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Muragaki Norimasa was a [[Tokugawa shogunate]] official of the [[Bakumatsu]] period. He is perhaps particularly known as the vice-ambassador on the [[1860 Japanese Embassy to the United States]], the only official overseas embassy dispatched by the shogunate.

Muragaki Norimasa was a [[Tokugawa shogunate]] official of the [[Bakumatsu]] period. He is perhaps particularly known as the vice-ambassador on the [[1860 Japanese Embassy to the United States]], the only official overseas embassy dispatched by the shogunate.

He was reassigned from ''makanai-gashira'' to [[Kanjo bugyo|Kanjô ginmiyaku]] on [[1854]]/1/14 and was simultaneously appointed ''Matsumae Ezo Yôkakari'' (officials assigned to matters in [[Ezo]]/[[Matsumae han|Matsumae]], i.e. [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]]) alongside [[Hori Toshitada]]. The two departed [[Ezo]] for Ezo two months later, on 3/27.

He was reassigned from ''makanai-gashira'' to [[Kanjo bugyo|Kanjô ginmiyaku]] on [[1854]]/1/14 and was simultaneously appointed ''Matsumae Ezo Yôkakari'' (officials assigned to matters in [[Ezo]]/[[Matsumae han|Matsumae]], i.e. [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]]) alongside [[Hori Toshitada]]. The two departed [[Edo]] for Ezo two months later, on 3/27.

On [[1860]]/1/19, Muragaki then departed [[Yokohama]] aboard the [[USS Powhatan|USS ''Powhatan'']] alongside lead ambassador [[Niimi Masaoki|Niimi Buzen-no-kami Masaoki]], numerous other members of the embassy, and American crew and escorts. While in the United States, Muragaki kept a diary entitled ''Kôkai nikki'', which reveals 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>

On [[1860]]/1/19, Muragaki then departed [[Yokohama]] aboard the [[USS Powhatan|USS ''Powhatan'']] alongside lead ambassador [[Niimi Masaoki|Niimi Buzen-no-kami Masaoki]], numerous other members of the embassy, and American crew and escorts. While in the United States, Muragaki kept a diary entitled ''Kôkai nikki'', which reveals 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>