The early 1900s were at times challenging in terms of U.S. Japan engagement:
This October 23rd, 1907 Puck magazine cover shows President Theodore Roosevelt defending the nation of Japan from attack. Roosevelt is wearing a military uniform with the Japanese Imperial seal on his hat. He holds a rifle and confronts two rolled-up U.S. newspapers labeled the ‘Sun‘ and ‘World‘ who are also holding rifles and confronting Roosevelt – The background shows the flag of the Japanese Imperial Army.
In the magazine caption, Roosevelt stated that the war talk predicting a future conflict between the U.S. and Japan was based entirely on these incendiary newspapers, which sought to increase their sales, and for that reason, these newspapers had attacked Roosevelt’s representative Minister William Howard Taft, who Roosevelt had again sent to Tokyo to promote improved communications between their two nations. Roosevelt felt things were actually going well diplomatically between the U.S. and Japan and he appreciated the growing friendship between them. However, these news publications were instigating conflict by stating there was an aggressive competition as to which nation would be most powerful in the Pacific. These U.S. newspapers and others promoted a racist/anti-Asian agenda, which negatively influenced American public opinion. Roosevelt felt that relations between the U.S. and Japan were good and were even strengthening based on the interaction of representatives to one another’s nations.
During the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt twice sent his Minister Taft to visit Japan accompanied by a delegation of U.S. congressmen. Taft and his delegation were received and honored at diplomatic events thrown by Prince Tokugawa and Baron Shibusawa, and supported by many other distinguished Japanese representatives. During his goodwill visit to Japan in 1905, the future President Taft was accompanied by President Theodore Roosevelt’s oldest daughter Alice. Taft and Alice were treated graciously during their time in Japan, and even met with the Japanese Emperor Meiji.
Seeing the heated racism in the U.S. against Asians living there, Prince Tokugawa took a stand in his own nation against this narrow minded and cruel approach to treating one another. To combat racism, Prince Tokugawa during the 1920’s established Essay Writing Contests in all Japanese public schools and public universities, where students expressed in their own words what Abraham Lincoln’s noble principles of human equality stood for.
This photo highlights a February 19, 1929 Award presentation to the winners of the Third Lincoln Essay Contest which was held at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo.
Prince Iyesato Tokugawa was the President of the America-Japan Society which sponsored the event.
In photo: Prince Tokugawa (front center) and Count Aisuke Kabayama (at far right). This photo is courtesy of the America-Japan Society: this fine organization located in Japan, was founded in 1917 and continues to this day to promote amity and mutual understanding between the Japanese and American people. Prince Tokugawa was its 2nd president from 1924 until his passing in 1940.
To learn more, here is the internet link to the America-Japan Society: http://ajstokyo.org/en-home/
The winners of these essay contests were awarded an impressive Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin in recognition of their accomplishment.
Presented below is the front and back of one such commemorative award, which was 3 inches in diameter. This commemorative medallion included a velvet lined presentation case to display the award.
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Through narrative and hundreds of illustrations, THE ART OF PEACE presents a new historical perspective on U.S. Japan relations.
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