O-yatoi gaikokujin

The o-yatoi gaikokujin (お雇い外国人 — hired foreigners, foreign employees) were foreign specialists, engineers, teachers, mercenaries and more, hired to assist in the modernization of Japan. They were summoned, at the end of the Bakufu and during the Meiji Era, reaching more than 3,000 in all (with thousands more in the private sector) as of 1868.

Related Topics:
Specialist - Engineer - Teacher - Mercenaries - Modernization - Japan - Bakufu - Meiji Era - 1868

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Their goal was to transfer technology and teach Japanese replacements to take over their places. Some, in addition to being government employees, were also missionaries. They were highly valued; in 1874 the oyatoi numbered 520, during which time their salaries came to ¥2.272 million, or 33.7 percent of the annual budget. Despite their value, they were not allowed to stay in Japan permanently, and many, finding the nation unwelcoming, chose to leave at the end of a one or two year contract.

Related Topics:
Missionaries - 1874 - ¥

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The oyatoi system was officially terminated in 1899 when extraterritoriality came to an end in Japan. Nevertheless similar employment of foreigners persists in Japan, particularly within the national education system and professional baseball. Until 1899, more than 800 hired experts were employed by the government, and many others privately.

Related Topics:
1899 - Extraterritoriality - Professional baseball

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