Among the Five Nations: Americans (Gokakoku no uchi, Amerikajin) 1861

Utagawa Yoshikazu made this woodblock print entitled *Among the Five Nations: Americans* in Japan during the 19th century. It emerged in the context of Japan's opening to the West after a long period of isolation. This print offers a fascinating glimpse into how Americans were perceived through the lens of Japanese culture. Yoshikazu depicts two American men engaged in what appears to be a fish preservation process. Their clothing is rendered with careful attention to detail, yet their facial expressions and posture might seem somewhat foreign or stylized to our eyes. The Americans, who appear as fish merchants, seem to represent a Western culture focused on commercial activities. Yoshikazu’s print raises questions about cultural exchange, identity, and the representation of the ‘Other’. It invites us to reflect on the complex dynamics of cross-cultural encounters, and the power of images to shape perceptions of different groups of people.