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150 years Anniversary
2008-06-15
This year marks 150 years since conclusion of The Treaty of Amity and Commerce (日米修好通商条約). As I told you once before, Japan had closed the gate to foreign countries for about 200 years, but America has opened the gate and brought us modernization. The exhibition concerns with 2 American men who contributed it, is held at Edo Tokyo Museum in Tokyo until June 22nd. There are many displays from The US Naval Academy.
Matthew Perry(1794-1858)is on the left side in the picture. He went to Japan leading 4 battle ships and demanded Japan to open the gate. He succeeded in concluding the Convention of Kanagawa (日米和親条約）in 1854.
Townsend Harris(1804-1878)
is the man on the right side in the picture. He was a diplomat and the first US counsul general to Japan. He succeeded in concluding the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with Tokugawa Shogunate.
As I mentioned it in the previous article,, the Treaty of Amity and Commerce was very disadvantageous treaty to Japan, so I had thought that Townsend Harris must have been as cunning as a fox. But my image of him has been changed after I read his biography. He loved the scenery in Japan, our culture very much, and liked walking around sea side at Shimoda. Besides, he loved milk, but it was not common drink to us at that time, so he seemed to have a difficult time getting some milk in Japan. When he left from Shimoda, he missed Shimoda as well as the people lived in Shimoda missed him.
He loved our culture deeply, so his grave marker says- "Friend of Japan".
And there is a love story like "Madam Butterfly", between Harris and his maid named Okichi who was only 17 years old. But the panel at the exhibition said it was impossible falling in love with him, because she was fired only 3 days.
Can you fall in love with someone only 3 days?
Okichi
 | 唐人お吉物語 (2006/10) 竹岡 範男 商品詳細を見る |
江戸東京博物館のペリー＆ハリス展に行ってきました。
今年は日米修好通商条約締結から１５０年目にあたります。皆さんが知るように、この条約は日本にとって非常に不利であり、私はハリスのことを狡猾な人物であるとずっと思っていた。しかし彼の伝記を読んでイメージは変わった。
ハリスは下田の風景や日本の文化を非常に愛で、下田の海岸辺りを散歩するのを好んだという。また彼は大の牛乳好きであったが、当時の日本は牛乳はまだ一般的な飲み物ではなかったので、入手するのに困難を要したというエピソードもある。 ハリスが下田を去る時、彼も、下田の人々も、別れを惜しんだそうな。 そんな彼の墓標には "Friend of Japan"との文が刻まれている。
また、ハリスと言えば、お吉との間の蝶々夫人のようなラブストーリーが有名だが、お吉さんは３日で解雇されたので、実際にハリスと恋愛に至るのは不可能だったのではないかとパネルにはあった。後のお吉さんの悲惨な生涯が話を美化させたのだろうと。う〜む、３日で恋愛できます？
Matthew Perry drawn by Japanese/ ペルリ提督
＊additional / 追加＊
Perry brought my mind this file. Here's perry's voice.
http://emaedanaoko.at.infoseek.co.jp/flash/peri.swf
ペリーについて書いていたら↑コレを思い出した。これは、巧みな交渉術で開国を迫るペリーの肉声です。一歩も引かないアメリカ側が徳川幕府を追い詰める。
