ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN (1888)

-One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his sojourn in the Land of the Cherry Blossoms for one month and a half (February 28-April 13, 1888)
· February 28, 1888- early in the morning of Tuesday, Rizal arrived in Yokohama. He registered at the
Grand Hotel
· Tokyo Hotel- Rizal stayed here from March 2 to March 7
· Rizal wrote to Professor Blumentritt: “Tokyo is more expensive then Paris. The walls are built in
cyclopean manner. The streets are large and wide.”
· Juan Perez Caballero-secretary of the Spanish Legation, who visited Rizal at his hotel who latter invited him to live at the Spanish Legation
· Rizal accepted the invitation for two reasons: (1) he could economize his living expenses by staying at
the legation (2) he had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities
· March 7, 1888- Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish Legation
· Rizal was favorably impressed by Japan. The things which favorably impressed Rizal in Japan were: (1) the beauty of the country—its flowers, mountains, streams and scenic panoramas, (2) the cleanliness, politeness, and industry of the Japanese people (3)the picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese women (4) there were very few thieves in Japan so that the houses remained open day and night, and in hotel room one could safely leave money on the table (5) beggars were rarely seen in the city, streets, unlike in Manila and other cities
·Rickshaws-popular mode of transportation drawn by men that Rizal did not like in Japan
· April 13, 1888-Rizal left Japan and boarded the Belgic, an English steamer, at Yokohama, bound for the United States
· Tetcho Suehiro- a fighting Japanese journalist, novelist and champion of human rights, who was forced by the Japanese government to leave the country
-passenger which Rizal befriended on board the Belgic
· April 13 to December 1, 1888- eight months of intimate acquaintanceship of Rizal and Tetcho
· December 1, 1888- after a last warm handshake and bidding each other “goodbye”, Rizal and Tetcho
parted ways—never to meet again