A Japanese illustrated sheet diagrams American steamships and sailing vessels from several angles, with routes, measurements, and dense handwritten notes.

1853 · Colour illustration with manuscript annotations

Illustration of Foreign Ships from North America

Unidentified Japanese artist

Why it matters

The sheet records shock as a process of observation. Profiles, routes, dimensions, smoke, and explanatory notes turn Perry's ships into information that Japanese viewers could compare and circulate.

Publication
Illustrated sheet produced after Perry's first arrival
Holding institution
Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library
Shelfmark
Tokyo Shiryō Collection 697-1
Rights
Public Domain; EDO TOKYO Digital Museum open data

Citation

Illustration of Foreign Ships from North America (Ikokusen no Zu Kita-amerika). 1853. Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library, Tokyo Shiryō Collection 697-1.