Posted By: Irwin
Posted Date: May 31, 2025 (03:12 PM)
The attached is taken from Volume 1 of Ito Chuta's 500 satirical sketches on World War 1, titled "Ashurachō." The sketch is titled Japan Misses a Major Russian Order (皇國露國の大註文を逸す) and shows a Russian businessman glancing at a Japanese shopkeeper while walking towards an American shopkeeper's shop. In the context of the sketch it would make sense if the sign in the shop on the left reads "Amerika shop," (あめりか屋) but the second character from the top does not look like the kana "め". A correct transcription would be most appreciated.
The commentary beneath the sketch is by the Japanese businessman and philanthropist Ōkura Kihachirō, but it's well beyond my ability to decipher. Even a educated guess on what Ōkura is writing would be greatly appreciated.
