Blogs - Stan. S. Katz

Welcome!

February 26, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

The Mashbir Archives highlight Colonel Sidney Forrester Mashbir’s significant role in history, drawing from his personal letters, official documents, and photographs, as well as other fascinating historical materials gathered during the past twenty years of research. Colonel Mashbir (1891-1973) wore many hats during his long career: as a spy, a diplomat, a linguist, and as a scientist/inventor. During the 1920s and 1930s, he allied with top Japanese leaders in the pursuit of good relations between the U.S. and Japan.

Welcome!

January 3, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

This website presents a collection of illustrated Blog posts that focus on U.S. Japan relations and Japanese history in general.

Stan S. Katz was a Specialist in Rare Books and Ephemera when he acquired the personal papers of a Master Spy, Colonel Sidney Forrester Mashbir (1891-1973). These unique, fascinating materials, combined with Stan’s passion for history and many years of research has resulted in the exciting historical novel THE EMPEROR AND THE SPY, followed by an illustrated biography THE ART OF PEACE. Continue Reading...

The author of the historical novel The Emperor and the Spy gives a presentation on U.S. Japan relations during the first half of the twentieth century.

March 28, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Winter 2020 Catalogue

University of California San Diego (UCSD): EXTENSION

On January 8^th, 2020 the author of The Emperor and the Spy shared a new historical perspective on U.S. Japan relations during the first half of the twentieth century.

This Osher catalogue includes a description of the presentation.

Captain Sidney Mashbir’s successful 1922 secret mission prevented a potential war in Asia. However, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 again destabilized Japan – During the challenging first months following that major disaster, Mashbir spearheaded an American Medical Relief Effort to assist many of the injured Japanese – As part of this humanitarian process, Mashbir created the first English – Japanese Medical Translation Dictionary that was used by English speaking health care workers while treating Japanese speaking patients.

March 8, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

In 1922, Mashbir completed a dangerous mission in Vladivostok, Russia, preventing the outbreak of a regional war between Japan, China, and Russia, which might have expanded further!

The following year on September 1, 1923, the most destructive natural disaster in modern Japanese history occurred, The Great Kantō Earthquake (関東大震災, Kantō daishinsai), a Japanese natural disaster in the Kantō region of the island of Honshū. This earthquake destroyed Tokyo, the port city of Yokohama, surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Shizuoka, and approximately 140,000 people died. Continue Reading...

The Japan Society of New York City Honors the Visit of Prince Iyesato Tokugawa – Recently Discovered 1934 Photo

February 22, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

Here is an important moment in history, when the leader of the Japanese peace and democracy movement met with his counterparts in the United States during a challenging period of U.S. Japan relations. This rare, perhaps one of a kind photo presents the Japan Society’s Annual Dinner event honoring Prince Tokugawa on Feb. 27, 1934 – This diplomatic goodwill gathering took place at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. [Source of photo: TheEmperorAndTheSpy.com archives – The actual photo is 14 x 22 inches in size.]

Unknown U.S. Japan goodwill event circa 1915. Can you assist in identifying this event and the individuals in the photo?

February 19, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

This diplomatic gathering is a mystery: no details are available to identify this event and the individuals who attended. You’ll notice that a meal was served in a traditional Japanese style and there are U.S. and Japan flags displayed at the back of the room. Historians/educators/family members are invited to share their insights as to what this event was linked to and who the individuals are. Please send whatever information you might have thru the comment section at the end of this blog post – That would be most appreciated. Continue Reading...

Recently discovered 1908 Photo – Frank A. Vanderlip future president of the Japan Society of New York City leads the first official, modern day U.S. business delegation to Japan to meet with Shibusawa Eiichi and representatives of Mitsui & Co., and other Japanese business leaders.

February 16, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

The above 1908 photo presents an exciting moment in international business relations, the first modern day U.S. Japan trade/economic alliance which helped the U.S. during a period of economic instability, while at the same strengthening U.S. Japan political and cultural relations. Continue Reading...

1915 – William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt attend a banquet honoring the visit of Baron Shibusawa Eiichi. This diplomatic event is linked to the early history of the Japan Society of New York City.

February 11, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

Photo above: William Howard Taft (next to the gentleman whose image reveals only half of his face)

Photo below: Theodore Roosevelt (centered beneath the chandelier)

Recently Discovered 1915 Photo: Theodore Roosevelt & William Howard Taft honor Baron Shibusawa Eiichi during his important diplomatic visit to the United States.

February 6, 2020 by Stan S. Katz 5 Comments

This is the only known photo of a significant 1915 U.S. Japan diplomatic event. The description on the lower left corner states:

Dinner to Baron Shibusawa. East & West Meeting, Sherry’s [restaurant] New York City, December 3, 1915. (Actual photo size: 20 by 12 inches.)

The above original photo is age-darkened and torn, and is also missing a corner and a segment of the left edge. These imperfections have been corrected during the restoration process as shown in the photo below:

Saturday Evening Post magazine in 1948 presented a three part weekly series on Colonel Mashbir titled, ”I Was An American Spy.” This probably inspired Mashbir to write his autobiography titled: I Was an American Spy, which was published in 1953.

January 16, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

Two and one half years after the end of WWII, Colonel Mashbir felt the time was finally right to share some of the details of his many adventures in espionage

The below Saturday Evening Post magazines from March 27th, 1948, April 3rd, 1948, and April 10th, 1948 present a three part series about Colonel Mashbir, which has the same title as as Mashbir’s upcoming 1953 autobiography titled; I Was an American Spy.

Prince Tokugawa Iesato encouraged Emperor Hirohito’s younger brother Prince Takamatsu and his recent bride Princess Takamatsu to take a fourteen month Goodwill World Tour during 1930-1931. While in Washington, D.C., they were personally escorted by President Herbert Hoover down Pennsylvania Avenue as part of their special reception.

January 14, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

These are rare antique photos: the top photo presents a long forgotten 1931 diplomatic event where Prince and Princess Takamatsu as a gesture of international goodwill visited the U.S., and were personally escorted down Pennsylvania Avenue by President Herbert Hoover, as thousands of onlookers gathered to honor their visitors. Surprisingly, this photo appears to be the only one available that presents this diplomatic reception in the U.S. Capital. Continue Reading...