Changes

==Members==

==Members==

*Vice-Ambassador [[Muragaki Norimasa]]

 

*Vice-Ambassador [[Muragaki Norimasa|Muragaki Awaji-no-kami Norimasa]]

*Merchant Iseya Heisaku

*[[Kato Somo|Katô Somô]], who published journals, [[haiku]], and sketches from the journey

*[[Morita Okataro|Morita Okatarô]], Treasury Officer

*[[Tsukahara Jugoro|Tsukahara Jûgorô]]

*[[Hitaka Keizaburo|Hitaka Keizaburô]], aide to the ''metsuke''

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

*[[Yoshida Sagozaemon]]

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

sketches from the journey

*[[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==

===In New York===

===In New York===

The embassy traveled to [[Baltimore]] and [[Philadelphia]] before arriving at New York's Pier I on 4/23 (June 16), aboard a steamship called ''Alida''. They appeared in a procession up Broadway to Union Square, and then back down to the Metropolitan Hotel on the corner of Broadway & Prince Street. They would stay at the Metropolitan for the duration of their two-week stay in New York.

The embassy traveled to [[Baltimore]] and [[Philadelphia]] before arriving at New York's Pier I on 4/23 (June 16), aboard a steamship called ''Alida''. They appeared in a procession up Broadway to Union Square, and then back down to the Metropolitan Hotel on the corner of Broadway & Prince Street. They would stay at the Metropolitan for the duration of their two-week stay in New York; a total of 300 flags were flown at the hotel during their stay.

Over the course of their time in New York, the ambassadors met numerous figures of note, and were entertained at a number of events. Two days after their arrival, they received several distinguished guests at the hotel, and paid a visit to a photo studio, a rather new experience for many of the samurai. That night, NY Mayor Fernando Wood held a reception for them at City Hall; Gov. Edwin Morgan was in attendance as well.

Over the course of their time in New York, the ambassadors met numerous figures of note, and were entertained at a number of events. The total cost of the festivities is said to have been roughly US$82,000. Two days after their arrival, they received several distinguished guests at the hotel, and paid a visit to a photo studio, a rather new experience for many of the samurai. This was followed by a parade ending at City Hall, where NY Mayor Fernando Wood held a reception for them with Gov. Edwin Morgan in attendance as well.

Formal activities were canceled the following day (5/1; Jun 19) on account of rain, but resumed the day after that, with formal visits to various sites in Brooklyn, including the Navy Yards and Green-Wood Cemetery. The lead ambassadors met with a committee from the local Chamber of Commerce while other members of the embassy went shopping, and attended concerts.

Formal activities were canceled the following day (5/1; Jun 19) on account of rain, but resumed the day after that, with formal visits to various sites in Brooklyn, including the Navy Yards and Green-Wood Cemetery. The lead ambassadors met with a committee from the local Chamber of Commerce while other members of the embassy went shopping, and attended concerts.

The samurai traveled to the newly completed Central Park the following day (5/3; Jun 21), where they met with the park's designer, Frederick Law Olmstead, and had a Japanese tree transplanted their in honor of the event. Later that day, they attended a garden party held by ''New York Herald'' publisher James Gordon Bennett at his estate in Washington Heights.

The samurai traveled to the newly completed Central Park the following day (5/3; Jun 21), where they met with the park's designer, Frederick Law Olmstead, and had a Japanese tree transplanted their in honor of the event. Later that day, they attended a garden party held by ''New York Herald'' publisher James Gordon Bennett at his estate in Washington Heights.

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. 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 [[katana|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 factor. A set of [[katana|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.