The Russian Assault Incident of 18067 and The Beginning of Studying Russian

Abstract

The Russian government sent Nikolai P. Rezanov as the sencond special envoy to Japan in 1804, but, to his great disappointment his offers were refused and the negotiations broke down.His disappointment turned into resentment, until he made up his mind to seek revenge on Japan and ordered his men, Khvostov and Davidov, to make assaults on Japanese bases in Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, in retaliation for Japan's refusal of Russia's requirement for trade.Khvostov assaulted Etorofu Island, plundering the island and setting fire to the guardhouse and the warehouse, and when he left the island, he left a note behind to the Japanese official. By having Doeff, superintendent of Dutch factory, read the note, it was found that the note was a declaration written in Russian and French, showing their motive for their assaults on Japanese bases.After that, another incident happened at Kunashiri Island in 1811. The Diana, a Russian surveying ship, appeared off Kunashiri Island and when the captain V. M. Golovnin and his men were getting to land, Japanese officials played tricks on the Russians and succeeded in capturing them.Golovnin and seven other Russians were transferred to Matsumae and imprisoned there for about two years.During their imprisonment, Golovnin instructed Sadasuke Murakami, Sajaroh Baba, Sanai Adachi and others in Russian. As each student had by nature an aptitude for languages the instruction in Russian by Golovnin was quite successful and it was to take the initiative in studying foreign languages except Dutch in Japan.