ABSTRACT
I wish to make it clear that I have no right-and I certainly have no desire-to pose as an authority upon Japanese history. No “foreigner” can aspire to that, no “foreigner” can hope to achieve the depth of knowledge and understanding which we expect from Japanese scholars. We foreign students must depend upon their work; we must regard ourselves as pupils, not as teachers; and we must think ourselves fortunate if Japanese historians will take the trouble to instruct us or to guide our studies.
