Masayoshi Oshikawa

Japanese: 押川方義 - おしかわ・まさよし

Year of death: January 10, 1928
Year of birth: December 16, 1852 (January 7, 1852)
Pastor, educator, and businessman. Born in Matsuyama (Ehime Prefecture). Joined the Oshikawa family. After graduating from Kaisei School, he studied English at Yokohama Shubunkan, where he was influenced by SR Brown and others and converted to Christianity. Founded Japan's first Protestant church, Yokohama Kaigan Church, under ban. Later, he founded Sendai Church and Sendai Theological Seminary (later renamed Tohoku Gakuin), among others, and engaged in pastoral work and education. After leaving Tohoku Gakuin in 1901 (Meiji 34), he moved into the business world, working in mining and oil field development, but failed. He then entered politics, and was elected to the House of Representatives twice. He eventually left Christianity and leaned towards Confucianism. It was a turbulent life for a first-generation Christian. <References> Otsuka Eizo, "Saint Oshikawa Masayoshi"

(Hara Makoto)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：昭和3.1.10(1928)
生年：嘉永4.12.16(1852.1.7)
牧師,教育家のち実業家。松山(愛媛県)出身。押川家に入る。開成学校を経て横浜修文館で英学を学ぶうちにS. R.ブラウンらの影響を受けてキリスト教に入信。日本最初のプロテスタント教会,横浜海岸教会を禁令下に創立。その後,仙台教会,仙台神学校(のち東北学院と改名)などを創立し,牧会・教育に従事。明治34(1901)年,東北学院を辞したあと実業界に転じ鉱山採掘,油田開発を手掛けたが失敗,さらに政界に進出,衆院議員当選2回。最後はキリスト教から離れ儒教主義に傾いた。第1世代キリスト者の波乱に満ちた生涯であった。<参考文献>大塚栄三『聖雄押川方義』

(原誠)

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