuu wa Hokushin Ittouryuu or Tennen Rishin Ryuu
?
( cause both is exist in different book )

Yamanami Keisuke-san no ryuuha wa Hokushin Ittouryuu darou? (Isn't
Yamanami's sword tradition Hokushin-ittoryu?) Do a search in our message
archive for Yamanami-- I've mentioned a theory before about his origins and
how they connect to Hokushin-ittoryu.

4. What did Kiyokawa do when Kondo and Serizawa (and their team) chosed to
stay in Kyoto instead follow him ? Didnt he make any execution ? (since he
was the leader of Roshigumi)

Kiyokawa's unit left soon after the split (see Oishi's "Shinsengumi" and
Kikuchi Akira's books).

5. Hows the real relation between Kondo (or Hijikata) with Yamanami Keisuke
? I know theyre friend. But in Oishi Manabu (Shinsengumi. Saigo no bushi no
jitsuzou), why Kondo was so happy when Yamanami will commit seppuku ? (or
its just me who cant read the kanji)

I have no comment on this right now.

6. May I know what do you think about Shinsengumi beliefe ?

What do you mean by Shinsengumi's beliefs? You mean "makoto," or martial
(budo) skill, or (gasp) homosexuality, or what?

-M.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

M sama, konnichiwa !!!!

Henji arigatou gozaimaaaaasu...........!!!!!!
Hontou ni tasukarimashita.

E-to, chotto Yamanami Keisuke no bubun wa.. M sama no site ni kaite aruno ?? Soretomo SHQ no site ni aruno ? Kedo, jitsu wa kare wa futatsu no ryuuha wo manabimashitaka ?

Saigo no shitsumon..Shinsengumi no shisou ni tsuite nan dakedo, maa.. budou to kankei aru desukedona...
Docchi demo, M sama ni totte chotto setsumei shite kudasaimasenka ??
(sankou dekiru hon mo isshoni oshiete choudai )

OSU !! Ijou desu.
Mata shitsumon attara, zehi zehi kikasete kudasai !!

Shitsurei itashimasu.

Rei

( tokorode, watashi ni "rei dono' wo tsukattewa ikenaiyo. Tada 'rei' dake, yobarete ii naaa )


---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For the sake of everyone else on the ML, I'll make this post bilingual.

Rei-san: Hoka no mina mina sama no tame ni Eiyaku shiteimasu.

Rei asks where the discussion on Yamanami took place-- it took place right
here on the ML. (Koko no yahoo mailing list no archive ni arimasu)

Rei also asks if it could be true that he trained in 2 styles. My answer is
this-- cross-training was common in those days among serious martial
artists. (Sono jidai dewa, honki wo dasu bugeisha wa hitotsu no style ijou
wo mananda de arou? Eigo-de "cross-training" to iu. Motto tsuyoku naru tame
da to omou.)

Finally, Rei asks about the feelings/belief of Shinsengumi toward martial
training. As we all know, Shinsengumi was a group of people who were trained
and hired for the sake of doing "dirty work." Therefore it would be
important for them to keep themselves trained, because that's how they get
paid. Just like how any of us would work, and get the money we need to live,
the same applies to them. In order to earn what you need to live, you have
to be good at what you do. (Shinsengumi wa ken de ikita hitotachi de arou?
Hoka no mono wo shitakunai yaranakereba naranai koto wo shita kara, Aizu-han
kara kane wo itadaita. Dakara buki de issho kenmei renshu shinakereba
naranai. Watashitachi wa shigoto to ka kaisha ka dokka de hataraki, ikiru
tame ni daiji na kane wo itadaku you na koto da to omou-- watashitachi mo
issho kenmei hatarakanakerebanaranai)

And finally she wants books.

Oishi Manabu. Shinsengumi: Saigo no Bushi no Jitsuzo. Tokyo:
Chuokoron-shinsha, 2004.
Hoshi Ryoichi. Bakumatsu no Aizu-han. Tokyo: Chuokoron-shinsha, 2001.
Kikuchi Akira. Shinsengumi 101 no Nazo. Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha, 2000.
Saito Hajime no Subete. Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha, 2003.
Sasaki Suguru. Boshin-senso: Haisha no Meiji Ishin. Tokyo:
Chuokoron-shinsha, 2002.

I hope that helps. All of these books contain information on Shinsengumi,
even though not all of them have the word "Shinsengumi" in the title. (Ue ni
kaita hon no naka de Shinsengumi ni tsuite no koto wa ippai aru. Hon no
namae wa "Shinsengumi" to iu kotoba wo motteinai baai mo sou da.)

-M.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

M-sama,

O tsukare sama deshita... hontou ni o tsukare sama deshita !!!
Thanks for your favor !!

Motto shirabete mite okimasu.
Soshite, mata shitsumon attara, kikasete choudai ne ... !!!

Sore dewa, shitsurei itashimasu.

Rei


"M. S" <myoe112@...> wrote:
For the sake of everyone else on the ML, I'll make this post bilingual.

Rei-san: Hoka no mina mina sama no tame ni Eiyaku shiteimasu.

Rei asks where the discussion on Yamanami took place-- it took place right
here on the ML. (Koko no yahoo mailing list no archive ni arimasu)

Rei also asks if it could be true that he trained in 2 styles. My answer is
this-- cross-training was common in those days among serious martial
artists. (Sono jidai dewa, honki wo dasu bugeisha wa hitotsu no style ijou
wo mananda de arou? Eigo-de "cross-training" to iu. Motto tsuyoku naru tame
da to omou.)

Finally, Rei asks about the feelings/belief of Shinsengumi toward martial
training. As we all know, Shinsengumi was a group of people who were trained
and hired for the sake of doing "dirty work." Therefore it would be
important for them to keep themselves trained, because that's how they get
paid. Just like how any of us would work, and get the money we need to live,
the same applies to them. In order to earn what you need to live, you have
to be good at what you do. (Shinsengumi wa ken de ikita hitotachi de arou?
Hoka no mono wo shitakunai yaranakereba naranai koto wo shita kara, Aizu-han
kara kane wo itadaita. Dakara buki de issho kenmei renshu shinakereba
naranai. Watashitachi wa shigoto to ka kaisha ka dokka de hataraki, ikiru
tame ni daiji na kane wo itadaku you na koto da to omou-- watashitachi mo
issho kenmei hatarakanakerebanaranai)

And finally she wants books.

Oishi Manabu. Shinsengumi: Saigo no Bushi no Jitsuzo. Tokyo:
Chuokoron-shinsha, 2004.
Hoshi Ryoichi. Bakumatsu no Aizu-han. Tokyo: Chuokoron-shinsha, 2001.
Kikuchi Akira. Shinsengumi 101 no Nazo. Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha, 2000.
Saito Hajime no Subete. Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha, 2003.
Sasaki Suguru. Boshin-senso: Haisha no Meiji Ishin. Tokyo:
Chuokoron-shinsha, 2002.

I hope that helps. All of these books contain information on Shinsengumi,
even though not all of them have the word "Shinsengumi" in the title. (Ue ni
kaita hon no naka de Shinsengumi ni tsuite no koto wa ippai aru. Hon no
namae wa "Shinsengumi" to iu kotoba wo motteinai baai mo sou da.)

-M.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Some more tidbits of random unconfirmed information...

> 1. Why bakufu allowed a peasant to become their
> troop ? (Roshigumi case)
>
> The shogunate needed manpower, and anyone who could
> hold a sword counted.
> Think about it: Serizawa was in *jail* and he was
> allowed to join.

I think we should not forget the political maneuvers
of Kiyokawa Hachiro in order to get amnesty to all
those people (including himself).

> 3. Yamanami Keisuke no jutsuryuu wa Hokushin
> Ittouryuu or Tennen Rishin Ryuu
> ?
> ( cause both is exist in different book )
>
> Yamanami Keisuke-san no ryuuha wa Hokushin Ittouryuu
> darou? (Isn't
> Yamanami's sword tradition Hokushin-ittoryu?)

I read somewhere (can't recall exactly where) that he
joined Tennen Rishin after losing to Kondo Isami and
eventually he became even a shihandai.

But Yamanami's original style was Hokushin Itto. If we
suppose that Yamanami and Todo have indeed convinced
Ito Kashitaro to join the troop, then the Hokushin
Itto link must have played a crucial role in it.

> Rei also asks if it could be true that he trained in
> 2 styles. My answer is
> this-- cross-training was common in those days among
> serious martial
> artists.

Let's remember also that we have two kinds of
cross-training: one involving practicing more than one
style, and other involving matches against other
styles.

The latter was much more frequent. Although the styles
did have some "diplomatic connections", so to speak,
it wasn't that polite to practice more than one style
at a time, unless you had authorization for that
and/or had achieved mastery in one style before
learning another.

Also, kenjutsu dojos were more than simply a place for
martial arts practice. They were a kind of political
party, so to speak, and some were very influential.
Therefore, the students who achieved a high status in
a dojo had to have not only a good proficiency with
swords, but also a fine education.

> Finally, Rei asks about the feelings/belief of
> Shinsengumi toward martial
> training. As we all know, Shinsengumi was a group of
> people who were trained
> and hired for the sake of doing "dirty work."

Not to mention that the core members of the
Shinsengumi were originally martial arts
practitioners. Even Ito Kashitaro, who tends to be
more known for his erudition, was the headmaster of
the Hokushin Itto-ryu, a style created by his adoptive
father, Ito Seiichi, and derived from Hokushin
Itto-ryu. Yeah, the pronunciation is the same, but the
kanji (ideograms) are different.

They were recruited by Aizu because of their purposes
and more importantly, of their martial arts skills.
Hence lots of emphasis were given in the training. Not
to mention stuff like "shiniban" and all.

Talking about Aizu, found recently a magazine, owned
by my grandfather, issued in 1928 by Aizu-kai, an
organization of Aizu-related people, having as members
people like Yamakawa Kenjiro. Although there is no
mention to Shinsengumi, there are some tidbits of
information about Boshin War and the Aizu fief, from
the Aizu point of view. It's also interesting to read
a bit about Saigo Tanomo and the rendition of Aizu.
Not to mention some rare pictures taken at the time.

Oh, by the way, yes, there MAY be a connection with
Shinsengumi. One of the associates of Aizu-kai is a
certain Fujita Tsutomu, which sounds suspiciously like
Fujita Goro(Saito Hajime)'s son. If one finds out that
Saito Hajime's son was in the Army (Lt. Colonel, if
I'm not mistaken) in 1928, then chances are that this
Fujita Tsutomu is indeed Saito's son.

Serizawa Kamo

"I am the bone of my sword.
Steel is my body,and fire is my blood.
I have created over a thousand blades.
Unknown to Death.
Nor known to Life.
Have withstood pain to create many weapons.
Yet, those hands will never hold anyting.
So as I pray, unlimited blade works."

(Fate/Stay Night)


____________________________________________________________________________________
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--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, Serizawa Kamo wrote:

> Talking about Aizu, found recently a magazine, owned
> by my grandfather, issued in 1928 by Aizu-kai, an
> organization of Aizu-related people, having as members
> people like Yamakawa Kenjiro. Although there is no
> mention to Shinsengumi, there are some tidbits of
> information about Boshin War and the Aizu fief, from
> the Aizu point of view. It's also interesting to read
> a bit about Saigo Tanomo and the rendition of Aizu.
> Not to mention some rare pictures taken at the time.
>
> Oh, by the way, yes, there MAY be a connection with
> Shinsengumi. One of the associates of Aizu-kai is a
> certain Fujita Tsutomu, which sounds suspiciously like
> Fujita Goro(Saito Hajime)'s son. If one finds out that
> Saito Hajime's son was in the Army (Lt. Colonel, if
> I'm not mistaken) in 1928, then chances are that this
> Fujita Tsutomu is indeed Saito's son.

Hello Serizawa, thank you for your information. Oh we put you on the
thank you list on the new site as well (^_^). For new members here,
just so you know Serizawa has been very generous to us over these
many years and we are happy to hear form him when he has the time to
write to us.

1928 it is really a critical year and I think alot of surviving 1st
or second generation Aizu folks became very ACTIVE. Because of the
marriage between Matsudaira Setsuko (granddaughter of Matsudaira
Katamori and Prince Chichibu---brother of Emperor Hirohito). The
information we posted on the SHQ site for a long time now is about
how in 1928, Fujita Goro's sword (one of perhaps no doubt many he
owned) was made a gift during this important wedding.

Yamakawa was a key figure in this wedding and discussed the matter
with Matsudaira TSuneo (son of Matsudaira Katamori). SO we can see
how one generation of retainers...carries his duties over regardless
of era.

1928 is also year of the EArth Dragon. Interestingly...similar to
The Boshin War of 1868. It is just a coincedence...maybe. The
Imperial wedding was meant to also symbolize a reincorporation of
Aizu back into the mainstream (politically).

Since we know Fujita Tsutomu and Matsudaira Tsuneo were actually
friends I sort of would like to think that the possibility is very
very high that indeed "Fujita Tsutomu" is GOro and Tokio's oldest son.
(^_^) but by 1928 he would be long retired from the army...maybe they
included his last rank or something?

Aizukai kaiho?? (Report of the Aizu Society)---this could be the same
magazine likely...it is so valuable to us.

For example although it is not connected to the Shinsengumi, this
magazine contains narratives you WILL NOT FIND IN ENGLISH AT ALL. We
can read the best books in English and it can tell us the politics,
the international diplomacy, the statistics but rarely a human
narrative.

For example a narrative by a woman on what happened in the war
(specifically at Aizu).

I was close to obtaining Kinoko Takamine, "Takamine Kinokojiden,"
Aizukai kaiho (April 1970). But ultimately I failed.

I wanted to read about how a mother (widowed) was trying to survive
through these hard times.

Takamine Kinoko's relation to Takagi Tokio (Fujita Tokio) was that of
an aunt and no doubt was a maternal figure to Tokio, this is a story
Takamine Kinoko would relate to female survivors of Aizu (such as
Tokio).

So many thanks for all of you !!
Hontou ni tasukarimashita.
And Im very sorry for my inconvenience shitsumon.

For Serizawa sama, could you please explain more about Hows exactly Kiyokawa get the amnesty for all those people (you meant Roshigumi, right ?) ?

About Yamanami, Yes his original style was Hokushin Ittoryuu.
But, could anyone help me according to the book "Shinsengumi. Shunretsu Mibu Roushi no Chuu to Zan" Rekishi Gunzou Shiri-zu 31.(2003) Publised by Gakken, page 126-128 in artikel wrote by one Shinsengumi kenkyuuka, Itou Seirou, about Yamanami Keisuke ?
Something about when Yamanami joined Shieikan-Tennen Rishin Ryuu in 1860 based from data file Shinsengumi 'Ryouyuushiden' (1907).....
( cause I cant read the whole kanji.. -_- ;; )

Thanks in advanced !!

Regards,
Rei



Serizawa Kamo <serizawakamo@...> wrote:
Some more tidbits of random unconfirmed information...

> 1. Why bakufu allowed a peasant to become their
> troop ? (Roshigumi case)
>
> The shogunate needed manpower, and anyone who could
> hold a sword counted.
> Think about it: Serizawa was in *jail* and he was
> allowed to join.

I think we should not forget the political maneuvers
of Kiyokawa Hachiro in order to get amnesty to all
those people (including himself).

> 3. Yamanami Keisuke no jutsuryuu wa Hokushin
> Ittouryuu or Tennen Rishin Ryuu
> ?
> ( cause both is exist in different book )
>
> Yamanami Keisuke-san no ryuuha wa Hokushin Ittouryuu
> darou? (Isn't
> Yamanami's sword tradition Hokushin-ittoryu?)

I read somewhere (can't recall exactly where) that he
joined Tennen Rishin after losing to Kondo Isami and
eventually he became even a shihandai.

But Yamanami's original style was Hokushin Itto. If we
suppose that Yamanami and Todo have indeed convinced
Ito Kashitaro to join the troop, then the Hokushin
Itto link must have played a crucial role in it.

> Rei also asks if it could be true that he trained in
> 2 styles. My answer is
> this-- cross-training was common in those days among
> serious martial
> artists.

Let's remember also that we have two kinds of
cross-training: one involving practicing more than one
style, and other involving matches against other
styles.

The latter was much more frequent. Although the styles
did have some "diplomatic connections", so to speak,
it wasn't that polite to practice more than one style
at a time, unless you had authorization for that
and/or had achieved mastery in one style before
learning another.

Also, kenjutsu dojos were more than simply a place for
martial arts practice. They were a kind of political
party, so to speak, and some were very influential.
Therefore, the students who achieved a high status in
a dojo had to have not only a good proficiency with
swords, but also a fine education.

> Finally, Rei asks about the feelings/belief of
> Shinsengumi toward martial
> training. As we all know, Shinsengumi was a group of
> people who were trained
> and hired for the sake of doing "dirty work."

Not to mention that the core members of the
Shinsengumi were originally martial arts
practitioners. Even Ito Kashitaro, who tends to be
more known for his erudition, was the headmaster of
the Hokushin Itto-ryu, a style created by his adoptive
father, Ito Seiichi, and derived from Hokushin
Itto-ryu. Yeah, the pronunciation is the same, but the
kanji (ideograms) are different.

They were recruited by Aizu because of their purposes
and more importantly, of their martial arts skills.
Hence lots of emphasis were given in the training. Not
to mention stuff like "shiniban" and all.

Talking about Aizu, found recently a magazine, owned
by my grandfather, issued in 1928 by Aizu-kai, an
organization of Aizu-related people, having as members
people like Yamakawa Kenjiro. Although there is no
mention to Shinsengumi, there are some tidbits of
information about Boshin War and the Aizu fief, from
the Aizu point of view. It's also interesting to read
a bit about Saigo Tanomo and the rendition of Aizu.
Not to mention some rare pictures taken at the time.

Oh, by the way, yes, there MAY be a connection with
Shinsengumi. One of the associates of Aizu-kai is a
certain Fujita Tsutomu, which sounds suspiciously like
Fujita Goro(Saito Hajime)'s son. If one finds out that
Saito Hajime's son was in the Army (Lt. Colonel, if
I'm not mistaken) in 1928, then chances are that this
Fujita Tsutomu is indeed Saito's son.

Serizawa Kamo

"I am the bone of my sword.
Steel is my body,and fire is my blood.
I have created over a thousand blades.
Unknown to Death.
Nor known to Life.
Have withstood pain to create many weapons.
Yet, those hands will never hold anyting.
So as I pray, unlimited blade works."

(Fate/Stay Night)

__________________________________________________________
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---------------------------------
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