Official

Information board for "American Mission Site"

In the first place, when and how long did the American Embassy be placed in Tsukiji?
According to the information board of the "American Mission Site" near St. Luke's Residence and Mr. Kawasaki*, the Missions were placed in the following locations after the opening of Shimoda. (*Please refer to the reference and website.)

Established in 1856 at Gyokusenji Temple in Kakizaki, Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Relocated and opened in Zenpukuji Temple in Motoazabu, Minato-ku, 1859.
Bunkyu 3 (1863) Relocated to a foreign settlement in Yokohama due to a fire
In 1874, a public hall was newly built in this area in the Tsukiji Reservoir, and the appearance was adjusted for the first time.
Meiji 23 (1890) Relocated to the current location of Akasaka (U.S. Embassy)

In other words, for about 16 years from 1874, the American Embassy was set up in Tsukiji Reservation.
According to Kitagawa*, the exterior at that time was a two-story wooden building, and it was a cream-colored Western-style building, as seen in many residential buildings.
In addition, the garden is large, the flowerbed is beautiful with seasonal flowers, and rare Western flowers are also planted.

It has been 132 years since the embassy moved to Akasaka.
Now, the situation in the neighborhood of Tsukiji and Akashicho has changed completely, but there are also things related to the American Embassy in addition to the information board.

There is a monument in the planting on the left side toward the Toysler Memorial Hall.

In front of the Toysler Memorial Hall of St. Luke's International Hospital, there are three of the Komatsu stone monuments left on the site of the American Embassy.
From the left, the Goryo star, the U.S. national bird, the white head eagle, and the shield-shaped star flag are engraved, and the 13 stars that can be seen on the star flag represent the 13 states in the early country.

On the east side of St. Luke's Garden Residence, there are two monuments, a Goryo star and a shield-shaped star-shaped flag.
Why don't you stop by when using the Sumida River Terrace for walking or running?

In the past, when I confirmed that there was an American Embassy in Tsukiji Reservation, one question came up.
In the first place, why did the American Embassy become established in Japan?

As you may know, it is related to the opening of the country.
Back in 1853, a black ship led by Perry appeared off the coast of Uraga, urging Japan to open its country.
The following year, the Japan-US Peace Treaty was concluded, and Japan will end its isolation for more than 200 years.
The treaty consisted of Article 12, one of which clearly stated that "open two ports, Shimoda and Hakodate, and allow consulars to be stationed in Shimoda."

Entrance of Gyokusenji Temple

As a result, Japan's first Consulate-General was opened at Gyokusenji Temple in Kakizaki, Shimoda City, where you can see the ship entering the port, Consul-General Townsend Harris, Dutchman Hugh Sken, who served as his secretary and interpreter, and Chinese servants were stationed for about two years and ten months.

After that, in 1858, the Japan-US Osamu Treaty of Commerce was signed, and the opening of Yokohama was decided.
In May of the following year, the Consulate-General in Shimoda was closed, and Harris moved to the Missionary in Zenpukuji, Edo.

main hall and the Monument of Milk

After a hard time, the opening of the country and the opening of the port were realized, and Harris, the Consul General, thought that everything was going well, and had been sick.
If you get injured or get sick in a foreign country, you will be more anxious than usual.
At that time, what he wanted was milk.
However, in Japan at that time, it was not common to eat milk and beef, and it was extremely difficult to obtain it.
In the end, it is said that the milk was somehow expensive and could be bought, and that the physical condition recovered due to the effect of milk.

There was also a Komaki-sha (the birthplace of Ryunosuke Akutagawa), which sells milk in the Tsukiji settlement, but Eiichi Shibusawa and others created Komaki-sha in Meiji period in 1880.
Since Harris returned to Japan in Bunkyu 2 (1862), it is presumed that milk was not widespread when he was stationed, and that there were many difficulties in life.

Harris Honoring Monument, etc.

On the premises of Gyokusenji Temple, there are Harris Memorial Hall, the U.S. Consul General Flag Flying Land, and the Harris Honoring Monument, but in fact, the Harris Honoring Monument was established in 1927 by Eiichi Shibusawa, which is also related to Chuo-ku. It was erected!

The monument is also engraved in his diary the day after Harris' landing in Shimoda, saying, "Is the opening of the country really good for Japan?"
It is said that Harris was not only aware of its own interests, but also the development of Japan, which has just opened, in mind.
Also, for the unveiling ceremony of this monument, an elderly 87-year-old Eiichi also visited Shimoda in two days.
According to the Eiichi Shibusawa Memorial Foundation, Eiichi responded to Harris' question, saying, "It is thanks to Harris that the prosperity of industry and trade, from feudal dictatorship to constitutional state, and even in a country with scarce resources." It is said.

Thanks to the predecessors who lived in the era of change before and after the Meiji Restoration, Japan is now there.
By unraveling the history of the U.S. Embassy located in Tsukiji Reservation, I found unexpected discoveries about the relationship between Harris and Eiichi, and I was able to learn again how important the role played by the diplomatic mission abroad at that time was. Was.
When taking a walk in Akashicho in the future, I would like to take a look at the remnants of diplomatic missions abroad in other countries!

House of Representatives: Peru (Residential 31-32), Austria (Residential 31-32), Hungary (Residential 31-32), Korea (Residential 3-10 Minamiodawaramachi), Spain (Residential 24), France (Residential 24), Tsukiji Residency, Argentina (Residential 24), Argentina (Residential 7, Sweden, 2, 2, 7) after the Residential 2, Brazil.

Consulate: U.K. (4-4 Minami-Odawara-cho / Reservation 16), Netherlands (4-2 Minami-Odawara-cho), Portugal (1 Minami-Odawara-cho), United States (unknown), Northern Germany (later Germany, Reservation 23), Spain (Reservation 31-32), Peru (Switzerland 31-32), Peru (Reservation 1, Switzerland, 8)

Outdoor exhibition at Chuo Ward Kyobashi Library (taken on May 4, 2022)

According to Kawasaki*, who is familiar with the diplomatic missions abroad in Tsukiji, most of the consulates were honorary consulates, and did not dispatch vocational consulates, but appointed merchants and others as honorary consulates.
According to Shimizu*, "consulates may not be from their home country, and one person may have consulates in two countries."
There are questions one after another about what the life of the honorary consul at that time was, and whether the Japanese had been appointed foreign honorary consul from this time.
As soon as I understand the details, I would like to introduce it here.

[References]
Seiro Kawasaki, "The U.S. Embassy in Tsukiji," Seiro Kawasaki, 2001.
Seiro Kawasaki “Tsukiji Foreign Residence:“ Foreign ”in Tokyo, Meiji period,” Oshodo, 2002.
Chiaki Kitagawa "Tsukiji Reservation Today and Present" Chapel Committee of St. Luke's International Hospital, 1986.
Masao Shimizu, "Hundred Story of Tsukiji Remaining in Tokyo" Winter Seisha, 2007.
Tsukiji Reservation Study Group "Tsukiji Reservation: Origin of Modern Culture Vol.1", Aki Shobo, 2000.

[Reference Website]
Japan Dairy Industry Association, “Q & A of Milk and Dairy Products”
https://nyukyou.jp/dairyqa/2107_242_329/ (viewed on April 29, 2022)
Eiichi Shibusawa Memorial Foundation "Places Related to Eiichi Shibusawa-To Izu-Unveiling Ceremony of Harris Monument"
https://www.shibusawa.or.jp/eiichi/yukarinochi/topic/J-0644.html (viewed on May 3, 2022)
Zuiryusan Gyosenji Temple
https://www.izu-gyokusenji.or.jp/ (viewed on April 29, 2022)
Chuo-ku "Chuo inhabitant of a ward cultural property 6 Monument of the United States Missionary (Kinenhi after Amerika Koshikan)"
https://www.city.chuo.lg.jp/smph/kusei/syokai/tyuobunkazai/americakoshikanatonokinenhi.html (envised on April 29, 2022)
American Center Japan "History of the U.S. Embassy"
https://americancenterjapan.com/aboutusa/usj/1234/ (viewed on May 3, 2022)

Monuments (2 units) of the ruins of the U.S.
Address: 8 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (East side of St. Luke's Garden Residence)

Monuments (3 units) of the ruins of the U.S.
Address: 10 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (in front of St. Luke's International Toysler Memorial Hall)
Map Click here (the Google map will open)

U.S. Embassy Site Information Board
Address: 8 Akashicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (near the traffic light in front of St. Luke's Residence)
Map Click here (the Google map will open)