Captain of Kanrin Maru
San Francisco
April 7, 1860
Today will be the last day here in San Francisco. It was a bittersweet farewell that made me feel sober and reluctant to leave. President Teschemacher was kind enough to bid adieu as he came aboard. The day was peaceful and calm with each crew member was lost in their thoughts. I came to realize how fast time has gone, how fast our journey has come to an end. I sure hope my grandchildren and their grandchildren will be able to come across the sea to find such an fascinating country. My experience here in America has certainly been interesting, exciting, and memorable.
I was present at the 150th anniversary commemoration of the Kanrin Maru's visit to San Francisco. In reading this entry from Katsu Kaishu I can not help but wonder if Capatain Makoto Inui of the Kaiwo Maru II had read this entry and had similar thoughts. All I can say from his cheerful expressions and that of my own was that we can concure with Rintaro's sentiments of these events being memorable.
ReplyDeletehttp://lasamurai.blogspot.com/2010/05/kaiwo-maru-our-date-with-history.html