Description: In 1872, at the young age of twenty-five, Mori Arinori (1847-1889) traveled to America as the first Charge d’Affaires from the Meiji government. His trip included a visit to the Smithsonian where he established a close relationship with Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry.
Description: Eliza Scidmore was a lifelong photographer, writer, and world traveler. In addition to facilitating a gift of cherry blossom trees from Japan to the U.S. capital, Scidmore donated her time, photographs, and some artifacts to the Smithsonian’s collections. She also accessed the world through colonial channels that she reinforced with her writings.
Description: Ellen Dorn (right), former Director of Exhibitions at the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building, worked on several large scale traveling exhibits including “America’s Smithsonian,” for the Smithsonian's 150th and "Smithsonian's America" which traveled to Japan. #Groundbreaker
Description: In 1908 international tensions are on the rise. The US, UK, Germany, and Japan are each trying to build world’s greatest naval fleet, and spies from every country want to hinder progress of rivals. When when rogue spy is bent on undoing fleets for unknown reasons, Van Dorn private detective Isaac Bell must stop him before more people get harmed.
Description: From the look of this 16th Century book, Swedes sure knew how to deal with winter. [via Smithsonian Libraries]A rediscovered Christmas drinking song! [via Fine Books & Collections]Just in time for the solstice, ancient Japan's 72 seasons in a calendar app! [via Hyperallergic]The historic precursor to Amazon's delivery drones (a curator from our National Postal Museum weighs