Sakuma Shozan

Sakuma Shozan (February 28, 1811 - July 11, 1864) is a politican and scholar of the Edo era. Knowledgeable on naval and coastal defence issues, Shozan was imprisoned by the Tokugawa Bakufu from 1854 to 1862. He advocated opening Japanese ports to foreign traders.

Shozan was assassinated for his opinions by some radical anti-foreign samurai.

He is sometimes also called Sakuma Zozan.

The article is originally from OpenHistory.