21-w/, 22-w/, 23-w/, 24-w/, 25-w/, 26-w/, 27-w/, 28-w/, 29-w/, 30-w/ February 19, 2020

Group 3-LF105 JOSERIZ ACTIVITY 2

Rizal’s significant experiences in Japan (45 days) and with Seiko Usui/ O Sei-San.

From February 28 to April 13, 1888 (45 days) Rizal visited and stayed at Japan, the “Land of the
Cherry Blossoms. During his first day in Tokyo, Rizal could not speak the Japanese language, so
he decided to study it. With Rizal’s capability and talent in learning new things, he was able to speak
Japanese within a few days. Furthermore, in Japan, Rizal studied Japanese dramas, arts, music,
and judo fighting. He also visited museums, libraries, art galleries, and shrines in Meguro, Nikko,
Hakone, and Miyanoshita.

On March 4, 1888 Rizal wrote to Blumentritt about the honesty, courtesy, cleanliness and industry
of the Japanese people. Overall, Rizal was charmed by the natural beauty of Japan, the manners
of the Japanese people, and the picturesque scenery.

On March 7, 1888, Rizal was visited by Juan Perez Caballero, secretary of Spanish Legation, who
invited him to live and work at the Spanish Legation. Rizal knew that this was the Spanish
government’s way of monitoring him, but he accepted anyway because of the good salary and
free lodging; he also became good friends with Juan Perez Caballero.

One of the most significant experiences Rizal had in Japan was when he met a beautiful Japanese
girl named Seiko Usui/O-Sei-San. She was a well-educated and cultured woman who
accompanied Rizal to different shrines, parks, universities, the Imperial Art Gallery and the
Shokubutsu-en (Botanical Garden). She also served as his tutor and interpreter and helped him
improve his Japanese. O-Sei-San’s beauty and affection almost tempted Rizal to settle down in
Japan, besides that, he was also offered a good job by the Spanish Legation made settling down
even more tempting. However, Rizal remembered his love for the fatherland and his mission to
free his people from the Spanish oppressors. Rizal’s great love for Seiko Usui and Japan will be
memories that he will always cherish, but it was his time to go.

On April 13, 1888, Rizal boarded the Belgic, an English steamer, at Yokohama, bound for the United
States. He left Japan with a heavy heart for he knew that he will never see this beautiful land
again, so as his beloved O-Sei-San. With these significant experiences, we can conclude that Rizal’s
sojourn in Japan for 45 days was one of the happiest interludes of his life.