Manuscipt of a Returning Castaway Late Edo account of John Manjiro and his experiences
[Japan] Contemporary account of the 1841 shipwreck and rescue of the then 14-year-old Manjiro (later known as Nakahama Manjiro or John Manjiro) along with his four friends, Denzo (35), Jusuke (25), Goemon (16) and Toraemon (26). Manjiro was the youngest and went to the US rather than stay in Hawaii with the others. He managed to return to Japan (Okinawa) in 1851 and, after being questioned for months, was able to return to his home in present-day Kochi prefecture. He went on to provide important information to the Japanese shogunate about the West and was permitted to wear two swords. The manuscript also contains some of Manjiro's syllabary and vocabulary list.
Author unknown. No date [c1855].
37 leaves. Final page is pasted inside rear cover. 26.6 x 18.9cm.
In very good condition with only minor age wear. m30040113
