『音楽取調成績申報書』 (1884年) 英訳考

抄録

The Institute of Music was established in 1879, for the introduction of Western-style music into the educational system of Japan. Shuji Isawa was appointed Commissioner for the new work of the Institute. After more than four years, the report on the result of the work done by the Institute was complete in 1884. It was partly translated into English, for a show in the International Exhibitions. Its long title was Extracts from the Report of S.Isawa, Director of the Institute of Music, on the Result of the Investigations concerning Music, undertaken by order of the Department of Education, Tokio, Japan.
The purpose of this paper is to consider the English translation of the Report, while comparing with the original and describing the historical context. This forms a partial study on the history of the overseas introduction of Japanese education. English extracts from the Report was meant to appeal to Western nations that Japan was a civilized country, while the Japanese original was one of enlightenment for Western-style music to many people, who were indifferent and even hostile toward it.