deshi

plural deshis

1. governmenta member of a heya ("stable"); trained by its shisho
2. disciple, mentee, follower

   After him came several deshi, or followers he had mentored.

   2008 September 8, Richard Halloran, “Japan’s rapid succession of prime ministers belies its global role”, in Taipei Times, Taipai, page 9

   1 more example

   At eight years of age Kichitaro[u] was placed as disciple (_deshi_) at the Jo[u]shinji of Fukagawa.

   1917, James S. Benneville, The Yotsuya Kwaidan, Reprint edition, The Gutenberg Project, published 2006