As an aside, 20+ articles later, I still haven't even touched on the topic that drove me to the Commodore Perry Expedition to Japan.
Anyhow, for those of you living under a rock and only interested in how much sperm a woman should receive in the mail, I have also been looking at the 1850s Japan Expedition that was undertaken by Perry on behalf of the United States to provide safe passage for shipwrecked sailors as well as possible trade negotiations between the two countries.
Japan was sen as a feather in any country's cap back then, as it had had over 250 years of isolation from the rest of the world, and the United States was still a young country looking to make its mark in the global waters as a major player.
Obviously, Perry succeeded.
While there were some who though Japan had lost much o its power by agreeing to open ups its doors to another nation (the Dutch were allowed to trade in Nagasaki-shi, only), the Shogun-led Tokugawa government tried to maintain its own power and respect by setting up an embassy in the United States.
On January 19, 1860, the Japanese warship the Kanrin Maru sailed alongside the U.S. naval ship, the USS Powhatan from Uraga to San Francisco.
The Kanrin Maru did not carry the Japanese ambassador, as one might suspect - rather, they sailed aboard the U.S. ship. Aside from providing the military escort, Japan was eager to show of its Western-style ship technologies and navigation techniques that it had only really taken a look at in 1854 when Commodore Perry left Japan with a treaty in hand.
The Kanrin Maru (see image above), was Japan's first screw-driven steam ship, though I should note that it was actually built by the Dutch.
I'll get to the actual compliment of teh embassy son enough - we're steaming here...
After a stopover in the country of Hawaii, the ships landed in San Francisco. After a one-month layover where the Kanrin Maru returned to Japan, the USS Powhatan sailed south to Panama. The 72-person Japanese assemblage (including doctors and cooks) then took an overland train (no Panama Canal for another 50 years), and then boarded the USS Roanoke and sailed north to Washington, D.C., arriving on May 11, 1860.
Of course the Japanese met then U.S. President James Buchanan - on May 17, 1860 - who gave them a watch with his own likeness on it to give to the Shogun as a present.
I am going to borrow from the excellent blog: Ghosts of DC, who has copied a news report from the Baltimore Sun, of what I can only assume is the May 18, 1860 edition of the newspaper:
Precisely at noon the President of the United States, accompanied by the Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of State, Hon. Howell Cobb, Secretary of the Treasury, entered the east room, followed by the rest of the cabinet, Hon. John B. Floyd, Secretary of War, Hon. Isaac Toney, Secretary of the Navy, Hon. Jacob B. Thompson, Secretary of the Interior, Hon. Jos. Holt, Postmaster General, and Mr. Black the U. S. Attorney General.The President and Cabinet took position on the east side, fronting the parlors. A brief pause here ensued, during which the President shook hands heartily with the gallant Lieutenant General Scott. The double doors of the east room now swung open, and the embassy silently advanced and entered to their first view of the President and the imposing array of officials there gathered. They came forward, bowing twice very low, the President once or twice doing the same, and then advanced to the President–Capt. S. F. Dupont, of the U. States navy, accompanied by the chief ambassador, Commander S. F. Lee with the second dignitary, Lieut. D. D. Porter with a third, Dr. Macdonald, secretary to the committee, with a fourth. They were introduced to President Buchanan, by the Secretary of State, when the chief ambassador presented his letter of credence, which the President cordially received, both parties bowing gracefully. The principal ambassador then read an address to the President in Japanese, which had to be interpreted into Dutch and thence into English, thus:
“His Majesty, the Tycoon, has commanded us that we respectfully express to His Majesty the President of the United States, in his name, as follows:
“Desiring to establish on a firm and lasting foundation the relations of peace and commerce, so happily existing between the two countries, that lately the plenipotentiaries of both countries have negotiated and concluded a treaty. Now, he has ordered us to exchange the ratification of the treaty in your principal city of Washington. Henceforth he hopes that the friendly relation shall be held more and more lasting, and he is very happy to have your friendly feeling, that you have brought us to the United States, and will send us back to Japan in your man-of-war.”
…
The embassy, bowing twice again, slowly retired from the room, to bring in the imperial ambassador, who, according to Japanese etiquette, could not be present at the delivery of the letter. They soon, however, returned with the imperial ambassador, bowing again, and signifying their readiness to receive the President’s reply. Mr. Buchanan thereupon read the following address:
“I give you a cordial welcome, as representatives of His Imperial Majesty, the Tycoon of japan, to the American government.
“We are all much gratified that the first embassy which your great empire has ever accredited to any foreign power has been sent to the United States. I trust that this will be the harbinger of perpetual peace and friendship between the two countries. The treaty of commerce, whose ratifications you are about to exchange with the Secretary of State, cannot fail to be productive of benefits and blessings to the people both of Japan and the United States. I can say for myself, and promise for my successors, that it shall be carried into execution in a faithful and friendly spirit, so as to secure to both countries all the advantages they may justly expect from the happy auspices under which it has been negotiated and ratified. I rejoice that you are please with the kind treatment you have received on board our vessels of war whilst on your passage to this country. You shall be sent back in the same manner to your native land, under the protection of the American flag. Meanwhile, during your residence amongst us, which I hope may be prolonged, so as to enable you to visit different portions of our country, we shall be happy to extend to you all the hospitality and kindness eminently due to the great and friendly sovereign whom you so worthily represent.”
For Japan, the trip trough to the U.S. was quite the excursion. After their journey to Washington, they visited Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York - and everywhere they went, they were feted by the locals, who wanted to catch a glimpse of the mystical visitors from the Far East who dressed in funny clothes and had outlandish haircuts. They were celebrities.
As you can see from the photo above, the Japanese are in a parade in New York, traveling up to Broadway from the Battery with both U.S. and Japanese flags wafting in the breeze.
Here's a poem from American icon Walt Whitman, who was a Brooklyn newspaper reporter, about the Japanese in New York:
When Broadway is entirely given up to foot-passengers and foot-standers—when the mass is densest;
When the façades of the houses are alive with people—when eyes gaze, riveted, tens of thousands at a time;
When the guests from the islands advance—when the pageant moves forward, visible;
When the summons is made—when the answer that waited thousands of years, answers;
I too, arising, answering, descend to the pavements, merge with the crowd, and gaze with them.
Okay... I'm not the greatest writer in the world, and my Godzilla haiku are shameless, but WTF? How the hell is that a poem? No! Call it what it is: very short non-fiction. I like my English poems to rhyme. I guess I'm just old fashioned. Whatever the case, despite the wondrous turn of phrase that IS evident, I have always found so-called poems like this to be less than palatable.
Let's look at the Japanese Embassy to the United States (万延元年遣米使節 Man'en gannen kenbei shisetsu).
If you look at the photo above (and at the very top), going from left to right you can see the only three actual three plenipotentiary (full power to act and represent on behalf of their government) members of the Japanese embassy: Ambassador Masaoki Shinmi, Vice-Ambassador Norimasa Muragaki and Tadamasa Oguri, who had no official title, but was indeed a bureaucrat. (Note: all surname first).
Now - despite the first official visit by Japan (there had been various previous times when shipwrecked Japanese sailors had visited the U.S.), and Japanese gentlemen being allowed to act on behalf of the Japanese government, an actual physical embassy was not set up at this time.
Instead, after much partying, parades and checking out the fine ladies of New York (Hey! Watchoo lookin' at?!), the Japanese assemblage made arrangements to head back home to Japan.
Leaving New York on June 30 aboard the frigate USS Niagara, they took their time moving along a circuitous route and after many stops and starts, disembarked at Tokyo Bay on November 8, 1960.
Cheers
Andrew (I did more research than I intended - again) Joseph
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