Togo

Introduction to Togo

Togo is a West African country that has been shaped by its diverse history, ranging from pre-colonial empires to French colonial rule to independence struggles. The country is a relatively small nation in terms of land size and population, but it has a rich cultural and linguistic heritage. The official language is French, but there are many indigenous languages spoken by different ethnic groups throughout the country. Despite being a generally peaceful country, Togo has faced its share of political turbulence in recent years. Togo has experienced numerous coup attempts and waves of social unrest, particularly in relation to fair elections and political freedoms. However, Togo has also made significant strides in economic development, particularly in areas such as agriculture and manufacturing. Togo is also known for its natural beauty, including sandy beaches, rolling hills, and tropical rainforests, making it a popular destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts alike.

Admiral Togo

Togo Heihachiro (1848-1934) was born into a feudal society that had lived in seclusion for 250 years. As a teenage samurai, he witnessed the destruction wrought upon his native land by British warships. As the legendary "Silent Admiral", he was at the forefront of innovations in warfare, pioneering the Japanese use of modern gunnery and wireless communication. He is best known as "the Nelson of the East" for his resounding victory over the Tsar's navy in the Russo-Japanese War, but he also lived a remarkable life: studying at a British maritime college, witnessing the Sino-French War, the Hawaiian Revolution, and the Boxer Uprising. After his retirement, he was appointed to oversee the education of the Emperor, Hirohito. This new biography spans Japan's sudden, violent leap out of its self-imposed isolation and into the 20th century. Delving beyond Togo's finest hour at the Battle of Tsushima, it portrays the life of a diffident Japanese sailor in Victorian Britain, his reluctant celebrity in America (where he was laid low by Boston cooking and welcomed by his biggest fan, Theodore Roosevelt), forgotten wars over the short-lived Republics of Ezo and Formosa, and the accumulation of peacetime experience that forged a wartime hero.

Togo, the Sled Dog