Sir Earnest Mason Satow (1843-1929) was a diplomat, scholar and Japanologist.  Satow first served as a student interpreter to the British consulate in 1862 at age 19, soon after graduating from University College London. As is well known, Japan opened its doors to the west in 1854 after nearly three centuries of isolation. Ironically, this historical opening further exacerbated the decline of the Tokugawa shogunate rather than to strengthen its sovereignty. 

There was strong opposition to it; the argument was that the shogunate had signed treaties with the western powers under duress and without seeking prior consensus of the emperor at that time. Two powerful clans away from central Japan, Satuma (today’s Satuma prefecture) and Choshu (now Yamaguchi prefecture) spearheaded the opposition movement, which culminated in a civil war and the subsequent Meiji restoration in 1868.

Did you know that Britain supported Satsuma and Choshu rather than the shogunate at that time? In contrast, France supported the shogunate. The British diplomats managed to foresee who would be the winner based on their analysis largely helped by Satow, who became acquainted with the leading figures of the two clans.  

Probably, the family name of Satow greatly helped his activities in Japan.

The Japanese family name of Sato is very common: in fact, No. 1 according to a survey by an insurance company. Sato is followed by Suzuki as No.2 and Takahashi No.3. So, in Japan he called himself “Sato Ainosuke.”  

Outside his diplomatic work, Satow travelled a lot in Japan and published “A handbook for Travelers in Central and Northern Japan: ….” in 1881 with

AGS Hawes. Satow excelled in Chinese calligraphy: a copy of which is shown here, depicting a poem by Tang’s Wang Bo.

Satow participated in the creation of the Asiatic Society of Japan in Yokohama in 1872, the purpose of which was to study Japanese culture, history and language in detail. The society’s activities are continuing even today. 

                          British legion in Yamate, Yokohama

After leaving Japan, Satow took up his diplomatic services in Siam, Uruguay and Morocco before returning to Japan in 1895 as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. His tenure lasted until 1900.

During this time, Satow was instrumental on the part of Britain to oversee the ending of extraterritoriality in Japan in 1899. From the Japanese side, it was an urgent and crucial foreign agenda to rectify the “unequal treaties” signed by the Tokugawa shogunate and the Great Powers in 1854.

Satow’s last overseas’ assignment was in China (1900-1906). In his retirement Satow exerted himself in writing. Among his works were “A Guide to Diplomatic Practice” published in 1917. This is kind of a text book for diplomats, the sixth edition was published in 2007. “A Diplomat in Japan” published 1921 and reprinted in 2002.  

 The grave of Satow in Ottery St. Mary, Devon (the photo by Tedster 007)

Lastly, let me talk about his Japanese partner, Takeda Kane (1853-1932). Satow as a British diplomat was not in a position to marry her. 

One of their three children, the second son Takeda Hisayoshi (1883-1972) studied at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and at Birmingham University. He became a noted botanist, founding the Japan Natural History Society.

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