Townsend Harris and Zenpuku-ji Temple in Tokyo

Zenpuku-ji was founded in 824 and is the second oldest temple in Tokyo after Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. Zenpuku-ji is in Minato Ward. In Suginami Ward, there is a pond named Zenpukuji-ike. That pond used to be in the precinct of Zenpuku-ji.Thus, Zenpuku-ji had a vast precinct.
 I have a reason why I introduce Zenpuku-ji here. It had been used as the American Legation from July in 1859 until May in 1863 after the Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed on July 29,1858 at Ryozen-ji Temple in Shimoda.

Consulate General Townsend Harris was appointed as the first Minister; Consulate in Shimoda was closed. At the same time another consulate was opened at Hongaku-ji Temple in Kanagawa on the Independence Day of the United States of America.

Another monument to celebrate the centennial of the Japan-US Amity and Trade Treaty. 

Written and posted by Mitsutoshi Masunari on the 235th anniversary of the Independence of the USA.
Congratulations on their Independence.

The first US Consulate in Shimoda

Townsend Harris was appointed as Cosul General to Japan in July, 1856. Harris opened the first US Consulate at Gyokusen-ji Temple in Shimoda of  Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Mitsutoshi Masunari is standing in front of the gate of Gyokusen-ji Temple.

The Main Hall of Gyokusen-ji Temple

This is the site where American national flag was hoisted.

President Jimmy Cater accompanied by his wife and daughter visited this temple and left his memorial autograph on June 27, 1979.

Dogwoods were planted and this monument was erected to commemorate the bicentennial of the independence of  the USA.

In the precinct of Gyokusen-ji Temple there is Harris Memorial Hall.

About Gyokusen-ji

Commodore Perry's Bust in Shimoda

On March 31, 1854 Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Friendship was signed in Yokohama between Commodor Mathew Perry(1794-1858) and the Tokugawa shogunate. Soon after that Perry landed on Shimoda. On June 17 Shimoda Treaty was signed.

A monument to commemorate Perry's landing

Under those treaties Japan opened Shimoda port to foreign countries.

Shimoda port was the first port which was opened to foreign countries after Japan finished the national isolation policy(1639-1854).

American President George W. Bush sent a message to commemorate the 150the anniversary of the port opening.

Bush's message and its translation

Tokujiro Murata(1899-1973) was a sculptor who carved this bust.

The whole park

The bust was erected on October 18, 1966.

Written and posted by Mitsutoshi Masunari.

 

Who was the first foreigner to climb Mt. Fuji?

Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan. Its height is 3,776m. From the foot to the fifth station(=the peak is the tenth station) we can drive. 

I took this picture on my way to Mt. Fuji. It was raining and foggy, but I could see Mt. Fuji by chance.

The third station.  2,000m above sea level. Drive slow.

The fourth station. 2,300m above sea level. You'll soon arrive.

When I arrived at the fifth station, it stopped raining.

I saw another portrait of Sir Rutherford Alcock.

Sir Rutherford Alcock

Plaque

Mt. Ashitaka from the observatory of the fifth station of Mt. Fuji

 Foreign hikers

Rutherford Alcock was the first foreigner to climb Mt. Fuji.What are these people's orders to climb Mt. Fuji as foreigners?

Written and posted by Mitsutoshi Masunari.

Sir Rutherford Alcock in Atami

Rutherford Alcock(1809-1897) was the first British diplomatic representative in Japan. On March 1, 1859 he was appointed to Consul General in Japan. He opened the British Consulate General in Edo(=now Tokyo) within the ground of Tozen-ji Temple on July 6.  On Dec.23,1859. Alcock was promoted to Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary which is a diplomat of the second class ranking between an Ambassador and a Minister Resident under the terms of the Congress of Vienna of 1815. At the same time the British Consulate General in Edo(=now Tokyo) was promoted to the British Legation in Edo.

Tozen-ji Temple in Tokyo which was used as a diplomatic facility 'The British Legation in Japan'.

Alcock climbed Mt. Fuji on September 11, 1860 as the first non-Japanese to climb it. He also visited Atami with his pet dog.

 This is a portrait which is being hung on the wall of a park in Atami.

In his portrait you can see his pet 'Toby'.

In Atami there is another monument which is probably erected near an inn he stayed.

In the center of this photo there are two monuments. The big one is a monument for Alcock and the small one is his pet's tomb stone.
To be continued to 'Who was the first foreigner to climb Mt. Fuji'.
Written and posted by Mitsutoshi Masunari.

Atami Castle

Atami Castle was first built in 1959. So, unlike most of the other castles, it doesn't have any legends. However, it is worth visiting it; there are exhibition rooms and an observatory. 

Armors

Helmets

Swords

Nagamochi- a large oblong wooden chest

Matchlocks

A portable shrine made of shells

A float for festivals

Atami harbor from the observatory

A basket

To be continued to Sir Rutherford Alcock in Atami
Written and posted by Mitsutoshi Masunari
 

A novel that made Atami famous; A statue of Kan-ichi and O-Miya

There was a well known auther Koyo Ozaki(1868-1903) in the Meiji Era. His most renowned works were 'Konjiki Yasha' which literally means 'The Golden Demon' but its English title is 'Usurer'. This novel made Atami so famous that many people began to visit this town. The main characters were a young man named Kan-ichi and his girl friend O-Miya.  In Atami there are a statue of 'Kan-ichi and O-Miya' and a pine tree nicknamed O-Miya's pine tree.

A pine tree and a wooden plate saying ' O-Miya no Matsu'. 'Matsu' is a Japanese word for a pine tree and 'no' is a possesive particle such as 'of' in English. Miya was this female character's first name, but people called women's first name with a prefix 'O'. 

Do you understand why Kan-ichi is kicking O-Miya with his wooden sandal? For Kan-ichi, O-Miya was a betrayer. Although they were once engaged, O-Miya got married to another man who was a billionaire. Kan-ichi met O-Miya in Atami and asked her the reason but she held her real intentions. So, Kan-ichi lost his temper and kicked her.

O-Miya must have been a pretty woman.
After Kan-ichi was snubbed by O-Miya, he became an 'userer', the English title of this novel.

Koyo Ozaki's monument also stands near the statue.
Written and posted by Mitsutoshi Masunari.