The site of Shozan Sakuma Juku

A thinker from the late Edo period, Shinano Kuni (now Nagano Prefecture) Shozan Sakuma Matsuyo clansman (1811-1864), after studying Confucianism, opened a private school near Kanda Otamagaike, and also served as the head of the Edo clan residence academic office of the Matsuyo clan. Later, he devoted himself to the issue of defense, studied Western artillery and Dutch studies, and opened a military school at 5-chome Kibikicho (now near Ginza 6-chome) for the purpose of giving lectures on defense measures. Many talented people, including Kaishu Katsu, Yoshida Shoin, Sanai Hashimoto and Tsugunosuke Kawai, can be found in the pupil book of Tosa clansman Sakamoto Ryoma. At the cram school in Kibiki-cho, the number of students in artillery training from various clans increased rapidly, but the pupil Yoshida Shoin was ordered to stay in the country in connection with the failure of US smuggling, and the cram school was closed.