Haicheng, Liaoning, known in the Ming Dynasty as Haizhou Garrison (海州卫), a county-level city in said province
During the First Sino-Japanese War, Hasegawa won distinction for valor on behalf of his 12th Infantry Brigade at the Battle of Pyongyang on 15 September 1894 and in skirmishes around Haicheng from December 1894 until January 1895.
During the war, his division made a memorable march in the depth of winter from the north-east shore of the Yellow Sea to Haicheng, finally occupying Niuchwang, and effecting a junction with the IJA 2nd Army which had moved up the Liaodong Peninsula.
The Japanese garrison of Newchwangchen was encircled and attacked while other troops under his orders attacked in the Haicheng area.
Invading Fujian once more, he led a force of 30,000 men to capture Haicheng as well as taking the provincial commander prisoner.
His grandfather, Phan Thanh Tap was a native of Haicheng (near modern day Longhai, Fujian) in Zhangzhou prefectrure of Fujian province at the beginning of the 17th century due political sentiments against the ruling Qing government.