Customer Reviews

Japanese Students at Cambridge University in the Meiji Era, 1868-1912: Pioneers for the Modernization of Japan

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Ian Ruxton has written about an area that is little researched in contemporary history--the first intercultural student exchange between Japan and Britain. The book provides such detail that the characters come to life through their letters and responses to problems, love, and to the academic challenges of the time. Most readers will readily appreciate how both the Japanese and British benefited from this exchange, and as a result, it reminds us of the importance of such exchanges today. We see that some issues and problems will always be with us in such intercultural exchanges---finding financial assistance, dealing with intercultural romance, and simply getting people back "home" to accept the changes in views, values, and ideas that come from being abroad. In short, if one wants to see and read about a rare and human part of history, then read this book.

Robert W. Long III

This wonderful translation of a Japanese classic, reinforces the importance of connection and understanding between cultures. Especially important as our world continues to shrink, acknowledging the skills and accomplishments of another without diminishing our own, is a diplomatic skill too rare in today's cross cultural politics. A scholarly work written and translated with a most human voice.
Mary Sigrist USA/Ireland

As a language teacher, I can appreciate the time spent on translating this old literary giant, Ian has made this difficult subject open to the masses in a way that even those with limited interest in the subject can read and appreciate. It is well written originally, well translated, and Ian has displayed exceptional talent in his field. I was impressed with the ease of which the reader is drawn in and becomes interested.
Well Done.
Angela Hooper, author of In Dark Minds

This outstanding translation from Japanese gives English readers an opportunity to learn about young Japanese geniuses, such as Kikuchi Dairoku, who were sent by their country to study at Cambridge and ended up modernizing Japan. It is a scholarly work that has been translated into a most human read that fascinated me and added greatly to my knowledge of the industrialization of Japan in the 19th century. It is fortunate for today's world, that when Japan sought to modernize, she looked to such an enlightened nation as Britain for a role model. As a result, a strong cultural bond was formed between the two cultures which this book explores. The author dedicated his heart and mind to this tribute to those enlightened Japanese youths, and his work has been made accessible to the world with Ian Ruxton's ability to translate Japanese into good English prose.

Edna Barney - www.ednabarney.com

On the surface, this book could be said to be aimed at a specialist market, as it centres on Japanese students studying at Cambridge in the days of the British Empire. This was with the ironic view of the prevention of Western Imperialism stretching to their shores, and the adapting and embracing of many inherent values, to strengthen their own empire. So, yes, it's specialist in this sense, but the way the introduction and the contents have been written and explained, ( with perhaps traditional Japanese efficiency ), makes it a very interesting and very informative read for all who can show at least a little concentration of something 'a little on the heavy side'.

As a bonus, because of the data-intensive contents, interesting snippets such as the different reigns and even much of the Japanese Calendar is here. Ultimately, it may not be for you, but you will be impressed by an absolutely staggering start, devoid of over-heavy grammar which accompanies many similar tomes. Very, very well done, Ian Ruxton.

This academic work is a translation from a Japanese original which is available from amazon.co.jp (ISBN 406258168X). The hardcover version is now available on amazon here.

I was delighted when the author Mr. Noboru Koyama kindly agreed to my producing this English version. While the central character is Kikuchi Dairoku (1855-1917), who later became President of Tokyo Imperial University, Minister of Education and the first President of the Science Research Institute of Japan, there are many others who appear, including the statesman and historian Suematsu Kencho (1855-1920), the scholar-diplomat Inagaki Manjiro (1861-1908) and the Japanophile Scottish Professor Donald MacAlister (1854-1934), Senior Wrangler (i.e. top mathematician at Cambridge) and later Principal of Glasgow University.

Most of the Japanese students were wealthy and many were from aristocratic families, but a few were dirt poor. Some participated in team sports at the university such as rugby and rowing, others enjoyed more exotic and individual pursuits, such as motor racing. Indeed the first Japanese motor racer was Okura Kishichiro of Cambridge, and rugby was introduced to Keio University in Japan by two Cambridge men (Professor E.B. Clarke and Tanaka Ginnosuke). Almost all of the Japanese students were quietly but fiercely patriotic, and determined to study and learn not only for themselves but for the future of Japan. For those who wish to know more about how Japan achieved a startlingly rapid and unprecedented modernization in the Meiji era, this book is both informative and instructive, a must-have in fact!

This carefully crafted English edition includes nine black & white images, and seven appendices which were not in the original Japanese book, together with an expanded bibliogaphy and index. There is a brief introduction by Sir John Boyd KCMG who is a former British ambassador to Japan (1992-96) and now (2004) the Master of Churchill College, Cambridge. Mr. Koyama is head of the Japanese department of Cambridge University Library, and was perfectly placed to research and write this book. He also gave me a great deal of assistance when I was translating it into English. The result is a very satisfying reward for two years of intense effort. Buy this book. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Ian Ruxton, editor of Sir Ernest Satow's Private Letters to W.G. Aston and F.V. Dickins: The Correspondence of a Pioneer Japanologist from 1870 to 1918, The Correspondence of Sir Ernest Satow, British Minister in Japan, 1895-1900 - Volume One and other books based on the life and letters of Sir Ernest Satow. (Click on my name under the book title at the top of this page for a full list.)

As the person honoured to be the translator into English of Noboru Koyama's interesting and important book first written in Japanese and published in Tokyo in 1999 I am delighted that a Kindle edition has at last appeared - "with a little help from my friends" in the USA!

This English book was first published as a paperback on September 1, 2004 and is now available as a paperback on amazon, and a hardcover on amazon marketplace.

In July 2009 I added one page of supplementary remarks based mainly on a June 2009 letter to 183,000 known Cambridge alumni and alumnae worldwide (of which I am proud to be one) from the present Vice Chancellor of the University (Professor Alison Richards). I also changed the cover slightly to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the founding of Cambridge University in 1209. This Kindle edition includes that update.