Creation for the Funeral of Tokugawa Iemitsu

The lantern in Washington was carved in 1651 for the funerary complex of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun who solidified Tokugawa power and enforced Japan’s strict isolation policy known as Sakoku.

The Twin Lantern in Ueno Park Today

• One lantern remains in Tokyo in Ueno Park.

• It stands on the grounds of the original Kan’eiji complex.

• This surviving lantern allows researchers to understand the stylistic features the D.C. lantern would have originally shared.

Why One Was Sent to the United States

Japan chose this lantern because:

• It is a rare Tokugawa funerary monument,
  
  

• It carries spiritual and historical weight,
  
  

• Its twin remains in Tokyo, symbolically connecting the two cities.

The gift represented humility, respect, and a desire to rebuild international trust.