開港七十年記念橫濱史料|Seventieth Anniversary of the Opening of Yokohama Port

Art Historical Context

Published in 1928 to mark the seventieth anniversary of Yokohama Port's opening, this illustrated book—titled *Seventieth Anniversary of the Opening of Yokohama*—serves as a vibrant historical record of one of Japan's pivotal gateways to the world. Yokohama's port was thrust open in 1859 following Commodore Matthew Perry's arrival, ending centuries of national isolation under the Tokugawa shogunate ushering in the Meiji era's rapid modernization. By the Shōwa period (1926–1989), this commemorative volume captured the port's evolution into a bustling hub of international trade, symbolized by ships that connected Japan to global commerce. Crafted with ink on paper, the book's detailed illustrations likely evoke the maritime drama of steamships, sailing vessels, and dockside scenes, reflecting traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques adapted for modern documentation. As an illustrated book in the Asian Art collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it exemplifies how Shōwa-era publications blended historical reverence with national pride, preserving Yokohama's story amid Japan's interwar transformation. This bequest from William S. Lieberman highlights the artwork's enduring cultural value, offering visitors a tangible link to Japan's embrace of the modern world. (198 words)