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 The Nishimuta Family

 

 

 

Almeria, Spain

Louisa and Kyutaro Nishimuta

Through these pages
 we would like to share
 a voyage of faith and hope,
...and the resulting blessings

 

 Izumi City, Japan

A Spanish Senorita

And

A Samurai Son

 

In 1868, The Meiji Restoration in Japan begins as the Emperor Meiji oversees an era of rapid modernization, creates a conscript army, and abolishes the samurai-class ranking which has defined order in Japan since the 1600's. Education is reformed, a constitution is created; a parliament established. Victory in wars with Russia and China will begin the dominant period of Japanese nationalism and influence leading to World War II.

In the 14th year of the Meiji Restoration, Kutero (Or Kyutaro) Tateno was born in Izumi City, Kagoshima, Japan, on February 24, 1881, to Kuzaemon Tateno and Yae Idenoue. His umbilical cord is wrapped in rice paper, inscribed with his name and time of birth, 6 pm. He was the firth of six children, with brothers Kijiroo, 14 years older and Kitinosuke, 7 years older, and two sisters, Turugami, 10 years older, and Sue, 4 years older. Five years later, a son Kutsusaki would join them. There was another figure, possibly his mother's child by another man, whom he always considered his brother and mentor. This was Kiemon Madarame, 19 years older than Kyutaro.

The year Kutaro was born, his grandfather, Kyugorou died at the age of 77. These Tatenos were sixth generation descendents of Manzaemon Tateno, a Samurai who lived in the 1600's and is listed in the 1620 "Izumi Kyodoshi" or History of Izumi. They lived in Kyushu, the Southern island of Japan, where winters are mild and palm trees grow. Kyushu is closer to Shanghai than Tokyo, facing the East China Sea.  Those who live near the balmy Sea are fishermen, many others till the ancient volcanic land where vegetables can grow in the winter, and rice fields abound. Izumi City is a small town just a few miles from the sea, and about 30 miles from Kagoshima, the Prefecture Capitol. Sixty miles to the north across the bay, lies Nagasaki, a city which will be remembered in history.

Kutaro was well educated, beginning primary school at age 9 and eventually attending the Meiji Gikae school in Kagoshima and high school in Tokyo.  When Kutaro is thirteen, 150,000 Japanese invade the Manchu Empire in Korea as Japan seeks to wrestle control of Korea from China. At age 19, Kutaro receives his first draft notice. The next year, he receives a conscription notice while in High School in Tokyo, but is deferred. In 1903, Kutaro graduates from high school at age 22, while Russian and Japanese tensions are rising. On February 8, 1904, The Japanese Navy launches a surprise attack on Port Arthur, beginning a two year war which ends in Russian defeat. We find a document in Japanese, dated February 28, 1905, signed by "Kutaro Nishimuta, of Samurai descent, Izumi, Kagoshima, to the conscription officer of Kagoshima," which results in a deferral to continue college.

 On May 7, 1904, Kutaro changes his surname from "Tateno" to "Nishimuta." While it was common for only the oldest son to keep the family name, we are unsure why he chose this name, although it appears to be a name which was near extinction. We also do not know why he chose to leave Japan, but in his hand-written diary, we will find exciting details of his new life across the ocean.

Continued

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Website Editor: Mike Nishimuta
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