Author of The Emperor and the Spy
The illustrated Blog posts on this website focus on U.S. Japan relations and Japanese history.
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 fascinating materials, combined with his passion for history and many years of research resulted in the exciting historical novel THE EMPEROR AND THE SPY, followed by a sequel, an illustrated biography titled: THE ART OF PEACE.
Having studied and written about Colonel Sidney Mashbir, it was my good fortune when Robert Warren and his son William Warren contacted me in 2018 to discuss their close friendship with Colonel Mashbir many years earlier.
William and Robert generously shared various historical materials linked to Colonel Mashbir (1891-1973). This blog post will present a number of those items, as well as Robert and William’s recollections of Colonel Mashbir. Also included is biographic material about Robert and William Warren, who being younger than Mashbir, were inspired and influenced by Colonel Mashbir’s heroic dedication to our nation.
Dear Friends,
Being Black History Month and recently Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, I thought it would be the right moment to share this illustrated article which honors the memories of significant Black, Asian, and Caucasian individuals from the past, who creatively and peacefully utilized intercultural exchange of art, music, education, and diplomacy as well as working through the political and legal systems to improve race relations – Racism and international disrespect of one another has often been a catalyst towards greater conflict, so gaining new insights from the past may well provide answers for dealing with our more challenging political/military issues of today.
CREATION OF A FOUNDATION THAT ENCOURAGES PEACE, DEMOCRACY, AND A LOVE OF MUSIC.
Your suggestions are welcome.
TheArtofDiplomacybiography@gmail.com
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Prince Tokugawa Iesato (aka Prince Iyesato Tokugawa, 1863-1940)
Potential names for the foundation:
Tokugawa US Japan Foundation: honoring the memory of Prince Tokugawa, promoting global peace and democracy.
The Art of Diplomacy Foundation: honoring the memory of Prince Tokugawa, promoting global peace and democracy.
Tokugawa Music Foundation: internationally encouraging a love for music in children.
1948- Walt Disney’s office in Burbank, California: Standing with Walt (he didn’t like being called Mr. Disney) is his corporate pilot Marine Lt. Colonel Kelvin Bailey (retired), and Kelvin’s wife Gwen, who was something of a starlet in her day.
The author of this blog post was gifted this photo by Colonel Robert F. Warren, who was a mutual friend of Colonel Sidney Mashbir and Colonel Kelvin Bailey.
As an author and historian who has studied and written about Colonel Sidney Mashbir, it was my good fortune when Marine Colonel Robert Warren and his son Marine Captain William Warren contacted me three years ago in 2018 to discuss their close friendship with Colonel Mashbir decades earlier.
For decades, Prince Tokugawa Iesato (aka Prince Iyesato Tokugawa – 1863-1940) devoted his life to maintaining peace in Asia and specifically preventing Japan from coming into conflict with China. Tokugawa saw the clouds of war growing in Europe, as well as the militants in his own country pushing Japan towards conflict with China. He resisted these aggressions and wished to protect as many innocent lives as he could. As president of the Japanese Red Cross Society, Prince Tokugawa presided over the 1934 International Red Cross Conference in Tokyo (aka XVth International Conference of the Red Cross), where he urged the delegates to “Serve for Humanity.” It was at this gathering, where there was the first known example in history for the international creation of demilitarized Safe Zones, where civilians could find shelter, as outside warring armies fought one another.
This biography celebrates one of the great international statesmen of his time. Prince Tokugawa Iesato (1863-1940) (aka Prince Iyesato Tokugawa), an adept diplomat and humanitarian who served as a cultural and political bridge between the East and the West, while also supporting mutual respect within Asia.
Shown below are a letter, a photo, and a four page document that were sent to me by Jody Baltz, the son-in-law of Robert Wilson Murphy, of one of those two soldiers.
Jody and his wife Lesa, who is the youngest of Wilson’s three daughters, contacted me to let me know that Colonel Mashbir was a hero not only to his father-in-law, but also to Jody and Lesa’s entire family, who deeply respected Colonel Mashbir for what he did.
Jody and Lesa live in Tullahoma, Tennessee.
DIGITAL EBOOK EDITION
PRINT & KINDLE EDITION
This bronze sculpture honors three great individuals.
Men of Peace who promoted Human Dignity and Racial Equality.
President Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)
Prince Iyesato Tokugawa (徳川 家達, August 24, 1863 – June 5, 1940)
The people we choose to honor, shape and inspire our future
Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) a man of and ahead of his time.