CHAPTER 12
ROMANTIC
INTERLUDE IN JAPAN
(1888)
• One of the happiest interludes of Rizal was his
sojourn in the Land of Cherry Blossoms( Japan)
for 1 month and a half( February 28 – April 13,
1888).
• Rizal fell in love with a Japanese girl, whose
loveliness infused joy and romance in his
sorrowing heart. Her real name was Seiko Usui.
Rizal called her O-Sei-San.
RIZAL ARRIVES IN YOKOHAMA
• The early morning of Tuesday, February 28, 1888 Rizal
arrived in Yokohama and he registered at the Grand
Hotel.
• The next day he proceeded to Tokyo and stayed in
Tokyo Hotel from March 2-7. Rizal was impressed by
the city of Tokyo.
• Rizal being an intelligent man, realized that the Spaniards were
instructed to spy on him in Japan.
Rizal accepted the invitation for two reasons:
1. He could economize his living expenses by staying at the
legation
2. He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the
Spaniards.
• During his first day in Tokyo, Rizal was
embarrassed because he could not speak the
native language. He looked like a Japanese,
but could not talk Japanese.
RIZAL’S IMPRESSION OF JAPAN
• Rizal was favorably impressed by Japan. He was a
keen observer, taking copious notes on the life,
customs and culture of the people.
• The things which favorably impressed Rizal in Japan
were:
1. The beauty of the country – its flowers, mountains, streams and scenic
panorama.
2. The cleanliness, politeness and industry of the Japanese people.
3. The picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese women.
4. There were very few thieves in Japan so that the houses remained open
day and night and in the hotel room one could safely leave money on the
table.
5. Beggars were rarely seen in the city streets, unlike in Manila and other
cities.
• However, there is one thing which he did not like in
Japan and that was the popular mode of
transportation by means of rickshaws drawn by men.
He felt disgusted at the way a human being was
employed like a horse.
ROMANCE WITH O-SEI-SAN
• Few days after he had moved to the Spanish
Legation, Rizal saw a pretty Japanese girl walking
past the legation gate. Being a man with an eye for
feminine beauty, he was attracted by her regal
loveliness and charm.
• The following afternoon, Rizal and the Japanese gardener
waited at the legation gate, as O-Sei-San approached, he
took off his hat and politely introduced himself. Rizal spoke
little of the native language that time so the gardener came
to his aid and said to O-Sei-San that Rizal is a physician
from Manila and a guest of the Spanish Legation.
• Since that first meeting, Rizal and O-Sei-San met
almost daily. They wandered in the city of the Japan.
Both found happiness in each other’s company, Rizal
was 27 years old, disillusioned by his frustrated
romance with Leoner Rivera and embittered by Spanish
injustices at home.
SAYONARA, JAPAN
• On April 13, 1888, Rizal boarded the Belgic, an English
streamer at Yokohama bound for United States. He left
Japan with a heavy heart for he knew that he would never
again see this beautiful “Land of the Cherry Blossoms”
and his beloved O-Sei-San. He stayed in Japan for 45
days and was one of the most happiest interludes in his
life.
VOYAGE ACROSS THE PACIFIC
• Despite his sorrowing heart, Rizal enjoyed the pleasant
trans-Pacific voyage to US. On board the ship, he met a
semi-Filipino family – Mr. Reinaldo Turner, his wife
Emma Jackson( daughter of an Englishman, their
children, and their maid from Pangasinan)
• One day one of the children, a bright young boy asked Rizal:
“Do you know, sir, a famous man in Manila named Richal? He
wrote a novel, Noli Me Tangere.
“Yes, hijo, I am Richal” Rizal replied.
• In great joy the boy rushed to his mother informing her that the
famous man is their fellow passenger, she felicitated Rizal, feeling
proud that they were traveling with a celebrity.
RIZAL AND TETCHO
• Another passenger which Rizal befriended was Tetcho
Suehiro, a Japanese journalist, novelist and champion of
human rights, who was forced by the Japanese
government to leave the country.
• In 1889, shortly after his return to Japan, he published his travel
diary which contained his impressions of Rizal.
• After the publication of his travel diary, Tetcho resigned his
position as editor of Tokyo’s newspaper, Choya and entered
politics. In 1890 he was elected as member of the lower house of
the First Imperial Diet( Japanese parliament), where he carried on
his fight for human rights.
• The following year(1891) he published a political novel
titled Nankai-no-Daiharan(Storm Over The South Sea)
which resembles Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere.
• Three years later(1894) he published another novel
entitled O-unabara( The Big Ocean) which was similar
to El Filibusterismo.
QUIZ
• 1. What is the real name of O-sei-san?
• 2 How long did he stay in The Land of the Cherry Blossoms?
• 3. Rizal described him as “a young fine and excellent writer”. Write
his full name.
• 4. What was the popular mode of transportation that Rizal didn’t like
in Japan?
• 5. - 6. Give 2 good impressions of Rizal in Japan
QUIZ
• 7. What English steamer did Rizal board at Yokohama that was
bound for the United States?
• 8. It is a political novel that Tetcho published which resembles
Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere.
• 9. Who is O-Sei-San’s husband?
• 10. Who was Rizal’s interpreter to communicate with O-Sei-San?
ANSWERS
• 1. Seiko Usui
• 2 . 1 month and a half (45 days)
• 3. Juan Perez Caballero
• 4. Rickshaw
ANSWERS
• 5- 6 Any of the following :
1. The beauty of the country – its flowers, mountains, streams and scenic panorama.
2. The cleanliness, politeness and industry of the Japanese people.
3. The picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese women.
4. There were very few thieves in Japan so that the houses remained open day and night
and in the hotel room one could safely leave money on the table.
5. Beggars were rarely seen in the city streets, unlike in Manila and other cities.
ANSWERS
• 7. Belgic
• 8. Nankai-no-Daiharan or Storm Over The South Sea
• 9. Mr. Alfred Charlton
• 10. the Japanese Gardener
