Half of his remains were returned to his hometown of Mihama in Japan on February 20, 2005.
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Otokichi is known to have returned to Japan twice, first as a translator on board HMS Mariner, which entered Uraga Port in 1849 to conduct a topographical survey.
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Gutzlaff, who had views on evangelizing Japan, enthusiastically learned the Japanese language from the trio, and with their help managed to make a translation of the Gospel of John into Japanese.
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McLoughlin, envisioning an opportunity to use the castaways to open trade with Japan, sent the trio to London on the Eagle to try to convince the Crown of his plan.
The book is a non-fiction historical biography about a young Japanese boy named Otokichi that eventually inspired Commodore Perry to open trade relations with Japan in 1854 and dramatically impacted modern Japanese history.
Otokichi |
Otokichi Mukojima (向島 音吉 Mukōjima Otokichi) - aka Otokichi Higashikunibaru (東国原 音吉), played by Tokyo Sunshine Boys member Takashi Kobayashi (小林 隆 Kobayashi Takashi).