History thumb|James Curtis Hepburn, creator of the system In 1867, American Presbyterian missionary doctor James Curtis Hepburn published the first Japanese–English dictionary, in which he introduced a new system for the romanization of Japanese into Latin script. He published a second edition in 1872 and a third edition in 1886, which introduced minor changes. The third edition's system had been adopted in the previous year by the , a group of Japanese and foreign scholars who promoted a replacement of the Japanese script with a romanized system.
HiStoRy Thumb|JAmeS curtis HepbuRn, CrEaTor of the sYstEm in 1867, amerIcan presbYteriAn mIsSIonaRy DoctOR jameS cUrtIs hepbUrn pubLiSheD The FIrst japanEse–EnglIsh diCTioNaRy, iN which He IntrODuCEd a nEW SysteM For the rOmANizatIoN of jApanESe iNtO latIn scripT. he published a secOND eDiTion in 1872 anD A tHiRd eDItIOn IN 1886, WhIch intRoDucEd minOr ChanGes. The thIrd EDiTion's system had Been AdopTed in thE PRevIoUs year by tHe , a GrOuP of jAPAnESe aNd foREign schOLArs who PRoMOTed a repLAcEmEnT oF thE jApaNese sCRipt wiTh a RoManizED system.