NOGUCHI, Yone. In Search of the South Pole: Britain and Jap...

Single sheet, folio (381 x 290 mm). 7 illustrations after photographs. This is a very informative article written for a British magazine by Yone Noguchi, one of Japan’s leading authors and poets of the time. The article begins with an introduction in somewhat of a condescending manner by the choice of wording, images used and their placement. The introduction begins, “The Japanese, in pursuance of their aspiration towards civilization, are now turning their attention to exploration”. Shirase is referred to as an “unscientific dreamer”. Even though the article is written about Shirase and the Japanese Antarctic Expedition, of the seven photographic images used in the article, 5 feature Capt. Scott and his expedition with the remaining two related to Shirase and the Japanese Antarctic Expedition. The central placement of a photo of Shirase and crew members above Scott’s Manchurian ponies instead of showing the two crews in adjacent images is also somewhat revealing. The article was written shortly after Shirase’s departure from Tokyo Bay on November 28, 2010, and the content is primarily related to Shirase and the Japanese Antarctic Expedition. It is informative, insightful and among other areas, it discusses Shirase living six months with the northern Eskimo as part of his preparation for later polar exploits along with his strength as an individual in planning with the difficulties faced in attempting a conquest of the South Pole and scientific research. Ross 3.24A (“Very scarce”).