They must be between the ages of 16 and 19. On the day appointed they
must present themselves for a physical examination, and about 33 per
cent. fail to satisfy the medical board in this respect. The remainder
are then entered for a competitive examination in the following
subjects:—
Japanese literature.
Chinese literature.
English grammar.
” dictation.
English conversation.
” translation (English to Japanese and
Japanese to English).
Arithmetic.
Algebra.
Plain trigonometry.
Elementary geometry.
History (of the world).
Geography.
Elementary physics.
Very elementary chemistry.
Freehand drawing.
Competition is severe; for each vacancy there are about five
competitors; consequently, of those that originally enter only about 15
per cent. become _ko-hoshi_ (naval cadets).
The successful competitors are sent to the Naval College at Yetajima,
near Kuré (pronounced Kōūrā), where they remain three years, at the
entire expense of the Government nominally, but generally costing
something to their relatives.
Here they go through a very extensive course, which, in addition to a
number of subjects not specified here, includes:—
Seamanship,
Gunnery,
Torpedo,
Navigation,
Field drill,
Physics,
Chemistry,
Mechanical engineering (elementary),
English,
and all the other subjects of the original competitive examination in
advanced stages.
There is a feeling in Japan that this curriculum is rather too liberal
for the time allowed.
Some gunboats are attached to the college, and in these classes of the
cadets go out for a day or two’s practical instruction now and again;
speaking generally, however, the three years are shore-service.
After the three years at college a cadet becomes a _sho-i ko-hoshé_
(midshipman), and is sent to sea for one year in a training ship
(masted), drawing a trifling pay.
At the expiration of this period, when between the ages of twenty to
twenty-three, the midshipmen enter for a technical pass-examination for
_sho-i_ (second-class sub-lieutenant). If he fails (as a proportion do)
he is put back six months. He then has a second try. If he fails in
this attempt his services are dispensed with for good and all.
Passed midshipmen become sub-lieutenants, not by virtue of the
examination only, but in order of seniority obtained in the
examination, and as vacancies occur.
As sub-lieutenants they leave examinations behind them, but they have
to write essays on naval subjects. According to how the _sho-i_ does in
these, he passes up through into the higher class of sub-lieutenants.
The best take about one year to become a _tchu-i_ (first-class
sub-lieutenant), the worst take much longer.
After two years’ service as first-class sub-lieutenant a _tchu-i_ is
eligible for promotion to _taï-i_ (lieutenant).
Promotion is entirely by selection in this and all senior ranks.
The very youngest age at which an officer can become a _taï-i_ is
twenty-three. Twenty-four to twenty-five is nearer the average. A
non-promoted _tchu-i_ is compulsorily retired at the age of forty-two;
but there are none so old as that.
After eight years’ service a _taï-i_ is eligible for promotion (by
selection entirely) to lieutenant-commander. Thirty-one is the youngest
age for this. Lieutenant-commander is a distinct rank, intermediate
between lieutenant and commander. Its holder is entitled to the
courtesy rank of “captain,” and officially so addressed. In command
of a small ship he is a _scho-sa_; serving in a big ship he is a
_hojutsho_ (gunnery lieutenant), _suirisho_ (torpedo lieutenant) or a
_kokisho_ (navigator).
A lieutenant-commander is selected for _tchu-sa_ (commander) without
any definite service time.
Thence, still entirely by selection he can pass on upwards through
the usual higher grades of captain, rear-admiral, and vice-admiral
(_kan-cho_, _scho-sho_, and _tucho_). The average age at which an
officer becomes a _scho-cho_ (rear-admiral) is forty-five. The retiring
age is sixty-five, but comparatively few live so long.
To be selected for _taï-sho_ (admiral), a _tucho_ must have been in
command of a fleet two years, and, further, have been so in actual war.
A higher nominal rank still exists of admiral of the fleet—destined for
a full admiral who has had meritorious war service in that rank; but
there are none at present.