Hopefully this is an appropriate topic and post. Several kind and knowledgeable people responded with suggestions and insight into my search for presumptive samurai ancestors.
Getting info on samurai ancestors | Japan Forum
The results so far have been discouragingly meager, yet promising. I was pleasantly surprised to receive cordial replies, in English, from two departments at the City of Hiroshima, and from what I think is essentially a municipal tourism agency there. Unfortunately, what they could provide was very general and non-specific. However, I was finally able to obtain two photos of my great grandfather's tombstone (hakka?), with clear inscriptions (just his and his wife's names, I'm told), along with the name of the temple. Luckily, there appears to be only one with that name in Hiroshima, a stone's throw from where the koseki indicates his family lived.
Here's where I need someone's very generous assistance. I have the contact info for the temple and need a Japanese-fluent, knowledgeable and tactful person to phone and establish at least first contact with them. I live in California, and it may (or may not) come as a surprise that no one in my immediate family speaks Japanese. The mission is essentially to ask, "was so-and-so, who we think is interred on temple grounds, from a samurai family?" I can provide the koseki (English translation only), the photos, a summary of family members (some of whom may also be there), an informal background narrative, and questions I think might serve as a guideline. I know there is only so much I can expect from the kindness of others, but it is essential to know first whether this route has any potential before investing more time and effort, or money.
Besides language fluency, I seek someone with historical and cultural knowledge, who would have a good idea of the right questions to ask. Realistically, I would be satisfied with a "yes, he was from a samurai family, but if you want to learn more you have to...." This person could then hopefully also provide direction and instructions as how to proceed in the matter.
Thanks for your kind time and attention,
Getting info on samurai ancestors | Japan Forum
The results so far have been discouragingly meager, yet promising. I was pleasantly surprised to receive cordial replies, in English, from two departments at the City of Hiroshima, and from what I think is essentially a municipal tourism agency there. Unfortunately, what they could provide was very general and non-specific. However, I was finally able to obtain two photos of my great grandfather's tombstone (hakka?), with clear inscriptions (just his and his wife's names, I'm told), along with the name of the temple. Luckily, there appears to be only one with that name in Hiroshima, a stone's throw from where the koseki indicates his family lived.
Here's where I need someone's very generous assistance. I have the contact info for the temple and need a Japanese-fluent, knowledgeable and tactful person to phone and establish at least first contact with them. I live in California, and it may (or may not) come as a surprise that no one in my immediate family speaks Japanese. The mission is essentially to ask, "was so-and-so, who we think is interred on temple grounds, from a samurai family?" I can provide the koseki (English translation only), the photos, a summary of family members (some of whom may also be there), an informal background narrative, and questions I think might serve as a guideline. I know there is only so much I can expect from the kindness of others, but it is essential to know first whether this route has any potential before investing more time and effort, or money.
Besides language fluency, I seek someone with historical and cultural knowledge, who would have a good idea of the right questions to ask. Realistically, I would be satisfied with a "yes, he was from a samurai family, but if you want to learn more you have to...." This person could then hopefully also provide direction and instructions as how to proceed in the matter.
Thanks for your kind time and attention,
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