It's an English-to-Japanese book containing instruction on the ABCs and numbers. But what is so important about this handwritten book called Eibei Taiwa Shoukei. A B C of the letter [sic] from 1859 is the fact that it was written by the first Japanese person to visit the United States of America.
Background info on the books: Small 8vo (6"x 4 1/4"), 39 leaves folded and sewn in the Japanese manner, xylographically (I have no idea what that means - okay, it means wood engraving) printed throughout, Japanese title page printed in blue, original blue wrappers, printed paper label on upper cover, came with an original blue silk-covered folding box tied with thongs, with a manuscript label in Japanese on upper cover. The first edition is considered to be a very rare hand-written book of which there are nine known copies.
Meet the author - Nakahama Manjiro (surname first) who lived between 1827-1898.
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| Nakahama John Manjiro - circa 1880 |
Along with the authorship of this book, Manjiro (as was usually known) actually holds a much more important place in the history of Japan and the U.S.
When he was 14-years-old, Manjiro, was shipwrecked when he was out fishing with four others in the Pacific around Ashizuri-oki (the southernmost part of the main island of Japan) but ended up marooned on the small volcanic island of Torishima in 1841 (it is still uninhabited today).
Six months later, he and the others were picked up by an American whaleship, the John Howland Captain William Whitfield, of Fairhaven.While the other four opted to disembark at Hawaii to catch ships that would eventually take them back home to Japan. Manjiro, perhaps because he and the Captain got on extremely well, or he was simply a curious lad, decided to stay on board and sailed back to New Bedford with the captain and crew of the John Howland.
Since Hawaii was not part of the U.S. at that time, and was an individual country, the other four Japanese castaways did not actually enter the U.S.
Aboard the John Howland, he took the English name of John Manjiro - more than likely after the name of the boat. Which means he used his given name as his new surname. This probably occurred after Captain Whitfield asked his name, and was told Manjiro Nakahama, in the typical Japanese manner in which the surname is first, followed by the given name. Because of Captain Whitfield's understandable ignorance of this Japanese custom, he probably called the boy Mr. Manjiro, as he would any member of his crew, by what he thought was his last name.
Nakahama Manjiro never corrected him - even after learning English (by which time it was probably too late, as all his new friends now called him John.
And friends he had, as Manjiro was welcomed by the citizens of Fairhaven and New Bedford, Massachusetts in the U.S. where he disembarked.
Thus he unwittingly became the first Japanese person to come to the United States to live. As well, he became the first Japanese (exchange) student to receive an American elementary and intermediate education as well as a high school education in English, Mathematics, Navigation and Shipbuilding, History, and Geography.
Upon graduating, and with the sea in his blood, Manjiro became a mate on an American whaling ship and circumnavigated the globe.
But, by the time he was 24, he was homesick for Japan and wanted to see his mother.
Of course, at that time, Japan was still an isolated nation and did not open its doors up to let people in or out. To return meant possible death for contravening the isolationist policy.
So... in order to earn money, Manjiro joined the California Gold Rush of 1849and must have been one of the few people to find gold, and earned enough money for his return to his homeland.
He caught passage to Hawaii, and then sailed off to Japan, landing on the sly in the Ryukyu Islands in 1851.
In the Ryukyu Islands and later in Nagasaki and Tosa (Tosa is a prefecture now known as Kōchi), he was repeatedly interrogated for the crime of contravening the nation's policy of isolation.
He was finally permitted to return to his home in Nakanohama (which as near as I can tell is in Tokyo - near Shinjuku) and in October of 1852, mother and son enjoyed a moving reunion after their 12-year separation.
But Manjiro had just three days and nights with his mother before he was called back by Yodo Yamanouchi (surname first), the lord of the Tosa area.
So, under the somewhat oppressive rule of Japan, Manjiro chose to become a teacher at the Tosa School, teaching: American democracy; freedom and equality; the independent spirit; and his travels in America.
Like most of us JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Programme teachers, we taught the Japanese that individuality is good. Bloody trouble makers, eh?
(And if you aren't teaching that - shame.)
A year later after settling into his new role as a teacher, Commodore Perry arrived in Japan with his Black ships seeking to set up a port in Japan for American ships to get fuel and supplies, as well as to have Japan sign a treaty whereby Japan would aid American sailors stranded or lost at sea - because at that time, Japan wasn't so interested in helping anyone by its own Japanese population - even when life or death circumstances were at issue.
At the site of Perry's arrival, the bakufu (a sort of tent government acting on behalf of the Shogun) ordered Manjiro to come, and named him a retainer of the Shogun whereby he was told to dedicate himself to his nations most pressing issues - like how to convince the Americans to get the hell out of the area.
In communication with Perry, Manjiro explained to the Shogun that: "America greatly hopes to enjoy a deep and abiding friendship with Japan. America does not come with suspicious designs but with a full and open heart."
So... with the encouragement of Manjiro, the Shogun took a few initial steps to allow the U.S. access to Japan - discarding some 250 years of isolation and to eventually sign the Japan-United States Friendship Treaty.
Obviously Manjiro wasn't THE deciding factor, but his words did hold some sway in the matter.
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge later said, "When John Manjiro returned to Japan, it was as if America had sent its first ambassador. Our envoy Perry could enjoy so cordial a reception because John Manjiro had made Japan's central authorities understand the true face of America."
Later Manjiro became a translator and interpreter for the Shogunate, and traveled throughout Japan to give instruction in shipbuilding and navigation.
He even translated a 20-volume on U.S. Navigation Science he'd brought with him, and edited English conversation texts, and English language instructional books - including the one in the image above.
Now... here's the thing about Manjiro... although he could speak Japanese, Manjiro could not read or write Japanese. He was illiterate. Of course - that was before he left Japan.
When he arrived back from the US full of education, he more than likely also set himself to task to learn to read and write the Japanese language. It's the only way he could create translations - unless of course he translated English words, and a Japanese scribe wrote the words into a book form.
Anyhow... in 1860, the Japanese government sent a delegation to the U.S. - San Francisco - to exchange ratifications of the Japan-U.S. Commercial Treaty - Manjiro was aboard the Japanese ship - the Kanrin-maru as both instructor and translator. The Kanrin-maru was intended to train Japanese to navigate the seas on their own; the captain, Kaishu Katsu (surname first), entrusted Manjiro with 'full navigational authority'.
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| Sailors of the Kanrin Maru, the Embassy's escort; from right, Fukuzawa Yukichi, Okada Seizō, Hida Hamagorō, Konagai Gohachirō, Hamaguchi Yoemon, Nezu Kinjirō. From: The Japanese book "幕末・明治・大正 回顧八十年史" (Memories for 80 years, Bakumatsu, Meiji, Taisho) |
The success of the Kanrin-maru voyage across the Pacific impressed the U.S. side with the skill and abilities of the Japanese, and became a basis for the success of later bilateral diplomatic negotiations.
After returning home to Japan, Manjiro essentially retired from the political world and instead stuck to teaching: English, Mathematics, Navigation and Shipbuilding at the Satsuma Kaisei School, as well as becoming an instructor at the Tosa School.
In 1868 with the establishment of the Meiji government (no more Shogun!), Manjiro was asked to go to Kaisei College - what would later be known as Tokyo University - where he made it his goal to educate and train Japan's future leaders.
Manjiro died quietly on November 12, 1898, at the age of 71. His remains are in Zoshigaya Cemetery Toshima-ku, Tokyo.
Cheers
Andrew Joseph
This blog borrows from the Manjiro Society webpage. However, I should note that the basics of this blog came from my friend Vince who sent me information on Manjiro's book - that was up for sale some time ago for $25,000 - and we believe the dealer got that amount.
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