Can you write me 1500-word papers (500-word for each topic)? Please find the attachment below for the assignment questions. I will provide you with the lecture notes.

ENGLAND AND JAPAN (1): A SHARED HISTORY?

INTRODUCTION—READ THIS CAREFULLY BEFORE THE CLASS

This is the first of two lectures in which we will look at the historical relationship(s) between England and Japan. The first lecture covers the period from the first description of Japan written in English (1577) to the 1880s. By studying the relationship between the two countries we can learn a lot about both of them, and the different positions they have occupied in the world. We will focus in particular on the IMAGE of Japan that English people have had at different times: this will help you understand how (and why) the “West” looks at Japan today. In this first lecture I will suggest that in the late 1800s Japan deliberately marketed itself as an “old-fashioned” country of arts and crafts, and that this has caused problems of understanding ever since.

Make sure that you understand what a “balance of trade,” or “trade balance” is. If you don’t know about the “Opium Wars” between Britain and China, find out before the class.

1543: The Portuguese “discover” Japan by accident.

1577: The first account of Japan in English:

“The extreme part of the knowen worlde unto us, is the noble Ilande Ciapan, written otherwise Iapon and Iapan. … The people tractable, ciuile, myttye, courteous, without deceyte, in virtue and honest conuersation exceeding all other nations lately discouered, but so muche standing upon theye reputation, that theyr chiefe Idole may be thought honour. … the nation is oppressed with scarcitie of al thynges necessarye, and so poore, that even for miserie they strangle theyr owne children, preferring death before want. These felowes do nether eate nor kyll any foule. They lyve chiefely by fyshe, hearbes, and fruites, so healthfully, that they dye very olde.” (from Richard Willies, The History of Trauayle in the West and East Indies)

1600: A Dutch ship arrives in Japan by accident. On the ship is William Adams (1564-1620), an Englishman. Adams becomes an adviser and commercial agent to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

1613-23: An English trading station is established at Hirado, Japan. It is not a success, as the English find little demand for their cloth in Japan.

1639: All foreigners are expelled from Japan, except very restricted numbers of Chinese and Dutch traders.

1673: English ships sail to Japan in an attempt to re-open trade. They are refused, because “our King was married with the daughter of Portugal their enemy … and for no other reason.” (from the official English report on the mission)

1727: Englebert Kaempfer’s History of Japan, originally written in German, is published in English. The translator, J. G. Scheuchzer, dedicates it to King George I:

“It [the History] gives an account of a mighty and powerful empire, which owes its greatness to itself, and the flourishing condition it is in, to its being debarred all communication with other nations. … It describes a valiant and invincible nation, a polite, industrious and virtuous people, enriched by a mutual commerce among themselves, and possessed of a country, on which nature hath lavished her most valuable treasures.”

1791—: A few British ships visit Japan hoping for opportunities to trade. They are only successful (in 1813 and 1814) when trading under Dutch colours.

1839-42: Britain fights and easily wins the first “Opium War” in China, leading to widespread fear of Britain in Japan.

1842-53: Some British diplomats start to talk about “opening” Japan to British trade.

1854: Commodore Matthew Perry succeeds in “opening” Japan. Britain goes to war with Russia, leading to the first formal Anglo-Japanese agreement since the early 1600s: “it affords the means of cultivating a friendly understanding with the Government and People of an extensive Empire, whose Neutrality in War and Friendship at all times, are matters of vital importance to British Interests in the Adjacent Seas.” (Sir James Stirling’s official report)

1858: Lord Elgin, a British diplomat, sails to Edo and makes a commercial treaty with Japan (almost identical to the one the United States already had). The following year a British Consul is appointed in Japan, and a formal diplomatic relationship begins.

1862: At the International Exhibition in London over 600 Japanese art objects are exhibited from the collection of Rutherford Alcock, the British Consul in Japan. They create a sensation among the British public, and start a fashion for Japanese things.

1868—: The Meiji Restoration makes Japan much more willing to trade. Britain becomes Japan’s major trading partner. Britain sells industrial hardware to Japan. Japan sells art objects, china, fabrics etc. to Britain. Until 1914 the balance of trade is very much in Britain’s favour.

Japan’s Trade in 1902

COUNTRY	EXPORTS (YEN)	IMPORTS (YEN)
Britain British India Hong Kong	17,346,149 (6.72%) 13,336,895 (5.16%) 25,876,059 (10.01%)	50,364,029 (18.53%) 50,977,168 (18.76%) 2,454,881 (0.90%)
Above Three Total	56,559,103 (21.89%)	103,796,078 (38.19%)
United States France Germany	80,232,805 (31.06%) 27,283,458 (10.56%) 4,737,029 (1.83%)	48,652,825 (17.90%) 4,745,776 (1.75%) 25,812,921 (9.50%)

“The triumph of export ware was the first major success of modern Japan. The determination of those Japanese engaged in the job of bringing Japan into the modern world ensured that, through the great exhibitions, demand was stimulated and, through the development of a new factory-based export ware industry, demand could be satisfied. It was an astonishing achievement.” (Olive Checkland, Japan and Britain after 1859, 2003)

1885: A Japanese Village is opened in Knightsbridge, London, designed to promote interest in Japan and Japanese products. The Mikado, a musical by W. S. Gilbert (writer) and Arthur Sullivan (composer) opens in London and is a huge success, becoming the longest-running theatrical show in the world (672 performances).