A view of 1872 America through Japanese eyes

From December 23, 1871 to September 13, 1873, one of the first embassies of Meiji Japan traveled throughout the US and Europe on a fact-finding mission. Led by Prince Iwakura, their task was to re-negotiate treaties with unfavorable conditions, and to learn of advanced technology in order to spur growth in Japan, which had been closed off to outsiders under Shogunate rule.