First Japanese Visitor to USA Describes American Life // 1860 Tokugawa Embassy // Primary Source

Strangely enough, I was also bewildered by the ice cubes in every drink and the high prices of commodities when I visited America in 2023

"I think we can, without undue pride, boast before the world of this courage and skill."

Yeah, but your map-making could still use some work.

This should be played for kids around Independence Day. It’s hard to see what makes America special when you are living in it but to see it through foreign eyes makes it clear.

I didn’t know Washington-Dono had a daughter.

I live in Japan as an American. It’s so god to know folks were as civil back then as they are today towards one another.

What a brilliant view and reading. Thank you!

Ha seamen
Ha seamen
Ha seamen
Ha wait mm yes men on sea yea mmm boatmen yes mmm fellow men on boats mmm

Hearing the observations of Fukuzawa Yukichi about American life in the 1860s is invaluable. It's a unique perspective that brings history to life in a way textbooks simply cannot

Loved the part where he was surprised the American did not know the whereabouts of George Washington's descendants. We do not have royalty in the US. People come and go. Descendents or where you come from mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. All that matters in a republic are ideas and what you do in the now.

Man that comment about shoes on the carpet got me shook. I'm not any kind of asian, but my college crew were and they drilled it into me to take off my shoes whenever i went over and now i do that to my guests years later 😂😂

Learning English is a tall order indeed. I would say it equally as hard for a native English speaker learning Japanese. Trust me, it's no joke.

I love that ice was a flex for most of human existence.

Those emissaries carried their swords in the US?!

George Washington may have had no descendants but he had many children, and continues to have many more, even now. Nearly 400,000,000 as of 2024.

What a beautiful and thoughtful writer. Very considerate and appreciative for a young man in a foreign land.

For everyone talking about how great the sharing of cultures is I would like to remind you that everyone that this dude is meeting is rich just like he is. Take him to a poverty stricken neighborhood and I bet you he would have a very different set of writings.

The human story is always fascinating

Fukuzawa seemed so humble and kind. I like his narration of this journey.

I think this did well for Japan to prepare for the eventual modernisation. They realised how weak they were at the time and by compromising, they did get the better ending than China... at least for a while.

Americans are vary historically hospitable in society

Funny how the map deletes the entirety of central asia

What a great channel! Thanks!

I feel the same way about dancing lol

Japan obsessed foreigners are weebs
What about America obsessed foreigners like this guy?😂

"I was surprised by the high cost of daily commodities in California" so nothing's changed

This delegation was called the "Iwakura Shisetsudan". My great-great grandparents moved to SF in 1863, and I often wonder if they saw this delegation.

brilliant to see the perceptions on both cultures from back then. Often an outsider makes the most interesting observations. Locals wouldn't even notice.

"Where are your illustrious first leader's descendants?"

Japanese Layman: "Branches of the family currently reside in Yedo, Osaka, etc."

Important American Statesman: "There's a lady lying around here somewhere maybe."

I am nearing retirement so teaching the new generation. One is always learning something new though.
My trade is refrigeration.

"Then to I was surprised.. to high prices of commodities in California" Still true buddy.

What an amazing guy. Great video also.

Well at least they understood that America was a republic.

The Japanese are smart. They know more about history than young people and the media today.

Fta

Cool story.

Fun fact: the dutch warned the Japanese about the americans ships however the Japanese thought it was an excuse to produce more guns to Japan that they didnt need

Fascinating!

Imagine them going to San Francisco now and seeing the homeless drug zombies and pride parades.

Japan would immediately close its borders forever

Iron was rare in Japan. They collect it the same way you would gold from rivers.

If Ubisoft wants to make it up to Japan for the whole AC Shadows debacle, they should take this story and make it the concept for the next AC game lol (Joking aside, I’d play it)

Half a dollar for 20 to 30 oysters, that guy would have a heart attack today😂

Fukuzawa Yukichi (1859) wasn’t the first Japanese visitor to America.
Nakahama Manjirō (1841) was much earlier.

It’s so nice to hear our people spoken about fondly. It seems there are some who prefer to only portray our ancestors as hateful bigots who only steal, kill and destroy. We know that’s not true but it’s not often said.

It is wild to me to be able to learn of such encounters. It makes me felt bittersweet in a way, knowing that this peaceful and wholesome encounter ever happen between the people of two countries and of different race and culture, only to came to realise that after a few decades later wars was waged and families were torn. Makes the saying of human are capable of both great things and bad things all the more heavy to the mind.

No wonder the Japanese can’t speak English. They use a ‘Websters’ dictionary.