Pepe Observes the Foreigners in Yokohama

In this Meiji-era–inspired satirical scene, Pepe appears among a crowd of Japanese townspeople gathered at the port of Yokohama, observing the arrival of Western foreigners. The composition echoes Yokohama-e prints—caricatural woodblock works depicting early encounters between Japanese citizens and Western visitors after the opening of the ports. The exaggerated features of the foreign merchant in top hat and frock coat, surrounded by curious onlookers and dockside activity, recreate the humorous tension and fascination typical of this genre. Pepe’s crossed-arms posture and subtle expression blend seamlessly into the ukiyo-e aesthetics while retaining modern irony, turning the print into a playful commentary on cultural exchange, modernization, and the spectacle of first contact.