In this paper, Kikuchi Takenobu, an English teacher at Shuyukan, was investigated, focusing on his teaching profession and religious life in his hometown Yanagawa in his twenties. He was the author of the first English pronunciation manual for Japanese learners titled How to Pronounce English published in 1886. His official records including resumes and written appointments were examined. The main findings were (1) he had taught at Yanagawa Middle School from 1881 to 1883, and also worked as an educational advisor for the community, (2) among his students were two boys who grew up to be prominent leaders of the county, and (3) he was a Christian and the Kikuchi family were the first people who were baptized in Yanagawa and devoted to founding a church there.