The American Merchant Experience In Nineteenth Century Japan

In the 19th century, American merchants established trading firms in Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagasaki in Japan. They were part of a privileged, semi-colonial community and were the largest group of Americans in Japan at the time. Kevin Murphy's book explores their interactions with the Japanese, how they were manipulated by the Japanese leadership, and how they defined the limitations of American business in Japan. The merchants were concerned with maintaining order and opportunity, as well as balancing restraint and dominance and conservatism and dominance. Their presence in Japan lasted from 1859-1899 until the Unequal Treaties were repealed.

American merchants established trading firms in the ports of Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki which operated from 1859-1899 until the repeal of the Unequal Treaties. Members of a privileged, semi-colonial community, the merchants formed the largest group of Americans in 19th century Japan. In this first book-length treatment of this group, Kevin Murphy explores their interactions with the Japanese in the treaty port system, how the Japanese leadership manipulated them to its own ends, and how the merchants themselves defined the limitations of American business in Japan through their ambiguous but deep concern with order and opportunity, restraint and dominance, and conservatism and dominance.