[SHŌWA 7-8 NENDO RENSHŪ KANTAI SHIREIBU]. 昭和七・八年度練習艦隊司令部.

昭和七・八年度. 練習艦隊巡航記念. [Shōwa 7-8 nendo. Renshū Kantai junkō kinen].
[1932-3 Japanese Imperial Navy Training Squadron Tour Commemorative Album].

昭和七・八年度練習艦隊司令部. [Shōwa Nana-hachinendo Renshū Kantai Shireibu]. 昭和 8 [ 1933]. Stock ID #173472

Colour double page map, black and white photographic illustrations throughout each captioned in Japanese, all edges gilt, patterned silk covered boards, fabric title label upper cover, original silk tassle ties, complementary copy label front end paper. Silk worn with minor loss at corners, still a very good copy. 22 x 30cm.

A photographic album issued to commemorate the Japanese Naval Training Squadron's world tour which took place between November 1932 and July 1933. Two war ships, the Iwate and the Yagumo, set off on their first of the two cruises, towards the Yellow Sea for their tour of Korea and China in November 1932. Their visit took in Incheon, Dalian, Lushun, Qingdao, and Shanghai before returning to Japan.

In March 1933, the ships set off on their second cruise, this to the West Coast of North and Central America. They sailed across the northern Pacific reaching Seattle on the 1st of April in 1933. During their tour of North America, the ships visited Tacoma, Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

At each port, the ships and their crew were welcome enthusiastically by the US Navy, local residents and Japanese immigrants. In Seattle, an enormous welcome reception was organised where not only commanders and officers, but all the sailors were invited. At Tacoma, bowls of Japanese food were served to American residents who went on board for public viewing. They enjoyed the delicacies with chopsticks and there is a delightful picture showing the happy visitors holding their chopsticks and bowls. The ships then headed north to Victoria in Canada, and anchored in Vancouver. The next stop was San Francisco where they visited Stanford University and the University of California as well as other major attractions. They then set sail for Los Angeles. During their stay in LA they visited Hollywood and Harold Lloyd and other Hollywood stars, one of the photographs shows film star - Myrna Loy and MGM head, Louis B. Mayer with officers on board the ship. They also organised a goodwill party with US Navy officers. The cruise then continued south to Acapulco and Panama before heading to Hawaii. After leaving Honolulu, the ships visited Marshall Islands, Chuk, Saipan and Palau before returning to Yokosuka in Japan.

A fascinating album that offers an extensive and detailed photographic record of all the ports that they visited during the tours. This training cruise was commanded by Hyakutake Gengo who was known to remain a strong US sympathiser throughout the 1930s. At each American port that the ships visited, he initiated friendly interactions with the locals and the American Navy and the public responded enthusiastically. He and his elder brother, Saburo, were well known as influential high ranking naval officers, and both became Admirals in their military careers.

The timing of this cruise is also interesting. After the Washington Treaty (1922) and the London Treaty (1930), naval power disarmament progressed until Japan abandoned the London Treaty in 1936. This cruise can really be seen as taking place at the last stage of the peaceful naval period.

This interesting album also includes photographs of the crew together with all their names and positions as well as some details of their lives on board. There are photographs of local receptions and dignitaries at each port visited. All indications are that the ships were warmly welcomed by the host countries and cities as well as the local Japanese residents. This album was never widely issued, and was no doubt published as a memento of the Japanese Naval Training's Squadron's tour to those involved.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 173472.

Price: $1,650.00 AU

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