However, the introduction of western mathematics at the beginning of the Meiji period emphasized the importation of technical tools from the west, and as such, the early 'yosan mathematicians' were technicians, rather than experts of mathematics.
しかし、明治の初めの西洋数学導入は、技術を支える道具の輸入という面が強く、初期の「洋算家」には技術者など数学の専門家とは言えないものも多かった。