Fukushima Yasumasa Life and military career . Fukushima was born to a " samurai " family ; his father was a retainer to the " daimyo " of Matsumoto , in Shinano Province ( modern Nagano Prefecture ) . He came to Edo ( later Tokyo ) to attend the " Kobusho " military school for " hatamoto " located in Tsukiji . After graduating the school in 1874 , he joined the Ministry of Justice as a civilian personnel and later moved to the Ministry of War . He participated in the government forces in the Satsuma Rebellion . His quick mind and ability to get along well with people earned him a posting at the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff at an early age . During the next years , he traveled extensively , visiting Mongolia in 1879 , serving as military attaché to Beijing from 1882 - 1884 . He was a staff officer of the Japanese First Army when the First Sino - Japanese War broke out . After the war , Fukushima visited British India and Burma on an extensive tour from 1886 - 1887 . In 1887 , he was promoted to major , and sent as military attaché to Berlin . On this trip in 1892 , he was accompanied by Prince Saionji Kinmochi . Fukushima , who spoke 10 languages fluently , was a popular figure in German society during his stay in Berlin . Fukushima made a reputation during his stay in Berlin , for winning all manner of wagers involving feats of arms or physical strength . He later claimed that the reason for his long ride across Russia was a wager made over drinks against some German cavalry majors . ( The story is probably an invention , as some historians claim that Fukushima never drank alcohol , and in any case it is not recorded whether or not Fukushima ever collected on the wager ) . In any case , Fukushima was an admirer of Colonel Burnaby , a British cavalry officer , who had made an epic ride to Khiva in 1874 after receiving word that the Russians had closed the border to Turkistan . Fukushima also shared Burnaby ' s political views that Russia was the chief enemy of both Great Britain and Japan . For his return to Japan , he chose to make an epic crossing of two continents on horseback , from Berlin to Vladivostok . The trip took one year and four months , and had as one of its objectives , inspecting the construction of the still under construction Trans - Siberian Railway as well as gathering intelligence of the local infrastructure , command and control , along the way . During this journey , on 1 March 1893 prior to entering Manchuria , he was promoted to lieutenant colonel . The story of his 14 , 000 kilometer ride made him a Japanese national hero , and earned him the Order of the Sacred Treasures , third class . After his return to Japan from his ride across Asia , Fukushima donated his horses to Ueno Zoo in Tokyo , where they quickly became famous tourist attractions . Fukushima subsequently saw service in the Boxer Rebellion ( 1900 ) , where he was in command of Japanese forces in Tianjin , as well as the Foreign Legation . Afterwards , he returned briefly to the Imperial Japanese Army Academy to study under the German General Jakob Meckel . As a General Staff officer after the war , he visited Egypt , Ottoman Turkey , Persia , Arabia , India , Burma , Siam and Turkistan . In 1902 , he represented Emperor Meiji at the coronation of King Edward VII of Great Britain , and participated in secret diplomatic negotiations behind the Anglo - Japanese Alliance . He was awarded an honorary Knight - Commander of the Order of the Bath . Fukushima also served with distinction in the First Sino - Japanese War ( 1894 – 1895 ) , and in the Russo - Japanese War ( 1904 – 1905 ) . In 1907 , Fukushima was elevated to the title of " danshaku " ( baron ) under the " kazoku " peerage system . From April 26 , 1912 to September 15 , 1914 , he served as the Governor - General of Kwantung Leased Territory . In 1914 , he was promoted to general and was transferred to the second reserve . After the transfer , he served as vice - president of the Association of Reservists . Fukushima was on good terms with fellow poet General Akashi Motojiro , and although not close friends , the two men shared ideas on the long term needs of the Japanese secret services in the Asian area . Fukushima even composed a poem titled “ From Fallen Petal to Rising Star ” , in which he honored a prostitute who became a patriot through her intelligence gathering activities . Fukushima died at age 67 and his grave is located at Aoyama Cemetery , Tokyo . The Matsumoto City Museum in Matsumoto , Nagano , preserves some of his personal artifacts , including his riding crop .