- Edward and Henry Schnell
Edward and Henry Schnell were two brothers and German arms-dealers active in Japan during the
Boshin war , in 1868-1869. Henry is known to have counselled theDaimyo of Nagaoka, in Niigata, to whom he especially sold twoGatling gun s (only another one existed in Japan at the time), 2,000 French rifles, and various other armaments.Edward Schnell also served the
Aizu domain as a military instructor and procurer of weapons. He was granted the Japanese name nihongo|Hiramatsu Buhei|平松武兵衛, which inverted the characters of the daimyo's name nihongo|Matsudaira|松平. Hiramatsu (Schnell) was given the right to wear swords, as well as a residence in the castle town of Wakamatsu, a Japanese wife (the daughter of a Shōnai-han retainer), and retainers. In many contemporary references, he is portrayed as wearing a Japanese kimono, overcoat, and swords, with Western riding trousers and boots.Further reading
*Adachi Yoshio nihongo2|阿達義雄. "Kaishō Suneru to Boshin Niigata kōbōsen" nihongo2|怪商スネルと戊辰新潟攻防戦. Niigata: Toyano Shuppan nihongo2|鳥屋野出版, 1985.
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