The Complete Journal of Townsend Harris: First American Consul and Minister to Japan (Classic Reprint)

Hook line: A comprehensive, newly edited collection that brings Townsend Harris’s full journal to light, revealing the foundation of early U.S.–Japan diplomacy.This volume presents the complete Journal of Townsend Harris, including the long‑suppressed Japanese and Dutch source material that shaped his work as the United States’ first Consul General for Japan. Accompanied by extensive notes, appendices, and a prefatory introduction, it offers a clear view of Harris’s early diplomacy and the rise of American relations with Japan. The edition foregrounds Harris’s experiences, challenges, and achievements in a single, authoritative package.Readers will discover translated passages, originals in multiple languages, and documentation that illuminates the era’s diplomatic landscape. The book also features a scroll by Prince Iyesato Tokugawa and archival materials that place Harris’s efforts in a broader historical context. This edition aims to make these sources accessible to students, researchers, and curious readers alike. Complete journal entries spanning Harris’s first years in Japan and related postings Original documents and translations from Japanese and Dutch sources Extensive notes, appendices, and illustrations to aid understanding Editorial introductions that frame the historical significance of Harris’s workIdeal for readers of diplomatic history, early American foreign relations, and Japan–America beginnings. Read more