The Russo-Japanese War was fought between Japan and Russia over imperial ambitions in Manchuria and Korea. It ended with Japan's victory and transformed the balance of power in East Asia and Europe.
The Battle of Trafalgar was a major naval battle fought by the British Royal Navy against the combined fleets of France and Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. It is historically significant for British naval power and strategic influence.
The Meiji Restoration was an event that restored imperial rule to the Empire of Japan. It marked a pivotal moment in Japanese history, leading to significant reforms and modernization efforts.
The end of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895 heightened Japan's fear of Russian encroachment in Korea and Manchuria, leading to tensions and eventually the Russo-Japanese War.
In 1896, Russia concluded an alliance with China against Japan, guaranteeing the integrity of Chinese territory and obtaining the right to lay the eastern section of the Trans-Siberian Railway across Manchuria.
In 1897, Russia began constructing railways in Chinese territory with the aim of opening it up for commercial exploitation. This move raised concerns about the potential economic and military control and colonization by Russia among Japanese leaders.
On April 8, 1898, Russia obtained a lease of Port Arthur for 25 years from China, despite strong objections from its own minister Witte.
Shunrō Oshikawa's novel The Submarine Battleship (Kaitei Gunkan) was published in 1900 before the actual fighting began but shared the imperial tensions that produced it. It is the story of an armoured ram-armed submarine involved in a Russo-Japanese conflict.
In 1902, Japan signed a treaty with Britain that ensured British intervention in case any country joined Russia in a war against Japan. This treaty effectively removed the threat of other European powers' involvement if hostilities erupted, providing Japan with a strategic advantage.
On December 21, 1903, the Katsura cabinet voted to go to war against Russia after Japan proposed a formula for a peaceful solution to the dispute, which was believed to be not taken seriously by Russia.
The Russo-Japanese War commenced in 1904, with conflicts between the Russian and Japanese Empires over territorial disputes in East Asia. It resulted in a surprising victory for Japan.
In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War began.
On January 13, 1904, Japan proposed a formula for a peaceful solution to the dispute by which Manchuria would remain outside Japan's sphere of influence and, reciprocally, Korea outside Russia's.
The Russo-Japanese War started in February 1904 due to Japan's clash with Russia over Liaodong and other provinces in eastern Manchuria, after failed negotiations and Russian refusal to honor the Boxer protocol.
On 4 February 1904, Japan severed diplomatic relations with Russia due to the lack of a formal reply from Saint Petersburg. This event marked a significant escalation in the tensions between the two countries.
On 6 February 1904, the Japanese minister to Russia, Kurino Shin'ichirō, was recalled as Japan's response to the failure of potential diplomatic resolution of territorial concerns with Russia. This action further strained the relations between the two nations.
On the night of 8-9 February 1904, Japanese destroyers launched a surprise attack on Russian warships at Port Arthur in Manchuria and Chemulpo (Inchon) in Korea, marking the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War.
The Russo-Japanese War began with a surprise attack by Japan on the Russian Far East Fleet at Port Arthur on February 8, 1904. The conflict resulted in significant casualties and ended with a Japanese victory after mediation by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.
The Russo-Japanese War began with a surprise attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the Russian Eastern Fleet at Port Arthur, China. This event marked the start of a significant conflict between the Empire of Japan and the Russian Empire over imperial ambitions in Manchuria and the Korean Empire.
On 10 February 1904, after the initial assaults, Japan officially declared war on Russia, escalating the conflict further.
Russia declared war on Japan eight days after the Imperial Japanese Navy's attack on the Russian Far East Fleet at Port Arthur.
On April 13, 1904, the Russian flagship Petropavlovsk was sunk by a mine in the harbour of Port Arthur, resulting in the loss of Vice-Admiral Stepan Osipovich Makarov and 662 crew members.
A battle where the Japanese achieved victory.
The Battle of Yalu River on 1 May 1904 became the first major land battle of the war, resulting in the defeat of the Russian Eastern Detachment and marking Russia's inability to match Japan's military prowess. This battle shattered the perception of an easy victory for Russia and set the tone for the rest of the war.
On 15 May 1904, the Japanese battleships Yashima and Hatsuse were lured into a recently laid Russian minefield off Port Arthur, resulting in the sinking of Hatsuse and severe damage to Yashima. This event demonstrated the effectiveness of offensive minelaying tactics employed by the Russians.
A Japanese victory in this battle.
The Battle of Nanshan occurred on May 27, 1904, as part of the Russo-Japanese War. It was a significant land battle where the Japanese forces achieved a strategic victory over the Russian troops.
A chronological sequence of major events related to the Russo-Japanese War, published in The Hawaiian Gazette on June 10, 1904.
The Japanese emerged victorious in this battle.
On 23 June 1904, a breakout attempt by the Russian squadron under the command of Admiral Wilgelm Vitgeft failed. This event further contributed to the strategic advantage of the Japanese forces during the Siege of Port Arthur.
A battle resulting in Japanese victory.
Japanese victory was achieved in this battle.
A battle where the Japanese emerged victorious.
The Siege of Port Arthur began on August 1, 1904, a crucial event in the Russo-Japanese War.
Admiral Wilgelm Vitgeft led the Russian battle fleet into the Yellow Sea to deploy to Vladivostok. They engaged in a long-range gunnery duel with Admiral Tōgō's fleet, resulting in the death of Vitgeft and the Russian flagship's retreat back to Port Arthur.
A naval battle where the Japanese achieved victory.
A prolonged siege ending in Japanese victory.
A naval battle resulting in Japanese victory.
A battle where the Japanese emerged victorious.
An inconclusive battle.
The Russian Baltic Fleet, under the command of Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky, departed to reinforce the Far East Fleet. The fleet's journey attracted worldwide attention and nearly sparked a war with the United Kingdom during the Dogger Bank incident.
Japan used all its strength to win victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, starting with a surprise naval attack on Port Arthur. This victory granted Japan control over the China Sea and dominance over Korea, establishing Japan as a colonial power in East Asia.
On January 2, 1905, Port Arthur surrendered, signifying a major turning point in the Russo-Japanese War.
The "1905 Revolution" broke out in Russia on January 22, 1905, impacting the course of the Russo-Japanese War.
The Battle of Sandepu occurred between 25 and 29 January 1905, when the Russian Second Army under General Oskar Gripenberg attacked the Japanese left flank near the town of Sandepu. The attack caught the Japanese by surprise, but without support from other Russian units, it stalled and was inconclusive.
An inconclusive battle.
On January 27, 1905, Lieut. Gen. Anatoly Stessel, the commander of the fortress, surrendered Port Arthur to the Japanese, which was regarded as an act of incompetence or treachery.
In February 1905, the Russo-Japanese War broke out, a conflict between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and Korea.
In February and March 1905, the armies fought the longest land battle of modern history to that point in the town of Mukden, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.
The Battle of Mukden took place in February 1905, involving approximately half a million men and hundreds of artillery pieces. After days of harsh fighting, the Russian defensive line began to curve backwards, leading to a general retreat and the collapse of Russian forces. The Russians suffered an estimated 90,000 casualties in the battle.
A battle resulting in Japanese victory.
After three weeks of fighting in the Battle of Mukden, General Kuropatkin decided to withdraw to the north of Mukden on 10 March 1905. The Russians suffered an estimated 90,000 casualties in the battle.
The Battle of Tsushima, fought on May 27, 1905, was a decisive naval battle of the Russo-Japanese War. The Japanese fleet under Admiral Togo achieved a stunning victory over the Russian Baltic Fleet, altering the course of the war.
The American president Theodore Roosevelt expressed his dissatisfaction with Wilhelm's 'Yellow Peril' propaganda and its impact on the Russian-Japanese dispute, implying that Germany might go to war against Japan in support of Russia.
During the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese achieved victory in the invasion of Sakhalin in July 1905.
On September 5, 1905, the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, officially ending the Russo-Japanese War.
The First Katsura Cabinet declared martial law to suppress the riots and protests that erupted following the announcement of the treaty terms, leading to the arrest of over 2,000 people.
Martial law, which was declared to suppress the riots and protests, was lifted after more than 2,000 people were arrested.
The First Katsura Cabinet resigned after ratifying the treaty, taking responsibility for the outcome of the war and the discontent among the Japanese population.
On December 10, 1906, Theodore Roosevelt formally accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in negotiating peace in the Russo-Japanese War. This recognition highlighted his efforts in promoting diplomacy and resolving conflicts.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov composed the satirical opera 'The Golden Cockerel' as a reaction to the Russo-Japanese War. The opera was banned by the authorities and premiered after the composer's death.
American author Arthur Wellesley Kipling prefaced his The New Dominion – A Tale of Tomorrow's Wars with a note counselling future vigilance. The scenario there is an attack by German and Japanese allies which the US and British navies victoriously fend off.
Australian author Charles H. Kirmess' novel The Australian Crisis is set in 1912 and told from the standpoint of 1922, following a military invasion of Australia's Northern Territory and colonisation by Japanese settlers.
Japan de jure annexed Korea as part of its colonial empire, consolidating its influence in the region and laying the groundwork for future conflicts and tensions in East Asia.
Emperor Meiji's death in 1912 marked the end of an era in Japanese history. His death, along with his wife's suicide 7 years after the Siege of Port Arthur, had significant cultural and historical implications.
La prose du Transsibérien et de la Petite Jehanne de France is a work by the French poet Blaise Cendrars, which energetically evoked the results of the Russo-Japanese War. It represents the poet's experience on a Russian train on its way to Manchuria at the time of the war.
The Mukden Incident was a staged event by the Kwantung Army, leading to the invasion of Manchuria. This incident marked a significant escalation of Japanese expansionism and aggression in East Asia, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937.
Alexey Novikov-Priboy's historical epic Tsushima, based on his own experiences on board the battleship Oryol as well as on testimonies of fellow sailors and government archives, was first published in 1932.
Frank Thiess' novel Tsushima, originally published in 1936, covered the same journey round the world to defeat.
Alexander Stepanov's novel Port Arthur: a historical narrative (1944) is based on his own diaries and his father's notes, and is considered one of the best historical novels of the Soviet period.
The film Kreiser Varyag was released in 1946.
The film Nichiro sensō shōri no hishi: Tekichū ōdan sanbyaku-ri was released in 1957.
The film Meiji tennô to nichiro daisenso was released in 1958.
The film Battle of the Japan Sea (1969) depicts the naval battles of the war, the attacks on the Port Arthur highlands, and the subterfuge and diplomacy of Japanese agents in Sweden.
Shumpei Okamoto's book provides Japan’s perspective and American awareness during the Russo-Japanese War. It includes a detailed timeline compiled from Japanese documents and other sources.
The documentary The Battle of Tsushima was released in 1975, depicting the naval Battle of Tsushima.
The Battle of Port Arthur in 1980, also known as 203 Kochi, was a significant event during the Russo-Japanese War, depicting the Siege of Port Arthur.
Valentin Pikul's novel The Three Ages of Okini-San covers the period from the Russo-Japanese War through to the February and October Revolutions.
In 1983, the TV series 'Reilly, Ace of Spies' dramatized the role of Russian-born British spy Sidney Reilly in providing intelligence for the Japanese surprise attack that initiated the Siege of Port Arthur.
The Donkey's Ears: Politovsky's Letters Home is an epistolary poem in verse by the Scottish poet Douglas Dunn, which is devoted to the naval war during the Russo-Japanese War. It follows the voyage of the Russian Imperial Navy flagship Kniaz to its sinking at the Battle of Tsushima.
Boris Akunin's novel The Diamond Chariot (2003) uses the period of the war as background, in the first part of which the detective Erast Fandorin is charged with protecting the Trans-Siberian Railway from Japanese sabotage.
The anime adaptation 'Golden Kamuy' in 2018 is set just after the Russo-Japanese War, featuring flashbacks and references to the war, with several principal characters being veteran Japanese army men who fought in the Siege of Port Arthur.
In 2019, the movie 'The Prisoner of Sakura' was released, based on the true story of a prison camp in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, during the Russo-Japanese War, centered around the romance between a Russian officer and a Japanese nurse on opposing sides of the war.