Léon Roches

[2] Using his experiences in North Africa, he wrote a book titled Trente-deux ans à travers l′Islam (Thirty-two years through Islam).

[3] By an exceptional nomination, Roches became first-class Consul in Trieste, allowing him to acquire a strong experience in trading matters.

On March 23, 1868, Roches and the Dutch Minister-Resident Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek were the first European envoys ever to receive a personal audience with the new Emperor Meiji in Edo (Tokyo).

In 1866, he wrote to the French Minister Drouyn de Lhuys: "The character of the Japanese essentially distinguishes them from other oriental people... We must act towards them with goodwill and dignity, critically but with justice; we can often appeal to their sentiment of honour and to the pride found among all of them, even among the lowest classes...

They are gay, lively and communicative; they are disposed towards us as well as to other foreigners; whatever will be the material development of English power in this country, they run to us alone for reforms"He left Japan on June 23, 1868,[7] following the defeat of the Shogun's forces in the battle of Toba-Fushimi.