Yoshida Toshimaro
(1841-1864

Early Life | His views on Yoshida Shoin | Life After Shoin |
Ikedaya-da and his death | Fictional portrayals

  

His view on Yoshida Shoin


Although not related by blood, through various anecdotes and letter excerpts, it assumed that Toshimaro was in fact Shoin's "dearest pupil." The love between the two seems to have been very deep. Even when, due to interference from his father (for fear of being implicated in the "dangerous" Shoin's crime, a failed assassination plot), Toshimaro severed all connections to his teacher and his school, not answering any of the letters Shoin sent him from prison and causing many of his fellow students to suspect him of treachery or disloyalty,
Shoin remained understanding and even wrote in a letter to Irie that he "ought to know the true intention of Eitarou."

Before his execution, Shoin wrote another letter to Takasugi in which he expressed worry for Toshimaro's future, further revealing the depth of his love for his student.

This information was translated from this site by Hitomi Shimizu