下田踏海

下田踏海しもだとうかい

松陰しょういんは、師佐久間象山しさくましょうざんの指示しじによって海外視察かいがいしさつを計画けいかくしたが、当時とうじは鎖国制度さこくせいどが厳きびしく密航みっこうする以外いがいには方法ほうほうがなかった。長崎ながさきにロシア艦隊入港かんたいにゅうこうと聞きき、急いそぎ向むかったが、出港後しゅっこうごで失敗しっぱいした。ついで安政元年あんせいがんねん（1854）三月二十七日さんがつにじゅうななにちの夜よる、同志どうしの金子重輔かねこしげのすけと、伊豆いずの下田しもだでアメリカの軍艦ぐんかんに密航みっこう、乗艦じょうかんはできたが追おい返かえされて失敗しっぱいし、自首じしゅして江戸えどの伝馬町獄てんままちごくに送おくられた。『ペリー日本遠征記にほんえんせいき』は、この二人ふたりの若者わかものの向学心こうがくしんに燃もえた精神せいしんを賞賛しょうさんしている。この密航みっこうという企くわだては、大おおきな影響えいきょうをもたらし、明治維新めいじいしんへの端緒たんしょとなった。

Shimoda Toukai

Yoshida Shoin had planned to conduct overseas observations under the guidance of his teacher, Sakuma Shozan. However, during that time, Japan had a strict isolationist policy, and there was no way to do so except by stowing away.
Upon hearing the Russian fleet had arrived in Nagasaki, he hurriedly headed there but he arrived after their departure, resulting in failure.
Subsequently, on the night of March 27th in 1854 (the 1st year of Ansei era), he attempted to stow away on an American warship at Shimoda in Izu, along with his comrade Kaneko Shigesuke. Although they managed to board the ship, they were found and repelled, leading to failure. They voluntarily turn themselves in and were sent to Edo's Tenma-cho prison.
“The Perry Expedition to Japan" praises the spirit of these two young men, who were driven by a strong desire for learning. This attempt at stowing away had a significant impact and served as a starting point for the Meiji Restoration.