Gunji Narita

A military man in the late Meiji period and developer of the Kuril Islands. Born in Edo on November 17, 1860, as the second son of Koda Shigenobu, a shogunate official. Older brother of Shigeyuki (Rohan), Shigetomo, and Nobuko. Adopted into the Gunji family. After graduating from the Naval Academy, he became a second lieutenant and was promoted to captain. In 1893 (Meiji 26), he advocated the need for northern security against Russia and founded the Hokougikai, planning the security and development of the northern Kuril Islands. He set out from the Sumida River in Tokyo with 50 reserve sailors and seven boats. After many hardships, he landed on Shumushu Island, which was publicized as the heroic achievement of the Kuril Islands Expedition. In 1896, he landed on the island again and began development. During the Russo-Japanese War, he served in Kamchatka with his comrades, but was taken prisoner. After the war, he worked to spread ideas about maritime affairs and national defense. He died on August 15, 1924.

[Nomaru Sato]

"Captain Gunji" by Hirose Hikota (1939, Masu Shobo)" ▽ "Captain Gunji the Pioneer" by Terashima Masashi (1942, Tsuru Shobo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治後期の軍人、千島開発者。万延(まんえん)元年11月17日幕臣幸田成延(こうだしげのぶ)の次男として江戸に生まれる。成行(しげゆき)（露伴(ろはん)）・成友(しげとも)・延子(のぶこ)らの兄。郡司家の養子となる。海軍兵学寮卒業後少尉となり、大尉に累進。1893年（明治26）ロシアに対する北方警備の必要を唱え報効義会(ほうこうぎかい)を設立して、北千島警備と開発を計画し、50人の予備水兵と7隻の端艇(たんてい)（ボート）で東京・隅田川(すみだがわ)を出発。苦難のすえ、占守島(しむしゅとう)に上陸し、千島探検隊の壮挙と喧伝(けんでん)された。1896年ふたたび同島に上陸して開発を行った。日露戦争に際しては同志とカムチャツカに出征したが捕虜となり、戦後は海事・国防思想の普及に努めた。大正13年8月15日没。

［佐藤能丸］

『広瀬彦太著『郡司大尉』（1939・鱒書房）』▽『寺島柾史著『開拓者郡司大尉』（1942・鶴書房）』

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