[101], Several Antarctic landmarks reference Shirase or the expedition: the Shirase Coast,[102] the Shirase Glacier,[103] as well as Okuma Bay and Kainan Bay. This film is based on the Japanese film "Antarctica" (1983), and that both of these films are based on the true story of the ill-fated 1958 Japanese expedition to Antarctica. The world has been through many tragic events that have shaped the world that we live in today. For Fuchs to succeed in journeying from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea via the South Pole, his plan like that of Ernest Shackletons ill-fated attempt 40 years earlier depended on a supporting party from New Zealand. Between 1992 and 2015, an image of a modified Massey Ferguson tractor graced the New Zealand $5 note, commemorating the achievement. Assistant Professor of History, Texas Tech University, Daniella McCahey has received funding from the Royal Society of New Zealand and the National Science Foundation. [8], Japan's interest in Antarctic research revived in 1956, with the first Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. For Fuchs to succeed in journeying from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea via the South Pole, his plan like that of Ernest Shackletons ill-fated attempt 40 years earlier depended on a supporting party from New Zealand. This was the team which left 15 dogs, including Taro and Jiro, behind after an emergency evacuation in February . The remainder of the expedition was an exercise in damage control, with the organising committees in New Zealand and the UK stressing there was indeed only one expedition, and there had been no race to the Pole. In the end, New Zealanders donated more to the TAE per capita than the British public did. In 2006, Disney released "Eight Below", a film that tells the story of a pack of abandoned sled dogs and their struggle to survive the hostile Antarctic landscape. Details of conditions and fees may be had from the Archivist. Lure of the ice: a view across the Ross Ice Shelf. [47], When the ship's refurbishment was complete and the expedition ready to depart, Shirase and his officers wrote to David thanking him for all the help he had given: "You were good enough to set the seal of your magnificent reputation upon our bona fides, and to treat us as brothers in the realm of science Whatever may be the fate of our enterprise, we will never forget you". In the 1958 event, 15 Sakhalin Husky sled dogs were abandoned [38] Tension had grown following Japan's recent military victories in Russia and China, and as in New Zealand, there was considerable suspicion about the party's true purpose. Three monuments dedicated to the dogs have been constructed: near Wakkanai, Hokkaido;[2] under Tokyo Tower;[3] and near Nagoya Port.[1][4]. In Fuchs words: A trans-continental journey made wholly within territory claimed by the British Commonwealth [] would gain prestige and at the same time contribute to the solidarity of Commonwealth interests.. After failing to land in its first season, the Japanese expedition's original aim of reaching the South Pole was replaced by less ambitious objectives, and after a more successful second season it returned safely to Japan, without injury or loss of life. At the head of a major public relations campaign, Hillarys attachment to the expedition was a big factor in growing support for the expedition. [28] More particularly, they sought up-to-date charts; all they possessed for navigation beyond 60S was a small-scale photocopy of an admiralty chart marking Ernest Shackleton's 1907 route in Nimrod. [31][35] Kainan Maru would now make for Sydney, Australia, to sit out the southern winter and prepare for a second season. Edmund Hillary in Antarctica 1958. [76][94], Shirase devoted most of the rest of his life to clearing the expedition's debts. In such cases the archivist will advise about any requirements imposed by the owner. Mss-212, Box: 1, Folder: 11 (Mixed Materials) . Hokkaido (1888 - 1958) Kainan Maru Ship Crew. On top of that, it carries a Navy pursuit plane and it drives over the South Pole's icy wastelands. By the time Fuchs arrived at the Pole on January 19, a media firestorm had exploded. 1st July 1957 - 31st Dec 1958. International Geophysical Year (IGY) 12 nations establish over 60 stations in Antarctica. [20] The event proved anticlimactic; Kainan Maru was not ready to sail that day. This article was originally published on The Conversation. [77][n 3], After leaving Shirase's party, Kainan Maru sailed eastwards, arriving off the King Edward VII Land coast in Biscoe Bay on 23 January at 7656'S, 15555'W. The collection comprises of material relating to the Japanese Antarctic Expedition. [96] By then, Shirase had received belated public recognition; in 1933 he became honorary president of the newly formed Japanese Polar Research Institute. The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1955-1958 was a Commonwealth-sponsored expedition that successfully completed the first overland crossing of A. Read more: In Fuchs words: A trans-continental journey made wholly within territory claimed by the British Commonwealth [] would gain prestige and at the same time contribute to the solidarity of Commonwealth interests. Read more: In its second Antarctic season, 191112, it made no major scientific or geographical discoveries, but could claim some significant achievements. In a combined effort not long after World War II, the U.S. Navy employed ships, airplanes and helicopters to explore and map Antarctica's frozen reaches. [67] The Norwegians were less flattering in their observations of the Japanese expedition, noting in particular the barbaric fashion in which wildlife was captured and killed. The former RGS president Clements Markham ignored the expedition altogether in his polar exploration history, The Lands of Silence. [8] He added that his expedition would also advance the cause of science:[8] "The powers of the world ridicule the Empire of Japan, saying we Japanese are barbarians who are strong and brave in warfare, but cowardly when it comes to the realm of science. Sixty-five years later, its remembered in New Zealand chiefly for Sir Edmund Hillarys unplanned and controversial dash to the South Pole in a convoy of modified Massey Ferguson tractors. 1958, Page 35 Buy Reprints. To request this item, please visit or contact us. [96][72], In 1979 Mary Edgeworth David donated her father's samurai sword to the Australian Museum, where it is a focus of interest to many Japanese visitors. I never thought of giving up! Dr Fuchs dismounts his Snocat during the trek. [11], The government's response was lukewarm;[8] it agreed a financial contribution and the possible loan of a ship, but in the event, parliament would not release the funds. [46] Shirase now revised his expedition's goals; Scott and Amundsen of whom there was as yet no direct news were, he reckoned, too far ahead of him for his aim of conquering the South Pole to be tenable. In fact, most of what is known about Antarctica has been discovered in the present century. In 1958 Japanese research expedition to Antarctica, which made an emergency evacuation, left behind 15 Karafuto-Ken () dogs (also know as Sakhalin Huskies).The researchers believed that a relief team would arrive within a few days, so they left the dogs chained up outside with a small supply of food; however, the weather turned bad and the team never made it to the outpost. Jiro continued working as a sled dog in Antarctica and died there in 1960; his remains were stuffed and moved to the National Science Museum of Japan. It was forgotten that the Russian navigators Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev had already discovered the coast proclaimed by Japan 91 years earlier. [32][44], In Parsley Bay, when the early suspicions had evaporated,[44] large numbers of visitors came to see the camp and have their photographs taken with Shirase and the other team members. You have made a notable contribution to scientific knowledge and succeeded in a great enterprise. Read the original article. Nor did I ever despair of giving up our scientific program. A station Syowa was established in Droning Maud Land, Antarctica. Copyright National Institute of Polar Research All rights reserved. The surrounding plain was named by Shirase as Yamato Yukihara ("Japanese Snow Plain"). Although Fuchs later stressed the scientific potential of his plan which he said took initial shape as he sheltered from a blizzard, huddled in a tent on Antarcticas Stonington Island the proposal also had geopolitical motivations. The project is also designed to meet social demands and international research trends with respect to global environmental issues. [43][41], The expedition found another influential supporter, in the person of Tannatt Edgeworth David, professor of geology at the University of Sydney. The expedition and disaster. Many of you know that I studied abroad in Kobe, Japan for 10 weeks during undergraduate. [31][30], The consequences of their late departure were now becoming evident; with the onset of winter, the sea was beginning to freeze around them. The preparations began in 1955 and Vivian Fuchs sailed with an advance party from London to Antarctica in the Canadian sealer . At the time, the United Kingdoms claims in Antarctica were under increasing threat from Argentina and Chile. . In the messroom at the base, a vast and disjointed cocktail party was soon under way. Sir Edmund Hillary on a Ferguson tractor leaving Depot 480 in December 1957 on his way to the South Pole. Yet the drama was still not over. [86] They erected a sign recording their presence,[82][83] and after some further exploration of the area and the collection of rock samples,[87] returned to the ship. Fuchs party arrived, rather anticlimactically, at Scott Base on March 2, 1958, completing the historic 3,473 kilometre journey. Dr Fuchs said that in the latter part of the trip, especially on the Skelton Glacier, the party was subject to winds up to 35 or 40 knots while travelling, and up to 50 knots when encamped. Taro (; 19551970) and Jiro (; 19551960) were two Sakhalin Huskies which survived for eleven months in Antarctica after being left behind by the 1958 Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. It read: On the completion of your hard and adventurous journey across Antarctica, my husband and I send our warmest congratulations to you and all members of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. In fact, it was Hillary who selected, in a last-minute change, the bases location on Ross Island, as it was more convenient for the TAEs priority of travelling over the Polar Plateau. The 1958 ill-fated Japanese expedition to Antarctica inspired the 1983 hit film, Antarctica, of which Eight Below is a remake. [31][30], On 6 March the crew sighted distant land, about 65km (40 miles) to the south-east the peaks of the Admiralty Range in Victoria Land. From 1958 to 1973, Dr Fuchs was Director of the British Antarctic Survey. [13] Even the Tokyo Geographical Society refused its backing. [68], "We saw a boundless plain of white ice stretching into infinity, meeting the blue sky and continuing beyond. Please contact us for information about items that are not available for viewing/download or for which you might need a higher resolution format. [89] On the way back to the Bay of Whales they paused at a small bay which they named Okuma Bay in honour of the expedition's patron. Part of the Rauner Special Collections Library Repository. Dates. The Japanese Antarctic Expedition led by middle-aged army reservist Lieutenant Nobu Shirase was in Antarctica at the same time that Scott and Amundsen were engaged on their attempts on the South Pole. The tough, bearded, medium-height figure man who conceived, organised and led the 500,000 expedition told newspaper men to fire the questions.. Kainan Maru arrived at Wellington on 23 March, where Shirase and a small party left the ship to take a faster steamer home, so they could prepare for the expedition's return. . This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 00:15. The first Japanese expedition is further commemorated in the names of several geographical features in Antarctica. [91], While often treated as a footnote to the concurrent expeditions of Amundsen and Scott,[72][94] the Japanese party achieved several notable distinctions. Written permission to publish material subject to the Institute's copyright must be obtained from the Director. [100] In 2011, to mark the expedition's centenary, the Shirase Expedition Supporters Association published a full English translation, by Lara Dagnell and Hilary Shibata, of the original expedition report (Nankyokuki Tanken) from 1913. The announcement of the knighthood soon afterward was the signal for a second round of champagne. And it helped cement New Zealands independent relationship with Antarctica, specifically the Ross Dependency and Scott Base, as quite separate from its ties to Britain. Luckily not all of these photographs capture tragic events that occurred in history, as there are plenty that captures the glory of the past. An emergency evacuation resulted in the abandonment of 15 sled dogs. [25] In generally poor weather, Kainan Maru struggled southwards,[8][24] crossing the Equator on 29 December,[24] and arriving in Wellington, storm-battered and unannounced, on 7 February 1911. [79] The other party of three (Nishikawa, Watanabe and the cine-cameraman Taizumi), made better progress towards the Alexandra Mountains,[83][81] which Scott had observed from the sea in 1902, and named after the British queen. Mrs Fuchs said her husband told her he hoped to sail in the Endeavour in about three days time and was looking forward lo arriving in New Zealand within a fortnight. The expeditions origins go back to 1953, when Vivian Fuchs, a geologist with the Falkland Islands Dependency Survey, began circulating a proposal for the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (TAE). He dreamt of conquering the North Pole until, in 1909, he learned that two American rivals, Frederick Cook and Robert Peary, were each claiming, separately, to have reached the Pole. [73] The next day they were confined by the weather to their tents. It was an expedition that at the time was considered to be one of the greatest achievements of the 20th . 34, No. The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition was conceived of in the early 1950s and took place in 1957 and 1958. Shirase had apparently gone to bed, and did not meet with these visitors. Operation Highjump: 1946-47 Expedition to Explore Antarctica From the Air. Correspondence, subject files, project files, and reports of Task Force 43 (Operation Deep Freeze), including records relating to U.S. Navy exploratory flights in Antarctica, 1955-94. Kainan Maru was taken further east along the coast than any previous ship; the Dash Patrol sledged faster than anyone before, and became only the fourth team up to that time to travel beyond 80S. [44][49] On 19 November 1911 Kainan Maru sailed from the harbour, where in contrast to the mood at their arrival, they were seen off by throngs of well-wishers, "cheering and waving their white handkerchiefs and black hats in the air". [59] After naming the inlet Kainan Bay, they sailed away. Three years after Fuchs and Hillarys official account of the expedition was published, Hillary published his own tell-all version which played up the masculinity and daring of the New Zealand party in opposition to the British. [57] The next day, close to the Barrier edge, they turned east to look for a likely landing place in the vicinity of King Edward VII Land. What possessed her to . Sir Edmund Hillary led the New Zealand component of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (TAE) in 1955-58, under the overall command of the British explorer Dr Vivian Fuchs. [28] Many New Zealanders found it hard to accept that this was a genuine Antarctic expedition, given the lateness in the season, the inadequate-looking vessel, the unsuitable equipment and food, the apparent lack of charts. . Even though the expedition remained officially separate, it could be seen as supporting the IGYs wide-ranging scientific research efforts. 4.0 AntarcticaPast and Present. [48] Just before their departure, as a further sign of his regard, Shirase presented David with his 17th century samurai sword, a rare gift indeed to a non-Japanese. Since then, Japan has performed various observations at Syowa Station and the surrounding areas, and resulted in outstanding scientific outcome such as findings of ozone hole and Antarctic meteorites, recovery of climate change in the past through analyses of ice core, understanding of aurora generation mechanism, unexpected finding of puzzling ecosystems in Antarctic lakes, and findings of evidence of Gondwana, etc. Categories: Mountains, Nepal. Data are focused on features of Antarctica and the Antarctic Ocean. Dr Fuchs and Sir Edmund linked arms as they stepped from the leading snocat. Only the future will tell that. [99] JARE has remained active since; its current research vessel is called Shirase. Yet the drama was still not over. the research station" Showa station" which located at 6900 S 3935 E in. He acted as a liaison between the expedition and local authorities and businesses, and with his advocacy the Australians' attitude to their visitors improved. On their return, Shirase and his team were greeted as heroes, but interest swiftly died, and Shirase was burdened with expedition debts that took years to clear. Copyright restrictions apply to most material. But as a historian of Antarctic science, I believe the expedition tells us about more than just Kiwi ingenuity and attitude. Read more: Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) commenced on the occasion of International Geophysical Year in 1957-1958. She was rigged as a barquentine,[19] and her sailing power was augmented by a small (18 horsepower) auxiliary engine. Shortly after his arrival at the Pole, Hillary sent a message to Fuchs suggesting he abandon his plans for completing a crossing, given the difficult conditions. In his account to The Geographical Journal, Ivar Hamre describes a gala occasion, with flags and bunting flying,[23] while others write of brass bands, speeches and around 50,000 supporters present. [7] Undaunted, Shirase then changed his plans; he would go south instead, and aim for the still unconquered South Pole. Like the first race to the Pole between Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott in 1911-12, this one was framed as yet another loss by Britain. To request copies, please use the information above and refer to our request forms, policies, and pricing guidelines. By the time Fuchs arrived at the Pole on January 19, a media firestorm had exploded. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1974 and was President of the Royal Geographical Society from 1982 to 1984. In the fall of 1957 the U.S. Department of State reviewed its Antarctic policy and sounded out agreements with the 11 other governments that were active in Antarctica during IGY. On the table was a huge welcome cake, iced and lettered which had been baked at Hut Point. They established Showa Station on East Ongul Island in January of that year, and sent a team of 11 researchers and 15 Sakhalin Husky dogs as a sled team. The 1983 movie Antarctica is based on a 1958 Japanese expedition: two dogs really survived by themselves for one full year in Antarctica and recognized their master when he came back: tough dogs. [21], Shirase set 28 November 1910 as his departure date,[22] and announced details of the timetable he planned to follow. This was to the chagrin of many scientists in both parties, including the IGY scientific leader Trevor Hatherton, who decried the sites poor conditions for geologic, geomagnetic and seismic research. [10] At the suggestion of Admiral Togo, she was renamed Kainan Maru, meaning "Opener-up of the South",[2] or "Southern Pioneer". Dr Fuchs said he would return to his Cambridge home and geological work in London after a holiday in New Zealand. Members of the team attempting the first surface crossing of the Antarctic have joined up at the South Pole. Dwight D. Eisenhower issued . Antarctica history is rich in adventure and science, yet human activity in the region extends back in time only about 200 years. [44] In 2002, a memorial tablet was placed in Parsley Bay, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Japanese expedition's sojourn there. By 1935 the last outstanding amounts had been finally paid. In 1958, a Japanese expedition to Antarctica led by meteorologist Kenjiro Ochi (Tsunehiko Watase) and doctor Akira Ushioda (Ken Takakura) leave their exploration base, abandoning their loyal team . [70] The patrol's aim was to travel as far south as possible in the limited time available, over unexplored terrain. What many of you do not know is that as part of my trip I had to spend a homestay weekend with a Japanese family. . Dr Fuchs said he was quite satisfied at the expeditions achievements in relation to what it set out to do. The collection is arranged in the order it was deposited at the Institute. Japan commenced its scientific activities in Antarctica in 1956, which was marked by the voyage of "Soya" with the 1st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) on board. Copying material by photography, electrostat, or scanning device by readers is prohibited. Were working to restore it. [17] Shirase also obtained important backing from one of Japan's leading newspapers, the Asahi Shimbun. Nepal (1972) Cover / Everest Expedition quantity + Add to cart. [63], On 17 January, two officers from Fram, Thorvald Nilsen and Kristian Prestrud, paid a brief visit to the Japanese ship. [31][32] To their further discomfort, their proximity to the South Magnetic Pole was causing violent disturbances to the compass needle. On 2 March 1958 Sir Vivian Fuchs and his party complete the first successful trans-Antarctic crossing. Please try again later. This would be the first overland crossing of the frozen continent. Perhaps most significantly, an exercise designed to showcase Commonwealth unity ended up demonstrating the opposite. [44] On 22 June, the camp was decorated with flags to mark the coronation of King George V, and visitors were entertained with exhibitions of traditional martial arts. The wreck of Endurance is a bridge to a bygone age, and a reminder of Antarctica's uncertain future. July 1957-Dec. 1958. Japan's slow emergence from isolation, following the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1868, kept it largely aloof from the growing international interest in polar exploration that escalated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. [8][n 1] While some suspected them as being part of a Japanese plan to expand its influence southwards,[28] the New Zealand Times mocked the crew as "gorillas sailing about in a miserable whaler",[29] a remark that caused Shirase deep offence. 1958 West Germany Cover - South Pole Expedition, Antarctic . To reduce costs and reflect New Zealands agricultural strengths, he travelled with three TE20 Massey Ferguson tractors, modified with a full tracking system for use in the snowy conditions. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Asked about future plans, Dr Fuchs said, I want to get to New Zealand where my wife is waiting to see me.Sir Edmund Hillary said, I am rather anxious to knock my garden into shape.. There was further evidence of friendliness when they later gave a radio interview together and Dr Fuchs paid tribute to Sir Edmunds work for the expedition. Deviating from the expeditions initial plans and disobeying orders from the Ross Sea Committee, Hillary continued to the South Pole and arrived at the US Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station on January 3, 1958, becoming the first to make this journey using overland vehicles. [92] Kainan Maru left the bay on 4 February. In 1958, the first Japanese Antarctic Expedition prepares to leave Showa Base to be replaced by a second party of scientists who are on board the ice-breaker, Soya. Fuchs and his party arrived at the South Pole on 18 January 1958, and Hillary was there to meet them. He and his nine companions of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition reached Scott Base at 1.47 pm (11.47 am Sydney time) - 99 days after setting out from Shackleton. The dogs' survival was a national news story at the time. On 24 March 1958 responsibility for coordinating New Zealand's activities in . [14] Amid public indifference and press derision,[15] Shirase's fortunes turned when he secured the support of Count Okuma, the former prime minister, a figure of great prestige and influence. Taro was relocated to Sapporo and lived the remainder of his life at Hokkaido University. One party, led by Tomoji Tsuchiya, headed south but were soon stopped by impassable ice. Footage of the remains of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance. When she left Tokyo 24 hours later, only a few were present to see her go "the most dismal sort of send-off ever accorded to any polar explorer", according to Shirase. In the end, New Zealanders donated more to the TAE per capita than the British public did. He had never doubted that the party would get through, but there were times, especially in the earlier phases, when considerable difficulties were met and one wondered how long it was going to take.. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. These may include seeking permission to read, extended closure, or other specific conditions. Hillarys expedition, intended to be largely privately funded, initially lacked widespread support from New Zealanders, many of whom believed their government should cover the entire cost. Some materials deposited at the Institute are NOT owned by the Institute. m/v Hondius. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation US, Inc. The Expedition. Even though the expedition remained officially separate, it could be seen as supporting the IGYs wide-ranging scientific research efforts. But the Ross Sea Committee, which organised the expedition, worked to imbue the public with a sense that their country had a stake in the Antarctic territory they claimed: the New Zealand Antarctic Expedition, as it was often called domestically, would be a triumph for their nation. The name "Biscoe Bay" for this location does not appear on modern maps. Moreover, it marked the beginning of modern New Zealands close identification with Antarctica and its own Scott Base, and the end of old colonial hierarchies on the ice. While Fuchs soon won the support of many in the Commonwealth polar and scientific communities, some derided what appeared to be a geopolitical exercise using the supposedly apolitical, science-focused IGY. His team made good time and established Depot 700, the last one scheduled, in late December. The researchers believed that a relief team would arrive within a few days and left the dogs chained up outside with a small supply of food. We travelled in some bad weather but on only two of our 99 days was the weather so bad that we could not travel at all. he said. But the Ross Sea Committee, which organised the expedition, worked to imbue the public with a sense that their country had a stake in the Antarctic territory they claimed: the New Zealand Antarctic Expedition, as it was often called domestically, would be a triumph for their nation. About 650 ce, however, long before European geographers of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance were to conjecture about Terra Australis Incognita, a mythical land to the far south, Rarotongan oral tradition tells of Ui-te-Rangiora, who sailed south of Aotearoa (New Zealand) to a frozen region. Even the American expedition to the Weddell Sea in 1947-48 did not acknowledge British sovereignty. Is this my last expedition? he repeated to one questioner. [citation needed] In the 1958 event, fifteen Sakhalin Husky sled dogs were abandoned when the . It was also about national competition and prestige, disputed sovereignty, and competing versions of masculinity. Japanese Antarctic Expedition, 1958 - 1959 Stefansson Mss-212: United States Antarctic Projects Office-Official Observer reports Folder: 11, Box: 1 Citation Information How to Request. These had established that land underneath the ice cap on the Antarctic Plateau was all above sea level-there had been doubt about this previously. Japanese expedition repts finding uranium on Prince Harald Coast. [8] A documentary film, constructed from Taizumi's footage, was a commercial success, but this did not benefit Shirase, who had sold the rights to the film company. Hillary began his depot-laying journey on October 14, 1957.