Even the Japanese may be surprised to learn that Estonian sailors reached Japan before the isolated country fully opened up to the world in the 19th century. Equally surprising is that Estonian soldiers who took part in the Russo-Japanese War got along better with Japanese prisoners than with their Russian comrades-in-arms.
Ene Selart, a lecturer at the University of Tartu, has recently published a book, "Estonia and Japan: Relations from the 19th Century to the Beginning of the 21st Century." The book, enriched with historical photographs and travelogues, provides an overview of the relations between Estonia and Japan over 200 years, from the first known contact in 1804 to the 100th anniversary of official relations in 2021.
Selart, who has studied Japanese language and international relations in Japan and currently teaches Japanese history at the University of Tartu, highlights the historical interest of Estonians in Japan, a distant and exotic place. This interest is evident in the number of Japanese novels translated into Estonian.
Selart's fascination with Japan began in high school through Japanese fiction and classical poetry. "I realized how little I understood. But when you think about it, you understand that all of these images and expressions in Japanese poetry mean something different," she said. Her interest led her to study history in college, focusing on Japan, and later to travel to Japan for further studies.
The first recorded Estonian to arrive in Japan was Adam Johann von Krusenstern, a Baltic German nobleman and admiral of Tsarist Russia, in 1804. His expedition aimed to establish relations with China and Japan. Despite a cold reception from the Japanese shogunate, this marked the beginning of Estonian encounters with Japan.
Jüri Jürison, another notable figure, arrived in Japan in 1866 aboard the warship Askold, just before the Meiji Restoration. Known for his curiosity and adventurous spirit, Jürison explored Yokohama, Nagasaki, and Hakodate, documenting his experiences in the Estonian press from 1867 to 1869. His travelogue offered a unique perspective on Japan to the Estonian audience.
During the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), Estonian soldiers, part of the Tsarist army, found common ground with Japanese prisoners, often preferring their company over that of their Russian comrades. This was due to the high literacy rate among Estonians and their different cultural background, which set them apart from the largely illiterate Russian soldiers.
Selart's book, written in Estonian, Japanese, and English, carefully selects historical narratives and photographs to bridge the two cultures. She emphasizes the challenge of presenting complex historical material in a concise and accessible way, catering to the understanding of both Estonian and Japanese readers.
The cover of the book features a sacred bridge in Nikko, Japan, symbolizing the connection between the two nations. Selart hopes her work will inspire further research and interest in the rich history of Estonian-Japanese relations.
More: https://news.err.ee/1609351449/estonian-sailors-discovered-japan-even-before-its-isolation-ended
