What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to investigate the life and conversion of Amenomori Nobushige, focusing on his experiences with missionary mentors.

June 6, 20260 citationsOpen Access

From Devout Christian to Atheist: Amenomori Nobushige and His Missionary Mentors. A Case Study of the Failure of Missionaries in Early Meiji Japan.

AIAndrew Hamish Ion

Key Points

The study aims to investigate the life and conversion of Amenomori Nobushige, focusing on his experiences with missionary mentors.
Examined historical records regarding Amenomori Nobushige's life and background.
Analyzed connections between Amenomori and significant figures such as Lafcadio Hearn and William Elliot Griffis.
Reviewed the role of missionaries in early Meiji Japan and their impact on Japanese society.
Amenomori Nobushige was adopted but relinquished his family's status due to his Christian faith.
He was educated at the Meishinkan school, under the influence of Western missionaries.
His story reflects the struggles and failures of Protestant missionaries in influencing Japanese culture.

Abstract

This short research note investigates Amenomori Nobushige (Matsubara, 1858-1906) 1 , the second son of the samurai Matsubara Yoshishige of the Fukui domain who was adopted by the Amenomori family of 600 koku standing but forfeited this fortune because he insisted on becoming a Christian 2 .Although Amenomori is known for his connection to Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) 3 , this note aims to bring scholarly attention to a figure who has been omitted from Protestant history.In 1871 Amenomori Nobushige was one of the Japanese students taught by the oyatoi William Elliot Grffis (1843-1928) 4 at the Meishinkan school in Fukui and through him met the Dutch Reformed missionaries in Yokohama.M.

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