UCL celebrates 150th anniversary of Japan’s Choshu Five

The story of five young Japanese noblemen who endured a perilous 135-day sea journey aboard a Jardine Matheson & Co ship to come to Victorian-era London and study at UCL is being marked today at an event to commemorate the 150th anniversary of their departure. On their return to Japan, the five men went on to form the core of a new Japanese government, leading the nation's transformation from an isolated state to one of the world's foremost technological powers.  Included amongst them was Hirobumi Ito, the father of the Japanese Constitution and the first Prime Minister of post Meiji-Japan. UCL was founded in 1826 as the first university in England to open its doors to students of any race or religion. The Choshu Five were some of UCL's early international students, and influenced others to travel. 150 years later we continue to mark the achievements of these five men. The other members of the Choshu Five also became incredibly influential.
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