Prince Tokugawa Archives

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, significant 1908 photo – Frank A. Vanderlip future president of Japan Society of New York City leads the first formal U.S. business delegation to Japan to meet with Baron 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...

History has its Mysteries: 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:

Prince Tokugawa’s Spirit of International Goodwill lives on thru the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan. During the late 1930s, Prince Tokugawa and Kanō Jigorō, the educator and martial artist who founded the sport of Judo, promoted the 1940 Olympics come to Japan.

January 13, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

Prince Tokugawa and his allies vigorously advocated that the 1940 Olympics take place in Japan, hoping it would encourage peaceful international relations. Regrettably, that event was canceled due to the expanding conflict in Europe leading to WWII. Since then, the event was been staged in Japan several times, and Tokugawa would be delighted to know that 80 years after his passing, the Olympics is once again coming to his nation, to be shared with the world. Continue Reading...

INDEX from the ‘expanded edition’ of THE ART OF PEACE

October 15, 2019 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

The Art of Peace presents the life of Prince Iyesato Tokugawa (1863-1940), an amazing international statesmen and humanitarian. The biography is available in two EBook versions: the more streamlined ‘general reader’ edition and the ‘expanded’ edition. [Note: the ‘expanded’ edition presents additional historical notes and an Index.]

This blog presents the INDEX to the ‘expanded edition’ of THE ART OF PEACE. It is made available to assist historians/educators/students doing research about this intriguing and understudied period of history. It also serves the general public pursuing genealogical research about their family members who were socially or politically active during that period. Continue Reading...

Colonel Sidney Forrester Mashbir’s Autobiography, “I Was an American Spy” Now Available on Amazon

November 10, 2018 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

It is an honor to announce the publication of:

The 65th Anniversary Edition of Colonel Sidney Forrester Mashbir’s exciting 1953 autobiography:

I WAS AN AMERICAN SPY

Besides being a fascinating story, Colonel Mashbir’s autobiography is almost a textbook in the art of espionage and counter-espionage.

Colonel Mashbir (1891-1973) led an adventurous life – At the age of thirteen, he started his military career as a bugle boy in the Arizona Guard, in the still untamed Arizona Territory. During 1914-1916, he served under General Funston and General Pershing, and went on daring missions across the U.S./Mexican border during the Mexican Revolution, attempting to maintain peace between those nations. He personally escorted the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa to a peace parley with General Pershing in 1914. Continue Reading...