The Perry 175 campaign (www.Perry175.org) invites proposals for book chapters for an inter-disciplinary edited volume tentatively titled, Commodore Perry and the Black Ships Legacy, to be published in 2028. We invite chapters that offer new insights into the Perry expedition or its impacts on Japanese society and international relations.

Chapters will be 5,000-7,000 words (excluding references) and may cover (but are not limited to) such topics as:
- new understandings of the Perry expedition, its planning, execution, reception and/or immediate impact.
- how the Perry Expedition is remembered in Japanese society
- representations of Black Ships in popular culture
- the history of Perry, Black Ships, or other Japan-America Friendship festivals
- Perry and the US-Japan relationship
- comparative studies of expeditions and other incidents of gunboat diplomacy

Notes for submission
Proposals should not exceed one A4 (or US letter) page. Please explain your concept, hypothesis and plan for developing new data or using fresh analytical approaches. Include your name, affiliation and contact information on the page. If a chapter is co-authored, please indicate who should be considered the contact author.
Please send your proposal as a Microsoft Word file attachment to Perry175@ycaps.org

Production timeline
Deadline for submission of chapter proposals: April 15, 2026
Notification of acceptance: May 8, 2026
Online workshop for authors and editors: September 2026
Submission of full chapters: November 2026
In-person workshop in Newport, RI, USA: early 2027
Submission of revised chapters: 1 month after the workshop
Submission of final revisions: July 2027

Accepted authors will be required to attend an online workshop to discuss their ideas, receive feedback, and develop complementary approaches with fellow authors. They will then be invited to attend an in-person workshop in Newport, RI, USA in early 2027. Although funding is not yet finalized, we anticipate that the expenses for the Newport trip will be covered by the Perry175 campaign.

The volume will be edited by Annette Bradford and John Bradford.

For info: https://www.perry175.org/edited-volume

Thank you,

John Bradford

Executive Director, YCAPS