The first source of information on foreign Patent systems obtained by Japan probably occurred when a party of Bakufu4 diplomats visited the US patent office as
part of a diplomatic mission in 1860
Bakufu: The military government headed by the Shogun, a
post held by members of the Tokugawa clan since the 17th
century. The Bakufu was defeated in a civil war resulting in the
restoration of power to the Emperor in 1868.