July 8th marks milestone in Japanese-American history

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Madara
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July 8th marks milestone in Japanese-American history

Post by Madara »

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On July 8, 1853, 160 years ago, Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay with a fleet of gunships sent on behalf of the American government, and declared, "We're Yanks, we're here, get used to it," or words to that effect. That simple act began a process of "opening up" that forced Japan to end its 200+ years of self-imposed isolation. As a result, we got the Sino-Japanese War of 1895, in which Japan defeated China; the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, in which Japan defeated Russia; the Manchurian "Incident" of 1931 and the subsequent invasion and occupation of China; the Rape of Nanking; Pearl Harbor; and the Bataan Death March, among other examples of infamy during World War II.
 
But let's look on the bright side. We also got Godzilla movies, Akira Kurosawa, anime, Power Rangers, and J-pop. And those things all came AFTER the war, so there's hope for the old country yet.
 
I've often felt that those of us with the kind of intense relationship with Japanese popular culture, as demonstrated on this board, are part of the continual process of opening up Japan and getting them out of the house, so to speak, and joining the rest of the world, even if they don't want to join.
 
I write about this in the current entry on my blog. Please read it. It's part of a new stage of my own journey in relation to all of this.
 
 
 
 
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pandapanda
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Re: July 8th marks milestone in Japanese-American history

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<a href="http://www.newportevents.com/Blackships ... kships/</a>
 
Tada!  Black ships festival.  I really want to go this year but it's probably not going to happen due to me over scheduling myself.
 
I'm pretty sure I've been to Perry's house on a field trip.  Darn homeschoolers will visit anything free and historic.
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Madara
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Re: July 8th marks milestone in Japanese-American history

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[quote="pandapanda"]
<a href="http://www.newportevents.com/Blackships ... kships/</a>
 
Tada!  Black ships festival.  I really want to go this year but it's probably not going to happen due to me over scheduling myself.
 
I'm pretty sure I've been to Perry's house on a field trip.  Darn homeschoolers will visit anything free and historic.
[/quote]
 
Wow, I never knew about that event. Thanks, Panda!
 
Is it an event worth making a special weekend trip up to Newport for? Is there a decent hotel connected to the event? I might want to go.
 
BTW, I also did a somewhat related entry on my film blog, where I talk about the first significant film collaboration between Japan and the U.S.
Here's the link:
 
<a href="http://briandanacamp.wordpress.com">http://briandanacamp.wordpress.com</a>
 
And here's a picture from it:
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pandapanda
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Re: July 8th marks milestone in Japanese-American history

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I've never been to the festival, but Newport is gorgeous and probably worth the trip if you like beaches.  As for hotels, I'm sure there is one relatively near by.
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Ap2000
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Re: July 8th marks milestone in Japanese-American history

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There's also the black ship festival (kurofunesai 黒船祭) in Japan:
<a href="http://izu-sakuraya.jp/english/travelin ... stival/</a>
 
I was only able to find this info right now, but I doubt it's a festival only in one place.
However, the <a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%BB%92% ... ">Japanese wikipedia article</a> only calls it a local Shimoda-shi festival.
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Re: July 8th marks milestone in Japanese-American history

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<a href="http://www.newportevents.com/Blackships ... hotels/</a>
 
Here's the hotels that they suggest, Madara, for future reference.
 
I'm most likely going, but it'll be right after we get home from vacation.  I'm debating whether or not to wear my yukata...
Last edited by pandapanda on Fri Jul 12, 2013 1:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Madara
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Re: July 8th marks milestone in Japanese-American history

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[quote="pandapanda"]
<a href="http://www.newportevents.com/Blackships ... hotels/</a>
 
Here's the hotels that they suggest, Madara, for future reference.
 
I'm most likely going, but it'll be right after we get home from vacation.  I'm debating whether or not to wear my yukata...
[/quote]
 
 
Thanks, Panda! There's also an events list there, so when I get a chance I'll look it over and see if it's worth traveling up there for it.
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