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Tucked away in a corner of Yokosuka's Perry Memorial Park is a small monument which seems to exist as an inside joke...
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"Jokisen" Rakushu Poem Monument
For about two hundred years, the Edo Shogunate had adopted a policy of national isolation that prohibited trade and traffic with foreign countries. Suddenly, as if to shatter Japan's dream of peace, on July 8, 1853 (June 3, Kaei 6 in the lunar calendar), a fleet of four black ships appeared off the coast of Kamoi, Uraga, urging Japan to open its borders, and six days later the fleet landed at Kurihama. The fleet was commanded by Commodore Perry.
The samurai of the various domains guarding Edo Bay and the Uraga Magistrate's Office were shocked and shaken by the sight of these large black ships. How astonishing was the arrival of the black ships urging Japan to open its borders, not only to the Shogunate officials, but also to those who saw and heard about their grandeur?
This rakushu (humorous poem) succinctly expresses that surprise. According to the Kurihama Village History, this rakushu is also said to have been written by the Elder Manabe Akikatsu (pen name Matsudo).
Monument Inscription:
泰平の眠りをさます上喜撰
たった四盃で夜も寝られず
Taihei no nemuri wo samasu jokisen
Tatta yon-hai de yoru mo ne-rarezu
Awoken from peaceful slumber due to Jokisen
Just four cups and can't fall back to sleep
Note: Key to understanding the poem is the clever/humorous use of the word "Jokisen", which, depending on the kanji used, has a double meaning of 上喜撰 (tea) and 蒸気船 (steam ship) .... The "four cups of tea", mean "the four steam-powered U.S. Navy warships" -- e.g., the Black Ships...
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