A Scenic Prelude to Conflict

The Amur River, known in China as the Heilongjiang, winds through landscapes so breathtaking that even the celebrated writer Anton Chekhov confessed his inability to capture their beauty in words. Yet beneath this natural splendor, tensions brewed between two rising powers—Russia and Japan—whose ambitions would soon erupt into one of the 20th century’s defining conflicts.

The Otsu Incident: A Flashpoint in 1891

On May 11, 1891, the tranquil streets of Otsu, Japan, were disrupted by the arrival of a foreign dignitary: Nicholas Alexandrovich, the Russian crown prince (later Tsar Nicholas II). As his rickshaw procession moved through the town, an assailant—Japanese policeman Tsuda Sanzō—struck Nicholas twice on the head with a sword. Though his injuries were minor (thanks to a protective hat), the attack sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles.

### Competing Explanations
– Cultural Clash: Some speculated that Nicholas’s rumored visits to Japanese brothels—inspired by Pierre Loti’s novel Madame Chrysanthème—offended Tsuda’s nationalist sensibilities.
– Geopolitical Friction: Others saw the incident as a symptom of deeper tensions. Nicholas’s tour, ostensibly to inaugurate the Trans-Siberian Railway, doubled as reconnaissance for Russian naval expansion into Asia.

Japan, eager to avoid war while modernizing under the Meiji Restoration, scrambled to apologize. Emperor Meiji personally visited Nicholas’s ship, dismissing the attacker as a “lone madman.” But the damage was done. The incident foreshadowed the Russo-Japanese rivalry over Korea and Manchuria.

The Meiji Restoration’s Unintended Consequences

Japan’s rapid modernization had destabilized its samurai class. The 1876 Kinroku Kosai reforms replaced feudal stipends with government bonds, impoverishing many former warriors. Tsuda, a disgruntled ex-samurai turned policeman, embodied this discontent. His act mirrored broader unrest, including the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion.

Meanwhile, Russia’s eastward expansion—symbolized by the Trans-Siberian Railway—alarmed Japan. Nicholas’s post-Otsu policies hardened:
– Triple Intervention (1895): After Japan’s victory in the First Sino-Japanese War, Russia led Germany and France in forcing Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula to China.
– The “Yellow Russia” Plan: Russia leased Port Arthur (Lüshun) in 1898, aiming to dominate Manchuria and Korea.

The Boxer Rebellion and Escalation

The 1900 Boxer Rebellion became a proxy battleground. Russia occupied Manchuria under the pretext of protecting its railways, while Japan joined the Eight-Nation Alliance, earning Western recognition as a regional power.

### Key Turning Points:
1. Japanese Diplomacy: Lacking allies, Japan proposed a “Man-Kan Exchange” (Manchuria for Korea) to Russia—a deal St. Petersburg rejected.
2. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902): Britain, wary of Russia, backed Japan, isolating Russia diplomatically.

The Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)

### Opening Moves
– Surprise Attack: On February 8, 1904, Japan launched a preemptive strike on Port Arthur, crippling Russian ships.
– Battle of Mukden (1905): The largest land battle since Napoleon, ending in Japanese victory after 200,000 casualties.

### Tsushima: The Decisive Blow
In May 1905, Admiral Tōgō’s fleet annihilated Russia’s Baltic Fleet at Tsushima Strait. Japan’s use of wireless communication and high-explosive shells marked a naval revolution.

Legacy and Modern Relevance

– Japan’s Rise: The war established Japan as Asia’s first modern imperial power, foreshadowing its WWII ambitions.
– Russian Revolution: Military defeats fueled the 1905 uprising, a rehearsal for 1917.
– Lessons for Today: The conflict underscores how nationalist pride and resource competition can spiral into war—a cautionary tale for contemporary Asia.

Chekhov’s awe at the Amur’s beauty contrasts starkly with the blood spilled over its banks. The Otsu incident, though a footnote, set in motion events that reshaped empires and continue to echo in today’s geopolitics.