Britain and Japan early days

What is it about?

This article explains one of the earliest engagements between Japan and Britain from the early 1860s to the late1870s. The engagement involved negotiation over the sovereign claim of the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This article is important because it explains how Britain negotiated the earliest of diplomatic engagement with an Asian country that was emerging as a nation on an international stage. This history tells us a lot about the formation of early ties and how this informed the emergence of Anglo-Japanese relations. It also explains how Japan handled the earliest ideas of nation, nationality and territory.