@Redactor0 @BrasilIguana @Gaydinosaurtrain @SCUM !historychads decided to just go ahead and make a post.

Despite Japan being closed to outsiders during the Edo period between 1603 to 1868, they still had some idea of the outside world. One interesting case was what they knew about the fledgling country of America. The following is a collection of different pages from a book about America's history called Osanaetoki Bankokubanashi written in 1861. After doing some digging it seems like this book was in earnest, it believed what it had written, taking its sources from two other books about America.

Here is George Washington (with bow and arrow) pictured alongside the Goddess of America.

Here is Christopher Columbus (seated at center) reporting his discovery of America to Queen Isabella of Spain.

Now it's the American Revolution. Here is George Washington defending his wife "Carol" from a British official named "Asura" (same characters as the Buddhist deity).

And here is Washington's "second-in-command" John Adams battling an enormous snake.

Here is Washington and his wife "Carol" meeting an extremely youthful Benjamin Franklin, who has an impressive squat.

Here's the incredibly jacked Benjamin Franklin firing a cannon that he holds in his bare hands, while John Adams directs him where to fire.

And here is George Washington straight-up punching a tiger.

Best buds John Adams and Ben Franklin must have had a falling out, because John Adams fires an arrow at Ben and then rides away like a cowardly little b-word. Of course Ben Franklin is a total badass, so he just stands there and lets the arrow fly by without even flinching.

During a calmer moment, John Adams is just chillin' in the countryside, having a quiet picnic with his elderly mother...

But then! While John Adams is too obsessed with the food and drink, a huge snake comes along and eats his mom!

Maybe the snake was a child of that other snake John Adams killed, or maybe it was sent by Ben Franklin as part of their feud?

Here is Washington leading his army from behind in a carriage. The American flag has no stars, only stripes, and the author seems very impressed that the carriage has not one but TWO horses.

Meanwhile, John Adams wants to get revenge on the snake that ate his Mom , so he goes to ask a magical mountain fairy for help!

The mountain fairy does Adams a solid, and summons a gigantic eagle!

Together, John Adams and the eagle kill the enormous snake that ate his Mom. The power of teamwork!!!

So that's it, really interesting blend between a modern idea like the US and more mythical storytelling. Reads a lot like tales of Alexander the Great or of bible characters like David. Cool illustrations too. There are more pages, but I can't find any translation, despite them looking very interesting. Here's the whole book: https://archive.wul.waseda.ac.jp/kosho/bunko11/bunko11_a0380/bunko11_a0380_0002/bunko11_a0380_0002.html