When US Admiral Perry's "Black Vessels" forced Japan to open its ports to trade with the West in 1853/54, it became obvious that Western-style modernization was vital to preserving Japan's sovereignty. Soon after the change of political power from the Tokugawa shogunate to the Meiji Emperor, a large delegation, headed by the "Chancellor of the Right" IWAKURA Tomomi and assisted by four vice-ambassadors, set out on December 23, 1871 to the United States of America and to Europe to study the circumstances on site and collect information of how societies in modern industrial countries worked. More than 100 people, among them administrators, scholars and students were included in the mission’s group.

In the spring of 1873, the so-called "Iwakura Mission" went to Germany. After a detour to the Krupp’s steel factories in Essen, which they preferred to Cologne Cathedral, the delegation members travelled, among other things, to Berlin, Potsdam, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich. In Berlin, they met Emperor Wilhelm I on several occasions as well as Chancellor Bismarck and other high-ranking officials. They also visited hospitals, factories and museums, zoological gardens, government agencies, schools and further institutions, as well as enjoying some sightseeing. The obtained insights wielded great impact on the extremely rapid modernization of Japan. For this reason he importance of this journey cannot be overstated.