Flame Pillar of Rizal

Romantic Rizal and the Timid O-Sei-San

PHOTO: Miss O-Sei-Kiyo-San, sketch by Rizal, 1888

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Rizal arrived in Japan on February 28. 1888. He entered the country through Yokohama and stayed at Tokyo Hotel for a few days. Then, initial crush romance with O-Sei-San or O-Sei-Kiyo-San began in the early spring of March. After moving to the Spanish Legation, Rizal saw her walking near the gate of the legation. Charmed by her beauty, he tried to find a way by which to meet and know her.

Through the serious inquiry that Rizal undertook, he learned from the gardener of the legation that the beautiful lady was Seiko Usui, called fondly by her friends as O-Sei-San. He also learned from the gardener that Seiko works regularly in legation and lives with her parents and usually passes the legation every afternoon. In his diary, we can find a poetic record of this romantic interlude, which is worthy of transcription. Rizal was "mutatis mutandis," a precursor of Pinkerton, the protagonist in Madame Butterfly. Cio-Cio San may be compared to O-Sei-Kiyo-San, but Rizal can hardly compared to Pinkerton, who was a navy officer and dealt with cannons while Rizal was a poet who wrote poetry to liberate his country. The dramatic scene of Madame Butterfly could not have taken place in the case of Rizal and Cio-Cio San, for they never became formally engaged.

But before that, let's continue through the meeting. Rizal and the gardener waited for Seiko to pass the legation gate, one afternoon. Through the intercession of the gardener, he came to know the Japanese lady. In Seiko, Rizal saw the ideals of womanhood, namely: beauty; charm; intelligence; and modesty. The aforementioned ideals made Rizal too much attracted to Seiko.

The friendship established between Rizal and Seiko developed into a love fair, we can say this but he was in serious long distance relationship with Leonor Rivera and never be committed to women. While Rizal had a good impression of Seiko, the latter had a good perception of Rizal. To Seiko, Rizal was a man of versatile talents, a man of gallantry, a man of dignity, and a man of courtesy.

O-Sei-Kiyo-San loved Rizal sincerely and Rizal responded by his sincere affection. She served as Rizal's interpreter that helped him to be accustomed to Japanese culture, she taught him to read and write Niphonggo, and introduced him to Japanese style of painting. They spent joyful and unforgettable days visiting temples, shrines, and castles and even watched Kabuki plays. There was even a time when O-Sei-San invited Rizal to a cha-no-yu (Tea Ceremony), a social tradition of the Japanese people, signifying harmony, purity, tranquility, and reverence.

Owing to the irresistible beauty, affection, and warmth of O-Sei-San, Rizal became tempted to stay for good in Japan. Nevertheless, Rizal felt that he had other duties to fulfill for his country and to saddened Leonor back home. On April 13, 1888, he left Yokohama, leaving a love and a country that had conquered his heart, with its beautiful forms of courtesy and the amiability with which he was treated. While there, he never lacked money, which had often been his problem. His love for O-Sei-San can be gleaned from the diary he wrote on the eve of his departure from Japan, which runs as follows:

"Japan has pleased me. The beautiful scenery, the flowers, the trees, and the inhabitants -- so peaceful, so courteous, so pleasant. O-Sei-San -- Sayonara, Sayonara! I have spent a lovely golden month; I do not know if I can have another one like that in all my life. Love, money, friendship, appreciation, honors -- these have not been wanting.

To think that I am leaving this life for the uncertain, the unknown. There I was offered an easy way to live, beloved, and esteemed...

To you I dedicate the final chapter of these memoirs of my youth. No woman like you, have ever loved me. No woman, like you has sacrificed for me. Like the flowers of the Chodji that falls from the stem fresh and whole without falling leaves or without withering -- with poetry still despite its fall -- thus you feel. Neither have you lost your purity nor have the delicate petals of your innocence faded -- Sayonara! Sayonara!

You shall never return to know that I have once more thought of you and that your image lives in my memory; and undoubtedly, I am always thinking of you. Your name lives in the sight of my lips, your image accompanies and animates all my thoughts. When shall I pass another divine afternoon like that in the temple of Meguro? When shall the sweet hours, I spent with you return? When shall I find them sweeter, more tranquil, more pleasing? You are the color of the camellia, its freshness, its elegance...."

With these words, Rizal bade O-Sei-Kiyo-San and Japan sayonara.

Did you know? During World War II, the widowed O-Sei-San's home was destroyed. Her collection of Philippine stamps that had Rizal's picture was also destroyed. She died at the age of 80 on May 1, 1947.