Members of the Ikeda Mission in front of the Sphinx

The Ikeda Mission refers to a diplomatic mission undertaken by **Ikeda Shigenobu**, a prominent Japanese diplomat and government official during the Meiji era. In the mid-19th century, Japan was transitioning from the Edo period (when it was isolated from the rest of the world) to the Meiji period, which saw the country opening up to foreign relations and undergoing modernization.

Ikeda Shigenobu was sent on a mission to various European countries, notably to Britain, France, and other nations, as part of Japan's efforts to negotiate trade treaties and secure recognition as a sovereign nation in the international community. These missions were significant because Japan was eager to engage with Western powers to avoid the fate of other Asian countries that had been subjected to colonialism or unequal treaties.

The Ikeda Mission, along with other diplomatic efforts by Japan at the time, played an important role in establishing the foundation for Japan's modern diplomacy and its eventual emergence as a world power. Through such missions, Japan sought to understand Western technology, industrialization, and governance while also asserting its independence and sovereignty in the global arena.