A German diplomat in Japan
Jun 30th, 2008 by Ad Blankestijn
Ottmar von Mohl (1846-1922) was a German diplomat who from 1887 to 1889 was advisor of the Japanese government. Together with his wife, a countess, he was stationed with the Imperial Household Ministry to introduce European court ceremonials and protocol to the new Meiji court. In 1904 he wrote a book about his experiences in Japan, called Am Japanishen Hofe (At the Japanese Court). If you read German, you can enjoy it here. The same website also hosts parts of Von Siebold’s monumental Nippon (also in German). I would like to see more writings of early Western visitors to Japan on the internet… such as the diaries of Morse, etc. - surely these are rights-free by now?
