Monument to the first fleet review, Osaka, Japan

Hello PHG fans, today we're headed back to Japan, and on a special occasion as well. It happens that this week we marked 158 years since the first Japanese fleet review took place near Mount Tempo in Osaka. The Meiji Emperor, in whose name the Meiji Restoration took place and Boshin War was fought, was on hand to witness six Japanese ships and one french vessel sail together on 26 March 1868. This was the first of 18 fleet reviews, the last of which was in 1940 in Yokohama. The site of this first review can be visited today, at Mt. Tempo park in Osaka.

In this image, taken from the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records at the National Archives of Japan, the Meiji Emperor is attending the first fleet review near Mt. Tempo, Osaka in 1868.

The ships that took part in the review are the Denryu Maru (電流丸), Manri Maru (萬里丸), Chitose Maru (千歳丸), Sanpo Maru (三邦丸), Kayo Maru (華陽丸), Man-nen Maru (萬年丸). The French ship Duplex (デュプレクス) was also in the review. Although this is not the most impressive gathering of Japanese ships ever assembled, it is a seminal moment in the history of the nascent Japanese Empire and its navy. Next time you're in Osaka, stop by Mt. Tempo park and have a look around!

Happy exploring,

Tony

Further reading:

Japanese Fleet Reviews: National Institute for Defense Studies