A Diplomat in Japan: The Inner History of the Critical Years in the Evolution of Japan When the Ports Were Opened and the Monarchy Restored

by Ernest Mason Satow

Based on the author’s detailed diary, personal encounters, and keen memory, this book is a record of the inner history of the critical years of social and political upheaval that accompanied Japan’s first encounters with the West around the time of the Meiji Restoration.

Sir Ernest Mason Satow (1843–1929) was a member of the British legation in Tokyo for twenty-one years.

Genres: Japan, History, Nonfiction, Japanese History, Japanese Literature, Asia, World History

472 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1821

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1921 and in print ever since, "A Diplomat in Japan" is the best eyewitness account of the turmoil that engulfed Japan in the run-up to the 1868 Meiji Restoration. Satow's real strength is as an observer and participant in the history of Japan at the time; his superb language skills allowing him to meet and befriend many of the key players in this restoration drama. The book actually downplays his own importance in persuading his diplomatic superiors to throw Great Britain's covert support behind the pro-Imperial rebels, a diplomatic coup that left Satow's homeland in the box seat once the Imperialists took power. Satow's prose is smoothly functional, and in his sympathy for the dilemmas faced by the contemporary Japanese and his respect for the local culture Satow's humanity is clearly evident. There are even glimpses of an ultra-dry sense of humour behind the Victorian facade.
The downsides of "A Diplomat in Japan" relate to the poor quality of the editions available. Mine is the 2000 ICG/Tuttle version, which is littered with typos, has tiny font, uses the outdated spellings of Japanese names and places that Satow used but that are tough on the modern reader (e.g. Kioto and Ozaka for Kyoto and Osaka). Even the cover, with its stern picture of the late middle-aged Satow from his much later second posting to Japan, rather than the young diplomat that actually experienced these events, is poorly done. The book is also a little long for all but the dedicated historian: there is a gap in this admittedly small market for an abbreviated version aimed at the more general reader.
"A Diplomat in Japan" is not always the easiest of reads, but it remains obligatory for anyone with an interest in this period of history.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arriving in Japan in the mid-1850s, becoming fluent in the language and soon serving as interpreter between his country's delegation and their Japanese hosts, British diplomat Ernest Mason Satow had a front row seat to early British-Japanese relations and the upheaval in Japan in the wake of the country's forced opening to the West that eventually led to the Meiji Restoration in 1868. While the outdated spellings of Japanese words used in the book take some getting used to (and, in some cases, a bit of puzzling out) and I could feel my eyes glaze over every time Satow started seemingly endless lists of ships that happened to be in a particular place at a particular time, this eyewitness account of historical events I happen to find highly fascinating is a book noone interested in the topic should miss out on.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernest Satow is now halfway legendary in certain circles. His book on the practise of diplomacy is synonymous with the art of international relations in much the same way that Roget is synonymous with the thesaurae or Webster is synonymous with dictionaries. But this book came much before all that.

Satow came to Japan as the first British diplomat to receive training in Japanese when he was in his late teens, in the mid 1850's. His main credential for this undertaking was that he had studied Chinese in college--which would be like Japan sending a guy to the U.S. because he spoke Greek. In spite of this, he managed to become a first-rate Japanese specialist, and participated in most of the events that shaped early Meiji-era Japan.

The book is a good read for its historical perspective, but also for Satow's bone-dry wit and spirit of adventure. It bogs down toward the end, when Satow becomes the main engine of diplomatic relations between England and Japan, rather than just the fly-on-the-wall translator, but this is a small price to pay for the first three hundred pages, which are about as fine a presentation of Japan at its opening as you are likely to find anywhere.

[Ellen McGinty]

This is a re-read but enjoying being back in this time period again

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much like the author, I have always dreamed of going to Japan. To have a detailed and preserved record of the foreigner's experience arriving in Japan—during a time when Western knowledge of the country was virtually non-existent—is such a gift to historians.

Satow kept extremely detailed records of his time in Japan which gives the reader a vivid understanding of what day-to-day life consisted of during the transition from the Edo to Meiji period. Being one of the only foreigners fluent in the language allowed him to gain a more genuine understanding of the culture and people. Satow was a surprisingly endearing narrator as a clear intellectual powerhouse with a dry wit. I appreciated Satow's ability to present aspects he enjoyed and disliked about the culture in equal measure without it feeling overly emotional or judgemental.

The downside of this book is that it was written for a British audience at a time when all the minute details would have been significantly more relevant and considered "current events". As a modern reader, you will likely find your eyes glazing over when endless series of dates or names of people long dead are recounted with excruciating detail. What starts off as fascinating will feel repetitive when the novelty has worn off.

Despite the second half of the book feeling very long and dry, I am still immensely grateful for the glimpse into a past world. It certainly makes this almost mythical period of history feel more tangible and the parallels with modern politics more evident.

[Darius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satow was in Japan during the meiji restoration and was witness to some key events. The commentary is sympathetic and interesting. In some ways it throws light on the wider topic of colonialism and 19th century trade between the East and the West.

[Sam Schulman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eminently put-downable - a great disappointment, because the subject is fascinating and Satow was the author of the great manuals of diplomatic practice. But it's a big bore.

[Hanyu]

I don't think I can give a rating to Sir Satow's history but I definitely found this book interesting and informative (at least more than Kido's one). Quite useful to understand how Britain sided early on with Satsuma and the imperial court.