Hirose Tanso (広瀬 淡窓, 22 May 1782 – 28 November 1856) was a neo-Confucian scholar, teacher and writer in late Edo Period Japan.

[1] Hirose was born as the eldest son of Hakataya Saburoemon a wealthy merchant in Uomachi, Mameda-cho, Hita-gun, Bungo Province.

At the age of ten, he became a student of Chikuin Matsushita a ronin from Kurume who frequented the Hita magistrate's office.

His illness lasted for a long time, and at one point his life was in danger, but he was saved by Minato Kurashige, a doctor from Higo Province.

Afterwards, due to his tendency to get sick, he gave up on taking over the family business and left the store to his younger brother Kyubei, and once aspired to become a doctor, but Minato Kurashige's words suggested that he pursue a career as a scholar and educator.

It was opened in 1805; two years later, it was moved to the banks of the Nakagusuku River, and in 1817, it was relocated to its current location and was renamed "Kangi-en".

The Shufuan was built in its current location in 1781 by Tansō's uncle, who was a haiku poet, and the structure was one of the classrooms of the academy.

Nishijuku, which was located on the west side across the road, was used as the Hita District Office from 1889, but it was later removed, leaving behind a well, and no longer exists.