Romantic Interlude in Japan (Land of Cherry Blossoms)

February 28- April 13, 1888

Seiko Usui (O-Sei-San)- Rizal fell in love, whose loveliness infused joy and romance in his sorrowing
heart

February 28, 1888 *Early in the morning of Tuesday, Rizal

arrived in Yokohama. He registered at
the Grand Hotel
March 02-07, 1888 *Rizal proceed to Tokyo and stayed at Tokyo
Hotel “Tokyo is more expensive than Paris. The
walls are built in cyclopean manner. The streets
are large and wide.”
*Juan Perez Caballero, Secretary of Spanish
Legation. He was invited to live at the Spanish
Legation.
*He accepted the invitation for two reasons:
- he could economize his living expenses
by staying at the legation
- he had nothing to hide from the prying
eyes of the Spanish authorities.
March 07, 1888 *Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and
lived at the Spanish Legation
*Things which favorably impressed Rizal
in Japan were:
- Beauty of the country
- Cleanliness, politeness, and industry
of the Japanese people
- Picturesque dress and simple charm
of the Japanese women
- Very few thieves in Japan
- Beggars were rarely seen in the city
*He disliked the popular mode of transportation
by means of riskshawn drawn by men.
April 13, 1888 *Rizal left Japan and boarded the Belgic,
an English Steamer at Yokohama, bound
for the United States
*Befriended Tetcho Suehiro, a Japanese
novelist and human rights fighter
December 01, 1888 *After a last warm handshake and bidding
each other “goodbye”, Rizal and Tetcho
parted ways and never meet again.