TALES FROM HISTORY

The Incredible Tale of the Elephant Who had an Audience with the Japanese Emperor

The Edo-era travels and adventures of Shiro the elephant

By Kano Furunobu, Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune’s official artist. (Public Domain)

During the Edo era (1603–1867), Japan effectively closed its doors to the outside world. The Tokugawa shoguns had had enough of subversive European influences, such as…