I am indebted for much valuable information to various published works, notably M. Bousquet’s ‘Le Japon de nos jours,’ Mr. F. O. Adams’s ‘History of Japan,’ a paper on ‘Pictorial Art in Japan,’ read before the Asiatic Society of Japan by Mr. W. Anderson, various articles in the ‘Japan Mail,’ and Mr. A. W. Franks’s ‘Oriental Porcelain and Pottery’; I would also acknowledge my indebtedness to numerous friends, particularly Messrs. G. C. Pearson, W. Anderson, F. V. Dickins, and E. Dillon, who, from their long residence in the country, and intimate knowledge of the language, have been able to furnish me with reliable information upon many subjects.
I must record my special thanks to Mr. Bradley Batsford, not only for the care and anxiety he has shown to render the work in all its branches as satisfactory as possible, but also for the great assistance he has rendered to me.
For the shortcomings and imperfections in the text I have to crave indulgence, making no claim to literary ability, and the book having been compiled in the spare hours taken from professional work.
5 Queen Square, W.C.,
August 1880.
