Ships and Japan in the 19th century

The relationship between Japanese people and ships evolved a lot during the 19th century. 

Constructing ocean-going ships was prohibited during the sakoku (closed country) period (1635-1853) but whilst the belief that the Tokugawa had their head buried in the sand persists, they were in fact not impervious to the outside world and in the 1840s, the Shogunate encouraged the study of western shipbuilding as a response to increasing trade and whaling in the surrounding seas.

By the early 19th century, Japan had the 3rd largest navy in the world. 

The first picture is a beautiful obi (kimono belt) with a foreign ship embroidery I saw at an exhibition at the Fondation Baur in Geneva last summer. It was probably made at the end of the 19th century. 

Ukiyo-e by Utagawa Kunisada I titled Fashionable Custom-made Striped Kimono: Toy Boat (1845)

This chiselled tsuba (sword guard) was made between 1780-1840 and represents a Dutch ship. It features an interesting detail on the sail: a traditional Japanese pattern called seigaiha representing waves. This tsuba was probably commissioned by Dutch traders as a souvenir.

I wonder why I'm so fascinated by galleons and other large sailing ships when I'm actually very scared of water :')