Historically significant and original Russo-Japanese War Sailor’s diary, letters, and enlistment papers from Hirosaki, 1904. The sailor’s name was Saito, and the diary mentions that he took part in the Battle of Port Arthur and the attack at Chemulpo Bay, February 8th to 10th, 1904. This marked the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War and an early naval victory for the Japanese. The formal declaration of war was announced by the Japanese on February 10th, after the battle. The Japanese navy would try a similar surprise attack 37 years later at Pearl Harbor.

According to scholar Van Gessel, “The best I can do right now is say that it’s a military enlistment record from the Hirosaki area in northern Honshu. Photo # 13 gives the date of Meiji 37 (1904).”

According to scholar Sven Saaler, “This one is pretty messy. The first page indeed reads military enlistment record from Hirosaki. The second half of the pages, however, seem to be a business report, maybe of a bank? Kinbei Ginko? On one page it says Eigyo Hokokusho, which means Annual (Business) Report.”