Toyokichi Iyenaga traveled to Persia, Turkey, and India after being commissioned by the Governor-General of Taiwan to investigate opium from May 1899 to March 1900. This paper examines the account of his journey, Nishi Ajia Ryokō-ki or ‘Travels through West Asia' (1900) as well as his secret reports on opium, which were presented to the Governor-General of Taiwan.

　In this paper, I will first explore the link between Iyenaga's accounts and Persia and the Persian Question (1892), a famous travel book written by George N. Curzon, a British traveler and politician. Iyenaga cites Curzon in his account and it is clear that Iyenaga's first impression of Persepolis was specifically influenced by Curzon's accounts.

　I will then focus on Iyenaga's portrayal of the landscape. When looking at Persian mountains and rivers, Iyenaga keeps Japanese landscapes in mind and makes several comparisons between Persian and Japanese scenery, often preferring the Japanese scenery over its Persian counterpart.

　Finally, I shed light on the nature of Iyenaga's opium reports which contain his opinions on colonialism. His opium survey aims to find ways to increase government revenue through the opium business. His accounts show that he had a high opinion of English colonial policy in India and furthermore that he proposed applying the same policy to Taiwan under Japanese rule.

　While on the one hand Iyenaga internalized an English traveler's gaze, on the other, he kept his country in mind during his travels. These two approaches are closely connected to his perception of colonialism. By examining Iyenaga's travels, this paper sheds light on a little recognized figure who nevertheless gives significant insights to early Japanese engagement with the outside world.