[SHŌWA KYŪ-JŪNENDO RENSHŪ KANTAI SHIREIBU]. 昭和九・十年度練習艦隊司令部.

昭和九・十年度.. 練習艦隊巡航記念. Shōwa 9-10 nendo. Renshū Kantai junkō kinen. ].
[1934-5 Japanese Imperial Navy Training Squadron Tour Commemorative Album]

東京. [Tokyo]. 昭和九・十年度練習艦隊司令部. [Shōwa Kyū-Jūnendo Renshū Kantai Shireibu]. Showa 10 [ 1935]. Stock ID #173467

Colour map, two large folding panoramas including a very striking one showing Sydney, black and white photographic illustrations with captioned tissue guards in Japanese, three full-page colour plates show: a Malay House, an Australian rural scene featuring sheep, and an Australian couple walking in Sydney's Hyde Park by Minakai. Three tipped-in portrait photographs of the Japanese Royal Princes, profusely illustrated throughout with monochrome photographic plates showing the crew and ports of call with accompanying tissue guards titled in Japanese. [210 + 10pp], all edges gilt.

Handsome special brown suede binding with yap edges, Japanese characters stamped in gilt on upper cover. Suede torn with minor loss at head of spine and upper corner, lower hinge opening at lower edge. A particularly good copy in a superior binding suggesting it was issued to a high ranking officer on the occasion of this special Royal cruise. 22 x 30cm.

This photographic album was issued to commemorate the Japanese Naval Training Squadron's tour which took place in 1934 and 1935. Two war ships, the Yagumo and the Asama, cruised around Japan before departing for Korea and China. There they visited Incheon, Dalian, Qingdao and Shanghai before returning to Japan. They also visited Hsin-King (Shinkyo), the newly established capital of Manchukuo to met the Manchukuo Emperor where a panorama photograph of the whole group of officers was taken. The ships then set off on their main cruise to Australia and New Zealand, visiting Taiwan, Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok, Singapore and Jakarta enroute to Fremantle. A colourful art illustration of a Malay house is a memento of their visit to the area. Hong Kong and Singapore sections have a whole page panorama photograph of the harbour each, and two additional pages of photographs of the city. The crew visited a British naval ship in Hong Kong. In Singapore, they enjoyed cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city where peoples from different racial backgrounds live together.

During their tour of Australia, the ships visited Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney and made a courtesy call to Canberra. Their cruise then continued to New Zealand, after visiting Wellington and Auckland, the ships continued to Fiji and Apia (Western Samoa) before reaching Honolulu. Finally, they headed westward to the Marshal Islands, Chuk, Saipan and the Bonin Islands before returning to Yokosuka, Japan.

Australian ports of call were Fremantle (Perth), Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney where the crew participated in local activities and also held open ship exhibitions where the crew demonstrated Sumo wrestling and Kendo to the local public. In Sydney, the ships participated in the silver jubilee celebration of King George V with a light display. A magnificent large panorama of Circular Quay and the newly opened Harbour Bridge through to a view across to the Eastern suburbs is fascinating. The region of Circular Quay is particularly striking for its emptiness! There are many other pages showing photographs of their visit to Sydney and the Blue Mountains. The Commandant with the royal Princes also made a courtesy visit to Canberra and a page of photographs marks this occasion.

In New Zealand, the Yagumo and the Asama, visited Wellington and Auckland. Here the crew had an excursion to Rotorua. The cruise continued on to Hawaii where the Princes were welcomed enthusiastically by the Japanese migrants. On the return trip to Japan, the ships called into Micronesia including Chuuk and Saipan.

This cruise was of particular importance as three members of the Japanese Royal Family were among the crew. Prince Asa'akira of the Kuninomiya Household was in charge of the artillery on the Yagumo and two young Princes were among the newly graduated naval officers. Their presence probably explains why this album is more substantial than others previously issued - with more panoramic views and photographic illustrations; detailed captions are included on the tissue guards. Also, the crew had access to royal members and other dignitaries during the cruise.

This interesting album offers an extensive and detailed photographic record of all the places visited during the tour. Some pages are delicately illustrated with local motifs in monochrome. The album also includes photographs of the crew detailing names and positions as well as including information about lives on board. Photographs of local receptions and dignitaries at each port visited are featured. All indications are that the ships were warmly welcomed by the host countries and cities as well as the local Japanese residents. This edition was not circulated widely and is bound with suede leather cover, special finish from other copies. It was probably offered to somebody important a memento of the Japanese Naval Training's Squadron's tour with three royal household members.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 173467.

Price: $2,250.00 AU

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