[4] The first Americans came to Japan in 1791 aboard two merchant vessels from Massachusetts which landed at Kushimoto, Wakayama, south of Osaka.
They began negotiations with Japanese authorities about the possibility of opening trade relations, but made no headway, and departed after eleven days.
Prior to World War II, it was a common practice for first-generation issei Japanese immigrants in the United States to send their nisei children, who were American citizens, to Japan for education.
"returnees to America"), they often found themselves the subject of discrimination from their classmates in Japan during their studies; upon their return to the United States, they often faced criticism for being "too Japanese" due to perceived authoritarianism, militarism, or pro-Japanese sympathies.
American general Douglas MacArthur held the position of Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers[8] during the majority of the occupation.