Satow - Sir Ernest Mason Satow

A British diplomat stationed in Japan from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period, and one of the pioneers of Japanese cultural studies. His Japanese name was Sato Ainosuke, and his pen name was Satsudo. He was born in London on June 30th. He had a love for Japan after reading Laurence Oliphant's books, and after graduating from University College, he became a student interpreter for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was ordered to be stationed in Japan, arriving in 1862 (Bunkyu 2). In 1866 (Keio 2), he published an anonymous editorial entitled " English policy " in the foreign newspaper "Japan Times," in which he argued that it would be desirable to establish a coalition government of the shogunate and various powerful domains under the imperial court. This editorial revised the previous policy towards Japan, which regarded the shogunate as the responsible government of Japan, and continued the revisionist line that had already been taken by his predecessor, Ambassador to Japan Alcock. His judgment was based on the view that the cause of political instability and the impediment to trade was the Shogunate's trade monopoly, which stifled the hopes of the various feudal domains to share in the benefits of trade. Sato's argument earned him a favorable reception from the leaders of the anti-Shogunate faction, and he eventually came into contact with leaders of the Satsuma and Choshu clans, including Saigo Kichinosuke (later known as Saigo Takamori) and Katsura Kogoro (later known as Kido Takayoshi), and began to advocate the overthrow of the Shogunate, but the newly appointed Minister, Parkes, tacitly approved. In 1868 (Meiji 1), he was appointed Secretary. After the Restoration of the Monarchy, he maintained close contact with the new Meiji government, and during the Boshin War, he advised the good policy of requesting neutrality from the other nations. In 1883, he left Japan, and after serving as resident representative in Siam and Morocco, he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan in 1895, just after the First Sino-Japanese War. He worked hard to forge an alliance between Britain and Japan from the British perspective, as they sought to prevent Russian advances in the Far East, and even after he was appointed ambassador plenipotentiary to Qing China in 1900 (Meiji 33), he continued to contribute to the conclusion of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. During this time, he produced outstanding research results on Japan and the Orient, and earned degrees and the title of Sir for many of his works on Shinto, Buddhism, and Jesuit missionary work. His most notable work, A Diplomat in Japan (1921, Iwanami Bunko), is a valuable record of the political upheaval that took place at the end of the Edo period. He passed away on August 29, 1929.

[Tanaka Tokihiko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

幕末～明治期の駐日イギリス外交官で、日本文化研究の先駆者の一人。佐藤愛之助の日本名と薩道(サットー)の雅号をもつ。6月30日ロンドンに生まれる。ローレンス・オリファントの著書を読んで日本にあこがれをもち、ユニバーシティ・カレッジ卒業後、外務省通訳生となり、日本駐在を命じられ、1862年（文久2）着任。1866年（慶応2）外字新聞『ジャパン・タイムス』に匿名の論説English policy「英国策論」を発表、朝廷の下に幕府、諸雄藩の連合政権を樹立することが望ましいと論じた。この論説は、幕府を日本の責任政府とみなす従来の対日政策に修正を加えるもので、すでに前任公使オールコックがとりつつあった修正路線を継承したものである。その判断は、政局の不安、通商の阻害を招いている原因が、貿易の利益にあずかりたい諸藩の希望を封ずる幕府の貿易独占にあるとの見解に基づいていた。この論説によってサトーは、倒幕派の指導者たちに好感をもって迎えられ、やがて西郷吉之助(きちのすけ)（のちの西郷隆盛）や桂小五郎(かつらこごろう)（のちの木戸孝允）ら薩長の指導者と交流、倒幕を教唆するに至るが、新任公使パークスは黙認していた。1868年（明治1）書記官に任ぜられる。王政復古後は、明治新政府と密接な連絡を保ち、戊辰(ぼしん)戦争では列国に局外中立を要望する良策を助言した。1883年日本を去り、シャム、モロッコ駐在代表を経て、1895年日清(にっしん)戦争直後の日本に全権公使として赴任。極東でロシアの進出防止を図るイギリスの立場から日英提携に尽力、1900年（明治33）、駐清(しん)全権大使に転じたのちも、引き続き日英同盟締結に貢献した。この間日本、東洋に関する優れた研究業績をあげ、神道(しんとう)・仏教研究、イエズス会布教研究など、多数の論著で学位を取得、サーの称号を与えられたが、とくに『一外交官の見た明治維新』A Diplomat in Japan（1921・岩波文庫）は、幕末維新の政局変動を知るうえに貴重な記録である。1929年8月29日没。

［田中時彦］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例