James Hepburn

James Hepburn

By Shiori Takezawa

Today, Japanese people use ro-maji and it is used as the input method of the Japanese standard notation and keyboard.

In this blog I will talk about James Hepburn. He is known as the physician and educator. Especially, he is famous for the Hepburn romanization system. This blog tells you about his background, Japanese life and Japanese-English dictionary.

His Background

Hepburn was born in Milton, Pennsylvania in 1815. He worked as physician, translator, and educator and lay Christian Missionary. He first arrived to Japan in 1859 in Yokohama.

His Japanese life

He had good relationships with neighborhood. He worked as an eye doctor. His treatment had good reputation and in addition was free. A lot of Japanese people heard that and they came to his hospital. However, his hospital was too small to treat all patients, so he decided to move to another place. Sadly, his hospital was prevented from opening by Bakufu [the shogunate, then government of Japan - Ed], so it was closed.

Japanese-English Dictionary

A Pocket Dictionary of the English and
Japanese Language (1862)

In 1862, an English and Japanese dictionary was published. However, it was just like a vocabulary book. This dictionary was not useful. (left side image) Hepburn created the new system of the English and Japanese dictionary and the dictionary has been used for a long time. It can be said that his English and Japanese dictionary was very useful for Japanese people. Also, it is clear to understand the meaning of the word in English. It’s like the modern dictionary we’re using. (right side image)

A Japanese and English Dictionary

Hepburn Romanization System

Also, Hepburn recreated the romanization system for Japanese. There was the Romanization system from Sengoku period [1467-1573 - Ed]. It was created by the Portuguese. However Hepburn thought that this Romanization system was not similar to the native English. So, he recreated the Romanization system to use the American pronunciation. It was called the “Hepburn romanization system”.

If you were Hepburn...

Discussion question: If you were Hepburn, would you want to spread your ideas or your knowledge to other countries?

Some people said, ''I wouldn't do like him, because I wouldn't want to help the other countries' development. If the government paid some money for working, I would take my ideas or knowledge." In my group, members said same answers, and I thought the same. When Hepburn arrived in Japan and opened his hospital, his treatment was free. I thought he just wanted to help Japanese people's life, not earn some money.

Conclusion...

Hepburn contributed to Japan as the physician and educator. Firstly is the medical system. He arrived to Japan and treated a lot of Japanese people and also, he taught the Western medicine for Japanese students. Secondly is edited the Japanese and English dictionary. His dictionary was a foundation of the later English and Japanese dictionary. Finally is recreated the Romanization system. Hepburn Romanization system of romaji has being used as the input method of the Japanese standard notation. His contribution is lived contemporary Japan.