Kousou (Kotarou) Toyoda (豊田　小太郎　[香窓]　1833 –1866)

One contributor to the editing of the “Dai-Nihonshi” (“The Great History of Japan”)

As a child, Kousou Toyoda gets his education from his father Tenkou. Being an excellent student, he is selected by the Mito Clan to pursue his studies of the Western knowledge, also known as “Rangaku” (蘭学.) Appointed as a learning aide, he takes up the charge of translating sailing records. After many twists and turns, he is appointed vice-president of the the Shoukoukan (彰考館, Tokugawa Museum.) Kousou gives his best on helping at the editing of the “Dai-Nihonshi”, before escaping the Mito Clan and as result becoming a lordless samurai. He seeks helps from the Honkokuji Shrine in Kyoto but is soon assassinated, at the age of 33, by a faction of radicals in favor of the Sonnou-Joui philosophy (尊王攘夷, or “Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians.")

Japanese version of this article available here.