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.
For centuries, the Shoguns ruled over a relatively isolated feudal society. Prince Iyesato Tokugawa was to become the next shogun, but when that dynasty ended, he instead creatively guided an emerging Japan onto a modern, interconnected world stage.
Description of the book cover photo:
Prince Iyesato Tokugawa (aka Prince Tokugawa Iesato) receives an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Rufus B. von Kleinsmid President of the university bestows this degree.
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:
When war first erupted in Europe in 1914, there was uncertainty as to whether or not, or to what degree, Japan would support Great Britain and Britain’s other allies in their struggle with Germany, a conflict that seemed far away from Japan’s shores. Prince Tokugawa and Baron Shibusawa along with their Japanese supporters had spent the prior decade promoting peace. But when war erupted, out of respect international justice, they guided Japan to play a significant role in aiding the Allies – Despite Japan’s important contributions to the winning that conflict, relatively little is remembered today. Japan strongly assisted militarily and aided the Allies’ sick and wounded.
Above is the clay version of the bronze relief sculpture that is to be presented to the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, San Diego.
President Roosevelt – Prince Tokugawa – Baron Shibusawa – President Taft
During the first decades of the 1900s, these four accomplished statesmen allied together to promote amity between their nations.
This website presents additional blog posts revealing the strong alliance between them.
The Art of Peace presents the inspiring life and accomplishments of Prince Iyesato Tokugawa (aka Prince Tokugawa Iesato – 1863-1940), an amazing international statesmen and humanitarian. The biography is available in two versions: the more streamlined General reader edition and the ‘Expanded’ edition, which includes additional historical notes and an Index…This Index is presented further below to assist historians/educators/students doing research about this intriguing period of history, and for those pursuing genealogical research about their family members who were socially or politically active during that period.
Circa 1917: Roland Sletor Morris. Following his Sept. 20th, 1917 reception in Philadelphia, Morris soon proceeded to Japan. Source: Library of Congress /Bain News Service.
The interior of the Program/Menu to the reception is presented below.
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 a textbook in the art of espionage and counter-espionage.
Colonel Mashbir (1891-1973) led an adventurous life – At the age of thirteen, he began 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 stability between those nations. He personally escorted the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa to a peace parley with General Pershing in 1914.