In the Land of Cherry Blossoms
IN THE LAND OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS, 1888
One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his sojourn in the Land of Cherry Blossoms for one month and a half (February 28 – April 13, 1888). He was enchanted by the natural beauties of Japan, the charming manners of the Japanese people, and the picturesque shrines. Moreover, he fell in love with a Japanese girl, whose loveliness infused joy and romance in his sorrowing heart. Her real name was Seiko Usui. Rizal affectionately called her O-Sei-San. However, his happy days ended. He had to sacrifice his own happiness to carry on his work for the redemption of his oppressed people.
Rizal Arrives to Yokohama
February 28, 1888, Tuesday morning, Rizal arrived in Yokohama and registered at the Grand Hotel. The next day he proceeded to Tokyo and took a room at Tokyo Hotel, where he stayed from March 2 to 7. He wrote to professor Blumentritt: “Tokyo is more extensive than Paris. The walls are built in cyclopean manner. The streets are large and wide”.
Rizal in Tokyo
Shortly after Rizal’s arrival in Tokyo, he was visited at his hotel by Juan Perez Caballero, secretary of Spanish Legation. The latter invited him to live at the Spanish Legation.
Rizal, being an intelligent man, realized that the Spanish diplomatic authorities were instructed from manila to watch out his movements in Japan. He accepted the invitation for two reasons: 1. He could economize his living expenses by staying at the legation and 2. He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities.
On March 7, Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lives at the Spanish Legation. He and Perez Caballero became good friends. In a letter to Blumentritt, he described Perez Caballero as a “young, fine and excellent writer: and “ an able diplomat who had travelled much”. During his first day in Tokyo, Rizal was embarrassed because he did not know the Japanese language. He looked like Japanese but could not talk Japanese. He wrote to
One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his sojourn in the Land of Cherry Blossoms for one month and a half (February 28 – April 13, 1888). He was enchanted by the natural beauties of Japan, the charming manners of the Japanese people, and the picturesque shrines. Moreover, he fell in love with a Japanese girl, whose loveliness infused joy and romance in his sorrowing heart. Her real name was Seiko Usui. Rizal affectionately called her O-Sei-San. However, his happy days ended. He had to sacrifice his own happiness to carry on his work for the redemption of his oppressed people.
Rizal Arrives to Yokohama
February 28, 1888, Tuesday morning, Rizal arrived in Yokohama and registered at the Grand Hotel. The next day he proceeded to Tokyo and took a room at Tokyo Hotel, where he stayed from March 2 to 7. He wrote to professor Blumentritt: “Tokyo is more extensive than Paris. The walls are built in cyclopean manner. The streets are large and wide”.
Rizal in Tokyo
Shortly after Rizal’s arrival in Tokyo, he was visited at his hotel by Juan Perez Caballero, secretary of Spanish Legation. The latter invited him to live at the Spanish Legation.
Rizal, being an intelligent man, realized that the Spanish diplomatic authorities were instructed from manila to watch out his movements in Japan. He accepted the invitation for two reasons: 1. He could economize his living expenses by staying at the legation and 2. He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities.
On March 7, Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lives at the Spanish Legation. He and Perez Caballero became good friends. In a letter to Blumentritt, he described Perez Caballero as a “young, fine and excellent writer: and “ an able diplomat who had travelled much”. During his first day in Tokyo, Rizal was embarrassed because he did not know the Japanese language. He looked like Japanese but could not talk Japanese. He wrote to