Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun

We purchased this book because it was required reading for my rising 6th grader. He is a very good reader and could read this book. However, it is non-fiction. He loves fiction and wasn't really motivated to read this. We read this together- taking turns reading pages. We quickly got into the story. Unlike some non-fiction, this book is a story. We both learned so many things about Commodore Perry and his expedition to the Land of the Shogun, Japan. We both thoroughly enjoyed the story. It has many pictures which added greatly to the story. The pictures are drawings by the parties involved in this expedition- the Japanese and the Americans. The drawings are a fascinating part of the story as you get to see how people are viewed by the different cultures. The story also is told from the different perspectives- from the Japanese and the American perspectives. Thus, we can understand why the Japanese were not interested in trading with foreigners. Certainly this topic is relevant to some of our problems today. Our fear of foreigners is certainly causing controversy in modern times in the US. Maybe we can learn a lesson? This book is not political though and does not give a "message". It is a very good, well balanced story that leaves it to the reader to make their own conclusions. Either way, it's an excellent book. I highly recommend it for ages 9-14. You may want to read it with your child unless they love non-fiction -especially for younger ones. My child read it with me at age 11 so any 9 year old readers would need to be gifted readers or very interested in this topic (historical non-fiction) in my judgement.

Beginning as the "giant dragons puffing smoke" descended upon the fishing village of Shimoda, this book chronologically follows Commodore Matthew Perry's expedition and subsequent opening of Japan for trade with the United States. This volume, which appears to have been extremely well-researched, fits the actions and reaction of both the Japanese and the westerners into an unbiased and even context. Japanese feudal society is explained, as well as Japan's historically isolationist position, and it is pointedly explained just how much misinformation about one another each side believed. One point that will stand out to most readers is the irony of how each side looked upon the other - as barbarians in need of civilizing; and just how much politics and personality impacts the face of world relations. Artwork is less abundant than in similar texts, but with licensing fees and the rising cost of publishing, this is understandable. A number of Japanese images of Commodore Perry are included, each less flattering than the one before it. The appendices are particularly interesting: a letter from President Millard Fillmore (you just don't see enough about old Millard) to the Emperor of Japan, and a translation of the Emperor's reply; an intriguing list of American Presents for the Japanese (nearly everyone in the Emperor's family or commission received, among other things, at least 5 gallons of whiskey and a revolver), and a similar list of presents from the Japanese for Americans; and the text of the Treaty of Kanagawa.

We lived in Japan and I homeschooled when I first read this book. Much more interesting way to learn about the opening of Japan than through a text. Another excellent book that is a great companion to this one is "Born in the Year of Courage."