Kondo Makoto

Educator and founder of Kogyokusha. A samurai of the Shima Toba Domain. Born in Edo, his given name was Seiichiro, later changed his name to Makoto and went by the pen name Horin. He initially studied Japanese and Chinese, but around 1854 (Ansei 1) he decided to study Dutch studies, studying under Takamatsu Joan and then Murata Zoroku (Omura Masujiro). In 1863 (Bunkyu 3), he was ordered to translate at the Naval Training School, and while serving the shogunate, he also entered the private school of Yatabori Kou (Kagezo), the commissioner of naval affairs. During this time, he became known for translating the Dutch navigational book of Pilar, and began teaching Dutch, Western mathematics, and navigation (at the Isaku School), and taught himself English. In 1869 (Meiji 2), he became a member of the Ministry of War's Naval Training School, and reopened the temporarily closed school (Kogoku Juku, later Kogokusha), providing education mainly in mathematics and navigation, and working to develop the school by establishing the Merchant Marine School, the Quantum and Chikara School, a women's department, and a specialized mathematics department. In particular, it served as a preparatory educational institution for the Naval Academy, and produced such naval officers as Kamimura Hikonojo (1849-1916), Suzuki Kantaro, Takarabe Takeshi, Kato Hiroharu, Hyakutake Saburo (1872-1963), Osumi Mineo (1876-1941), Takahashi Sankichi (1882-1966), Hirose Takeo, and Sakuma Tsutomu (1879-1910), as well as architect Nakamura Tatsutaro (1860-1942), fisheries scholar Okamura Kintaro, geographer Shiga Shigetaka, and poet Yoshii Isamu. He was also interested in the issue of national characters and language, and founded the "Kana no Tomo" association to promote the use of kana characters. He also played a major role in the modernization of mathematics. His eldest son, Motoki, is well known as a naval architect.

[Toshihiko Kikuchi]

"The Biography of Professor Makoto Kondo, edited by Hayashi Tokiju (1937, Kogakusha)" ▽ "The 100-Year History of Kogakusha" (1963, Kogakusha Gakuen)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

教育家、攻玉社(こうぎょくしゃ)の創始者。志摩鳥羽(とば)藩士。江戸に生まれ、名は誠一郎、のちに真琴と改名、芳隣(ほうりん)と号した。初め和漢の学を学んだが、1854年（安政1）ころから蘭学を志し、高松譲庵、続いて村田蔵六（大村益次郎）に師事した。1863年（文久3）軍艦操練所翻訳方を命ぜられ、幕府にも出仕するとともに軍艦奉行(ぶぎょう)矢田堀鴻(やだぼりこう)（景蔵）の塾に入った。この間、オランダのピラールの航海書を翻訳して名を知られ、蘭語や西洋数学、航海術を教えるようになり（為錯(いさく)塾）、英語を独習した。1869年（明治2）兵部省海軍操練所出仕となり、一時閉鎖した塾も再興（攻玉塾、のち攻玉社）、数学、航海術を主とした教育を行い、商船黌(こう)、量地黌あるいは女子科、専修数学科を設置するなど塾の発展に努めた。とくに海軍兵学校の予備教育機関としての役目を果たし、上村彦之丞(かみむらひこのじょう)（1849―1916）、鈴木貫太郎、財部彪(たからべたけし)、加藤寛治(かとうひろはる)、百武三郎(ひゃくたけさぶろう)（1872―1963）、大角岑生(おおすみみねお)（1876―1941）、高橋三吉（1882―1966）、広瀬武夫、佐久間勉（1879―1910）など海軍軍人を輩出、また建築学者の中村達太郎（1860―1942）、水産学者の岡村金太郎、地理学者の志賀重昂(しげたか)、歌人の吉井勇などを出した。国字国語問題にも関心をもち、仮名文字の普及のため「かなのとも」を発会させた。さらに数学の近代化に果たした役割も大きい。長子基樹は造船学者として著名である。

［菊池俊彦］

『林季樹編『近藤真琴先生伝』（1937・攻玉社）』▽『『攻玉社百年史』（1963・攻玉社学園）』

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