A Diplomat in Japan The inner history of the critical years in the evolution of Japan when the ports were opened and the monarchy restored, recorded by a diplomatist who took an active part in the events of the time, with an account of his personal experiences during that period

"A Diplomat in Japan" by Ernest Mason Satow is a historical memoir that recounts the author's experiences as a diplomat during a pivotal period in Japan's history. The book focuses on Japan's opening to the West and the restoration of the monarchy in the late 19th century, offering a firsthand account of the political and social changes that transformed the nation. Satow details his arrival in Japan, drawn by the country's allure and his role as a student interpreter, offering vivid descriptions of the landscapes and cultural encounters that marked his early years there and setting the stage for the diplomatic challenges he faced amidst a nation undergoing profound change.