Japan: Its Commercial Development and Prospects

By Takashi Masuda and George Lynch

Book Overview

The name of the author of this work is but little known in this country. It seems therefore, desirable to offer to its readers, a few brief particulars of his interesting career, and of the great house of business with which he is connected. Born in the year 1848, of a Samurai family owning allegiance to the Shogun, Takashi Masuda, while still a youth, found himself in the midst of stirring and momentous national events. The conclusion of the Treaties of commerce with foreign nations, followed by the arrival of foreigners in Japan 1858 and on-wards, shook to its foundations the precarious edifice of the Shogun's power. The great Daimiyos of Satsuma, Chosiu, Tosa, Mito, and others, often at variance with each other, became at length united in a common enmity to the Shogun, and in a common desire for the restoration of the Mikado. Hence ensued a long series of political movements, sometimes originating with one, sometimes with another, but all designed to embarrass, discredit, and destroy his office and authority. They vigorously opposed for example, the opening of certain ports on the dates fixed by the Treaties, so that the Shogun, alarmed at the violence of their opposition, sent special embassies to certain foreign Courts with the object of obtaining delay. One of these, headed by two Daimiyos with a suite of about forty persons, was accredited to the Court of the Emperor Napoleon III in the year 1862. Mr Masuda's father was attached to it, and took his very youthful son with him.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1482081237
• ISBN13: 9781482081237
• Release Date: January 2013
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.3" x 5.5"