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==Studies in Britain (1871-1878)==
[[File:Togo in Europe.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Tōgō during his studies in Europe, in 1877]]
Tōgō studied naval science for seven years in [[England]] as an apprentice officer, from 1871 to 1878, together with sixteen (or eleven?) other Japanese students. Tōgō visited [[London]], at that time the largest and most populous city in the world. Many things were strange to Japanese eyes; the round houses made out of stone, the 'number and massiveness of the buildings', 'the furnishings of a commonplace European room', 'the displays in the butchers' shop windows: it took them several days to become accustomed to such an abundance of meat.' The Japanese group was separated and sent to English boardinghouses for individual instruction in [[English language]], customs and manners. Next, Tōgō was sent to [[Plymouth]], where he was assigned as a cadet on [[Thames Nautical Training College|HMS ''Worcester'']], which was part of the Thames Nautical Training College, in 1872. Tōgō found his cadet rations 'inadequate': "I swallowed my small rations in a moment. I formed the habit of dipping my bread in my tea and eating a great deal of it, to the surprise of my English comrades." This was attributed possibly to Tōgō's 'Far Eastern metabolism', the lack of [[rice]], 'or that some other essential element was missing; or perhaps the climatic differences sharpened his appetite.' Perhaps the excitement of his adventure contributed, or maybe Togo just liked the food. Tōgō's comrades called him 'Johnny [[Chinaman (term)|Chinaman]]', being unfamiliar with the 'Orient', and not knowing the difference between Asiatic peoples. 'The young ''samurai'' did not like that, and on more than one occasion he put an end to it by blows.' Tōgō also surprised these young Englishmen by graduating second in the class.
During 1875, Tōgō circumnavigated the world as an ordinary seaman on the British training-ship ''Hampshire'', leaving in February and staying seventy days at sea without a port call until reaching [[Melbourne]], eating only salted meat and ship's biscuits. Tōgō 'observed the strange animals on the Southern continent.' On his return, Tōgō had sailed thirty thousand miles. Tōgō suffered a strange illness which severely threatened his eyesight: 'the patient asked his medical advisers to "try everything", and some of their experiments were extremely painful.' Mr. Capel commented later, 'If', he wrote, 'I had not seen with my own eyes what a Japanese can suffer without complaint, I should often have been disinclined to believe....But, having observed Tōgō, I believe all of them.' The Harley Street ophthalmologists saved his eyesight. Tōgō studied mathematics in [[Cambridge]] (though not at the University) during this time, while living with Reverend A.S. Capel. Tōgō then went to the [[Royal Naval Academy]] in [[Portsmouth]], and to the [[Royal Naval College, Greenwich]]. During his stay, the Imperial Japanese Navy placed orders in Great Britain for three warships. Tōgō made use of the opportunity to apply his training, supervising (watching carefully) the construction of the [[Japanese ironclad warship Fusō|''Fusō'']] whilst on [[work experience]] at the [[Samuda Brothers]] shipyard on the [[Isle of Dogs]].
Tōgō, newly promoted to [[lieutenant]] finally returned to Japan on 22 May 1878 onboard one of the newly-purchased British-built ships, the ''[[Japanese corvette Hiei (1877)|Hiei]]''.
Tōgō was absent from Japan during the [[Satsuma Rebellion]], and often expressed regret for the fate of his benefactor [[Saigō Takamori]].
==Franco-Chinese war (1884-1885)==
Back in the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]], Tōgō received several commands, first as captain of ''[[Japanese warship Teibo|Daini Teibo]]'', and then ''Amagi''. During the [[Franco-Chinese War]] (1884–1885), Tōgō, onboard ''Amagi'', closely followed the actions of the [[French Navy|French fleet]] under [[Admiral Courbet]].
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