WEBCount Katsu Yasuyoshi (勝 安芳) (born Katsu Yoshikuni (勝 義邦); March 12, 1823—January 21, 1899, best known by his nickname Katsu Kaishū (勝 海舟)) was a Japanese statesman, naval engineer and military commander during the late Tokugawa shogunate and early Meiji period.