Japan by the Japanese/Chapter 22.3

Before entering into the details of nautical education in Japan, let us first glance at the increase of tonnage and number of seamen up to the end of 1902, in order to gain some idea of the present condition of the shipping trade.

In 1897 the total tonnage of the vessels in this country did not exceed over 400,000 tons, including steamers and sailing vessels; but with the expansion of national industry the number and tonnage of vessels rapidly increased, and by the end of 1902 the tonnage amounted to 934,961 tons, out of which 605,122 tons represented steamers, and 329,839 tons sailing vessels. It must, however, be acknowledged that the number able to handle the vessels—namely, the skilled officers of certified ability—were few in proportion. At the present time there are only properly certificated officers, as shown in the following table:

Such being the case, the necessity of producing good seamen is urgently felt at present, and the Government is making efforts to make the nautical education more effective.

In Japan the only complete establishment for the training of the higher branches of sailors is the Nautical College of Tokyo. It is attached to the Department of Communications. The institution was first founded in 1875 by the Mitsu Bishi Company, but was later transferred to the Japanese Mail Ship Company. In 1885 it was taken over by the Government and reorganized, and has developed into the present Nautical College.

​The college trains the young men destined to become officers of the mercantile marine, instructing them in the theory and practice of the subjects pertaining to the higher branches of the seaman’s profession. The course of study is divided into two departments, namely, the department of navigation and that of engineering.

The cadets of both departments are enlisted in the navy during their college life, and even after their graduation; and as they are liable to be appointed as naval officers, they are under the obligation of observing the general laws of the navy.

In the navigation department, theoretical and practical seamanship, nautical surveying, marine meteorology, law, and shipbuilding, form the principal studies, and the others are supplementary.

On entering, cadets are placed in the sixth class, and are promoted a class every half-year, receiving their instruction in the college class-rooms until they advance to the first class, when they are taken to the Hojustsu-Renshusho (Gunnery School) at Yokosuka, to be instructed in the art of gunnery for about six months. Finally they serve terms of apprenticeship on board various vessels for two and a half years. Thus, they take five and a half years to complete their education.

In the engineering department the steam-engine, steam-boiler, electricity, drawing, and shop practice, are the principal studies, and the others are supplementary.

On entering, each cadet is placed in the fifth class, and he ascends at the rate of a class every six months. He receives, too, instruction in the class-rooms, as is the case with the navigation department cadets. When he advances to the first class, however, he is placed in some factory or similar works to receive practical training for two years, and then he is taken on board various vessels to serve his term of apprenticeship in engineering for a year. Thus, he requires five years to finish his course.

A great incentive is provided for the students in that the college sends abroad for the completion of their education those graduates who are of promising ability and of good character.

Any boy above fifteen and below twenty-one years old is admitted to the college, provided that he can succeed in passing the entrance examinations. Graduates of Government, public or private middle schools, publicly acknowledged by the Minister of Education as to be of equal standing with the public middle schools, are admitted to the college without entrance examination, requiring only a certificate as to their ability and character from the schools in which they have graduated.

​The cadets are of two kinds: those who are supported by loans from the Government or from some mercantile corporation, and those paying their own expenses.

Students of good character and ability, who are considered by the college authorities as of exceptional merit, may be regarded as honorary students, and are freed from their expenses.

The following is a list of the members of the college faculty:

A director; secretaries, 8; professors, 12; instructors, 8; associate professors and instructors, 8; official clerks, 16; lecturers, 12; hired clerks.

The number of cadets residing at the college is:

The number of cadets residing at the special factories or on board ships is as follows:

The grand total is 515.

In order to enable the cadets to have practice in the making of knots, splices, hitches, bends; in bending and unbending, setting and taking in sails; sending up and down yards and spars, a training-ship, named the Meiji Maru, is moored in the basin belonging to the college, where the cadets are instructed after their morning classes are over. They are also drilled in boating, sailing, and steering.

The Meiji Maru was built at Glasgow, being of 1,037 gross and 457 net tonnage.

The college owns another sailing vessel, named the Kotonoo Maru, used as a training-ship. This was built on the Thames, ​and is of 825 gross and 775 net tonnage. This vessel is employed in cruising in the neighbouring seas.

A large sailing vessel, named the Taisei Maru, of above 2,000 tons, is now in course of building at the Kawasaki Dockyard in Kobe. When finished, it will be used as a training-ship in navigation. Not only will it sail to different ports in Japan, but also to those of Europe, America, Australia, etc.

Besides the Government Nautical College, the Nippon Kaiin Ekisaiwai (Japan Sailors’ Home) contributes to some extent towards the training of higher seamen. The association possesses branches at Tokyo, Kobe, and Nagasaki, where a number of ordinary seamen possessing some experience receive instruction in order to prepare themselves for the examinations for the officers’ certificates.

The following schools are the public institutions for training the higher seamen:

In the above institutions navigation and engineering courses may be taken. The institutions are open for boys who have finished their four years’ course of education in the high elementary schools, and for those who are regarded upon examination as of equal ability. The course is about six and a half years, the subjects taught being as follows:

Navigation Department.—Moral Code; Reading; Composition; Mathematics; Physics; Chemistry; Drawing; Gymnastics; Elements of Surgery; Foreign Languages; General Principles of Seamanship, Navigation, Marine Meteorology, and Shipbuilding; Principles of Mercantile Marine Business.

Engineering Department.—Mechanics; Applied Mechanics; General Principles of Electricity; General Principles of Shipbuilding; Principles of Mercantile Marine Business.

The graduates of the above institutions are required to undergo the examination for officers. If successful, they become deck officers or engineers, but the graduates of the Nautical College are granted officers’ certificates without examination.