Rizal-Report 091150

Chapter 12 disliked was the rickshaws transportation (human
working like horses)

Romantic Interlude in Japan (1888)
Spring 1888, Rizal saw O-Sei-San (Seiko Usui) walking
past the Spanish Legation in Tokyo. He learned her
identity and arranged to meet her with the help of a
One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his
Japanese gardener. Rizal introduced himself, and O-Sei-
sojourn in the Land of Cherry Blossoms for one month
Sa replied in English.
and a half (February 28 –April 13, 1888).
Rizal and O-Sei-San met daily, exploring Tokyo’s
Early in the morning of Tuesday, February 28, 1888,
attractions. They shared interests in arts, culture, and
Rizal arrived in Yokohama. He registered at the Grand
language. Rizal fell deeply in love with O-Sei-San’s
Hotel.
beauty, charm, modesty, and intelligence. O-Sei-San
The next day he proceeds to Tokyo and took a room at helped Rizal on his stay in Japan.
Tokyo Hotel, where he stayed from March 2 to 7.
April 13, 1888. Rizal left Japan for the United Sates. He
Shortly after Rizal’s arrival in Tokyo, he was visited at bid farewell to O-Sei-San, leaving behind a broken heart.
his hotel by Juan Perez Caballero, secretary of Spanish O-Sei-San mourned Rizal’s departure. 1897, she married
Legation. Alfred Charlton, a British teacher. They had one
daughter, Yuriko, who later married Yoshiharu
Rizal, being an intelligent man, realized that the Spanish Takiguchi. O-Sei-San survived WW II, lost her home in
diplomatic authorities were instructed from Manila to 1944 US bombing. Died on May 1, 1947, aged 80, and
monitor his movements in Japan. He accepted the buried in Zoshigawa Cementery
invitation for two reasons:
Rizal enjoyed a pleasant voyage to the U.S. aboard the
(1) he could economize his living expenses by staying at ship Belgic. He met a semi-Filipino family, including
the legation and Mr. Reinaldo Turner, his wife Emma Jackson and their
(2) he had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the children. One of the children recognized Rizal as the
Spanish authorities. famous author of “Noli Me Tangere”
On March 7, Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and April 13, 1888 – Rizal and Tetcho met on board the
lived at the Spanish Legation. He and Perez Caballero Belgic
became good friends. Rizal befriended Tetcho Suehiro, a Japanese journalist,
Rizal was embarrassed because he couldn’t speak novelist, and human rights champion, on board the
Japanese. He looked like Japanese, but could not talk Belgic. Tetcho was forced to leave Japan due to his
Japanese. He had a hard time shopping, for he could not activism, similar to Rizal’s situation. Rizal acted as
be understood and the Japanese children laughed at him. Tetcho’s interpreter during their eight-month journey
from Yokohama to London.
Rizal decided to study the Japanese language, to avoid
further embarrassment He also studied the Japanese December 1, 1888, Rizal and Tetcho parted ways. Rizal
drama (kabuki), arts, music, and judo (Japanese art of stayed in London to conduct researches on Mora at the
self-defense). British Museum, while Tetcho returned to Japan.
March, 1888 – when Rizal was walking in street of Tetcho resigned as the editor of Tokyo newspaper Choya
Tokyo near a park. He heard a Tokyo and entered politics. He was elected to the Japanese
Band playing a classical work by Strauss and parliament in 1890 and continued fighting for human
he was surprised when he found out that the rights. He published a political novel titled “Nankai-no-
band members were actually Filipinos. Daiharan” (Storm over the Sputh Sea) on 1891 which
resembles Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and “O-unabara”
Rizal was favorably impressed by Japan. (The Big Ocean) on 1894 resembled to El
The things which favorably impressed Rizal in Japan Filibusterismo. Feb, 1896 (10 months before Rizal’s
were the natural beauty, cleanliness and politeness of the execution) Tetcho died because of heart attack in Tokyo.
people, picturesque dress and charm of Japanese, low
crime rate, rarely seen beggars. The only thing he
Chapter 13 – Rizal’s Visit to the United State (1888) Rizal reached New York on May 13, Sunday morning.
He stayed three days in this city, which he called “the
Big Town” He visited the scenic and historic places. He
Rizal saw America on April 18, 1888. His impression was awed and inspired by the memorial to George
There first was not good because of racial Washington. Of this American, he wrote to Ponce: “He
discrimination. He saw how the white Americans is a great man who, I think, has no equal in this country”
discriminate Chinese and the Negros. He kept notes of
He left foe England on May 16, aboard the City of Rome
what he observed during his trip to San Francisco to
and saw the Statue of Liberty.
New York, where he took a ship for England.
Rizal had good and bad impression of the United States.
His arrival in San Francisco, on the streamer Belgic, but
was quarantined due to alleged cholera epidemic. All Positive observations were:
passengers were not allowed to land. He discovered that
 Economic progress (cities, industries,
the quarantine was motivated by politics, targeting
agriculture).
Chinese coolies.
 Drive and work ethics of America.
After a week of quarantine, all first-class passengers,  Beautiful landscapes.
including Rizal, were permitted to land. But the Chinese  High living standard.
and Japanese passengers of the second and third-class  Opportunities for immigants
accommodations were forced to remain on board for a
Negative observations were:
longer quarantine period.
 Lack of racial equality. Rizal saw that racial
On Friday afternoon, May 4, 1888, the day he was
discrimination existed, contradicting America’s
permitted to go ashore, Rizal registered at the Palace
ideals of freedom and democracy.
Hotel for $4 a day, including amenities. Rizal noticed
 His comment to Ponce: “They do not have true
that Market Street was the best street and mentioned
civil liberty”
influential people like Senator Leland Stanford - who
was a millionaire senator representing California in the
U.S. Senate at that time.
Rizal stayed in San Francisco for two days –May 4 to 6,

1888. On May 6, 1888 –Sunday, 4:30 P.M. –Rizal left
San Francisco for Oakland, nine miles across San
Francisco Bay, by ferry boat.
His ley stops in San Francisco:
May 7 – He described Nevada as a desert landscape.
May 8 – Saw Mormon towns, farms, and Salt Lake City
in Utah.
May 9 – Colorado’s impressive snowy mountains and
pine forests.
May 10 – Noted Omaha as the largest city so far from
Nebraska
May 11 – Saw diverse stores with unique Indian figures
in Chicago
May 12 – Found Niagara Falls massive and mysterious
May 13 – The Hudson River scenery from Albany
impressed him.

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Chapter 12 disliked was the rickshaws transportation (human

working like horses)

Rizal stayed in San Francisco for two days –May 4 to 6,

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