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

==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''.