Letters b4 Namamugi Incident show Briton's admiration

[Tornadoes28]

From the Japan Times:

YOKOHAMA — Letters showing a British man's admiration for Japan before he was murdered by samurai in 1862 are among items on display in the "Namamugi Incident" exhibition that opened Thursday at a Yokohama museum.

http://goo.gl/ZeaMV
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[lordameth]

Fantastic. Thanks so much for this. I've done some research on the Namamugi Incident (nothing formal, but enough to write out the somewhat detailed S-A Wiki article on the incident), and never came across anything much at all about Richardson.

It's easy to think he was just a total ass, refusing to pull aside or bow down, or otherwise observe whatever exactly the proper etiquette would have been (within the Japanese cultural context). Though, some other sources do seem to indicate that perhaps, given the topography, or the temperment of his horse, or other factors, that perhaps he could not have pulled aside even if he wanted to, or that he was trying to, when things went sour.

In any case, here we get a tiny bit more of a glimpse into him as a somewhat more well-rounded character. I had never heard of these letters, and I guess never really considered that we might have anything by him surviving. Wish I could be there in Yokohama to check out the exhibit.

Thanks again for sharing this!
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[Obenjo Kusanosuke]

Ooohhhhh, chunky creamy New England clam chowder! Ah, that felt goooood. Thanks for that. There is also a new book out about the whole Richardson Affair that I saw in the bookstore the other day. Looks interesting.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/aw/d/4062176556?in=2&is=300
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[Tornadoes28]

You're welcome. It was interesting to learn of these letters as they do provide important information about Richardson's feelings about Japan. I also read about the layout of the road, I think in Vaporis' book Tour of Duty? Not certain.
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[lordameth]

Tour of Duty does contain some discussion of it (incl. the size and shape of the road, etc.).
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紫水晶殿 - The Amethyst Lord