Riz_Ch.

12: ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN

12.0. (Feb. 28-April 13, 1888): Land of the Cherry Blossoms, fell in love with Seiko Usui
(he called her O-Sei-San)
12.1. Arrived at Yokohama then to Tokyo at Tokyo Hotel (March 2-7); “Tokyo is more
expensive than Paris… streets are large and wide”; lived at the Spanish Legation at the
invitation of Juan Perez de Caballero; “has the face of a Japanese but does speak
Japanese”; studied Japanese language and drama (kabuki)
12.2. Tokyo musicians: some were Filipinos (playing secondary instruments)
12.3. Rizal’s impression of Japan: (1) beauty of the country – flowers, mountains,
streams & scenic panoramas, (2) cleanliness, politeness & industry of the Japanese; (3)
picturesque dress; and (4) very few thieves – houses remained open day and night, and
one could safely leave money on the table in the hotel room; (5) beggars were rarely seen
12.4. Romance with O-Shei-San (asked from the gardener and introduced himself to
Seiko Usui, 23) became sweethearts
12.5. On O-Sei-San: “no woman, like you, has ever loved me” (45 days)
12.6. O-Sei-San After Rizal’s Departure: shortly after Rizal’s execution, she married Mr.
Alfred Charlton (1897), British chemistry teacher, blessed with a daughter Yuriko who
later married Yoshiharu Takiguchi, a senator’s son
12.7. Rizal and Tetcho (on voyage to the US): acted as Tetcho’s interpreter from
Yokohama to SF to NY till London where they parted (8 months); “proficient in 7
languages… at the age of 27”; Tetcho resigned as editor of Tokyo newspaper Choya and
was elected in 1890 as member of the lower house of the First Imperial Diet; died at 49 in
1896