Historical Dictionary of United States-Japan ... - Bakumatsu Films

190 • NISHIMURA, SHIGEKI
simultaneously graduated from Rutgers College, were the first Japanese
graduates of American universities. Niijima then attended Andover
Theological Seminary in Massachusetts, worked as an interpreter for
the Iwakura Mission, and became an ordained minister in the Congregational
Church before returning to Japan in 1874. The following year,
Niijima established Doshisha University in Kyoto. Doshisha, a Christian
college, struggled to survive in its early years. But by the time of
Niijima’s death in 1890, the college had become a significant institution
of higher learning—as it is to the present day. In addition to establishing
Doshisha College, Niijima worked tirelessly as minister and missionary
and is the most well-known Japanese Christian of the 19th
century. See also JAPANESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA; JANES,
LEROY LANSING; UCHIMURA, KANZO.
NISHIMURA, SHIGEKI (1828–1902). Educator and philosopher.
Shigeki Nishimura studied Confucianism and Western learning under
Shozan Sakuma whose philosophy of “Eastern ethics, Western
science” shaped many policies of the Meiji Era. Nishimura was
founding member of Meirokusha, the literary and philosophy society
that promoted Western culture among the Japanese elite. Nishimura
worked for the Ministry of Education from 1873 to 1886, often presented
lectures to Emperor Meiji, and was tutor to the crown prince
(later Emperor Taisho) for several years.
NITOBE, INAZO (1862–1933). Philosopher, educator, government
official, and Christian. Inazo Nitobe graduated from Sapporo Agricultural
College founded by Christian educator William Smith
Clark, and subsequently studied in Germany and at John Hopkins
University in Maryland. He met and married Mary Patterson Elkington
while at John Hopkins University, and became a Quaker. After returning
to Japan, Nitobe held several government and educational positions,
including president of Japan Women’s University, and later
became a member of the House of Peers. Concerned especially with
international affairs, Nitobe served as a top official in the League of
Nations Secretariat from 1920 to 1926. Widely known in Japan as an
educator, government official, and Christian liberal, Nitobe is best
known in the West as the author of Bushido—The Soul of Japan. See
also CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN.