Download or read book Philipp Franz von Siebold and the Opening of Japan written by Herbert Plutschow and published by Global Oriental. This book was released on 2007-03-22 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new study challenges the conventional view that the key figures involved in the opening of Japan were the US Navy’s Commodore Perry, and the diplomats Harris (US) and Alcock (UK). A close examination of new sources suggests otherwise and puts Von Siebold’s agenda to ‘save’ Japan from being overtaken by the colonial and commercial ambitions of the West’s great maritime nations in a new light.