Life and Works

of

Dr. Jose P. Rizal

CHAPTER XIII:

RIZAL IN JAPAN

The Land of the Cherry Blossoms

JAPAN

Rizal left Hong Kong on board of the Oceanic, an American steamer on his way to Japan.

He arrived in Yokohama, Japan and stayed for one day in Grand Hotel.

RIZAL IN TOKYO

After spending a day in Yokohama, Rizal went to Tokyo and stayed in Tokyo Hotel for five days.

Tokyo Hotel- where Rizal stayed from March 2-7 in Japan

Rizal’s letter to Blumentritt.

Tokyo is more extensive than Paris. The walls are built in cyclopean manner. The streets are large and wide

JUDO – Japanese art of self defenseKABUKI – Japanese drama play

He could economize his living expenses He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of

the Spanish authorities. He and Caballero became good friends.

REASONS WHY HE ACCEPTED CABALLERO’S PROPOSAL

Juan Perez Caballero – secretary of the Spanish legation visited him in the hotel inviting him to stay in the Spanish legation.Knowing that it is a plot to monitor him, Rizal accepted the offer for the following reasons:

In Japan, Rizal was embarrassed because he did not knew how to speak Niponggo (Japanese Language)

He was mistaken as an Europeanized Japanese because he looks like a Japanese and yet speaks in different tongue.

RIZAL’S IMPRESSION OF JAPAN

The scenic beauty of the country The cleanliness, politeness and industry

of the Japanese people. The picturesque dress and simple

charm of the Japanese women. There were few thieves in Japan. Beggars are rarely seen in the city

streets.

RICKSHAW

Rickshaw – a popular mode of transportation which he did not like in Japan.

RIZAL AND O-SEI-SAN

A samurai’s daughter of 23 years old and had never experienced true love.

Usui – San, her father; a store owner

A woman of beauty, charm, modesty and intelligence.

Speaks French and English

When Rizal first introduced himself to her, he took of his hat as a sign of respect ( A German custom)

O-Sei-San – was more than Rizal’s girlfriend for she was his guide, interpreter and tutor.

She improved his knowledge of the Japanese language.

She eases the pain left by Leonor Rivera.

Rizal and Osei – San are both theatre addicts.

They attended some kabuki plays such as; Sendaihagi Manjiro Nakahama Chushingura

Rizal fell greatly in-love with O-Sei-San that he was tempted to leave the Philippines and settle down in Japan.

He was offered a job in the Spanish Legation

Paciano – wrote to him reminding him of his duty and why he left the Philippines in the first place.

Rizal left Japan via the ship Belgic, an English steamer in Yokohama bound for United States.

It ended 45 days of his unforgettable stay in Japan and his relationship with O-Sei-San.

O-SEI-SAN AFTER RIZAL’S DEPARTURE

• Alfred Charlton – became the husband of O-Sei-San in 1897, one year after Rizal was executed.

• He was a British teacher of chemistry in Peers’ School in Tokyo.

• They had a daughter named Yuriko, who married a son of a Japanese senator

• Seiko-Usui died in 1947 at age 80 and was buried beside her husband.

SAYONARA JAPAN

April 13, 1888 – Rizal left Japan boarded in Belgic, an English steamer bound for United States

Tetcho Suehiro – a fighting Japanese journalist, novelist, champion of human rights, who was forced by the government to leave Japan.

He met a semi-Filipino family – Mr. Reinaldo Turner and his wife Emma Jackson, their children and maid from Pangasinan.

TETCHO SUEHIRO

• Became a member of the Japanese Imperial Diet (Parliament)

• Wrote to novels:– Nankai-no-Daiharan (Storm

Over the South Sea) – 1891 resembling Noli Me Tangere

– O-unabara (The Big Ocean) – 1894 – resembling El Filibusterismo

– Died in 1896 at age 49 due to heart attack.

• Advocates of Freedom• Rizal • Tetcho Suehiro