The Black Ships
Because of the black smoke from coal-fired powerplants and the black color of these American ships, they were called called Kurohune (black-ships).
Surprise and confusion these ships brought are best described in this Senryu.
- Jyokisen ippai-nonde yorumo-nemurezu
- (I drank a cup of jyo-kisen(costly brand of tea), and now cannot sleep thinking about money I paid)
- (Seeing many steam-powered ships(Jyoki-sen), they(samurai) must be having sleepless night thinking about what to do)
