From left, Ambassador Yoshida, Minister Osumi, Ambassador Sato, Ambassador Sato, Undersecretary Shigemitsu

Caption by Homer Yasui: "This sailor must have been William Hardy, who was a cabin boy aboard one of Commodore Matthew C. Perry's ships which were used to force an entrance to Japan in 1853 Corky Kawasaki translated the Japanese writing, which from left to right is: Yasui, Masuo Dono [Mister or Esquire]...It was signed by …

Caption on reverse [translation]: "Farewell Luncheon for Wang Hosted by Vice Minister Shigemitsu. (Tokyo) February 25, 1935. A farewell luncheon for Wang Chongjing hosted by Foreign Vice Minister Shigemitsu was held at the Koyokana from 12:30 p.m. on the 25th. Wang and Ambassador Jiang were the major guests to attend, as well as Kenkichi Yoshizawa. Vice …

Caption on reverse [translation]: "Ambasador to Britain [Mamoru] Shigemitsu invited influential members of the British political world to a luncheon at the Japanese London Embassy on May 18. Prime Minister Churchill was one of those in attendance. Photograph: Prime Minister Churchill being seen off by Ambassador Shigemitsu as he leaves the embassy. This was the second …

In English and Japanese

Caption on reverse [translation]: "Ambassador's report on important pending problems. (Tokyo) 1934 December 12. Tomekichi Ota returned home on the 10th. He visited Minister Hirota at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 11:45 on the morning of the 12th. After Ota's formal greeting, he reported on the political situation of Russia. Ota talked about an agreement …