Kameya Masashige

A confectionery shop run by the family of Founder Katsutaro Inabata, which was an official purveyor to the Imperial Household. When Katsutaro was just two years old, the shop was destroyed in the Kinmon Incident, plunging the family into severe hardship. By the time of Episode 1, set in the second year of the Meiji era (1869), seven-year-old Katsutaro was helping his family restart thewagashishop, selling sweets door-to-door.
[Reference]Digital Gallery | IK Tales | Inabata & Co., Ltd. (inabata.co.jp) (in Korean only)

The Kinmon Incident (Hamaguri Gate Rebellion)

This refers to the battle between the Choshu Domain against the Aizu and Satsuma Domains at Hamaguri Gate in Kyoto during the first year of the Genji era (1864). Although the battle ended in just one day with the defeat of the Choshu forces, the resulting fires continued for three days, causing extensive damage. Most of central Kyoto (stretching east to west from the Kamogawa River to Horikawa River, and north to south from Ichijo to Shichijo) was burned down. (Cited from the "Kinmon Incident" in the Encyclopedia of Japanese History.)

Ishigame (Japanese Pond Turtle)

A turtle species native to Japan, primarily distributed across Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Juveniles have a shape that resembles azeni(coin or money), which is why they are also calledzenigame.
참고: Katsutaro’s interactions with the turtle in this story are fictional.

Elementary School

In the second year of the Meiji era (1869), Japan's first 64 district-based elementary schools were established in Kyoto, driven by the belief of its residents that "building a town starts with building people." This occurred before the national school system was introduced in the fifth year of Meiji (1872) under the Education System Order. These schools were created not only by the government but also with contributions from the local townspeople. Since they were based on the units of neighborhood groupings calledbangumi, which were the administrative divisions of the towns, these district schools were known as "bangumi elementary schools." Katsutaro enrolled in the Shimogyo 25th bangumi elementary school, which later became Awata Elementary School.
[참조] Museum Overview | Kyoto City School History Museum (kyo-gakurehaku.jp), "Why Did Japan's First Elementary School Start in Kyoto?" - Q Kyoto Study Trip (Kyoto.travel)

The Origins of Kameya Masashige and Inabata Senryoten (dye shop)

After barely escaping with their lives from the Kinmon Incident in Genji Year 1 (1864), which destroyed their store at Karasuma Oike in Kyoto, the Inabata family set up a new shop at Higashiyama Sanjo and resumed business. Katsutaro grew up in this shop, got married, and when Inabata Senryoten opened in October of Meiji Year 23 (1890), it all started from there. Later that same year, the shop relocated to a new location in Nishijin, which became the first independent store of Inabata Senryoten.

Elementary School Life

After enrolling in elementary school, Katsutaro devoted himself to helping his family and his studies, achieving excellent grades. In Meiji Year 5 (1872), at the age of 10, Katsutaro read aloud from“니혼 가이시”in front of Emperor Meiji during his visit to Kyoto and was rewarded with a compass set. The box containing this compass set is on display in the Founder's Archives. (“Inabata 100-Year History”, page 30)참고: Nihon Gaishi is a historical text written by Rai San'yo, a prominent historian of the late Edo period. It consists of 22 volumes.

Kyoto Prefectural Normal School

The school was established in Meiji Year 9 (1876) with the aim of training elementary school teachers, and it later became the foundation for Kyoto University of Education. At the time, 14-year-old Katsutaro was selected as one of 67 top students from Kyoto's elementary schools due to his excellent performance, and he joined the school as part of the first group of students. (“Inabata Katsutaro Kunden(Biography of Katsutaro Inabata)”, p. 58)
[Reference (In Japanese only)]https://www.mext.go.jp/component/a_menu/education/detail/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2013/12/18/1342091_5.pdf

“To have friends come from afar, is a pleasure, is it not the mark of a true gentleman to remain untroubled when others do not recognize one's worth?”

Passage from the first chapter of the first volume ofThe Analects, Confucius's work spanning 10 volumes and 20 chapters. In this passage, Confucius speaks about the joy of learning, the importance of friends, and a noble mindset.

Dormitory Dean

The person responsible for guiding and supervising the daily lives of students living together in a dormitory. When Katsutaro enrolled in the Normal School, he left his family and moved into the school's dormitory.

레온 듀리

Bunsei Year 5 (1822) – Meiji Year 24 (1891)
In Bunkyu Year 2 (1862), Léon Dury was invited to Japan by Léon Roches, the French Minister to Japan, to serve as a physician for the Edo Shogunate's plan to construct a hospital in Ezochi (Hokkaido year, he was appointed as a consul at the French Consulate in Nagasaki. In Meiji Year 4 (1871), the Kyoto Prefectural Government hired Dury as a teacher at a French school.
Following Dury's advice, the Kyoto Prefecture decided to send students to study in France. In Meiji Year 10 (1877), Dury was entrusted with leading eight students, including Katsutaro, to France, oversee specialization.

Eight Exchange Students

In April of Meiji Year 10 (1877), Tokutaro Kondo, Jiusaburo Utahara, Naojiro Imanishi, and Masunosuke Yokota who had previously attended the Kyoto French School where Dury taugh same year, Katsutaro Inabata, Yonesaburo Nakanishi, Shigekazu Yokota from the Normal School, along with Tomotaro Sato from the middle school, were also selected. Altogether, the eight were chosen to represent Kyoto Prefecture and study ince. specialization.

• Tokutaro Kondo: Textiles
• Jiusaburo Utahara: Mining
• Naojiro Imanishi: Papermaking, thread twisting
• Masunosuke Yokota: Hemp fiber production
• Katsutaro Inabata: Dyeing
• Yonesaburo Nakanishi: Machinery
• Shigekazu Yokota: Arts
• Tomotaro Sato: Pottery

The Two Yokotas

Out of the eight exchange students, Katsutaro's connections with the two Yokotas would deeply influence his later life.

Shigekazu Yokota:
Shigekazu, who was Katsutaro's classmate and close friend at the Normal School, also studied with him in France. While in France, Shigekazu was baptized into Christianity, but tragically, he passed aill there Katsutaro also received a Christian baptism and conducted a memorial for him.

Masunosuke Yokota:
Masunosuke was the elder brother of Einosuke Yokota, to whom Katsutaro would later transfer his rights to screen films. Katsutaro obtained the rights to screen films with the cinematograph from the Lumière brothers. various reasons, Katsutaro decided to discontinue the business and, after consulting with his fellow exchange student Masunosuke Yokota, transferred the screening rights to Masunosuke's younger brother, Einosuke. Einosuke went on to continue the film business under Yokota two other companies, eventually established Nippon Katsudo Shashin Corp. (Nikkatsu).

Voyage to France

Katsutaro and his group traveled from Kyoto to Yokohama via Kobe. On November 20, Meiji Year 10 (1877), they set sail for France. After departing, they made stops in Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Sho Suez Canal before arriving in Marseille, France, on January 2, Meiji Year 11 (1878). It was a long journey spanning 44 days and approximately 16,000 km.

Language School (San-Charles Cram School)

The language school that Katsutaro attended was a primary school called San-Charles Cram School, located in Marseille, France. The school had 30 teachers and 700 students, offering not only French lan. Katsutaro and the others attended this school for a year to study the language, thoroughly learning French grammar, conversation, and general education.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas père

An adventure novel serialized in a French daily newspaper in Meiji Year 17 (1884). The story follows D'Artagnan, a young man from the French countryside who moves to Paris with dreams of becoming a musketeer The famous motto from this novel, "One for all, and all for one," has also become the catchphrase of the Japan Rugby Football Union and is widely known as a symbol of the spirit of rugby.

Martinière Technical School

An industrial school established in Lyon, France, in Bunkyu Year 2 (1862) to provide foundational science education to boys aged 12 to 13. The school produced many scientists who were active in Lyon Year 7 (1860) and was known worldwide as a pioneering scientific educational institution. Katsutaro studied applied chemistry there. He was also a classmate of Auguste Lumière, the elder of the Lumière brothers who would later invent the Cinem

The Lumière Brothers

French inventors who, in Meiji Year 28 (1895), invented the Cinematograph, a device that served as both a projector and a camera, and presentad the world's first film. Known alongside Edison as the "Fathers elder Auguste, born in Bunkyu Year 2 (1862), and the younger Louis, born in Genji Year 1 (1864). Auguste met Katsutaro while attending Martinière technical school and this encounter eventually led to the first cinema show in

Japan's First Cinema Show

Japan's first cinema show was held in Meiji Year 30 (1897) by Katsutaro at the Nanchi Enbujo Theater in Osaka (currently Namba Marui). Katsutaro reunited with Auguste Lumière, the Inventor of the Cinematograph was once Katsutaro's classmate, had developed the Cinematograph with his brother Louis in Meiji 28 (1895). Katsutaro obtained the rights from Auguste to represent the Cinematograph in Japan and brought it back with him. After conducting test Co., Ltd. headquarters (currently The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.), Katsutaro held Japan's first paid cinema show at Nanchi Enbujo.

Marnas dyeing factory

A dye factory operated by Jean Marnas, one of the leading industrialists in Lyon. Founded in the first year of Tenpo 1 (1831), the company had a long tradition, and by Meiji Year 12 (1879), whenyt a the Rhône River and employed over 1,500 workers, making it a large-scale enterprise. After acquiring foundational knowledge at techinical school Katsutaro worked at the Marnas dyeing factory to learn practical dyeing techniques. 11 hours a day.

Aniline Dyeing

Dyeing using aniline dyes, which were among the earliest synthetic dyes. At the time, synthetic dyes in general were often referred to as aniline dyes, as this was during the early stages of their develop.

Dyeing Process

Silk threads were dyed after washing off the surface proteins with soapy water. The dyed threads were then washed in the river to remove excess dye and starch a practice that is no longer was assigned the task of washing the dyed silk threads in the freezing Rhône River during winter. In summer, he carried the boiling hot raw silk from the boiling vats in the basement level to the sulfur room on the fourth floor, where it was left

Katsutaro and Frisé

Katsutaro, angered by the discrimination he faced from Frisé, a worker at the Marnas dyeing factory ended up in a physical fight, which resulted in Frisé getting injured. Upon learning that Frisét was times but also regularly sent his monthly salary to Frisé. When he discovered that Frisé could no longer continue his work as a factory worker due to the injury, Katsutaro became a guarantor to buy a carriage and helped Frisé start a career as episode is also recorded in the book “Inabata Katsutaro Kunden( Biography of Katsutaro Inabata)” and is said to be a true story.

World's Fair

In Meiji Year 16 (1883), the International Colonial and Export Trade Exhibition was held in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This was the first World's Fair aimed at showcasing the wealth and trade of colonial territories. Twenty-eight such as telephones, industrial machinery, and live animals. The exhibition drew at least one million visitors. Katsutaro attended this exhibition as the Assistant Representative of Exhibitors from Kyoto Prefecture, along with Saizo Takagi, the Chief Representative, and another were involved in the administrative work of the exhibition. During the fair, Katsutaro had an audience with the King of the Netherlands Willem III, the queen, and the Belgian King Leopold II. Although Katsutaro would later have several audiences with foreign heads of exte,

Alexander von Siebold

Born:Kōka Year 3 (1846)- Died:Meiji Year 44 (1911) Alexander von Siebold, the eldest son of Philipp Franz von Siebold, who is well-known for the Siebold Incident, served as an interpret period. He was later employed by the Meiji government as a foreign advisor for 40 years. In addition to his role at the Netherlands World’s Fair ongoing at the time, he also accompanied the Korean delegation as an interpreter to the 1868 Furthermore, he served as secretary to Kaoru Inoue, contributing to efforts to revise unequal treaties with various countries.

Katsutaro's Life Following the World's Fair

After completing a 3-year practical internship at the Marnas dyeing factory, Katsutaro attended the World’s Fair, after which he toured the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and other countries, Europe. He then returned to Lyon and enrolled at the University of Lyon, majoring in applied chemistry. Although his initial seven-year study abroad period had already expired, in March of that year, Léon Dury negotiated with the prefecture of Kyoto December. Thus, after thoroughly learning the latest dyeing techniques, Katsutaro returned to Japan in 1885 (Meiji Year 18), concluding eight years of study abroad.

A Farewell Gift from Léon Dury

During his time studying abroad, Katsutaro led a disciplined life, abstaining from both alcohol and smoking, and living in a very strict and focused manner. This strict lifestyle was largely influencey by Léon indulgence. When Katsutaro was about to return to Japan, Léon presentad him with a farewell gift—a box of the finest French tobacco. Touched by this gesture, Katsutaro enjoyed the tobacco to his heart’s content on his voyage home Af. it seems the catalyst for this habit was the farewell gift from Léon.

Kyoto Orimono Company

Founded in Meiji Year 20 (1887), the Kyoto Orimono company was the first silk weaving and dyeing business in Japan to use modern machinery. After returning from his studies in France, Katsutaro wished to groundwork by combining Europe’s latest equipment and technique with Kyoto’s long traditional history of weaving and dyeing. In agreement with the idea, prominent industrialist Eiichi Shibusawa supported the plan and rallied other influential entrepreneurs, including Takashi Masuda and Ki Orimono company was officially established.

토미 이나바타

Born on July 10th during the 1st year of Meiji (1868) as the third daughter of Masato Mori, a samurai of the Tokushima domain and a scholar of national studies. After graduating from Nanzan Elementary the Music Training Institute (now the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts). Upon graduation, she worked as a teacher at Tokyo Prefectural First Girls’ High School (now Tokyo Metropolitan Hakuo High School). Later, she studied under Shinzaburo Izawa and with his support, married Katsutaro in Meiji Year 23 (1890).

Katsutaro's Dismissal from Kyoto Orimono Company

Katsutaro, a key figure in the company's founding, retired from the Kyoto Imperial Office and joined the Kyoto Orimono company as chief engineer. However, around Meiji Year 23 (1890), dueto a public to shift drastically. Western-style clothing came to be worn only by a select few upper-class women. As a result, factory operations suffered delays far more than expected. Moreover, In August Meiji Year 23 (1890), Katsutaro along Choshiro Takamatsu were dismissed for going against company policy. They had poured significant funds into creating the ideal production setup despite the possibility of an immediate loss. This clashed with the views of profit-driven executives and shareholders.

Eiichi Shibusawa and Katsutaro Inabata

In Meiji Year 19 (1886), Katsutaro was commissioned to investigate textiles and dyeing materials for use in decorating the Imperial Palace, and visited Tokyo. During his visit, he was introduced to Eiichi Shibusawa by an engineer from the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. Katsutaro explained the need to establish a textile company using the latest machinery which Shibusawa also agreed. Later, Shibusawa traveled to Kyoto himself to meet with Kyoto Prefectural Governor Kunimichi Tokyo industrialists such as Takashi Masuda, Kihachiro Okura, and Seinosuke Imamura. Their cooperation greatly contributed to the founding of the Kyoto Orimono company.

Name Change from Inabata Senryoten to Inabata & Co., Ltd.

After Inabata Senryoten was founded in Kyoto in Meiji Year 23 (1890), the name changed to Inabata Shoten in Meiji Year 26 (1893). In Taisho Year 7 (1918), it Showa Year 18 (1943), under the second president, Taro Inabata, the Korean name of the company became Inabata Sangyo. When the company was a private shop, the head was called tenshu, or store owner, and Katsutaro also held that title to president.