Before Port Arthur in a Destroyer

Japanese Naval Officer, Captain R. Grant D.S.O.

• Publisher: Bonhopai Books
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781779794208
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Japanese History

Before Port Arthur in a Destroyer is one of the most vivid and immediate eyewitness accounts to emerge from the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) — a conflict that reshaped the balance of power in Asia and heralded the dawn of modern naval warfare. First published anonymously, and later attributed to Hesibo Tikowara, this remarkable narrative offers a rare perspective from within the Imperial Japanese Navy during the historic siege of Port Arthur.

Told with the precision of a sailor and the sensitivity of a human observer, the book chronicles the day-to-day experiences of a destroyer crew operating at the edge of danger — from the tense patrols in icy seas to the deafening roar of bombardments that marked Japan's first great modern victory. Tikowara captures both the technical details of naval combat and the emotional toll of life at sea: the courage, fatigue, and quiet moments of reflection that accompany service under fire.

What distinguishes Before Port Arthur in a Destroyer is its tone of realism and restraint. Far from propaganda, it reveals the discipline and humanity of Japan's fighting men while acknowledging the futility and sorrow of war. Through the eyes of an officer who lived it, the reader witnesses the birth of a new era in maritime history — one defined by steel ships, long-range gunnery, and the dawning of industrialized conflict.

 More than a war memoir, this is a meditation on duty, endurance, and the cost of victory. With its clear prose and rare authenticity, Before Port Arthur in a Destroyer stands alongside the great personal narratives of naval warfare — a Japanese counterpart to the classic accounts of Crane and Kipling, and a timeless testament to courage on the high seas. 

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
• BEFORE PORT ARTHUR IN A DESTROYER