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CHAPTER XII

ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN

(1888)
One of the happiest interludes in Rizals life was his sojourn in the Land of the
Cherry Blossoms for one month and a half (February 28 - April 13, 1888). The natural
beauty of Japan, the charming manners of the Japanese people, and the picturesque
shrines enchanted him. Moreover, he fell in love with a lovely Japanese girl named Seiko
Usui.
I.

RIZAL ARRIVES IN YOKOHAMA

On February 28, 1888, Rizal arrived in Yokohama. He registered at the Grand
Hotel. The next day, he proceeded to Tokyo and stayed at Tokyo Hotel. Juan Perez
Caballero, secretary of Spanish legation, visited him at his hotel. He invited Rizal to live
at the Spanish Legation. So Rizal checked out from Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish
legation for two reasons: 1) to economize his living expenses and, 2) there was nothing to
hide from the Spaniards.
He studied Japanese language because:
1) He was embarrassed because he was not able to speak Japanese although he
looks like one.
2) He had a hard time shopping, for he could not be understood and the Japanese
children laughed at him.
Being a born linguist, he was able to speak Japanese within a few days.

II.

RIZAL AND THE TOKYO MUSICIANS

One cool afternoon in March 1888, Rizal was promenading in a street of Tokyo
near a park. As he approached the park, Rizal heard the Tokyo band playing a classical
work of Strauss. He was impressed with the superb performances of the Western music.
To Rizals amazement, they were talking in Tagalog. The musicians were equally
surprised and delighted to meet him.

III.

RIZALS IMPRESSION OF JAPAN

1) The beauty of the country.
2) The cleanliness, politeness and industry of the Japanese people.
3) The picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese women.

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4) There were very few thieves in Japan, houses were remained open night and day, and
in the hotel room one could safely leave money on the table.
5) Beggars were rarely seen in the city streets.
However, theres one thing which Rizal did not like about Japan, the popular mode of
transportation by means of rickshaws drawn by men.
IV.

ROMANCE WITH O-SEI-SAN

One spring afternoon, Rizal saw a pretty Japanese girl walking past the legation
gate. Rizal made inquiries among the legation employees and learned from one of them
(a Japanese gardener) that she was Seiko Usui. The following afternoon, Rizal and the
Japanese gardener waited and watched for the girl. As she approached, Rizal took off his
hat and introduced himself. Seiko Usui knew how to speak English and French, thus, the
language barrier was eliminated. Rizal also called her O-Sei-San.
O-Sei-San helped Rizal in many ways. More than a sweetheart, she was his guide,
interpreter, and tutor. Rizal was tempted to settle down in Japan because of the beauty
and affection of O-Sei-San. Then, the Philippines would have lost a Rizal.

V.

RIZAL ON O-SEI-SAN
Rizals great love for O-Sei-San was attested by the heros diary. With this tenderly
tragic entry in his own diary, Rizal bade farewell to lovely O-Sei-San.

VI.

SAYONARA, JAPAN
On April 13, 1888, Rizal boarded the English steamer, Belgic, bound for United States.
He left Japan with a heavy heart. Truly his sojourn in Japan for 45 days was one of the
happiest interludes in his life.

VII.

O-SEI-SAN AFTER RIZALS DEPARTURE

Rizal has sacrificed his own personal happiness because he has to continue his libertarian
mission in Europe. O-Sei-San was then broken-hearted because Rizal was the first man to
capture her heart. The year after Rizals execution, she married Mr. Alfred Charlton,
British teacher of Chemistry of the Peers School in Tokyo. They were blessed with a
child, a daughter named Yuriko.

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VIII. VOYAGE ACROSS THE PACIFIC

Rizal enjoyed the pleasant trans-Pacific voyage to the United States. He met a semiFilipino family. He became an instant celebrity when the family met him who wrote the
novel, Noli Me Tangere.
IX.

RIZAL AND TETCHO

Tetcho Suehiro, a fighting journalist, novelist and champion on human rights. Rizal
befriended him and acted as his interpreter. On December 1, 1888, they parted their ways
and never met again. Rizal remained in London, while Tetcho returned to Japan. He
resigned in his position as editor of Tokyo newspaper, Choya, and he entered politics. He
was elected as member of the lower house of the Imperial Diet, where he carried his fight
for human rights. On February 1896, he died of heart attack at the age of 49, 10 months
before Rizals execution.

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IMPORTANT TERMS TO REMEMBER

Japan Land of the Cherry Blossoms.
Belgic an English steamer boarded by Rizal, bound for the United States.
Choya Tokyo newspaper where Tetcho resigned as editor.
Imperial Diet Japanese parliament.
Nankai-no-Daiharan (Storm Over the South Sea) a political novel by Tetcho
which resembles Rizals Noli Me Tangere.
O-unabara (The Big Ocean) another novel by Tetcho which was similar to El
Filibusterismo.

IMPORTANT PERSONS:
Seiko Usui a Japanese girl, whose loveliness infused joy and romance in Rizals
sorrowing heart. She is also called O-Sei-San by Rizal.
Juan Perez Caballero secretary of Spanish legation who visited Rizal at his
hotel and invited him to live at the Spanish legation.
Mr. Alfred Charlton husband of O-Sei-San, a British teacher of Chemistry of
the Peers School in Tokyo.
Tetcho Suehiro a fighting Japanese journalist, novelist, and champion of
human rights who was befriended by Rizal on board the Belgic.

IMPORTANT DATES:
February 28, 1888 Rizal arrived in Yokohama.
March 7, 1888 Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish
legation.
March 1888 he met the Filipino Tokyo band in the park.
April 13, 1888 Rizal left Japan.
December 1, 1888 Rizal and Tetcho parted ways never to meet again. Rizal
remained in London while Tetcho returned to Japan.