[ENKŌ KINENCHŌ HENSAN ĪN]. 遠航記念帖編纂委員.

明治四十三年. 練習艦隊阿蘇宗谷練習航海紀念帖. [Meiji 43-nen. Renshūkantai Aso Sōya renshū kōkai kinencho].
[Commemorative Album of the Training Squadron Cruise on the Aso and the Soya in 1910].

東京. [Tokyo]. 光村印刷. [Kōmura Insatsu]. Meiji 43 [ 1910]. Stock ID #180721

Black and white foldout map with red lines indicating the course of the voyage, black and white photographic illustrations, 26.5 x 37.5cm, 13 + [6] + [92] + 7pp, green cloth cover illustrated and lettered in silver and gilt feature Mt Fuji, the Aso and the Soya. Some foxing, binding a little shaken and inner hinge re-enforced with archival paper, first and last leaves a little stained along margins, some even browning first and last leaves, one corner chipped not affecting text, some light spotting throughout. Cloth marked and stained, rubbed at edges and corners but the photographic illustrations are numerous and offer a fascinating glimpse into life in the Japanese Navy in 1910.

This commemorative album chronicles the Naval Training Squadron cruises. Newly graduated naval cadets set sail on the Aso and the Soya on November 1909 for a preliminary cruise to Dalian, Port Arthur and Korea to visit battlefields of the Russo-Japanese war. In February 1910, the ships departed Yokosuka to Manila and Australia. In Australia, the squadron visited Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany, and Fremantle. During the voyage, they encountered very rough seas between Adelaide and Albany. At each port, the crew entertained local dignitaries and the public by holding receptions and opening the ship's deck. At Fremantle, they were joined by the British naval fleet to celebrate the coronation of the new British King. After leaving Australia, the boats stopped at Hong Kong, Taiwan and Shanghai before returning to Japan in July.

This interesting album offers an extensive and detailed photographic record of all the ports visited during the tour with photographic vignettes of each country visited. The Japanese Imperial Navy's training cruises started in 1903, soon after the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. The cruises had two key purposes: training and an important role in Japanese foreign relations, in meetings with local dignatories and entertaining and educating the general public at the ports they visited.

The folding map plots the route of the tour, with each port visited marked with a date. There are photographs of the crew as well as details of their lives on board. This album appears to have been published as a memento of the Japanese Naval Training's Squadron's tour for those who took part or for those who were involved in their training. Copies are therefore quite scarce and not held in many libraries.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 180721.

Price: $1,650.00 AU

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