" This time my article will not follow the type neither of a letter nor of an essay. I'm writing things as it appears in my mind which may not be well arranged. Even I do not try to revise them. I can't say that it will contain any story about our journey. It may appear some irregularly distributed paragraphs.If it is so, what's the harm in it." These articles were printed in Baishakh-Bhadra as 'Japan-Jatrir Patra', Aswin-Kartik, Agrahayan as 'Japaner Patra' and in Baishakh 1324 as 'Japaner Katha' . Later on they were published in a book form in the name 'Japan-Jatri' in Shraban 1326.In the book there were some additions and alterations.The original manuscript was sent as a press copy, and subsequently kept in the library of Rabinfdrabhavan after making it a hard-bound one.
The name of the ship Rabindranath and his party boarded was "Tosa-Maru'.It was a small Japanese cargo-ship which used to carry some passengers.Pearson wrote to Ngendra on 2nd May ;
"I think we shall be quite comfortable on this boat for there are only nine passengers and we have a very roomy cabin "
But there were some Rangoon-origin , both Hindus and Muslims , deck-passengers other than the cabin-passengers whose different manners and behaviors were reflected in the description of Rabindranath's writings. Stephen N. Hay informed that ;
" The very ship on which he sailed for Japan had been outfitted two year earlier by members of this group
[ Bengali Revolutionaries] in a complex plot to smuggle arms into India."
The revolutionary Rashbehari Basu utilised Rabindranath's Japan-going ship for his self-defence for escape..The plan of Military coup to be held on 21 Feb 1915 was prepared by him which could not take place due to some treacherous activities.. To avoid his arrest he was in disguise and took the name P.N.Thakur and gave his introduction as a relative of Rabindranath to get the passport and fled away to Japan in this ship. After reaching there he declared that it was he who had thrown bomb on 23rd Dec 1912 in Delhi to kill Lord Hardinge."
Earlier to this journey Rabindranath wanted to go abroad by ship from Calcutta port on 22 nd April 1881 which was finally cancelled. This time also as before he had to board the ship at night before his journey. Rabindranath wrote ;
" I've boarded ships from Bombay port several times and found to be never delayed. In Calcutta one has to board the ship in the night and is to wait till the morning that becomes monotonous. The relatives came and went away bidding farewell after boarding, the friends came and garlanded and went away but the ship did not move. In other words, those who would stay went away and those who were to go would stay there."
The most ridiculous story was described by Mukul De in his autobiography (Amar Katha );
" The ship Tosa-Maru to carry goods could not start in time for the goods it had to carry did not start timely. It started on the next day. As a result Rabindranath came to Jorasanko with Mukul De and after passing a full day he came back to the ship in the evening."
The ship sailed on 3rd May, 1916 in the morning. Rabindranath wrote to Rathindranath in the morning at about 8 am ;
" In fact the ship ultimately started in the morning. There was heavy wind. The cloud had moved and bright sun rays were visible."
Signs of storm were visible in the night which gathered momentum during the day on 5th May.
Describing the nature of the storm Pearson wrote to Nagendranath :
"Gurudev suffered intensely but the power of his spirit overcame and at the time of his greatest discomfort he was able to express his pity for Mukul who was very seasick."
But the letter dated 7th May written by Rabindranath to Rathindranath said otherwise ;
" Mukul was not filling bad even in the storm. He did not feel seasickness, that is good. arrangements of food was alright. Rangoon was visible from a long disrance. Probably on Wednessday the ship would again start from Rangoon."
