The Japanese Antarctic Expedition of 1910–12 launched from Tokyo under the command of Nobu Shirase, an army officer determined to secure a place for his nation in the age of global polar discovery. Despite lacking official government backing, he redirected his ambition toward the South Pole after Robert Peary claimed the North Pole in 1909.
Military Origins and Early Training
Born in 1861 at the Jorenji temple in Konoura, Shirase transitioned from a religious upbringing to a military career during the Meiji era. He joined the Imperial army, receiving a commission as a lieutenant in the Transport Corps in 1881. His initial experience with northern climates occurred during an 1893 expedition to the Kuril Islands. While this mission to establish a colony on Shumshu resulted in significant loss of life due to poor organization, it provided Shirase with essential survival training for extreme environments.
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With financial support secured privately through Count Okuma, Shirase departed Japan in November 1910 aboard the Kainan Maru. The expedition failed to reach the continent during the first season, forcing the crew to retreat to Sydney, Australia, for the winter. During this stay, Shirase sought advice from the geologist Edgeworth David. The party returned to the Ross Sea in January 1912 with revised, more modest scientific goals after acknowledging that competing teams had already advanced toward the South Pole.
Geographical Contributions and Legacy
During the 1911–12 season, Shirase successfully led the first landing on the coast of King Edward VII Land and conducted the 'Dash Patrol' across the Great Ice Barrier, reaching a southern latitude of 80°5'. Although the voyage resulted in heavy personal debt that persisted until his death in 1946 in Toyota, his efforts were later recognized in Japan. Commemorations include a statue erected in 1981 in Nikaho and the naming of ice-breaking vessels for the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition after his original mission.
Fast facts
- Born: 1861, Konoura
- Died: 1946, Toyota
- Military Rank: General
- Antarctic Expedition: 1910–1912
- Highest Latitude Reached: 80°5'S
- Primary Vessel: Kainan Maru
Questions readers ask
Why did Nobu Shirase shift his focus from the North Pole to the South Pole?
He switched his target after Robert Peary claimed to have reached the North Pole in 1909.
What was the outcome of the 1910–12 Antarctic Expedition?
The team successfully landed on King Edward VII Land and reached a latitude of 80°5'S, returning to Japan in June 1912 without any fatalities.
Achievements
- Recorded as explorer, military personnel and non-fiction writer
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