Consequences of Western Whaling in Tokugawa Japan

In the words of Herman Melville that reflected the sentiments of many whalers of the nineteenth century, “In thoughts of the visions of the night, I saw long rows of angels in paradise, each with his hands in a jar of spermaceti.”  By the early nineteenth century, Western whalers had been spotted off the coast of Japan in pursuit of their prey, leading to an increasingly interactive (and usually unreported) relationship between Western and Japanese fishermen.  While ideas and goods were exchanged when the Japanese met with these foreigners, in direct violation of the official laws of the nation, these conversations opened up an avenue through which much Western thought could finally break through to a nation that was only officially trading with China and Holland.

            This final project will focus on the presence of Western whalers in Japanese waters in the nineteenth century, and how these informal meetings would eventually play a part in drastic political and legal results in the years leading up to the Meiji Restoration of 1868.  Referring to drawings and paintings, as well as textual evidence, I hope to produce an accurate portrayal of whaling at the time and explain why such an industry would lead Western ­powers into direct contact with Japan.  Furthermore, after clarifying a number of important aspects of the whaling world, I can finish by commenting on the significance this cultural exchange had on Tokugawa Japan in its decline into the Meiji Era.