A Diplomat in Japan / The inner history of the critical years in the evolution of Japan when the ports were opened and the monarchy restored, by Ernest Mason Satow

by Ernest Mason Satow

A Diplomat in Japan / The inner history of the critical years in the evolution of Japan when the ports were opened and the monarchy restored, recorded by a diplomatist who took an active part in the events of the time, with an account of his personal experiences during that period by Ernest Mason Satow
The first portion of this book was written at intervals between 1885 and 1887, during my tenure of the post of Her Majesty's minister at Bangkok. I had but recently left Japan after a residence extending, with two seasons of home leave, from September 1862 to the last days of December 1882, and my recollection of what had occurred during any part of those twenty years was still quite fresh. A diary kept almost uninterruptedly from the day I quitted home in November 1861 constituted the foundation, while my memory enabled me to supply additional details. It had never been my purpose to relate my diplomatic experiences in different parts of the world, which came finally to be spread over a period of altogether forty-five years, and I therefore confined myself to one of the most interesting episodes in which I have been concerned. This comprised the series of events that culminated in the restoration of the direct rule of the ancient line of sovereigns of Japan which had remained in abeyance for over six hundred years. Such a change involved the substitution of the comparatively modern city of Yedo, under the name of Tôkiô, for the more ancient Kiôto, which had already become the capital long before Japan was heard of in the western world.
When I departed from Siam in 1887 I laid the unfinished manuscript aside, and did not look at it again until September 1919, when some of my younger relations, to whom I had shown it, suggested that it ought to be completed. This second portion is largely a transcript of my journals, supplemented from papers drawn up by me which were included in the Confidential Print of the time and by letters to my chief Sir Harry Parkes which have been published elsewhere. Letters to my mother have furnished some particulars that were omitted from the diaries.
Part of the volume may read like a repetition of a few pages from my friend the late Lord Redesdale's "Memories," for when he was engaged on that work he borrowed some of my journals of the time we had spent together in Japan. But I have not referred to his volumes while writing my own.
ERNEST SATOW.
CONTENTS
Appointment as Student Interpreter at Yedo
Yokohama Society, Official and Unofficial
Political Conditions in Japan
Treaties—Anti-Foreign Spirit—Murder of Foreigners
Richardson's Murder—Japanese Studies
Official Visit to Yedo
Demands for Reparation—Japanese Proposals to Close the Ports—Payment of the Indemnity
Bombardment of Kagoshima
Shimonoseki: Preliminary Measures
Shimonoseki—Naval Operations
Shimonoseki—Peace concluded with Ch๔shi๛
The Murder of Bird and Baldwin
Ratification of the Treaties by the Mikado
Great Fire at Yokohama
Visit to Kagoshima and Uwajima
First Visit to Ozaka
Reception of Foreign Ministers by the Tycoon
Overland from Ozaka to Yedo
Social Intercourse with Japanese Officials—Visit to Niigata, Sado Gold Mines, and Nanao
Nanao to Ozaka Overland
Ozaka and Tokushima
Tosa and Nagasaki
Downfall of the Shogunate
Outbreak of Civil War (1868)
Hostilities begun at Yedo and Fushimi
The Bizen Affair
First Visit to Kioto
Harakiri—Negotiations for Audience of the Mikado at Kioto
Massacre of French Sailors at Sakai
Kioto—Audience of the Mikado
Return to Yedo and Presentation of the Minister's New Credentials at Ozaka

Genres: Japan, History, Nonfiction, Japanese History, Japanese Literature, Asia, Travel

487 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1821

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1921 and in print ever since, "A Diplomat in Japan" is the best eyewitness account of the turmoil that engulfed Japan in the run-up to the 1868 Meiji Restoration. Satow's real strength is as an observer and participant in the history of Japan at the time; his superb language skills allowing him to meet and befriend many of the key players in this restoration drama. The book actually downplays his own importance in persuading his diplomatic superiors to throw Great Britain's covert support behind the pro-Imperial rebels, a diplomatic coup that left Satow's homeland in the box seat once the Imperialists took power. Satow's prose is smoothly functional, and in his sympathy for the dilemmas faced by the contemporary Japanese and his respect for the local culture Satow's humanity is clearly evident. There are even glimpses of an ultra-dry sense of humour behind the Victorian facade.
The downsides of "A Diplomat in Japan" relate to the poor quality of the editions available. Mine is the 2000 ICG/Tuttle version, which is littered with typos, has tiny font, uses the outdated spellings of Japanese names and places that Satow used but that are tough on the modern reader (e.g. Kioto and Ozaka for Kyoto and Osaka). Even the cover, with its stern picture of the late middle-aged Satow from his much later second posting to Japan, rather than the young diplomat that actually experienced these events, is poorly done. The book is also a little long for all but the dedicated historian: there is a gap in this admittedly small market for an abbreviated version aimed at the more general reader.
"A Diplomat in Japan" is not always the easiest of reads, but it remains obligatory for anyone with an interest in this period of history.

[Ellen McGinty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a re-read but enjoyed being back in this time period again. I forgot what a chunky book this was. So entertaining and fascinating. I could read Edo and Meiji-era memoirs all day...

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arriving in Japan in the mid-1850s, becoming fluent in the language and soon serving as interpreter between his country's delegation and their Japanese hosts, British diplomat Ernest Mason Satow had a front row seat to early British-Japanese relations and the upheaval in Japan in the wake of the country's forced opening to the West that eventually led to the Meiji Restoration in 1868. While the outdated spellings of Japanese words used in the book take some getting used to (and, in some cases, a bit of puzzling out) and I could feel my eyes glaze over every time Satow started seemingly endless lists of ships that happened to be in a particular place at a particular time, this eyewitness account of historical events I happen to find highly fascinating is a book noone interested in the topic should miss out on.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernest Satow is now halfway legendary in certain circles. His book on the practise of diplomacy is synonymous with the art of international relations in much the same way that Roget is synonymous with the thesaurae or Webster is synonymous with dictionaries. But this book came much before all that.

Satow came to Japan as the first British diplomat to receive training in Japanese when he was in his late teens, in the mid 1850's. His main credential for this undertaking was that he had studied Chinese in college--which would be like Japan sending a guy to the U.S. because he spoke Greek. In spite of this, he managed to become a first-rate Japanese specialist, and participated in most of the events that shaped early Meiji-era Japan.

The book is a good read for its historical perspective, but also for Satow's bone-dry wit and spirit of adventure. It bogs down toward the end, when Satow becomes the main engine of diplomatic relations between England and Japan, rather than just the fly-on-the-wall translator, but this is a small price to pay for the first three hundred pages, which are about as fine a presentation of Japan at its opening as you are likely to find anywhere.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much like the author, I have always dreamed of going to Japan. To have a detailed and preserved record of the foreigner's experience arriving in Japan—during a time when Western knowledge of the country was virtually non-existent—is such a gift to historians.

Satow kept extremely detailed records of his time in Japan which gives the reader a vivid understanding of what day-to-day life consisted of during the transition from the Edo to Meiji period. Being one of the only foreigners fluent in the language allowed him to gain a more genuine understanding of the culture and people. Satow was a surprisingly endearing narrator as a clear intellectual powerhouse with a dry wit. I appreciated Satow's ability to present aspects he enjoyed and disliked about the culture in equal measure without it feeling overly emotional or judgemental.

The downside of this book is that it was written for a British audience at a time when all the minute details would have been significantly more relevant and considered "current events". As a modern reader, you will likely find your eyes glazing over when endless series of dates or names of people long dead are recounted with excruciating detail. What starts off as fascinating will feel repetitive when the novelty has worn off.

Despite the second half of the book feeling very long and dry, I am still immensely grateful for the glimpse into a past world. It certainly makes this almost mythical period of history feel more tangible and the parallels with modern politics more evident.

[Darius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satow was in Japan during the meiji restoration and was witness to some key events. The commentary is sympathetic and interesting. In some ways it throws light on the wider topic of colonialism and 19th century trade between the East and the West.

[Sam Schulman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eminently put-downable - a great disappointment, because the subject is fascinating and Satow was the author of the great manuals of diplomatic practice. But it's a big bore.

[Hanyu]

I don't think I can give a rating to Sir Satow's history but I definitely found this book interesting and informative (at least more than Kido's one). Quite useful to understand how Britain sided early on with Satsuma and the imperial court.