An exploration of Western perceptions of Japan and its people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, based on writings and accounts by foreign travelers, diplomats, and scholars. Kawakami provides a nuanced and critical analysis of the stereotypes, misunderstandings, and biases that shaped these views, as well as the challenges faced by Japan in navigating its changing role in the world. An insightful and engaging work on the history of cross-cultural encounters. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.