| The following day, on July 4, a date consciously and intentionally chosen by [[Emperor Meiji|the Emperor]] or his advisors, General Grant was granted an audience with the Meiji Emperor. | | The following day, on July 4, a date consciously and intentionally chosen by [[Emperor Meiji|the Emperor]] or his advisors, General Grant was granted an audience with the Meiji Emperor. |
− | The following two weeks of Grant's stay in Japan was filled with receptions, dinner parties, notable guests both Western and Japanese, and a number of activities and events which would prove historic firsts. Grant, already the first President of the United States, sitting or otherwise, to visit Japan, was among the first Westerners to view a [[Noh]] performance, and the first Westerner to be granted a "popular reception ... by the Japanese populace"<ref>Chang. p379.</ref>. On July 16, he was treated to a performance of ''[[Gosannenn Oshu Gunki|Gosannen Ôshû Gunki]]'' at the [[Shintomi-za]], relating events in his life metaphorically through a tale set in the 11th century, with [[Minamoto no Yoshiie]] as the metaphorical stand-in for General Grant. He then formally presented the owner of the theater, [[Morita Kanya XII]], with a stage curtain, which was received as a great honor. | + | The following two weeks of Grant's stay in Japan was filled with receptions, dinner parties, notable guests both Western and Japanese, and a number of activities and events which would prove historic firsts. Grant, already the first President of the United States, sitting or otherwise, to visit Japan, was among the first Westerners to view a [[Noh]] performance, and the first Westerner to be granted a "popular reception ... by the Japanese populace"<ref>Chang. p379.</ref>. On July 16, he was treated to a performance of ''[[Gosannen Oshu Gunki|Gosannen Ôshû Gunki]]'' at the [[Shintomi-za]], relating events in his life metaphorically through a tale set in the 11th century, with [[Minamoto no Yoshiie]] as the metaphorical stand-in for General Grant. He then formally presented the owner of the theater, [[Morita Kanya XII]], with a stage curtain, which was received as a great honor. |