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HISTORIC SITE OF THE FORMER CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES
The port of Hakodate、 together with Shimoda (Izu)、
was first opened to foreign shipping in 1855 under the terms of the
1854 Treaty of Kanagawa between the United States and Japan. In the
spring of 1858 U.S. Commercial Agent Elisha E. Rice arrived aboard a
whaler in Hakodate and established a Commercial Office under the
Stars and Stripes. The site was the monks' quarterat Jogenji Temple、
which was in the vincinity of this signbord、 between the present-day
Municipal Hospital and Yayoi Elementary school. During his sojourn、
Rice's duties included protecting the interests of American vessels
and residents in Hakodate and promoting harmonious relations between
the U.S. and Japan. In 1865、 Rice was commissioned as the first U.S.
Consul in Hakodate. In 1876、 the Consulate was temporarily closed、
and Hakodate transferred to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Consulate
in Yokohama. Later、 the Consulate was reopened and operated at such
places as Motomachi no.4 (the north side of the Orthodox Church、
currently Iai Kindergarten) and Funami-cho no.3 (east of the old
Kosaien garden). In these locations、American missonaries and
merchants were commissioned as Consular Agents operating from their
private residences. The U.S. Consulate in Hakodate was officialy
closed on November15、 1918. |
