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Private Notes
After the defeat of Bakufu system which lasted for 260 years, more modern nation “Meiji” was born in Japan. However, this nation is more of a “land of the children” surrounded by “grownups” in the name of imperialism of western nations. There once were three men at Iyo-matsuyama located in Shikoku region. Yoshifuru Akiyama, Saneyuki Akiyama who later took a great part on “Russo-Japanese War” the biggest crisis Meiji Japan ever encountered and Shiki Masuoka who represents modern Japanese literature we know today with his brother. These 3 men who were raised by the people and land of Matsuyama, decided to move to Tokyo. Time flew by and these 3 men returned home and a took picture in front of Matsuyama castle. In the16th year of Meiji Era (1883), Yoshifuru enrolled at Army War College. In June of the same year, while Shiki was giving a speech for Freedom and People’s Right Movement, he received a letter from his young sister Ritsu, written by his uncle in Tokyo. In the letter his uncle suggests he move to Tokyo. The letter delighted him, and he immediately decided to move.
In 1884, a year has passed since Saneyuki and Shiki moved to Tokyo, a different world from Iyo-Matsuyama due to Westernization. In September, both Saneyuki and Shiki pass the entrance exam to the preliminary University. As Yoshifuru was told about their success, he admonished them to be independent and not pamper themselves. On the other hand, at Army College where Yoshifuru was enrolled, Gentaro Kodama offers Major Mackel a post to teach combat tactics of the German Army. The Japanese Army becomes German style.
“Land of the children,” Meiji Japan that began treading in rough water of Western power has been suffering from a world stage, just like the main characters. In 1889, the Constitution of the Empire of Japan was proclaimed and Japan began to establish the foundation of a modern nation. In summer of this year, Shiki goes home in Matsuyama for medical treatment. Saneyuki also comes home from Edashima and they see each other after an interval of three years. They spend time with Ritsu who has been taking care of Shiki. However, Shiki says that he will follow the path of Haiku, deciding to use his real name “Shiki” as the pseudonym. Meanwhile, Saneyuki causes a trouble during his homecoming.
In 1894, Russia advances policy of southward expansion, Qing Dynasty says that Korea is its vassal state and Japan want to build new footing. Among the three countries, Korea had been swinging. The war broke out between Japan and the Qing Dynasty which stems from the run of so-called party Donghak that occurred there. Yoshifuru campaigns with Marenori Nogi to participate in the attack of the Port Arthur fortress. Yoshifuru felt out Katuaki’s view of the enemy’s position, leading the cavalry. The total attack is initiated based on that report, and the Port Arthur has fallen in a day. The following year, Shiki who works as a reporter for "Japan" newspaper appeals to Katsunan Kuga, an editor in chief, and he becomes a war correspondent and leaves for the battlefront of Qing. However, a peace negotiation between the two governments already had begun. Shiki and Rintaro Mori, a surgeon he met inside around the villages that were destroyed, talk about the war. Saneyuki also participates in the actual battle in the "Tsukushi" cruiser for the first time and the real horrors shocks him to allow subordinates to die. Saneyuki returned and had an opportunity to talk with Heihachiro Togo.
September 1895, Saneyuki visited Shiki in Matsuyama as a warship, "Tsukushi",returned to Kure. At that time, Shiki had been boarding with Kinnosuke Natsume who was appointed as a Junior high school English teacher in Matsuyama. On his way home, Saneyuki asked Ritsu about Shiki's condition. Ritsu bravely answered she will not fail to cure his disease. June 1875, a topic of study abroad was brought up among young naval officers. Saneyuki dared to go to the United States, a developing country under Europe. Saneyuki's best friend, Takeo Hirose, expected a future battle between Russia and Japan, and decides to go to Russia. Saneyuki visits Shiki before he leaves and Shiki tells that he will compose a Haiku, risking his life. While studying in the U.S., Saneyuki asked a world tactician, Alfred Mahan, for guidance and had an opportunity to go as a military officer to observe military operations. The report has been said to excel above all others in Japanese naval history.
May 1900 - at Portsmouth Harbor. Saneyuki and Takeo Hirose were excited to see the battleship Asahi on standby for returning to Japan and visited London Royal Navy College. Meanwhile, in Qing Dynasty, Yoshikazu and his men rose in arms and Yoshifuru left for the front as Allied Power with his men. They looked upon how Russian soldiers run riot. Saneyuki returned to Japan and visited Shiki who had been nursed by Ritsu and he was amazed by Shiki¹s tremendous innovative spirit. At that time, Japan thought that a conflict with Russia was unavoidable and sought for alliance with England. Because England had been unwilling Russia¹s expansion to Asia, they formed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902. A huge wave of the era was going to swallow young people on a small island.
Shiki, who strived for innovation of literature, despite being ill in bed, reconsidered Japanese classical literature and tried to create a new world of Haiku. Saneyuki who teaches tactics at Naval War College visits Shiki in Negishi, Tokyo, and is impressed by seeing Shiki fighting illness. In the middle of the night, Yae and Ritsu realize that Shiki is dead. While tension between Japan and Russia has increased, Saneyuki learns of Shiki’s death, a great man in the new Haikai, on newspaper. Shiki died at the age of 35 on September 19, 1902.
In July 1903, Saneyuki married Sueko Inou. Ritsu brings Shiki’s keepsake to the household of a newly-wed couple. Ritsu talks quite freely with Sueko and tells her about Shiki’s childhood. Since conflict between Japan and Russia has become unavoidable, the Navy organized a combined fleet. The Minister of the Navy, Gonbei Yamamoto unexpectedly appoints Heihachiro Tougou as a Commander-in-Chief. On the other hand, Saneyuki was ordered to be responsible for war strategies and would bear the future of the Japanese Navy. Before getting on the flagship battleship Mikasa, Saneyuki and Sueko visit the place of Yoshifuru and Tami where his mother, Sada stays, and spends time with entire Akiyama family. Meanwhile, in Russia, Akashi Motojiro was employed in espionage provoking revolutionaries by order of Gentaro Kodama. Even though Jyutaro Komura, the Minister of Foreign Affairs had continued negotiations to avoid war with Russia, the government finally decided to begin the war in February 1904.
On February 6, 1904, a combined fleet under the command of Admiral Heihachiro Togo attempted an attack from Saseho Port to wipe out Russian Port Arthur. But the Russian fleet remained secluded in Port Arthur which was protected so the combined fleet could not enter. The combined fleet was at its wits’ end with plans and they decided to blockade Port Arthur by sinking vessels at the entrance of the port. Saneyuki was asked to give a letter to Ariazuna by Takeo Hirose, his best friend since naval academy. Hirose noticed that Sugino was not there right before escaping from flying bullets. Hirose desperately looked for him inside the ship but unavoidably gave up and got in the ship but... Since Port Arthur Blockade Operation ended in failure, the combined fleet had a dark atmosphere. Saneyuki was forced to form a new plan soon after Hirose died.
In 1904, Russian Port Arthur still existed and if the Baltic Fleet of Russia joined the Lushun Fleet, Japanese combined fleet would have no chance. In July, Togo held a council of war to defeat the Lushun Fleet of Russia protected by a fortress. Saneyuki argued that they should attack only 203 Hill to set observation point there and shell the Lushun Fleet. However, the Army, Gentaro Kodama turned down his argument, saying the purpose of the Army is to reduce a Lushun Fortress itself. The Army of the third military commander, ordered the capture of Lushun. Provoked by the shelling, the Lushun Fleet of Russia set sail in August. The battle took place over the Yellow Sea and the combined fleet could not annihilate the enemy fleet. Meanwhile, Kodama ordered Yoshifuru to organize a squad of the Akiyama troop. The first general attack, a frontal attack by the Army failed because the Lushun Fortress was modern solidified with concrete, causing 16,000 casualties. By the attack on Port Arthur, Japanese faced a terror of modern warfare. Furthermore, the second general attack also ended in failure. In October, Baltic Fleet of Russia finally leaves for Japan.
November 1904, the Japanese Army persisted in a frontal attack and failed again in its third consecutive attack on the fortress, symbolized by a “White Sash Team” battle. Nogi refused the Third Army insisting the frontal attack and decided to operate 203 Hill. However, 203 Hill was also protected by robust Russian forts and the number of Japanese victims continued increasing. Saneyuki believed this offense and defense is the decisive battle of Russo-Japanese War. In such a situation, the Chief of Staff, Kodama went to Lushun to command the Third Army on behalf of Nogi in the knowledge that it might disturb military order. Nogi discussed with Kodama. Nogi temporally left the command of the Third Army to Kodama. In December, Kodama modified the plan of the Third Army and attacked 203 Hill with full effort. Through a hard-fought battle, 203 Hill finally fell with a great number of victims. The Japanese Army shelled the Lushun Fleet of Russia. Port Arthur Blockade Operation of the Combined Fleet under the command of Togo which had lasted 10 months ended.
Saneyuki, who freed himself from care, and the Combined Fleet prepare for a decisive battle with the Baltic Fleet of Russia. Meanwhile, Yoshifuru Akiyama was preparing for a decisive battle with the Russian Army led by Kuropatkin. The Japanese Combined Fleet made preparations and got ready at the Tsushima Strait but the Baltic Fleet of Russia did not appeared. If the Baltic Fleet of Russia avoids Tsushima Strait and goes for Tsugaru or Soya Strait, Saneyuki’s plan will be nothing. Yoshifuru’s success, the Army won the Battle of Mukden, which was called “(the Battle of) Sekigahara” in this war. However, the combat capability of the Army has reached its limit. Saneyuki was exasperated by the Baltic Fleet that has not appeared for a while in Tsushima and advised Heihachiro Togo to move the Fleet. However, Togo said “the enemy will come to Tsushima” and they postpone moving. On the next day, it was telegraphed that enemy was in sight. Japan’s fate really depended on the Combined Fleet.
Japanese combined fleet destroyed the Baltic Fleet by a daring Crossing, tactic overwhelmingly defeated the Baltic Fleet. However, Japanese national power reached its limit. Japan concluded the peace treaty with Russia through the intermediation of the U.S. but Japan was not able to get reparations from Russia. Inside the country, newspapers criticized the government, saying “weak-kneed peace” and people who had frustration with it set fires in Hibiya. Saneyuki returned to Japan suffering distress. He told his wife Sueko “I saw too many deaths… I want to leave the Navy.” Meiji Japan, “Land of the children” had been trying to climb the slope as hard as it can, aiming toward the cloud above the slope. However, a bright future was not all that is ahead of them. The story reaches a conclusion while stippling the ways of life of Saneyuki and Yoshifuru.
