of the utmost importance, trees, shrubs, wooden buildings, bridges, and even stones were brought in from Japan. One of the many aims of the Exhibition was to introduce the civilization of Japan to the western world, showing past, recent present and projected future. The intent was to show that Japan was not a country that had suddenly leapt from a state of semi-barbarism to one of high civilization in the middle of the nineteenth century, but had always been “progressive”, and that the modernization of Japan since 1868 was only a natural progression. This was illustrated with twelve impressively full-sized dioramas with wax figures, showing the progression of Japanese history. Each of the Japanese government ministries was represented, along with the Japanese Red Cross and the post office, showing displays of the modern systems and facilities used by the governmental departments. Displays about Taiwan, Korea, the Kwantung Leased Territory, and 10 Ainu from Hokkaidō were meant to demonstrate that Japan was following in Great Britain's footsteps as an imperial power to improve the lives of the ‘natives’ in its colonies. Almost 500 Japanese firms sent items to London. Care was taken only to display the highest possible quality, to offset popular images that Japanese products were cheaply made and tawdry. Artists represented included ceramicists Yabu Meizan and Miyagawa Kozan as well as the cloisonné artists Namikawa Sōsuke, Kawade Shibatarō and Ando Jubei. Lacquer artist Tsujimura Shoka (1867–1929) won a gold medal for a box decorated in with a stylised depiction of an plant. The Samurai Shokai Company won a gold medal for a set of metalwork pieces. In addition to manufactured goods, traditional and modern fine arts, and arts and crafts were well represented, including (Japanese-style) and (Western-style) painting, sculpture, lacquerwares, and woodcuts. One of the most popular craftsmen in the Exhibition was Horikawa Kozan, a celebrated potter. He was invited to demonstrate pottery-making and repair priceless antiquities, some of which had been in the possession of British collectors for generations. The most remarkable British exhibit was the full sized gyroscopically balanced Brennan mono-rail, which gave rides of around 40 passengers at a time around a 1-mile track, and which was awarded the Grand Prize as the best exhibit. During the exhibition Winston Churchill (then Home Secretary) rode upon the car, and drove it for one circuit, he was so impressed that he arranged for the Prime Minister, H. H.