Perry Presents Telegraph Devices.


		In 1854 on Perry's (Matthew Calbraith, 1794乣1858) second visit to Japan, America made many presents to the Tokugawa Shogunate and among them were two sets of telegraph equipment. Before presenting them, the Americans assembled and wired the telegraph devices and a public demonstration of the telegraphs was conducted between the reception place of Komagata in Yokohama and the house of Kichizaemon Nakayama who was the village head of Suboshibentenkeidai. The scenes of those days are described also in "Expedition to Japan". The Shogunate is said to have responded by showing Perry a performance by Sumo wrestlers. Students who traveled abroad also brought the knowledge of telegraphy to Japan. It was an era when men with high ideals in the last days of the Shogunate looked out toward the world.