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Harris, Townsend

(Encyclopedia)Harris, Townsend, 1804–78, American merchant and diplomat, b. Sandy Hill, N.Y. A merchant in New York City for many years, he became (1846) a member of the board of education, served as its presiden...

Senkaku Islands

(Encyclopedia)Senkaku Islands sĕnˈkäko͞o [key], small, uninhabited island group, 8 sq mi (20.7 sq km), Okinawa prefecture, extreme SW Japan, in the East China Sea. Located 90 mi (45 km) NNW of Ishigaki in the R...

Siebold, Philipp Franz van

(Encyclopedia)Siebold, Philipp Franz van fēˈlĭp fränts fen zēˈbôlt [key], 1796–1866, German naturalist and physician; son of A. E. von Siebold. He was noted for his studies of the natural history, ethnogra...

Maizuru

(Encyclopedia)Maizuru mīˈzo͞oro͞o [key], city (1990 pop. 96,333), Kyoto prefecture, SW Honshu, Japan, on Maizuru Bay. It is an important port and naval base with the best natural harbor on the Japan Sea coast. ...

Daisetsu-zan

(Encyclopedia)Daisetsu-zan dīsāˈtso͞o-zäN [key], group of volcanic peaks, central Hokkaido, Japan, rising to 7,513 ft (2,290 m) at Asahi-dake. They are part of Daisetsu-zan National Park (895 sq mi/2,318 sq km...

Ako

(Encyclopedia)Ako äkōˈ [key], city, Hyogo prefecture, W Honshu, Japan, on the Harima Sea. Relying on its steel and chemical industries, Ako has become one of Japan's most polluted in...

Tokyo, University of

(Encyclopedia)Tokyo, University of, at Tokyo, Japan; founded in 1877. In the 1920s it became one of the first Imperial universities and remains one of the most prestigious in Japan. It offers degrees in letters, la...

Open Door

(Encyclopedia)Open Door, maintenance in a certain territory of equal commercial and industrial rights for the nationals of all countries. As a specific policy, it was first advanced by the United States, but it was...

Kashiwazaki

(Encyclopedia)Kashiwazaki käshēwäˈzäkē [key], city (1990 pop. 88,309), Niigata prefecture, central Honshu, Japan, on the Japan Sea. A resort town known for its hot springs, Kashiwazaki produces petrochemicals...

Nobunaga

(Encyclopedia)Nobunaga (Nobunaga Oda) nōbo͞onäˈgä ōdäˈ [key], 1534–82, Japanese military commander. The son of a daimyo, Nobunaga greatly expanded his father's holdings, becoming master of three provinces...