Political Cartoon - Japan

Historical Significance:

In the 19^th century, the Japanese society was in turmoil. The agricultural productivity was declining, crop failures, famine, harsh taxation, starvation; many sold their lands, left their homes, increasing debts which all lead to the oppositions against the Tokugawa bakufu. They, in turn, responded with conservative reform which provoked strong opposition. That was not the only issue the Tokugawa bakufu had to deal with, they also had foreign pressures. The Tokugawa bakufu faced the insistence on the establishment of diplomatic and commercial relations by foreign lands such as Great Britain, France and the United States. The United States sought ports for Pacific merchants and whaling fleets which could stop for fuel and provisions. The Tokugawa official had refused such request and stuck to their policy of excluding all Europeans (except the Dutch that controlled trade in Nagasaki) and American visitors to Japan. Although in 1853, that situation has been changed when Commodore Matthew C. Perry, with his trained guns, came to the bakufu capital Edo and demanded the shogun to open Japan to diplomatic and commercial relations and sign a treaty of friendship. Other followed soon after winning similar rights and Japan agreed to series of unequal treaties that opened Japanese ports to foreign commerce.

The Political Cartoon:

            This political depicts a scene where the Tokugawa have created this wall, keeping everyone away. They are a few foreigners that are trying to climb this wall and the man with American flags climbs the wall and is standing on it with a paper that says Treaty. The wall is a metaphor for the Japanese’s refusal to establish diplomatic and commercial relations. They are many who try to create these relations but the Tokugawa stick to their policy of excluding foreigners such as Europeans and Americans. The man who is holding the American flag is Commodore Matthew C. Perry who trained his guns and demanded for diplomatic and commercial relations and sign the treaty. The other men that are also climbing men are Europeans. As the illustration depicts, the other men are about to reach the top and are behind the American. Due to their treaty of friendship with the Japanese, the Americans help the Europeans to sign treaties with Tokugawa who had opened their ports for foreign commerce.