???????????. [Amerika kotoba wage no utsushi]. [American Vocabulary Kawaraban].

[BLACK SHIPS KAWARABAN].

Published by (Circa1854)., [Japan]., 1854

Black and white woodblock kawaraban, 23 x 31cm. A few tiny repairs holes and a little marking mainly at margins, very good copy. This Japanese woodblock kawaraban presents supposed American equivalents of Japanese words, showcasing an intriguing attempt to bridge linguistic gaps during the early encounters with Americans in the later Tokugawa period. The panel on the right narrates the remarkable travels of Nakahama Manjiro (also known as John Manjiro), who was rescued by an American whaling ship after being stranded on Torishima Island, subsequently taken to the United States. A cartoon-like illustration of an American sailor is included in this section, presumably for added authenticity. On the left panel, an illustration depicts two barrels with a flag, symbolizing items purportedly sent ashore by American ships. Interestingly, during this era, various kawaraban were produced claiming to offer English translations of Japanese words. However, the English words presented are unrecognizable and likely fabricated. For instance, the English word for "house" is given as "koretechi," which bears little resemblance to any actual English word, although it could possibly be interpreted as a version of "cottage." The title suggests that the publisher sought to capture people's attention and curiosity towards the arrival of foreign ships. The accompanying text suggests that Americans could offer intriguing things to the Japanese people. However, it is evident that the publisher was misinformed about the pronunciation and authenticity of English words, resulting in a humorous and somewhat misguided attempt at linguistic interpretation!. Seller Inventory # 214118

Bibliographic Details

Title: ???????????. [Amerika kotoba wage no utsushi...
Publisher: (Circa1854)., [Japan].
Publication Date: 1854