Based on Ende and Beckmann's suggestion that some delegates be sent to Germany to study and acquire the necessary techniques required for building a modern state, the Japanese government sent a learning mission to Germany consisting of 20 young Japanese people including Yorinaka TSUMAKI, Yuzuru WATANABE, Kozo KAWAI and 17 senior workmen who specialized in stonemasonry, carpentry, artificial stonemasonry, brick-laying, painting, roofing and plastering.
彼らは近代国家建設に要する技術習得のために日本人のドイツ留学を時の日本政府に進言し、政府は建築技師として妻木頼黄・渡辺譲・河合浩蔵の3人、石工・大工・人造石左官・煉瓦職・ペンキ職・屋根職・石膏職の高等職人17人で構成された総勢20人の青年をドイツに留学・派遣した。