PRESS RELEASE
March 17, 2017

From March 18 to June 25, the Shibusawa Memorial Museum will hold a special exhibition
entitled “Shibusawa Eiichi Goes to the Paris Universal Exposition” (Part 1).
Shibusawa Eiichi arrived in Paris, France, on April 11, 1867. At the time he was a 27 year-old
shogunal retainer and a member of the delegation sent by Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu to the Paris
Universal Exposition. The delegation was headed by Yoshinobu’s younger brother Akitake andprovided Eiichi with his first chance to travel overseas. The year and a half that Eiichi spent in Europegave him an invaluable first-hand look at modern Western society.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Eiichi’s trip to France and to celebrate this occasion, theexhibition will showcase letters written by Eiichi from Paris to his wife and family in Japan, his diary,and other documents that provide a glimpse of his experiences in Europe. Other documents on display
will include letters written by Eiichi to Tokugawa Yoshinobu, documents brought back from Paris, andother documents exhibited for the first time. We hope this exhibition offers visitors a chance to think
about the impact that Eiichi’s time in France had on him and the rest of his life.
“Shibusawa Eiichi Goes to the Paris Universal Exposition” (Part 1)
Organized by: Shibusawa Memorial Museumwith support from the Matsudo City Board of Education, Maison Franco-Japonaise,
Société d’Histoire des Relations Nippo-Françaises,
Embassy of France / Institut Français Japon,
Meiji Restoration History Association
Dates:
Saturday, March 18 – Sunday, June 25, 2017
Hours:
10:00 – 17:00 (last entry by 16:30)
Closed:Mondays (except for March 20); Tuesday, March 21, May 2, May 9.
Venue:
Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum(2-16-1 Nishigahara, Kita-ku, Tokyo)
Access:5 minute walk from the South Exit of Oji station on the JR Keihin Tohoku line, 7
minute walk from Nishigahara station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku line, 4 minute
walk from the Asukayama stop on the Toden Arakawa line. (The museum does nothave a public parking lot, so use of public transport is encouraged)
Admission:
Adults 300 yen, children (up to 18 years) 100 yen
Discounts: for groups of 20 or more OR for visitors who say “Bonjour!” to staff to celebrate
the theme of French-Japanese relations.

Contact: Shibusawa Memorial Museum Tel：03-3910-0005
Curator: Hitoshi Sekine; Educational Programs: Megumi Kawakami; Public Relations: Jungo Hoshino

PRESS RELEASE
March 17, 2017

Exhibition Outline:
Chapter 1 – Sent on a Mission to France: Eiichi’s Orders to Go Overseas, December 1866
Chapter 2 – Starting a Journey of Ten Thousand Ri: Eiichi Leaves the Port of Yokohama, February 15– April 10, 1867
Chapter 3 – The City Called Paris, France: Eiichi Arrives in Paris, April 11, 1867
Chapter 4 – The Magnificent Exposition Grounds: Eiichi Visits the Paris Universal Exposition
Chapter 5 – Finally Departing at the Start of this Month for a Tour of Various Countries: Eiichi
Observes Europe, September 3 – December 17, 1867
Chapter 6 – Studying and Learning Together: Eiichi as an Attendant to Akitake’s Studies Abroad,
December 18, 1867 – October 14, 1868
Chapter 7 – All in Good Health from Beginning to End: Eiichi Leaves for Home, October 15 –December 16, 1868
Items on Display-

Letters from Shibusawa Eiichi, Sugiura Yuzuru, Tanabe Taichi, and others-Letters related to Tokugawa Akitake-Portrait photographs of Shibusawa Eiichi and others-

Kosei nikki (Diary of a Voyage to the West), volumes 1-6-

Amayo gatari (Tales of a Rainy Night), manuscript-

Paris Universal Exposition official report-“L’Exposition Universelle de 1867 Illustree”

Educational Programs (Lectures)
All lectures are in Japanese only and will be held from 1:30 – 3:00 pm. Participation is limited to forty
people and advance registration is required. For information on how to register please see theShibusawa Memorial Museum website.
1) “Prince Tokugawa:High Hopes for the Paris Exposition” March 18, 2017
Yoichi Saito, director, Tojo Museum of History(registration has closed as maximum participation has been reached)2) “Japan and the 1867 Paris Exposition,” April 15, 2017
Noriko Teramoto, assistant professor, Atomi University(registration has closed as maximum participation has been reached)3) “Modern Japan and World’s Fairs,” April 22, 2017
Takeyuki Kuni, professor, Tokyo Metropolitan University
4) “Tokugawa Yoshinobu and the End of the Tokugawa Period,” April 29, 2017
Shinya Kusumi, associate professor, Daito Bunka University
Other events are being planned. Check the Shibusawa Memorial Museum website for information
Future Exhibition Information:
Special Exhibition: 150th Anniversary of Shibusawa Eiichi’s Trip to France – “Shibusawa Eiichi Goes
to the Paris Universal Exposition” (Part 2)
Dates: Saturday, September 9 – Sunday, December 10, 2017 (dates subject to change)

PRESS RELEASE
March 17, 2017

Images for Press Use
The following images have been prepared for press use (images will be made available insmall-size digital format of approximately 400KB). If you wish to use any of the images
please contact the Shibusawa Memorial Museum by fax.
Shibusawa Eiichi in Western dress

Tokugawa Akitake’s delegation, in Marseilles

Paris Universal Exposition fair grounds (from“L’Exposition Universelle de 1867 Illustree”)

Letter from Shibusawa Eiichi in Paris to his wife
Chiyo, 15th day of the 5th month of Keio 3(lunar calendar)“Lord Tokudayu in his Brand New Travelling
Clothes,” by Koyama Shotaro

Kosei nikki (Diary of Voyage to the West)volume 1, by Shibusawa Eiichi and Sugiura
YuzuruApplication for Press Use of Images
FAX: 03-5567-7289
Public Relations
Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial FoundationI hereby apply for the use of images from the exhibition “Shibusawa Eiichi Goes to the Paris
Universal Exposition” (Part 1).
1) Image(s) to be used:
2) Purpose of use:(the use of images from a special exhibition is limited to press related to the exhibition)
3) Publication specifications:
Title:
Total number of pages:
Article length:
Print run:Price:Date:4) Media type:〔 〕TV〔 〕Radio〔 〕Newspaper〔 〕Magazine〔 〕Internet〔 〕Other

5) Details of use:

Conditions:-The provenance of the images must be clearly noted.

-The images cannot be used for purposes other than those stated in No.2 above.

-The images must be used as is with no trimming or text superimposed on top.

-

Before publication please submit a copy of the texts or contents for check by public relations staff
at the Shibusawa Memorial Museum-

A copy of the publication must be sent to the Shibusawa Memorial Museum.

Date:

//

Applicant Name:
Signature:
Company/Institution:
Address:Tel:

E-mail: