Changes

*''Dates: [[1860]]/1/19 - 5/13''

*''Dates: [[1860]]/1/19 - 5/13''

The first Japanese embassy to the [[United States]] took place in [[1860]]. The ambassadors traveled to [[San Francisco]] by steamship from [[Yokohama]], stopping for supplies in [[Honolulu]]; they then traveled to [[Washington DC]], and spent two weeks in [[New York|New York City]] before returning to Japan.

The first Japanese embassy to the [[United States]] took place in [[1860]]. The ambassadors traveled to [[San Francisco]] by steamship from [[Yokohama]], stopping for supplies in [[Honolulu]]; they then traveled to [[Washington DC]] via Panama, and spent two weeks in [[New York|New York City]] before returning to Japan.

The chief nominal purpose of this mission was to exchange the Japanese- and English-language versions of the [[Harris Treaty|Treaty of Amity and Commerce]] signed two years earlier.

The chief nominal purpose of this mission was to exchange the Japanese- and English-language versions of the [[Harris Treaty|Treaty of Amity and Commerce]] signed two years earlier.

*[[Matsumoto Sannojo]], aide to the ambassadors

*[[Matsumoto Sannojo]], aide to the ambassadors

*[[Yoshida Sagozaemon]]

*[[Yoshida Sagozaemon]]

*[[Namura Gohachiro|Namura Gohachirô]], Imperial Interpreter

*[[Namura Gohachiro|Namura Gohachirô]], interpreter

*[[Masuzu Shunjiro|Masuzu Shunjirô]], aide to the treasury officer

*[[Masuzu Shunjiro|Masuzu Shunjirô]], aide to the treasury officer

*[[Tsuji Yoshigoro|Tsuji Yoshigorô]], aide to the treasury officer

*[[Tsuji Yoshigoro|Tsuji Yoshigorô]], aide to the treasury officer

*[[Miyazaki Ryogen|Miyazaki Ryôgen]], physician

*[[Miyazaki Ryogen|Miyazaki Ryôgen]], physician

*[[Murayama Hakugen]], physician

*[[Murayama Hakugen]], physician

sketches from the journey

*[[Fukuzawa Yukichi]], interpreter<ref>[[Marius Jansen]], ''China in the Tokugawa World'', Harvard University Press (1992), 105.</ref>

*[[Tateishi Onojiro|Tateishi "Tommy" Onojirô]], 17 or 18 years old, and a favorite of the US media

*[[Tateishi Onojiro|Tateishi "Tommy" Onojirô]], 17 or 18 years old, and a favorite of the US media

*Interpreter Tateishi Tokujûrô

*Interpreter Tateishi Tokujûrô

==Journey==

==Journey==

The more than 170 members of the embassy, along with a number of American escorts, departed Yokohama for San Francisco on 1/19 (Feb 10), aboard a number of ships including the ''[[USS Powhatan]]'', and the ''[[Kanrin Maru]]''. The ''Powhatan'', captained by Lt. James Johnston, carried the three lead ambassadors and their core entourage, along with the [[Harris Treaty|Treaty of Amity and Commerce]] signed by Japanese officials and US diplomat [[Townsend Harris]] onboard that same ship two years earlier, but which still needed to be ratified by the US Congress. The ''Kanrin Maru'', meanwhile, commanded by [[Minister of the Navy|Navy Minister]]　[[Kimura Kaishu|Kimura Kaishû]], captained by [[Katsu Kaishu|Katsu Kaishû]], and with a crew of 96 Japanese plus some number of Americans (incl. one American officer), carried the remainder of the members of the embassy.  

The more than 170 members of the embassy, along with a number of American escorts, departed Yokohama for San Francisco on 1/19 (Feb 10), aboard a number of ships including the ''[[USS Powhatan]]'', and the ''[[Kanrin Maru]]''. The ''Powhatan'', captained by Lt. James Johnston, carried the three lead ambassadors and their core entourage, along with the [[Harris Treaty|Treaty of Amity and Commerce]] signed by Japanese officials and US diplomat [[Townsend Harris]] onboard that same ship two years earlier, but which still needed to be ratified by the US Congress. The ''Kanrin Maru'', meanwhile, commanded by [[Minister of the Navy|Navy Minister]] [[Kimura Kaishu|Kimura Kaishû]], captained by [[Katsu Kaishu|Katsu Kaishû]], and with a crew of 96 Japanese plus some number of Americans (incl. one American officer), carried the remainder of the members of the embassy.  

The ''Powhatan'' stopped for supplies at Honolulu, where the ambassadors met with King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma, before continuing on to California. The ''Kanrin Maru'' was damaged in a storm, and returned to Japan after repairs in San Francisco, while the remaining 76 samurai members of the embassy continued their journey onboard the ''Powhatan''. After sailing south from San Francisco to Panama, the members of the embassy crossed the narrow Panama Isthmus by rail, and then were transported to Washington DC onboard the USS ''Roanoke''.

The ''Powhatan'' stopped for supplies at Honolulu, where the ambassadors met with King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma, before continuing on to California. The ''Kanrin Maru'' was damaged in a storm, and returned to Japan after repairs in San Francisco, while the remaining 76 samurai members of the embassy continued their journey onboard the ''Powhatan''. After sailing south from San Francisco to Panama, the members of the embassy crossed the narrow Panama Isthmus by rail, and then were transported to Washington DC onboard the USS ''Roanoke''.

Diaries by members of the embassy, such as ''Kôkai nikki'' by Vice-Ambassador Muragaki, reveal much about the Japanese thoughts and impressions upon making such a journey, including an attitude on Muragaki's part that despite their curiosity, the samurai had to refrain from indulging themselves too much in any of the activities, in order to maintain their dignity as representatives of their great nation.<ref>[[Marius Jansen]], ''China in the Tokugawa World'', Harvard University Press (1992), 98.</ref>

Diaries by members of the embassy, such as ''Kôkai nikki'' by Vice-Ambassador Muragaki, reveal much about the Japanese thoughts and impressions upon making such a journey, including an attitude on Muragaki's part that despite their curiosity, the samurai had to refrain from indulging themselves too much in any of the activities, in order to maintain their dignity as representatives of their great nation.<ref>Jansen, 98.</ref>

===In Washington DC===

===In Washington DC===

June 22nd (5/4) saw the samurai enjoying shopping, and visiting schools, prisons, Trinity Church, Barnum's Museum, printing presses, the city's Customs House, and other sights around the city. They met with friends of [[Townsend Harris]] at the Metropolitan Hotel on June 25th (5/7), and enjoyed a ball at the hotel that evening hosted by August Belmont. The following day, the lead ambassadors paid a visit to Jane Perry, widow of Commodore [[Matthew Perry]].

June 22nd (5/4) saw the samurai enjoying shopping, and visiting schools, prisons, Trinity Church, Barnum's Museum, printing presses, the city's Customs House, and other sights around the city. They met with friends of [[Townsend Harris]] at the Metropolitan Hotel on June 25th (5/7), and enjoyed a ball at the hotel that evening hosted by August Belmont. The following day, the lead ambassadors paid a visit to Jane Perry, widow of Commodore [[Matthew Perry]].

Members of the embassy spent the following day (5/9; June 27) shopping, and visiting sites including harbor fortifications and a rubber factor. A set of [[Japanese Swords|sword]] blades forged in [[1859]] specifically for this purpose by swordsmith [[Kawai Hisayuki]] were formally presented the following day to three military captains in recognition of their "unceasing kind services" in organizing the reception of the embassy. Captain Samuel Francis DuPont (1803-1865) was accompanied by two men by the names of Capts. Lee and Porter in receiving this gift.

Members of the embassy spent the following day (5/9; June 27) shopping, and visiting sites including harbor fortifications and a rubber factory. A set of [[Japanese Swords|sword]] blades forged in [[1859]] specifically for this purpose by swordsmith [[Kawai Hisayuki]] were formally presented the following day to three military captains in recognition of their "unceasing kind services" in organizing the reception of the embassy. Captain Samuel Francis DuPont (1803-1865) was accompanied by two men by the names of Capts. Lee and Porter in receiving this gift.

The embassy boarded the ''USS Niagara'' on 5/12 (Jun 30), and departed the following day, sailing across the Atlantic, and stopping in Angola, Batavia (Dutch East Indies), and Hong Kong, before arriving in Edo in the 9th or 10th lunar month (Nov 1860), becoming the first Japanese mission to circumnavigate the globe.

The embassy boarded the ''USS Niagara'' on 5/12 (Jun 30), and departed the following day, sailing across the Atlantic, and stopping in Angola, Batavia (Dutch East Indies), and Hong Kong, before arriving in Edo in the 9th or 10th lunar month (Nov 1860), becoming the first Japanese mission to circumnavigate the globe.