The account of his stay in Japan by the famous translator. Heusken was the secretary to Townsend Harris, the first American Consul-General in Japan.
Harris and Heusken arrived in Japan when that country was re-opening its borders to the world after almost 250 years of complete isolation.
The only contact the Japanese had kept with the outside world was through a handful of Dutch officials and merchants kept at bay on the island of Dejima. That explains why, when Parris arrived and started the process of interaction, the only foreign language the Japanese had access to was...Dutch.
Heusken was not only involved alongside Harris, he also participated in Lord Elgin's mission in Japan, and his signing of a treaty establishing the parameters of commerce between Japan, America, England etc.

This edition includes pen and ink skectches by Heusken himself.
It was translated and edited by Jeannette C. van der Corput and Robert A. Wilson.
The volume includes a preface by the translators, an introduction (no name), notes and index.