Goi family

He was a wealthy merchant during the feudal era and served as a purveyor to the domain. He was originally a member of the Hazu Fujiwara clan and a nobleman in Kyoto. He was bestowed the rank of Shogoi (Senior Fifth Rank), but the "I" in his name was changed to "Ido" (well). The Goi family home is where Odano Naotake, a samurai from Kakunodate who drew the anatomical diagrams for Kaitai Shinsho, met Hiraga Gennai. Hiraga Gennai discovered Naotake's artistic talent when he saw a folding screen painting hanging in his room during a stay. With permission from Satake Yoshiatsu (Shozan), the lord of the Akita domain, Gennai invited Naotake to his home in Edo and immediately began work on the anatomical diagrams. Considering how much Kaitai Shinsho contributed to the development of academic studies in Japan, the Goi family home has become a historic place.
Get directions
Return to the list of spots