It's Been a Wonderful Life

The Visit of the First Japanese Ambassador

Eleven years before P.T. Barnum organized his circus, the Tokugawa Shogunate’s emissary, the first Japanese Ambassador to the United States, Sim’mi Boojsen no-Kami and Muragaki Awaji-no-Kami, Vice-Ambassador, were parading through the streets of Washington to present their credentials to the American President James Buchanan. 

As thousands of Washingtonians hailed their arrival in 1860 with a rainfall of flowers from upper floor buildings, the Nipponese diplomatic procession marched by.  They included twenty men in grey uniform,  thirty musicians,  a few  equestrians,  Japanese  balancing atop them a dispatch box colorfully tied with silk, thence men on foot.  This was followed by the Ambassador’s carriage drawn by four horses, followed by other officials and the staff.  The Ambassador wore the court dress, “Kariginu”.

A speach in Japanese was made and thence translated into Dutch for the Americans. 

Ambassador Sim’mi Boojsen no-Kami was the first Ambassador that Japan had ever sent abroad.  The nation had been a closed society for so many years, one would wonder what their views would be upon first seeing the culture of the west.  Fortunately, the Ambassador kept a diary.

The Ambassador made some observations on his first visit.  The American President does not live in, or own, a castle.  Any man, from any class, may become President.  Receptions can be given in the evening which was also contrary to Japanese custom of that period.  Though the Ambassador had declined an evening invitation from the Hawaiian King, while on a en-route stopover, the invitation in Washington was accepted.  It was the first time that the Ambassador had been out in the streets at night.  He observed that the streets were well lighted with gas lamps thus being unnecessary to carry a lantern. 

The Americans expected the Ambassador to shake hands with all those attending the reception that was given in his honor.  This was not something he could bow out of.

He found himself ushered into a large room with smooth boards and no carpet.  As soon as he was seated, musicians started playing.  It was the first time the Japanese had seen a man put an arm around a lady’s waist and hold her hand with the other and on his toes go  hoppng  around a  room in what, as it was  explained to him, was a “dance”.  The women were even bare shouldered.  The Ambassador wrote in his diary that “our wonder at the strange performance became so great that we began to doubt whether we were not on another planet”.  Only professional girls then danced in Japan and it was not one of a gentleman’s pastimes.

The Ambassador was shown Congress while in session.  He wrote in his diary “As we entered, a member was making a speech at the top of his voice.  When he sat down another stood up and talked in an excited manner.  There was no end to speakers.  One after another they rose, some speaking quietly, and some wildly brandishing their arms as if they had lost their tempers.”  Though the language could not be understood, no questions were asked as it was not believed to be proper to ask about the state affairs of another nation.

While visiting the museum, the envoys thought it “disgusting” to exhibit the hair of the dead Presidents.  Actually, it was their wigs that were worn as part of their attire.

Amusingly, the present candid shutterbug capitol of the world, during this era did not believe in taking photos of people.  At the President’s request, the Ambassador did relent to have himself photographed for the first time in his life.

While one Japanese was perambulating, a former Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia came accidently in contact with him.  He looked at the Japanese and then touched him twice.  The American then, as reported in the Japanese diary (and in Harper’s Weekly, May 26, 1860) “ejaculated ‘solid!”  As terminology usage has changed over the years, “ejaculated” then used meant only that the American had “expressed” the word “solid.”