First Japanese Embassy to Europe (1862)

The head of the mission was Takenouchi Yasunori, governor of Shimotsuke Province (present-day Tochigi Prefecture).

Leaving Shinagawa, Tokyo on 21 January 1862, the mission was sent in order to learn about Western civilization, ratify treaties, and delay the opening of cities and harbours to foreign trade.

Negotiations were held in France, the UK, the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and finally Portugal.

Five years later, Japan would formally participate to the 1867 World Fair in Paris.

The mission included the signing of the London Protocol on 6 June 1862, which recognized that Japan needed time to "overcome the opposition now existing" (meaning the anti-foreign sentiment shared by the population and the Imperial Court), and accepted the postponement of the opening of Osaka, Hyogo, Edo, and Niigata by five years, to 1 January 1868.

Members of the First Japanese Embassy to Europe, in 1862, around Shibata Sadataro, head of the mission staff (seated).
The members of the Japanese Embassy visiting the 1862 International Exhibition in London , from the Illustrated London News .
Senior members of the embassy.
Members of the embassy in Utrecht. The second is Fukuzawa Yukichi from the left.