Asakusa, Tokyo developed during the Edo period (1603–1867) as one of the leading entertainment districts in Japan. The arrival of Commodore Perry’s Black Ships in 1853 led to the opening of Japan to foreign contact and brought a turning point to Asakusa. This paper considers how the Bunmei-kaika (cultural enlightenment) movement affected live entertainment in the district during the Meiji era (1868–1912).

The new government wanted to impress upon Westerners the idea that Japan was a civilized nation. While Western dignitaries wanted to see traditional performances unique to Japan, the authorities prohibited some they believed Westerners would consider barbaric and dubious. In the meantime, common Japanese people, who could not even think of traveling abroad, simply wanted to know about the West and went to Asakusa to enjoy Western culture, such as the circus.

This paper first examines Asakusa’s shows witnessed by Westerners, focusing on the opinion of the English journalist John Reddie Black (1826–1880), who considered them barbaric. After discussing the examples of Western culture that Japanese enjoyed, the paper also analyzes the relationship between Asakusa and Black’s son, Henry James Black (1858–1923), who became a Rakugo storyteller.

　Commodore Perry visited Lew Chew five times during the year 1853 and -54. It is very interesting for us present-day Lew Chewans (Okinawans) to think how the then Lew Chewan Government and her people dealt with this foreign envoy from the most powerful country in the world. The Lew Chewan authorities received Perry and his suite very cordially and wisely, and fortunately they could ride over what was called a national crisis.

　After he went back home, Commodore Perry published in 1856 three bulky volumes entitled “Narrative of the Expedition of an American squadron to the China Seas and Japan” In the first volume he wrote about Lew Chew in detail including many pictures drawn by two American artists.

　The present writer is going to write how the compact between the Kingdom of Lew Chew and the United States of America was concluded, referring to the Perry’s books and the Lew Chewan history.

　The conversation between the two parties was carried on in the Chinese language between Ichirazichi of the Lew Chewan Government and Dr. Wells Williams on behalf of Commodore Perry. The former was a young Lew Chewan who was educated in Peking for several years, and the latter was a noted American scholar on Chinese literature who lived in Macao for many years. These two men conducted their conversation in Chinese first and then they translated it into their own language, English or Lew Chewan for the purpose of conveying the meaning of it to their respective party.

　No sooner had Perry arrived in Lew Chew than he dispatched an inland exploration party which consisted of 12 men through the interior of Great Lew Chew (=Okinawa), headed by geologist Jones. Bayard Taylor was among the party and he acted as a keeper of records. Taylor was a correspondent of the New York Tribune. He was famous as a world traveler. He wrote many traveling accounts and poems. It is a surprising fact that such an outstanding American author as Taylor came over to Okinawa on Board the Perry’s squadron more than a century ago and wrote so fascinating accounts about Okinawa. The writer introduces a certain part of Taylor’s accounts which he wrote during his traveling on foot through the interior of Lew Chew. The writer also introduces Heine and Brown who were both artists and took part in the exploration party. They drew many beautiful landscapes in Lew Chew and some portraits of high officials of the Lew Chewan Government.

　After World War II came to an end, the United States of America governed the Ryukyu Islands under high commissioner. The successive commissioners made efforts to keep the traditional cordial relations between the Ryukyus and the United States. High Commissioner Caraway erected Commodore Perry’s landing monument near Tomari harbor with the native people. The inscription of the monument “Prosperity to the Lew Chewans and may they and the Americans always be friends.” was a part of Perry’s address he made at the official banquet sponsored by the Government of Lew Chew on June 6,1853.

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