Insert music * 1- Cherry Blossoms

One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his sojourn in the Land of the Cherry Blossoms for
one month and a half. He was enchanted by the natural beauty of Japan, the charming manners of the
Japanese people, and the picturesque shrines.

Rizal arrives in Yokohama early in the morning and registered in the grand hotel

The next day he proceeded to Tokyo and took a room at Tokyo Hotel

Receptionist1: (greetings in Japanese)

Rizal: (greetings in Japanese) Do you have any vacant room?

Receptionist1: Yes, sir we have, just kindly fill up this form.

(Rizal filling up the form*)

Receptionist1: (thanked in Japanese) the butler will show you the room and here’s the key for your hotel
room sir.

Rizal: (thanked in Jap)

Butler: this way sir.

(Receptionist1 bowed*)

Insert music * 2- Tea Ceremony

Shortly after Rizal’s arrival in Tokyo, he was visited at his hotel by Juan Perez Caballero. The latter invited
him to live at the Spanish Legation.
*knocking at the door

Juan: Buenos dias, I’m Juan Perez Caballero , the secretary of the Spanish Legation. Can I come in?

Rizal: Oh Buenos dias. Yes, please do come in.

Juan: I came to invite you live at the Spanish Legation

Rizal, being an intelligent man, realized that the Spanish diplomatic authorities were instructed from
Manila to Monitor his movements in Japan.

Rizal: okay, I’ll pack my things first.

Narration: He accepted the invitation for two reasons:

1.) He could economize his living expenses by staying at the legation and

2.) He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities.

Narration: Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish Legation. He and Perez Caballero
became good friends. In a letter of Blumentritt, he described the Spanish diplomat as “a young, fine, and
excellent writer” and “an able diplomat who had traveled much”.

Insert music * 3- First Love

Narration: One spring afternoon, a few days after he had moved to the Spanish Legation in the Azabadu
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 to her regal liveliness and charm.

Narration: A Japanese Gardener told him that the girl’s name was Seiko Usui. The following afternoon,
Rizal and the Japanese gardener waited at the legation gate and watched for the girl.

Rizal: Can you please help me talk to her?

Gardener: Yes sir, I’m pleased to help you.

Rizal: (thanked in Japanese)

(Went to Seiko*)

Rizal: Excuse ma’aam.

Seiko: Yes?

(Rizal took off his hat politely introduced himself* )

Rizal: Hello, I am Jose Rizal. I’m a physician from Manila.

(The gardener introduced Seiko and Rizal from each other*)

Seiko: I’m Seiko Usui, I’m pleased to meet you. Thank you, you can leave us now (referring to the
gardener*)

(Rizal whispered to the Gardener*)

Gardener: No worries sir.

(Rizal and Seiko sit on the bench*)

Rizal: You’re good at speaking in English.

Seiko: Oh yes, I can also speak French. So you a Physician right?

Rizal: Yes I am and I’m invited here to live in the Spanish Legation

Seiko: that’s great. Oh it’s getting late now. I need to go now my mother will gonna be worried about
me. So see you around.

Rizal: Wait. Can we meet tomorrow 4pm at the park?

Seiko: Ok sure I’ll be there. Sayonara!

Rizal: Sayonara~
Since that first meeting Rizal and Seiko Usui met almost everyday. They visited beautiful sites around the
city.

Rizal: Seiko-san, can I call you O-sei-san? Because I feel comfortable calling you like that.

Seiko: If that’s okay with you. Well It’s fine.

Rizal: By the way can you tell me the Japanese word for ‘You are beautiful’?

Seiko: anata wa kirei des

Rizal: Ohh, O-sei-san wa totemo kirei des.

(Seiko blushed*)

Rizal: How about I like you?

Seiko: (I like you---)

Rizal: (I like you ---)

Insert music * 3- Bamboo Flute

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.

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 or lesser will power,
he would have lived permanently in Japan. But Rizal love the Philippines and his countrymen and he
need to do what his mission, he was force to leave Japan and left O-Sei-San behind.

Rizal: O-Sei-San I have something to tell you.

O-Sei-San: Yes? What is it?

Rizal: I need to do what I’m supposed to do and I need to go back to the Philippines to defend my
country and my co- Filipinos.

O-Sei-San: When will you come back?

Rizal: I think I can no longer come back O-Sei-San.

O-Sei-San: (What? What about me?) Don’t you love me anymore Jose?

Rizal: You know how much I love you O-Sei-San.

O-Sei-San: Then don’t leave me!

Rizal: Even if I want to stay, I can’t. because I can’t bear to see my countrymen suffering.

O-Sei-San: HOW COULD YOU?!

Rizal: If you only knew how hard for me to do this O-Sei-San.

O-Sei-San: Oh really? Then you shouldn’t have let me fall in love with you.

(walks out*)

(Seiko crying*)

As everything on earth has to end, the beautiful romance between Rizal and O-Sei-San inevitably came
to a dolorous ending.

(Seiko ran towards Rizal and hugged each other)

(background music)

Sacrificing his personal happiness, Rizal had to carry on his libertarian mission in Europe, accordingly, he
resumed his voyage, leaving behind the lovely O-Sei-San, whom he passionately loved. Broken-hearted
by the departure of Rizal, the first man to capture her heart, O-Sei-San mourned for a long time the loss
of her lover.

Despite his sorrowing heart, Rizal enjoyed the pleasant trans-Pacific voyage to the United States. On
board the ship, he met a semi-Filipino family – Mr. Reinaldo Turner, his wife Emma Jackson (daughter of
an Englishman), their children, and their maid servant from Pangasinan.
Young boy: Sir, Do you know a famous man in Manila named Richal? He wrote a novel, Noli Me Tangere.

Rizal: Yes, hijo, I am Richal.

In great joy the boy rushed to his mother, informing her that the famous man is their fellow passenger,
she felicitated Rizal, feeling proud that they were travelling with a celebrity.

Mother: Bonjour sir.

Rizal: Bonjour madam

Mother: My son told me that you are Mr. Richal, the one who wrote this book?

Rizal: Actually it’s Rizal but yes I am.

Mother: wow It’s a pleasure to meet you sir. I love reading your book!

Rizal: Oh I see, merci~

Another passenger which Rizal befriended on board the Belgic was Tetcho Suehiro, a fighting Japanese
journalist, novelist, and champion of human rights, who was forced by the Japanese government to
leave the country, just as Rizal was compelled to leave the Philippines by the Spanish authorities.

Rizal: You seemed so lonely sir, do you have any company along the trip?

Tetcho: No I’m all by myself.

Rizal: btw I’m Dr. Jose Rizal a physician from Manila, Philippines

Tetcho: I’m Tetcho Suehiro a journalist from Japan.

They became good friends, shared experiences, knowledge including different languages. Rizal and
Tetcho were kindred spirits. Both were valiant patriots, both were men of peace using their trenchant
pens as formidable weapons to fight for their peoples’ welfare and happiness.

Rizal and Tetcho had their last warm handshake and bid each other “goodbye.”

They parted and never met again.

(sound of the ship horn*)

Characters

Jose Rizal
Receptionist
Butler
Juan Perez Caballero
---
Japanese gardener
Seiko Usui
Seiko's friend
---
Mr. Reinaldo Turner
Emma Jackson
Young boy
Mother
Tetcho Suehiro