日本中を歩いて学んだ松陰
松陰十六歳のとき山田亦介に、西欧諸国が盛んに東洋諸国を侵略して植民地としている状況を聞き大いに驚く。アヘン戦争の結果、日本が文化の拠り所としていた清国がイギリスに破れたことは衝撃だった。唯一つ外国に向かって開いている港長崎、平戸に遊学し北部九州各地を歴訪した。特に平戸では葉山佐内に学び、貸与された新刊書の筆写に精力をささげた。熊本に行き宮部鼎蔵と親友になった。松陰は嘉永四年（1851）七月、東北遊歴を藩から許可されたが、宮部と共に南部藩士の江帾五郎の仇討に協力する約束があったので、藩からの過書手形（通行証明書）が待ち切れず出発、東北一円を巡って翌年江戸に帰った。藩邸にて脱藩の罪を問われ萩に帰ったが、士籍を削られ扶持も召し上げられ、実父杉百合之助の育となった。
Yoshida Shoin walked throughout Japan to learn
At the age of 16, Yoshida Shoin, upon hearing from Yamada Matasuke, was greatly astonished to learn about the aggressive colonization of eastern countries by western powers.
It was shocking that Qing Dynasty, where Japan’s cultural anchor, was defeated by England in the Opium Wars.
He was particularly focused on studying in Nagasaki, the only port open to foreign countries, and traveled extensively throughout northern Kyushu area. In Hirado, he studied under Hayama Sanai and dedicated himself to transcribing newly published books provided to him. During his visit to Kumamoto, he formed a close friendship with Miyabe Kenzo.
On July 1851 (the fourth year of Kaei era), Yoshida Shoin was granted permission for a journey to the Tohoku region by Hagi domain. However, he had a prior commitment with Miyabe Kenzo to assist Ebata Gorō, a samurai from Nanbu clan, in seeking revenge, so he departed without waiting for the domain's travel permit (travel certificate). He traveled throughout the Tohoku region and returned to Edo the following year.
When he returned to the domain's residence, he was accused of the act of leaving Hagi domain without permission. His samurai status was revoked, his stipend was taken away, and he was later raised by his biological father, Sugi Yurinosuke.