Culture

September 19 — Japan's History and Today

September 18, 2026

On September 19, in 1604, the Tokugawa shogunate granted travel permits called 'shuinjo' to trading merchants, and in 1931, diplomatic actions related to the Manchurian Incident led to appeals to the League of Nations by the Nationalist Government.

On September 19, 1604 (Keicho 9, 8/26), the Tokugawa shogunate issued travel permits known as 'shuinjo' to traders including Suminokura Ryoi. These official documents authorized overseas voyages and aimed to promote safe and regulated trade. This marked a significant foundation for Japan’s foreign trade history. For foreign residents, it shows how Japan historically controlled authorized trade.

In 1931, during the Manchurian Incident, Chinese leader Zhang Xueliang and diplomat Gu Weijun coordinated responses, with Gu advising the Nationalist Government to petition the League of Nations and propose talks with Japanese Kwantung Army commander Honjou Shigeru. This reflects the complex diplomatic and military tensions of 1930s East Asia and helps understand Japan’s modern international relations.