[KAIGUN HEIGAKKŌ]. 海軍兵学校.

日本海軍関係教練書参考書. [Nihon Kaigun kankei kyōrensho oyobi sankōsho].
[Textbooks and Reference Books at the Japanese Imperial Naval College].

[Hiroshima]. 海軍兵学校. [Kaigun Heigakkō]. [1924 - 1941]. Stock ID #173903

Three volumes, 21.9 x 15 cm, three folding charts, text diagrams and illustrations, folding world map dated December 1937 bizarrely shows in a semi-circular dotted line of the area where one could travel with same fare, which extends to the mid-Aleutian Islands in the north and to Darwin to the south. A chart of naval strengths of various nations, including Japan, the US, Britain and France and detailed legend at the foot, 26pp vocabulary and phrase guide in English and Japanese, text illustrations, the main work in eight parts with discrete titles printed on pink paper, printed buff-coloured title wrappers, soiled and spotted, one leaf with faint red pencilling, a few text leaves stained and a couple with small tears, preliminary leaves to one of the smaller volumes torn at the inner margin (no loss) and separating at the staples but overall in good condition.

This fascinating collection of textbooks was used at the Cadet School of the Japanese Imperial Navy, and gives an insight into the education received by Japanese naval trainees in the 1920s. The first volume in this collection was published in 1924 and is marked secret. It contains transcripts of lectures by Vice Admiral Sato Tetsutaro on the sea battles of the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japan Wars. Sato participated in both wars as naval commanders, and he was a renowned military historian. In the lectures, he provides detailed descriptions of naval tactics, particularly on the Battle of Tsushima. The second book is an outline of Japanese history, published in 1939. There is a strong emphasis on the imperial lineage. The account of Japan's recent history (covering topics such as the Washington Conference, the takeover of Manchuria and Japan's withdrawal from the League of Nations, from the Japanese viewpoint) is written in a relatively straightforward narrative style, rather than using strongly nationalist rhetoric.

The third (and by far the largest) book was published in 1941 and begins with the set of imperial instructions to the military and other documents related to military ethos. This is followed by a section on Japanese history, whose account of the recent past is noticeably more nationalistic than that of the 1939 version. Deals with naval protocols, military history of Asia, Europe and the world, and geography. The next section covers Bushido and 'national ethics', emphasising the principles of Japan's 'martial spirit'. This is followed by a lengthy and surprisingly detailed section on etiquette, detailing matters such as appropriate ways of addressing others, seating arrangements at formal dinners, which cutlery to use at western meals, and presentation of name cards. There are then accounts of the history of the Japanese navy and of world history, going back to ancient times, and includning substantial sections on Chinese as well as European history. Finally, the book addresses the contemporary international situation and "New Order in East Asia". There is also an interesting appendix with basic English vocabulary and phrases.

A very important source for understanding the educational processes which shaped the Japanese imperial military.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 173903.

Price: $325.00 AU

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