150th anniversary of Kobe Naval Training Center

150th anniversary of Kobe Naval Training Center

KOBE, Japan - Minako Koyama (L), great-great-granddaughter of Katsu Kaishu (1823-1899), a statesman and naval engineer, and Masuo Fujimoto, head of a group of descendents of the men of the Kanrin Maru, Japan's first screw-driven steamship that Katsu captained on a visit to the United States in 1860, attend a ceremony on Aug. 30, 2014 in Kobe, western Japan, marking the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Kobe Naval Training Center.

Performers of Ishikawa Pref. in San Francisco

Performers of Ishikawa Pref. in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Members of the Ishikawa Prefectural Artistic and Cultural Association perform traditional music and dances in San Francisco, California, on Nov. 22, 2010, as part of an event to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Japanese ship Kanrin Maru arriving at the U.S. port city.

'Masshi' Murakami at AT&T Park in San Francisco

'Masshi' Murakami at AT&T Park in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Masanori ''Masshi'' Murakami, who in 1964 became the first Japanese to play baseball in the U.S. major leagues, waves to the crowd at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, on Aug. 24, 2010. Murakami was announced to the home crowd during a ceremony to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Kanrin Maru, a warship that carried Japan's first government delegation to the United States.

'Samurai' parade marks 150th year of Japan ship's arrival in U.S.

'Samurai' parade marks 150th year of Japan ship's arrival in U.S.

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - A ''samurai'' parade takes place in San Francisco on April 18, 2010. The event was held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival in the United States of the Kanrin Maru, the first Japanese warship to cross the Pacific to mark Japan's emergence from more than two centuries of isolation.

150th anniv. of 1st Japanese vessel's arrival in U.S. marked

150th anniv. of 1st Japanese vessel's arrival in U.S. marked

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Japanese Consul General in San Francisco Yasumasa Nagamine addresses a ceremony at San Francisco port on March 17, 2010, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival in the United States of a Japanese vessel sent by the Tokugawa shogunate. A bronze commemorative plate carrying the name of the Kanrin Maru was mounted near a road in front of the pier at San Francisco port where the Japanese steamship docked 150 years ago.

Kanrin Maru crew descendants meet grandson of U.S. savior

Kanrin Maru crew descendants meet grandson of U.S. savior

WASHINGTON, United States - George Brooke (L) and Sumiko Gomi pose in Lexington, Virginia, on Oct. 7. Thirty-four Japanese, whose ancestors were aboard the Kanrin Maru, Japan's first modern warship to cross the Pacific Ocean, visited there to express their appreciation to Brooke, the grandson of Lt. John Brooke who had helped the crewmembers during their difficult voyage 145 years ago. Gomi, 82, is a great-granddaughter of Kanrin Maru's Captain Katsu Kaishu.

Anchor possibly of Japan's first corvette displayed in Hokkaido town

Anchor possibly of Japan's first corvette displayed in Hokkaido town

An anchor thought to have been used by the Kairin Maru, Japan's first sail and crew-driven corvette, is on display at a museum in Kikonai in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on April 22, 2015. The Kanrin Maru became the first ship to cross the Pacific with a Japanese pilot in 1860. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Monument of Japan's first corvette on display in Hokkaido town

Monument of Japan's first corvette on display in Hokkaido town

A monument of the Kanrin Maru, Japan's first sail and crew-driven corvette, is on display in Kikonai in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on April 22, 2015. The Kanrin Maru became the first ship to cross the Pacific with a Japanese pilot in 1860. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Kanrin Maru crew descendants meet grandson of U.S. savior

Kanrin Maru crew descendants meet grandson of U.S. savior

WASHINGTON, United States - George Brooke (L) and Sumiko Gomi pose in Lexington, Virginia, on Oct. 7. Thirty-four Japanese, whose ancestors were aboard the Kanrin Maru, Japan's first modern warship to cross the Pacific Ocean, visited there to express their appreciation to Brooke, the grandson of Lt. John Brooke who had helped the crewmembers during their difficult voyage 145 years ago. Gomi, 82, is a great-granddaughter of Kanrin Maru's Captain Katsu Kaishu. (Kyodo)

'Masshi' Murakami at AT&T Park in San Francisco

'Masshi' Murakami at AT&T Park in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Masanori ''Masshi'' Murakami, who in 1964 became the first Japanese to play baseball in the U.S. major leagues, waves to the crowd at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, on Aug. 24, 2010. Murakami was announced to the home crowd during a ceremony to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Kanrin Maru, a warship that carried Japan's first government delegation to the United States. (Kyodo)

'Samurai' parade marks 150th year of Japan ship's arrival in U.S.

'Samurai' parade marks 150th year of Japan ship's arrival in U.S.

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - A ''samurai'' parade takes place in San Francisco on April 18, 2010. The event was held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival in the United States of the Kanrin Maru, the first Japanese warship to cross the Pacific to mark Japan's emergence from more than two centuries of isolation. (Kyodo)

150th anniv. of 1st Japanese vessel's arrival in U.S. marked

150th anniv. of 1st Japanese vessel's arrival in U.S. marked

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Japanese Consul General in San Francisco Yasumasa Nagamine addresses a ceremony at San Francisco port on March 17, 2010, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival in the United States of a Japanese vessel sent by the Tokugawa shogunate. A bronze commemorative plate carrying the name of the Kanrin Maru was mounted near a road in front of the pier at San Francisco port where the Japanese steamship docked 150 years ago. (Kyodo)

Performers of Ishikawa Pref. in San Francisco

Performers of Ishikawa Pref. in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Members of the Ishikawa Prefectural Artistic and Cultural Association perform traditional music and dances in San Francisco, California, on Nov. 22, 2010, as part of an event to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Japanese ship Kanrin Maru arriving at the U.S. port city. (Kyodo)