The Japanese experience in Britain, 1862-1876 : Japan's cultural discovery of the Victorian world in the early years of overseas travel
The overseas investigations undertaken in the pursuit of knowledge by early Japanese travellers during the 1860s and 1870s have left a unique record of life in the West as seen by visitors whose understanding of developments in the world outside had been limited by centuries of cultural isolation. Fascinated by the extent of British political and commercial influence they observed during their travels, they paid particularly close attention to the Victorian world, and London became the base of the largest group of Japanese students to emerge overseas. This thesis examines the nature of these travellers' experiences and their perceptions of Victorian Britain. The period addressed covers the unprecedented boom in overseas travel from its inception during the last years of bakufu rule, and through the first years of the Meiji regime until 1876, when new government regulations were already beginning to curb the numbers of Japanese students abroad. The study presents an analysis of the diaries in which many early travellers recorded their observations of life outside Japan. It also examines a selection of particularly significant published works that some wrote following their return, which gave readers in Japan
Cobbing, Andrew John
History
The Japanese experience in Britain, 1862-1876 : Japan's cultural discovery of the Victorian world in the early years of overseas travel. The overseas investigations undertaken in the pursuit of knowledge by early Japanese travellers during the 1860s and 1870s have left a unique record of life in the West as seen by visitors whose understanding of developments in the world outside had been limited by centuries of cultural isolation. Fascinated by the extent of British political and commercial influence they observed during their travels, they paid particularly close attention to the Victorian world, and London became the base of the largest group of Japanese students to emerge overseas. This thesis examines the nature of these travellers' experiences and their perceptions of Victorian Britain. The period addressed covers the unprecedented boom in overseas travel from its inception during the last years of bakufu rule, and through the first years of the Meiji regime until 1876, when new government regulations were already beginning to curb the numbers of Japanese students abroad. The study presents an analysis of the diaries in which many early travellers recorded their observations of life outside Japan. It also examines a selection of particularly significant published works that some wrote following their return, which gave readers in Japan
japanese experience britain japan cultural discovery victorian world overseas travel overseas investigation_undertaken pursuit knowledge early japanese traveller leave unique record life west see visitor whose development world outside limited century cultural isolation extent british political_commercial influence observe travel pay particularly close_attention victorian world london become base large_group japanese_student emerge overseas examines nature traveller experience perception victorian_britain period address cover unprecedented boom overseas travel inception rule regime new government regulation already begin curb number japanese_student abroad study present_analysis diary many early traveller record observation life outside japan also_examine selection particularly_significant publish_work write follow return give reader japan