At a glanceKey from adjacent plaintext · partial (96% of the cipher)
- The telegrams
- Seven telegrams of February–April 1901: Major-General Fukushima and Lieutenant-General Yamaguchi at Taku, Captain Idogawa at Chungking and Major-General Manabe at Hiroshima, to Major-General Tamura and the General Staff (Idogawa’s to Fukushima).
- Where
- National Institute for Defense Studies, General Staff files of 1901, via JACAR: C09122805800, C09122805900, C09122806000, C09122801000, C09122724200, C09122796200, C09122806100.
- The cipher
- Only the sensitive words are in digits, two per kana, numbered 00 to 67 through the syllabary row by vowel row, each voiced kana right after its plain one.
- How it was solved
- The telegrams were deciphered at the time: translations are filed with them. Five were aligned with their translations to rebuild the table; it was then applied to two more.
- Credit
- Harumi-Matsuba, with Claude, Codex and Sonnet (issue #371, kagigo1901-public, November 2026); Satoshi Tomokiyo’s alignment of C09122806100.
- What it says
- Appointments of officers (Akiyama, Harada, Aoki), the Field Marshal’s journey to Japan, the Viceroy of Szechwan asking for an interview, and an officer’s transfer.
- Still open
- Two values outside the table in C09122806100 (91 twice, 69); three digits of C09122724200 re-read with the table in hand. The digits rest on AI transcriptions; the images could not be reached from here.
01 The table
| Numbers | Kana |
|---|---|
| 00–14 | ア カ ガ サ ザ タ ダ ナ ハ バ パ マ ヤ ラ ワ |
| 15–26 | イ キ ギ シ ジ チ ニ ヒ ビ ピ ミ リ |
| 27–39 | ウ ク グ ス ズ ツ ヌ フ ブ プ ム ユ ル |
| 40–52 | エ ケ ゲ セ ゼ テ デ ネ ヘ ベ ペ メ レ |
| 53–67 | オ コ ゴ ソ ゾ ト ド ノ ホ ボ ポ モ ヨ ロ ン |
38 values are attested in the telegrams; the other 30 follow from the arrangement. ヲ is written オ (53), and the particle ハ either ハ (08) or ワ (14). Numbers 68–99 are not in the table. The General Staff’s own drafts to Fukushima in the same months use a different table, a grid, with its own page; the 1902–04 table of the Army’s numeric kana cipher is a third.
02 The seven telegrams
| JACAR, frame | Date, route | Digits → kana | Translation filed with it |
|---|---|---|---|
| C09122805800, 0237 | 2 Mar 1901, Taku: Fukushima to Tamura | 00161 21108 → アキヤマハ; 08130 62027 0321 → ハラダチウサニ; 00531 62151 15441 35205 18 → アオキニメイゼラレタシ | 秋山ハ固ク辞セリ; 原田中佐ニ取リ極メタリ; 公使館附ヲ青木ニ命ゼラレタシ |
| C09122805900, 0241 | 25 Feb 1901, Taku: Fukushima to Tamura | 00531 660 → アオキノ | 青木ノ代ヲ至急派遣アリタシ |
| C09122806000, 0243 | 22 Feb 1901, Taku: Fukushima to Tamura | 45671 867 → テンシン | 天津ニハ是非別ニ命ゼラレタシ |
| C09122801000, 0155 | 22 Apr 1901, Taku: Fukushima to Tamura | 42673 01502 → ゲンスイガ; 54274 51565 26 → コウテイヨリ | 元帥ガ日本ヘ行クコトハ; 皇帝ヨリ許可ヲ得タリ |
| C09122724200, 0325 | 23 Feb 1901, Taku: Yamaguchi to the General Staff | 59153 25427 4515 → ドイツコウテイ; 45676 02748 1501 → テンノウヘイカ | 独逸皇帝ヨリ我; 天皇陛下ヘ送呈シアル |
| C09122796200, 0071 | 8 Mar 1901, Chungking: Idogawa to Fukushima | 53645 83718 16530 05329 → オモトムシキオアオグ | 四川総督会見ヲ求ム指揮ヲ仰グ |
| C09122806100, 0245–0246 | 18 Feb 1901, Hiroshima: Manabe to Tamura | 45 67 18 65 28 91 → テンシヨク[91]; 91 → [91]; 69 67 20 14 → [69]ンチワ; 34 28 37 → フクム | 石橋転任ノ事ニ就キ意見; 病状ニ就テハ; 任地ハ適当ト; 充分ナル服務ニハ |
The first five rebuilt the table. C09122796200 and C09122806100 were decoded after it was fixed; モ, ト and グ in C09122796200 occur in no other telegram and were set by the arrangement beforehand. C09122806100, a kana telegram with the digits in kanji numerals, was listed as unread on the 1902–04 page. Here 91 stands twice where the translation has ニ就キ / ニ就テ (“concerning”), as Satoshi Tomokiyo’s alignment on Cryptiana shows, and 69 where 任地 has ニ; the digits say テンシヨク (転職) where the translation has 転任.
03 What was checked here
A decoder written here from the stated table, without the contributor’s code, gives the translations’ kana for 77 of the 80 pairs; the three others are 91, 91 and 69. On the two test telegrams the real table matches 21 kana; 1,000 shuffled tables match at most 5. The contributor’s “16/16” counts the two test telegrams together (the ten kana of C09122796200 with ンチワ and フクム). A blind second transcription by OpenAI Codex agreed on 123 of 135 digits (lowest single telegram 75.0%, C09122801000). The JACAR images could not be reached from this session, and no person has checked the transcriptions.
04 Still open
- 91 (twice) and 69 in C09122806100, outside the table; 91 looks like a code for ニ就キ (conjecture).
- Three digits of C09122724200 were re-read with the table in hand (first readings 72542, 45075, 02948); the image is poor.
Full texts
The transcription and the decryption of every document on this page, so that the reading can be used and checked. Short files are shown here; all are in the repository.
2 Mar 1901, Taku
Fukushima at Taku to Tamura (No. 93): Akiyama has declined, Lt.-Col. Harada has been settled on, and Aoki should be appointed attaché to the legation.
Transcription
# C09122805800, 2 Mar 1901, Taku: Maj.-Gen. Fukushima -> Maj.-Gen. Tamura, No. 93 (JACAR frame 0237). Digits as transcribed by Harumi-Matsuba (kagigo1901-public data/telegrams1901.tsv, commit 7a627e4), # one enciphered run per line; after "=" the kana given by the contemporary translation filed with it ([nn] = value outside the table). 00161 21108 = アキヤマハ 08130 62027 0321 = ハラダチウサニ 00531 62151 15441 35205 18 = アオキニメイゼラレタシ
Decryption
# C09122805800 (2 Mar 1901, Taku): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `00161 21108` アキヤマハ : 秋山ハ固ク辞セリ - `08130 62027 0321` ハラダチウサニ : 原田中佐ニ取リ極メタリ - `00531 62151 15441 35205 18` アオキニメイゼラレタシ : 公使館附ヲ青木ニ命ゼラレタシ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 秋山ハ固ク辞セリ。原田中佐ニ取リ極メタリ。公使館附ヲ青木ニ命ゼラレタシ。
Reading
# C09122805800 (2 Mar 1901, Taku): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `00161 21108` アキヤマハ : 秋山ハ固ク辞セリ - `08130 62027 0321` ハラダチウサニ : 原田中佐ニ取リ極メタリ - `00531 62151 15441 35205 18` アオキニメイゼラレタシ : 公使館附ヲ青木ニ命ゼラレタシ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 秋山ハ固ク辞セリ。原田中佐ニ取リ極メタリ。公使館附ヲ青木ニ命ゼラレタシ。
Translation
# C09122805800: English Akiyama has firmly declined. / It has been settled on Lt.-Col. Harada. / Please appoint Aoki legation attaché. (After the contributor's English renderings of the filed translations.)
25 Feb 1901, Taku
Fukushima at Taku to Tamura (No. 92): Aoki's replacement is to be sent at once; the same telegram says Shiba is to leave at the beginning of next month (contributor).
Transcription
# C09122805900, 25 Feb 1901, Taku: Fukushima -> Tamura, No. 92 (JACAR frame 0241). Digits as transcribed by Harumi-Matsuba (kagigo1901-public data/telegrams1901.tsv, commit 7a627e4), # one enciphered run per line; after "=" the kana given by the contemporary translation filed with it ([nn] = value outside the table). 00531 660 = アオキノ
Decryption
# C09122805900 (25 Feb 1901, Taku): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `00531 660` アオキノ : 青木ノ代ヲ至急派遣アリタシ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 青木ノ代ヲ至急派遣アリタシ。
Reading
# C09122805900 (25 Feb 1901, Taku): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `00531 660` アオキノ : 青木ノ代ヲ至急派遣アリタシ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 青木ノ代ヲ至急派遣アリタシ。
Translation
# C09122805900: English Please send Aoki's replacement at once. (After the contributor's English renderings of the filed translations.)
22 Feb 1901, Taku
Fukushima at Taku to Tamura (No. 89): a separate appointment is asked for Tientsin.
Transcription
# C09122806000, 22 Feb 1901, Taku: Fukushima -> Tamura, No. 89 (JACAR frame 0243). Digits as transcribed by Harumi-Matsuba (kagigo1901-public data/telegrams1901.tsv, commit 7a627e4), # one enciphered run per line; after "=" the kana given by the contemporary translation filed with it ([nn] = value outside the table). 45671 867 = テンシン
Decryption
# C09122806000 (22 Feb 1901, Taku): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `45671 867` テンシン : 天津ニハ是非別ニ命ゼラレタシ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 天津ニハ是非別ニ命ゼラレタシ。
Reading
# C09122806000 (22 Feb 1901, Taku): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `45671 867` テンシン : 天津ニハ是非別ニ命ゼラレタシ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 天津ニハ是非別ニ命ゼラレタシ。
Translation
# C09122806000: English For Tientsin, please be sure to appoint someone else. (After the contributor's English renderings of the filed translations.)
22 Apr 1901, Taku
Fukushima at Taku to Tamura (No. 9): the Field Marshal's journey to Japan has been permitted by the Emperor.
Transcription
# C09122801000, 22 Apr 1901, Taku: Fukushima -> Tamura, No. 9 (JACAR frame 0155). Digits as transcribed by Harumi-Matsuba (kagigo1901-public data/telegrams1901.tsv, commit 7a627e4), # one enciphered run per line; after "=" the kana given by the contemporary translation filed with it ([nn] = value outside the table). 42673 01502 = ゲンスイガ 54274 51565 26 = コウテイヨリ
Decryption
# C09122801000 (22 Apr 1901, Taku): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `42673 01502` ゲンスイガ : 元帥ガ日本ヘ行クコトハ - `54274 51565 26` コウテイヨリ : 皇帝ヨリ許可ヲ得タリ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 元帥ガ日本ヘ行クコトハ。皇帝ヨリ許可ヲ得タリ。
Reading
# C09122801000 (22 Apr 1901, Taku): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `42673 01502` ゲンスイガ : 元帥ガ日本ヘ行クコトハ - `54274 51565 26` コウテイヨリ : 皇帝ヨリ許可ヲ得タリ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 元帥ガ日本ヘ行クコトハ。皇帝ヨリ許可ヲ得タリ。
Translation
# C09122801000: English The Field Marshal's going to Japan / has been permitted by the Emperor. (After the contributor's English renderings of the filed translations.)
23 Feb 1901, Taku
Lt.-Gen. Yamaguchi at Taku to the General Staff: something sent from the German Emperor and presented to the Emperor of Japan; three digits re-read with the table in hand.
Transcription
# C09122724200, 23 Feb 1901, Taku: Lt.-Gen. Yamaguchi -> General Staff (JACAR frame 0325). Digits as transcribed by Harumi-Matsuba (kagigo1901-public data/telegrams1901.tsv, commit 7a627e4), # one enciphered run per line; after "=" the kana given by the contemporary translation filed with it ([nn] = value outside the table). # three digits re-read with the table in hand (first reading 72542, 45075, 02948) 59153 25427 4515 = ドイツコウテイ 45676 02748 1501 = テンノウヘイカ
Decryption
# C09122724200 (23 Feb 1901, Taku): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `59153 25427 4515` ドイツコウテイ : 独逸皇帝ヨリ我 - `45676 02748 1501` テンノウヘイカ : 天皇陛下ヘ送呈シアル Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 独逸皇帝ヨリ我。天皇陛下ヘ送呈シアル。
Reading
# C09122724200 (23 Feb 1901, Taku): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `59153 25427 4515` ドイツコウテイ : 独逸皇帝ヨリ我 - `45676 02748 1501` テンノウヘイカ : 天皇陛下ヘ送呈シアル Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 独逸皇帝ヨリ我。天皇陛下ヘ送呈シアル。
Translation
# C09122724200: English from the German Emperor to our / presented to His Majesty the Emperor. (After the contributor's English renderings of the filed translations.)
8 Mar 1901, Chungking
Capt. Idogawa at Chungking to Fukushima: the Viceroy of Szechwan asks for a meeting, and he asks for instructions. Decoded after the table was fixed: 10/10 kana agree with the filed translation.
Transcription
# C09122796200, 8 Mar 1901, Chungking: Capt. Idogawa -> Fukushima (JACAR frame 0071). Digits as transcribed by Harumi-Matsuba (kagigo1901-public data/telegrams1901.tsv, commit 7a627e4), # one enciphered run per line; after "=" the kana given by the contemporary translation filed with it ([nn] = value outside the table). 53645 83718 16530 05329 = オモトムシキオアオグ
Decryption
# C09122796200 (8 Mar 1901, Chungking): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `53645 83718 16530 05329` オモトムシキオアオグ : 四川総督会見ヲ求ム指揮ヲ仰グ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 四川総督会見ヲ求ム指揮ヲ仰グ。
Reading
# C09122796200 (8 Mar 1901, Chungking): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `53645 83718 16530 05329` オモトムシキオアオグ : 四川総督会見ヲ求ム指揮ヲ仰グ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 四川総督会見ヲ求ム指揮ヲ仰グ。
Translation
# C09122796200: English The Viceroy of Szechwan asks for an interview; I request instructions. (After the contributor's English renderings of the filed translations.)
18 Feb 1901, Hiroshima
Maj.-Gen. Manabe at Hiroshima to Tamura, a kana telegram about the transfer of an officer named Ishibashi, his illness and his fitness for duty; 11 of 14 pairs decode with the table, 91 (twice, where the translation has ニ就キ / ニ就テ) and 69 lie outside it.
Transcription
# C09122806100, 18 Feb 1901, Hiroshima: Maj.-Gen. Manabe -> Tamura (kana telegram, digits in kanji numerals) (JACAR frame 0245-0246). Digits as transcribed by Harumi-Matsuba (kagigo1901-public data/telegrams1901.tsv, commit 7a627e4), # one enciphered run per line; after "=" the kana given by the contemporary translation filed with it ([nn] = value outside the table). # first run written 〇 + 四五六七一八六五二八九一 + 一; the leading 〇 and trailing 一 are left over when cut into pairs 45 67 18 65 28 91 = テンシヨク[91] 91 = [91] 69 67 20 14 = [69]ンチワ 34 28 37 = フクム
Decryption
# C09122806100 (18 Feb 1901, Hiroshima): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `四五六七一八六五二八九一 (45 67 18 65 28 91)` テンシヨク[91] : 石橋転任ノ事ニ就キ意見 - `九一 (91)` [91] : 病状ニ就テハ - `六九六七二〇一四 (69 67 20 14)` [69]ンチワ : 任地ハ適当ト - `三四二八三七 (34 28 37)` フクム : 充分ナル服務ニハ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 石橋転任ノ事ニ就キ意見。病状ニ就テハ。任地ハ適当ト。充分ナル服務ニハ。
Reading
# C09122806100 (18 Feb 1901, Hiroshima): reading Kana from decode.py (serial table); the contemporary translation filed with the telegram as quoted by Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public docs/READING1901.en.md (commit 7a627e4); not checked against the images here. [nn] = value outside the table. - `四五六七一八六五二八九一 (45 67 18 65 28 91)` テンシヨク[91] : 石橋転任ノ事ニ就キ意見 - `九一 (91)` [91] : 病状ニ就テハ - `六九六七二〇一四 (69 67 20 14)` [69]ンチワ : 任地ハ適当ト - `三四二八三七 (34 28 37)` フクム : 充分ナル服務ニハ Japanese (contemporary translation, the enciphered words in context): 石橋転任ノ事ニ就キ意見。病状ニ就テハ。任地ハ適当ト。充分ナル服務ニハ。
Translation
# C09122806100: English opinion concerning Ishibashi's transfer / as to his illness / the post is suitable / for full duty (After the contributor's English renderings of the filed translations.)
Key: key.md
05 Sources
- National Institute for Defense Studies, via JACAR: C09122805800, C09122805900, C09122806000, C09122801000, C09122724200, C09122796200, C09122806100.
- Harumi-Matsuba, kagigo1901-public (commit 7a627e4):
docs/READING1901.en.md,data/telegrams1901.tsv,src/table1901.py; issue #371. - Satoshi Tomokiyo, Cryptiana, meijiarmy2.htm.
Files: targets/army1901in/ (transcription, decoder, control, readings).
Cite this page
Harumi-Matsuba and Daniel Bourdeau, “Japanese Army serial kana table, 1901”, Cyphersolver, posted 10 November 2026, https://cyphersolver.com/army1901in.html.