This is a close-up of the sailing ship in the larger photo in my photostream called "On The Inland Sea."
<p>Unless I'm mistaken, which is possible, the rigging on this vessel marks it as a topsail schooner.  
</p><p>The mainmast, which is closer to the stern, has a fore-and-aft mainsail and gaff topsail.  
</p><p>The foremast, which is closer to the bow, is square rigged with two yards. A yard is a horizontal spar that crosses the mast.  There is also a fore-and-aft sail on the foremast.
</p><p>Whew!  
</p><p>Like many sailboats today, the schooner in this photo is carrying a dinghy on its stern.  
</p><p>You can see a figure on deck just behind the mainmast. It puts the ship in perspective: it isn't as big as it seems.   The high freeboard and the rigging make the ship seem large.
</p><p>The water shows very little wind effects; there is no bow wave; and the wake is faint.  On that basis, I'd say she wasn't moving very fast when this photo was taken.
</p><p>It would be wonderful to know her history.
</p>
From Elstner Hilton's album of photographs of Japan, 1914 to 1918.<br>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/40595948@N00">A.Davey</a> from Portland, Oregon, EE UU
CC BY 2.0
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/adavey/2399920782/">Detail - On The Inland Sea (Japan)</a>