I have the honor to inclose translations of the addresses of His Majesty and
of the officials on the occasion, as published in the Japan Daily Herald of
this date.
The exhibition has been highly successful, and has been visited by several
hundred thousand persons.
[Inclosure in No. 682.
The closing of the National Exhibition at
Uyeno.
[From the Japan Daily Herald, December 1,
1877.]
At about 2 p.m. yesterday the princes of the imperial blood, the Daijin,
Sangi, foreign representatives, and others, altogether nearly a hundred
persons, had assembled to await the arrival of the Emperor and the
Empress. Their Majesties left the imperial palace at 3 p.m., and arrived
at the exhibition grounds at 4.15. The Emperor was led to his seat by
the Daijo Daijin, the minister of the home department and the master of
ceremonies; the Empress by the Udaijin. The Emperor, being seated,
addressed the following words to the minister of the home
department:
“The term for the national industrial exhibition having now come to an
end, we, in person, perform the closing ceremony. We have been gratified
by the manner in which the exhibition has been managed, by the zeal of
every one of you and of all the departments.”
The minister of the home department replied as follows:
“Your Majesty’s servant, Toshimichi, most respectfully states that, the
exhibition having been open its allotted time, their Majesties are now
present to perform the ceremony of closing it and grace it by their
presence, which overwhelms us with admiration and awe. Ten years have
how elapsed since the restoration, and this exhibition was opened in
order to stimulate the industry of the people, for the prosperity of a
country depends upon the industry of its inhabitants. Your servant
Toshimichi has been intrusted with the ministry of the interior and is
in that capacity responsible for the government of the people. I hope
that all will be loyal to your Majesty in return for your Majesty’s
merciful and sacred sway.”
Next Kumamoto Masataka, chiji of the tokio fu, spoke in the name of the
governors of the fu and ken:
“To-day, the 30th day of the 11th month of the 10th year of Meiji, the
national industrial exhibition is closed by his Majesty the Emperor in
person, and your servant Masataka is happy at being present on this
occasion. His Majesty’s care for industry becoming known throughout the
whole country, porcelain wares were forwarded in such variety and
quantity that they could not all find room within the six buildings;
visitors from every place in the country thronged the exhibition
grounds, every industry has displayed its skill, and the whole nation
has understood the great utility of machinery. Articles of every
possible variety have indeed been collected in this exhibition. Your
servants are well aware that his sacred Majesty’s benevolence will
expand more and more, and they also know that it will not be long before
another exhibition is opened. [Page 485]
We wait for the time when exhibitions will be opened in all of our
districts. Your servant Masataka, and others most respectfully offer our
congratulations.”
The buildings were then closed, and their Majesties went to the tokio fu
building, where they took a rest while the military bands of music
performed on their instruments. After their Majesties had witnessed a
display of fireworks on the island in Shinobadzu Pond, with which they
were highly pleased, they left the exhibition grounds at 6.30 p.m.
During the afternoon the neighboring streets were crowded with people,
and in the evening the houses were illuminated with red lanterns.
