Shimoda, Japan.

Gyokusen Temple, also known as The Townsend Harris Memorial was meticulously restored to much better shape than it was in 1856 when
The First American Consul was dumped in the site by isolationist Japan
intimidated by Commodore Matthew G. Perry to open her ports as provisioning harbors for American trading ships engaged in The China Trade. They exerted considerable difficulty, hoping he would pack up in disgust and leave. Harris
stuck it out and gained their grudging respect. Townsend Harris is revered
today by The Japanese for dragging them into the modern world.

Tags: Photo journalism First American Harris Consul Perry Gyokusen Townsend China trade

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