How colorized photos helped introduce Japan to the world

 For over 200 years, Japan isolated itself from the outside world by forbidding most foreigners from entering the country. But in 1854, a US naval expedition of warships forced Japan to open its port cities, resulting in a flood of curious travelers from Europe and North America, who established businesses there

First Japanese Visitor Describes European Life

More from Japanese national icon Fukuzawa Yukichi. After his groundbreaking trip to America, here we have the first detailed Japanese perspective of Europe, after the Sakoku period of isolation. England, France, Holland and Russia.