Maps of Areas of Interest

By Shannon Hiner

New Brunswick

William E. Griffis entered Rutgers College in Fall 1865, after being discharged from the army. Instead of entering the field of ministry, Griffis chose to take the new science curriculum. His studies included mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, physics, botany, Latin, Greek, philosophy, German, French, Hebrew, and history. Griffis was reported to have graduated fifth in his class in 1869. During his time at Rutgers, Griffis formed connections with Japanese students that he tutored, including Kusakabe Taro, who came to New Brunswick to study, with the assistance of the Board of Foreign Ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church. After his graduation, Griffis was a part of the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, taught at the Rutgers Preparatory School, and preached (Beauchamp 425). The first interactive map illustrates some of the locations that Griffis and the Japanese students may have frequented during their time in New Brunswick.

Interactive New Brunswick Map

Tokyo/Yokohama

Both before and after his residence in Fukui, Griffis spent time in Yokohama and Tokyo. Upon his arrival in Japan on December 29, 1870, Griffis visited missionary friends in Yokohama. Before moving on to Fukui, he spent several weeks in Tokyo, staying with Guido Verbeck who was, at the time, the head teacher of Kaisei Gakko. Griffis returns to Yokohama after teaching in Fukui for a year and observes the changes since he last was in the area. He observes the same as he arrives in Tokyo on February 2, 1872, where he stays for three years and teaches at the Kaisei Gakko, a precursor to the University of Tokyo. This interactive map marks places of interest that Griffis visits or mentions of Tokyo and Yokohama in his book The Mikado’s Empire.

Interactive Tokyo and Yokohama Map

Fukui

On March 4, 1871, Willaim E. Griffis arrived in Fukui. His purpose to being in Fukui was to teach physics and chemistry at the domain school after the daimyo requested for Western teachers to come and modernize the education curriculum. The invitation included the teaching position, a $2,400 salary, and a home that would be built in a Western-style for where Griffis would stay. During his time in Fukui, Griffis visited different towns in the Fukui prefecture and describes what Fukui is well known for at the time, such as paper-making in the paper mills. On January 22, 1872, Griffis left Fukui for a new teaching position in Tokyo. This interactive map illustrates the places that Griffis visited, described, or sites of historical importance.

Interactive Fukui Map

 

This interactive map marks the hometowns of students that Griffis taught in Tokyo or at Rutgers. The map also locates various schools of relevance to Griffis, his students, and other missionaries.

Interactive Hometowns Map