2. Japanese Envoys in Britain, 1862-72

Abstract

The first Japanese envoys to visit London were the members of the Takenouchi mission from the Tokugawa Bakufu in 1862 and they constituted the only Japanese party between 1862 and 1872 which gained acceptance as official envoys. In the final years of the Bakufu and the first years of Meiji a few retainers of the Bakufu visited Britain on official business. They did not have the status of accredited envoys, but in most cases the British Foreign Office was involved to a greater or lesser degree in response to requests made through the British Legation in Edo/Tokyo. In 1864, a mission which was appointed by the authorities in the Satsuma fief to buy steamers and develop foreign trade for the domain. The mission left in April 1865. Although none of the officials visiting Britain between 1868 and 1872 had diplomatic status some had important roles in Meiji Japan. Keywords: Bakufu ; British legation; Japanese envoys; Satsuma; Takenouchi mission