Meiji Japan: The Edward Sylvester Morse Collection from the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem

Once Japan opened its doors to foreigners in the mid‐nineteenth century after a 200‐year period of seclusion, its government adopted a policy of welcoming foreign experts to expedite the country's modernisation during the Meiji period (1868‐1912). Many of these experts were fascinating individuals who combined their professional skills with high‐level amateur interests in the arts, history or language. The American Edward Sylvester Morse (1838‐1925) was one such character.

As the introduction to this collection states, Morse went to Japan on a scientific expedition in 1877 and “his enthusiasm and approach so impressed his hosts that he was made Chair of...