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Description

The Miniature Steam Locomotive Commodore Perry Brought to Japan.

Woodblock kawaraban print showing the miniature steam locomotive, which is one of the gifts to the Edo government Commodore Perry brought to Japan. The caption says "Gifts from Emperor of the United States of North America." Although this steam locomotive is a miniature model (1/10 scale model according to this print), it was the first steam locomotive brought to Japan and was therefore of great interest. On 13 March this miniature locomotive was unloaded at Yokohama. Just over 10 days later on 24 March 1854 it had a trial run on the circular rail set in a wheat field behind the Edo government's reception office in Yokohama, astonishing the Japanese government officials.

Perry Expedition to Japan

The Perry Expedition was a diplomatic and military undertaking to Japan during its Bakumatsu period. The Expedition involved two separate trips of steamships of the United States Navy, which took place during 1852-1854. The goals of the expedition included exploration, surveying, the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the "opening" of Japan to trade with the United States. The Perry Expedition had a colossal influence on 19th century Japan, leading to interaction with, and influence by, the outside world, the collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate and the Meiji Restoration. In the Western world, the opening of Japan to trade led to a period of Japonisme in decorative and fine arts and culture.

Anonymous Kawaraban Biography

Japanese newspapers began in the 17th century as yomiuri (読売、literally "to read and sell") or kawaraban (瓦版, literally "tile-block printing" referring to the use of clay printing blocks), which were printed handbills sold in major cities to commemorate major social gatherings or events. These sheets were often printed anonymously.

The kawaraban publishers served as a crucial vector for the transmission of information about Commodore Mathew Perry's opening of Japan.  During the Edo Period, the arriving European vessels were called kurofune (Black Ships). That time was characterized by great social upheaval, and intense public interest in the agents of the outside world arriving in Japan.

Anna Wada, in "About Kawaraban", Perry in Japan A Visual History, gives background on the kawaraban:

The kawaraban took up a range of topics, including natural disasters, superstitious happenings, murders, and less commonly, political satire. Printers chose topics more to entertain and satisfy the readers’ curiosity than to educate them. Visual components such as illustrations, diagrams, and maps attracted the people to the print and helped them to understand the text, as well as sometimes offering additional information.

Throughout the Edo period the shogunate repeatedly restricted printing for a mass audience, particularly seeking to avoid rumors and political commentary. By the time the Black Ships [i.e., Perry’s fleet] arrived at the end of the Edo period, however, the system of censorship could not keep up with the number of prints in circulation. The increase in publications coincided with the spread of literacy in both urban and rural areas.