The Rise and Fall of the Meiji Emperor: Part 4, 'The Russo-Japanese War - Beginning'

Anxiety swells within the Empire, invading the pre-modern state of 'Manchuria'

Not ruling out war, the people are stirred; railway networks are being laid

Troops dispatched to pacify the Qing, glaring at each other over colonial territory

On the dark day the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was ratified, the people rejoiced and let their bread rise

Murin-an. The ministers part ways, discussing for a while; cherry blossoms in the garden shade

The Russian development company built a military base at Yongampo on the Yalu River; pressure

When public opinion was in turmoil across the newspapers, headlines about pogroms were printed

Kotoku Shusui tells the seven pro-war scholars, 'The thoughts of scholars are not for the sake of petitions'

The minister advocating for withdrawal from Manchuria is ousted; Russia does not withdraw; the people cry for war

After the rupture of Russo-Japanese negotiations, hatred brews toward the Siberian railway workers


War costs balloon; at that moment, a word from the financial capital foundation; debt

The strategy of annihilation after encirclement is terrifying; acid rises in the throat

Once again, Imperial General Headquarters. The bravery of the Japanese spirit is a fierce army heading to foreign lands

Though the Emperor preaches peace, the chrysanthemum crest on the military medal is clouded by blood smoke

War begins. Direct combat starts; two enemy ships sunk in rapid succession

A surprise attack before the declaration of war; there must be impatience in the Imperial Japanese Army

Vladivostok. The ice sheet cracks offshore, and eight enemy ships are sighted

The sound of shelling on the city is muffled and echoes; fifty minutes later, the firing ceases

After retreating, the fleet gathers at Port Arthur. Telling both sides of the muddy aftermath

The flagship Petropavlovsk stationed at Port Arthur sank along with its commander; there is no turning back


Illustration of the Battle of the Yalu River; after crossing the river, the cavalry and infantry exchange gunfire on the battlefield

There are common people not enshrined in the Tower of Loyal Souls; mountain cherry blossoms, double-petaled, crimson, piling up in death

The Nanshan and Jinzhou Castle simultaneous attacks: what determines the trend is the number of corpses.

Sunflowers riddled like beehives, struck by machine-gun bullets leaping into the trenches.

Four thousand dead. If the military cabinet retreats to confirm the reports, it will not be the end, Your Majesty.

Victories at Telissu and Dashiqiao. The invading army marches on and on, aiming for the land of death.

The Siege of Port Arthur. The Army and Navy pass each other by, each with their own name for the operational plan.

The Russian Baltic Fleet's eastern expedition. The Naval General Staff reluctantly agrees to the Army's participation.

The establishment of the Manchurian Army General Headquarters. With supreme command delegated by the Emperor, the military lines up its chairs.

Many ships float off the Yellow Sea, falling silent under bombardment; the white flag is as pale as death.


The Vladivostok Fleet is seen hazily toward Tokyo Bay. The public throws stones at the Vice Admiral's residence.

Illustration of the Battle of Ulsan. The Japanese Navy persistently pursues the ships escaping the bombardment.

The Battle of Liaoyang. Death separated by city walls where grass grows over forty thousand corpses.

The Sha River front reaches a stalemate. Both armies glare at each other, soldiers gaunt until winter sets in.

The muzzles of the guns open up in great numbers, circling the stone walls of the Port Arthur siege.

Scattered across the plains, soldiers' caps are split among the corpses. Charging into the land of death.

The general offensive is repeated twice, but it does not fall. Obsession with the target: 203 Hill.

Imperial Conference. The command structure is mismatched, and the divisions advance in a state of collapse.

The dead are piled high near the battery. After the gruesome deaths, it is occupied.

The 'Meeting at Shuishiying' under the fluttering Rising Sun flag. 'To die on the frontier,' it says.