16 Ë The Russo-Japanese War
Fig. 2.1.Giichi Tanaka, future prime minister of Japan (in the 1920s).
tianity and regularly went to church in Russia. He also learned to dance and led a very
active social life in the Russian capital.⁸
In 1899 Tanaka traveled extensively in Russia, including the Caucasus: Saratov,
Tsaritsyn, Astrakhan, Piatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Vladikavkaz, Batumi,⁹Novorossiisk,
Sevastopol, Odesa, and Kyiv (Kiev). The following year he managed to have himself at-
tached to a Russian military regiment: the Emperor Alexander III 145th Novocherkassk
Infantry Regiment in St. Petersburg. He also learned to drink in a Russian way, became
acquainted with Minister of War Aleksei N. Kuropatkin, and frequented gatherings of
Russia’s upper society.¹⁰Later, he used to tell Russians that “he had drunk so much
vodka with Russian o cers during his service in Russia that nothing could destroy
the ties [between him and Russia].”¹¹
Tanaka’s ties to Russia were not limited to upper society. A hardline advocate of
war with Russia, he energetically traveled around the country wherever he sensed
revolutionary ferment. In the process he met many revolutionary activists. In 1901 he
8 Tanaka Giichi denki, vol. 1 (Tokyo: Tanaka Giichi denki kank ̄o kai, 1958), 110–116.
9 Although its old name was “Batum,” the present name of “Batumi” is used in this book.
10 Tanaka Giichi denki, 136–38, 140–64.
11 George Alexander Lensen (ed.),Revelations of a Russian Diplomat: The Memoirs of Dmitrii I. Abrikos-
sow(Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1964), 268. Tanaka became famous as the alleged author
of the infamous “Tanaka Memorial,” a forged document purportedly detailing Japan’s ambition for
world conquest. This will be discussed in chapter 5.