MEETING MANJIRO ENTHUSIASTS IN KOCHI
Sometimes things just work out perfectly!! My trip to Japan in July 2013 was mainly
planned to participate in the Shimane Prefecture Grassroots Summit sponsored by the John
Manjiro Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange, based in Tokyo. The
meetings took place in Matsue City, where I also had my exciting homestay. Months before mytrip I had received an invitation from Dr. Joel Joos inviting me to the University of Kochi to givea lecture on Commodore Perry. It sounded exciting so with some manipulation of my travel
schedule I added Kochi to my trip as a destination. I had learned previous to my trip fromHiroko Todoroki that the Manjiro Societies in Kochi Prefecture and other areas would becoincidentally meeting in Kochi during my visit and members were invited to my lecture.
A friend of mine, Mrs. Masako Sakamoto, from a previous trip, and her daughter Kimiko,
met me on July 11, 2013, at the Kochi airport and they acted as my guides during my visit. Theydrove me to the Richmond Hotel and we were surprised to be greeted by the very affable Mr.
Akio Hosokawa, who gave me several gifts. Later we were joined by the ebullient Masako
Motoyoshi and for a while my head was spinning with numerous plans discussed in Japanese.
Dr. Joel Joos and Mr. Loren Waller, from the University of Kochi, soon arrived and offeredsome translation. We then went to a nice Japanese restaurant within walking distance andenjoyed a good meal with appropriate amounts of beer and sake.
In the morning we stopped at the University of Kochi at 11 AM for an interesting
discussion with a few students in Dr. Joos’ class, who were interested in practicing their Englishwith a foreigner. After a nice lunch, we visited the Museum of Art in Kochi and had a great tour
given by the Assistant Curator, Emiko Ota. I was able to view the interesting art called “Lettersof Thanks” done with string by well-known artist Ms. Chiharu Shiota. The string art filled alarge room and had thousands of suspended letters, including one from me that I had mailed
earlier from the USA. I also viewed an historic Kimono donated by Mrs. Shizuko Takezaki, who
was my hostess on my homestay in Nahari in 2011.

Students after discussion pose with L. Waller,M. Perry, J. Joos, and M. Sakamoto“Letters of Thanks” at the Art Museum

The lecture at the University of Kochi was at 6:30 PM and was attended byapproximately 130 persons including many from the Manjiro Society. Following the lecture we
had a delightful Japanese style dinner at the Sunset Library Restaurant of Masako Motoyoshi
with key members of the Manjiro Society. It was a friendly affair with all attendees speaking
and even some singing and guitar strumming by Kaoru Mori of Beatle’s songs.

Making paper at the Paper Museum

Masako and Kimiko Sakamoto at Paper Museum

The next morning Masako and Kimiko gave me a great tour of the Paper Museum, whichI thoroughly enjoyed. At the museum we met the curator, Masayo Takahashi, who gave us abehind-the-scene tour of some details that interested me. We then visited the Ryoma SakamotoMuseum, where the Manjiro Society was having its meeting. I was introduced to the members
and was happy to say a few words of greeting and appreciation for the opportunity to meet somany Manjiro Society members. Overall the visit to Kochi was outstanding and it was a realpleasure to be able to give a lecture on Commodore Perry in a university setting to so many
outstanding students of Japanese history that are members of the university community and theManjiro Society.

Post-lecture Japanese-style dinner at the Sunset Library Restaurant