ROMANCE WITH O-SEI-SAN
One spring afternoon, a few days after he had moved to the Spanish Legation in the Azabu district of Tokyo,
Rizal saw a pretty Japanese girl walking past the legation gate. Being a man with an eye for feminine beauty,
he was attracted by her regal loveliness and charm. He craved to meet her -- but how?
Rizal made inquiries among the legation employees and learned from one of them (a Japanese gardener) that
she was Seiko Usui, who lived in her parents’ home and that she used to pass by the legation during her daily
afternoon walk.
The following afternoon, Rizal and the Japanese gardener waited at the legation gate and watched for the girl.
As she approached, he took off his hat and politely introduced himself, as was the custom in Germany. At
that time, Rizal’s Japanese was still poor so the gardener came to his aid and explained to the girl that the
young man was a physician from Manila who was a guest of the Spanish Legation.
Since that first meeting, Rizal and O-Sei-San, as Rizal called her, met almost daily. Together, they visited the
interesting spots of the city -- the Imperial Art Gallery, the Imperial Library, the universities, the Shokubutsuen (Botanical Garden), the city parks (particularly Hibiya Park), and the picturesque shrines.
Both found happiness in each other’s company. Rizal was then a lonely physician of 27 years old, disillusioned
by his frustrated romance with Leonor Rivera and embittered by Spanish Injustices at home.
O-Sei-San was a lonely samurai’s daughter of 23 years old and had never yet experienced the ecstasy of true
love. The affinity of interest in the arts paved the way for their romance.
Rizal saw in lovey O-Sei-San the qualities of his ideal womanhood - - beauty, charm, modesty, and intelligence.
No wonder, he fell deeply in love with her.
O-Sei-San reciprocated his affection, for it was the first time her heart palpitated with joys to see a man of
gallantry, dignity, courtesy, and versatile talents.
O-Sei-San helped Rizal in many ways. More than a sweetheart, she was his guide, interpreter, and tutor. She
guided him in observing the shrines and villages around Tokyo. She improved his knowledge of Nippongo
(Japanese language) and Japanese history. And she interpreted the Kabuki plays and the quaint customs and
mores of the Japanese people.
O-Sei-San’s beauty and affection almost tempted Rizal to settle down in Japan. At the same time, he was offered
a good job at the Spanish Legation. If he were a man of lesser heroic mold, of lesser will power, he would have
lived permanently in Japan - - and happily at that with O-Sei-San, but then the world, in general, and the
Philippines, in particular, would have lost a Rizal.
RIZAL ON O-SEI-SAN
Rizal’s great love for O-Sei-San is attested by the hero’s diary. On the eve of his departure, he wrote in his diary:
…
With this tenderly tragic in his own diary, Rizal bade farewell to lovey O-Sei-San.”