Author of The Emperor and the Spy
Here are some rare antique photos: the uppermost photo presents a long forgotten 1931 diplomatic event where Prince and Princess Takamatsu, as a gesture of international goodwill, are personally escorted down Pennsylvania Avenue by President Herbert Hoover. Left to right in photo: Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Katsuji Debuchi speaks to President Hoover; Prince Takamatsu: Prince Takamatsu. Also included above are two earlier photos of Princess and Prince Takamatsu.
This Blog and website are a time-capsule honoring the memory of Colonel Sidney Mashbir (1891-1983) and his Japanese allies who strove to maintain good relations between the U.S. and Japan. One of Colonel Mashbir’s most influential Japanese allies was Prince Iyesato Tokugawa (1863-1940). Their alliance is one of the engaging themes in the historical novel The Emperor and the Spy. Many readers of the novel wanted to know more about these great men and the period they lived, leading to an illustrated biography The Art of Peace. According to Colonel Mashbir, Prince Tokugawa was the true hidden power behind the Imperial Throne and that he was so politically influential, it was only after his death in 1940, that Japan was pressured into joining the Axis Powers in WWII.