Iwakura Mission
The Iwakura mission was a project in which the Japanese government sent many people to America and Europe. The three main goals of the mission were to deliver the Emperor's letter to the countries with which Japan has concluded treaties, to negotiate for treaty revisions, and to research new cultures, products, institutions, and technologies in other countries.1 Their priority, however, was mainly towards the third goal. This was because they realized it was difficult to negotiate treaties with the current national powers.2 There were over 100 members of the mission, including many who went on to serve Japan later as cabinet ministers, politicians, presidents of universities, professors, and even prime ministers.3 The Japanese government also sent students. This included Umeko Tsuda, who became one of the first women to study abroad. She later founded an institution of higher education for women (now Tsuda University) to improve women's status in Japanese society.1
The Iwakura Mission arrived in Chicago on February 26 (January 18 in the Japanese Calendar), 1872, witnessing the devastation of the great Chicago fire.4 After seeing the direness of the situation they decided to donate $5,000 as a sympathy gift.5 The arrival of the Iwakura Mission and their donation would be monumental as it marked the beginning of the connection between Chicago and Japan. They also met an American reporter who played an active role for Japan in the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth. The Iwakura mission marked the beginning of communication between Japan and Chicago and built a connection necessary for the continual development of Japanese influence.6
Since they were traveling by train, it is also recorded that they passed through Galesburg, where Knox College is located.7
Footnote
- Meiji at 150; Special Internet Exhibition The Iwakura Mission -Tracking 150 People Who Crossed the Oceans-, “Legacy of the Iwakura Mission,” Meiji at 150; Special Internet Exhibition The Iwakura Mission -Tracking 150 People Who Crossed the Oceans-, Accessed December 5, 2023, https://www.jacar.go.jp/english/iwakura_en/column/column2.html.
- 中高生のための幕末・明治の日本の歴史辞典, “岩倉使節団,” 中高生のための幕末・明治の日本の歴史辞典, Accessed December 5, 2023, https://www.kodomo.go.jp/yareki/theme/theme_09.html.
- Saburo Izumi, “The Iwakura Mission: Japan’s 1871 Voyage to Discover the Western World,” nippon.com, June 7, 2019, https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00680/the-iwakura-mission-japan%E2%80%99s-1871-voyage-to-discover-the-western-world.html.
- Kazuo Ito, Chicago Nikkei Hyakunenshi (Chicago: Chicago Nikkeijinkai, 1986), 14.
- Ito, Chicago Nikkei Hyakunenshi, 20.
- Ito, Chicago Nikkei Hyakunenshi, 25-26.
- Kunitake Kume, “Tokumei Zenken Taishi Bei-O Kairan Jikki Part 1 the United States of America,” National Diet Library Digital Collections, Accessed July 29, 2023, https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/761502/1/118.