1903 - 1904 HANDWRITTEN ARCHIVE OF MANUSCRIPT LETTERS BY A PATRIOTIC JAPANESE CADET BEFORE, DURING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR WHILE AT THE IMPERIAL ACADEMY AND MANCHURIA

On offer is an amazing archive of seven [7] handwritten manuscript letters from T. Kawaguchi, detailing Japan during the critical times before, during and immediately after the Russo-Japanese War being 1903-1906 to an American friend. Great multi page letters describing Japanese military life. The author, who writes in perfect English, is a Cadet at the Imperial Military Academy in Tokyo in the 2nd Light Regiment. One letter dated a mere 5 days after the end of the conflict is from Manchuria in which he describes the end of the war with Russia and Japan's glorious victory. The other letters, besides having some personal content, describe in patriot language various Japanese victories and the author very clearly articulates the right of Japan to protect Asia from Russia. He also describes a visit of William Howard Taft who was then Secretary of War to his classroom. This archive is a very well written and descriptive view of a young man who is very proud of the rising fortunes of his country but writes as if English is his first language. VG+.