| This collection contains Japanese language historical materials concerning early Japanese interactions with peoples from other countries. The oldest materials date from the early Edo Period
and the latest to mid-Meiji Period when Japan was seeking to become a modern nation. It contains journals of Japanese castaways rescued by foreign vessels and records of visits by foreign
ships during the sakoku period of national seclusion, rangaku (Dutch learning) texts based on knowledge obtained from Dutch traders coming to Japan, as well as early English language learning textbooks and research works on Western cooking, clothing, and other customs. |
