Shimazu Nariakira

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Shimazu Nariakira
Daguerreotype by Shimazu Nariakira (1857)

Shimazu Nariakira ( Japanese 島 津 斉 彬 ; born April 28, 1809 in Edo ; died August 24, 1858 in Kagoshima ) was the daimyo of Satsuma - han from 1851 to 1858 . By adopting western technology and armament, he made Satsuma one of those parts of Japan that were most successful in modernizing and opening up Japan in the late 19th century. He was one of the most important nobles and samurai of the late Edo period .

Shimazu Nariakira was fascinated by technology throughout his life. In 1847 he purchased the first daguerreotype equipment imported into Japan from Ueno Shunnojo , a trader who officially had the Shogun's license to import foreign goods into Japan. In the following years he tried to research and apply the effects of photography.

After taking office as the daimyo of Satsuma in 1851, he concentrated on expanding the Kagoshima shipyards and equipping them with modern technology. He had the first factory in Japan built in the city. One of his main projects was the construction of the first western-style Japanese sailing ship, the Iroha-maru . In the field of education, he began reforming the Satsuma school system. He had his daguerreotype project advanced by the samurai Matsuki Koan and the student Kawamoto Kōmin , who received the official commission from him to research the daguerreotype process.


In 1857 Shimazu Nariakira and his two servants were successful in developing their own daguerreotype apparatus. A picture of the daimyo is known to be the oldest photograph made by a Japanese. It wasn't discovered until 1975 in a Shimazu family warehouse and has been in a museum in Kagoshima ever since .

Shimazu Nariakira died unexpectedly in August 1858 . His brother Hisamitsu succeeded him and continued his politics.

Nariakira is worshiped as a kami in the Terukuni Shrine in Kagoshima .