2021年

Birthday

Saturday, June 11 1921: Masatoshi Kusunoki, a later member of the House of Councilors, was born.

1921 (Taisho 10) Saturday, June 11 Masatoshi Kusunoki, a later member of the House of Councilors, was born in Tokyo Prefecture. He graduated from the Philosophy Department, Faculty of Law and Letters, Nihon University early, and served in the Navy during World War II. After being demobilized, he worked for the Ministry of Education’s General Affairs Division, but when the Federation of New Religions Organizations in Japan (FNROJ) was formed in 1951 (Showa 26), he resigned from the Ministry of Education and took part in its establishment. Kusunoki later became executive director of FNROJ. In 1965 (Showa 40), he ran as a member recommended by the FNROJ in the national...
Politics

Friday, June 10 1921: Crown Prince Hirohito arrived in Belgium.

Friday, June 10 1921 (Taisho 10): Crown Prince Hirohito, who was visiting Europe, arrived in Belgium. King Albert I and Prince Leopold of Brabant (later Leopold III) greet him in Brussels. A welcoming dinner was held at the royal palace on the same night. On the following day, he visited the grave of the late Emperor Leopold II. We received a warm welcome from the citizens. Prince Hirohito looks young and dignified. The Japanese people at that time were very happy to see the Imperial Prince. While the prince was visiting Europe, it was reported in Japanese journalism in detail almost every day. The Crown Prince was very popular. After...
Politics

Friday, June 10, 1921: Naohiro NABESHIMA in critical fatal condition.

On Friday, June 10, 1921, Naohiro NABESHIMA (74 years old), the former lord of the Hizen Saga Domain, was reported to be in critical condition. In 1861 (Bunkyu 1), he succeeded the lord of the Saga Domain from his father, Naomasa NABESHIMA, at the age of 16, and in 1871 (Meiji 4), he became the governor of the Saga Domain in Haihan-chiken (abolition of feudal domains and establishment of prefectures), but he resigned; he accompanied the Iwakura Mission to study in the United States, and later moved to Oxford University in the United Kingdom. 1880 (Meiji 13) Naohiro NABESHIMA went to Rome as an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of...
2021

<2021 news> Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide carrying the burden of Taiwan contingency. Foreign Secretary Takeo Akiba and Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell are key figures. The true value of the Japan-U.S. alliance will be questioned.

“The biggest strategic issue for Japan and the United States is deterring an emergency in Taiwan.”. The alliance between Japan and the United States is being tested as China’s expansionist activities in the seas and airspace increase. Prime Minister Suga, who officially entered the White House for the first time since the inauguration of the Biden administration, made a successful visit to the United States in April, following the scenario of working-level officials. Takeo Akiba, vice minister for foreign affairs, and Kurt Campbell, coordinator for national security and the Indo-Pacific region, played a key role. The Japan-U.S. joint statement, which clearly states that Japan will strengthen its own defense capabilities...
Politics

Monday, June 6 1921: Crown Prince Hirohito watched Macbeth

1921 (Taisho 10) Monday, June 6: Crown Prince Hirohito, on a visit to Europe, watched Macbeth at the Odeon Theatre in Paris. The orchestra performed Kimigayo, Japan’s national anthem, to the applause of the audience. Along with President Alexandre Millerand, British Ambassador to France Harding, U.S. Ambassador to France Herrick and Japanese Ambassador to France Kikujiro Ishii, Prince Hirohito watched Macbeth’s first performance in Paris, played by American actor James Hackett. This performance seems to have attracted a lot of attention, and the admission fee for S seat was 2500 francs, which was the highest price ever at that time. Hirohito left with President Millerand late at 11:30 PM.
Economy

Monday, June 6, 1921: Teppei Soma passed away at the age of 88.

On Monday, June 6, 1921(Taisho 10), Teppei Soma, a famous wealthy merchant in Hokkaido, passed away. He was 88 years old. He was born in 1833 (Tenpo 4). He was born in Araihama, Kanbara-gun, Echigo Province (currently Tainai City). Teppei was born as the second son of Kumajiro Soma, who owned a wooden Japanese boat and ran a boat transport business. In 1861, at the age of 28, he moved to Hakodate, Hokkaido, where he was employed by Shunzo Iwafuneya, a native of the same town who was already doing business in Hakodate, and distinguished himself by serving as a live-in servant. 3 years later, in 1864, Teppei SOMA became...
Academic

Sunday, June 5 1921: New main building was built in Hosei University.

1921 (Taisho 10) Sunday, June 5: Completion ceremony of the new school building was held at Hosei University. A new three-story wooden school building was completed on the current Ichigaya campus. The participants included Shinpei GOTO, mayor of Tokyo, Hideo YOKOTA, President of Daishin-in (Predecessor of the Supreme Court of Japan), Enkichi OKI, Minister of Justice, Tokugoro NAKAHASHI, Minister of Education, and Reijiro WAKATSUKI, Vice President of Kenseikai. Hosei University was founded in April 1880 (Meiji year 13) in the Tokyo Law Society/Faculty of Law Department established in Surugadai, Tokyo. The following year it was renamed Tokyo Law School, and in 1883 (Meiji 16) Gustave Boissonade, father of modern Japanese...
Social

Saturday, June 4, 1921: Sazanami IWAYA cerebrates 30-year anniversary.

On Saturday, June 4, 1921 (Taisho 10), Sazanami IWAYA, a scholar of children’s literature, held a performance at the Teikoku Gekijo Theater to commemorate 30 years of his career as a writer. The program was “Hachi no ki” (The Tree of a Pot), and it was a great success with families. Iwaya was born in 1870 (Meiji 3). His real name was Sueo IWAYA. His father, Ichiroku IWAYA, is a famous bureaucrat, a member of the House of Peers and a famous calligrapher. It is said that Sazanami Iwaya was interested in children’s literature through her brother, Ryutaro Iwaya, who was studying in Germany, and the book titled “Otto’s fairy...
Social

Friday, June 3, 1921: Lee Pan-neung killed 7 persons and injured 10.

On Friday, June 3, 1921 (Taisho 10), a series of stabbing incidents occurred in Higashi-Okubo by the driver of Tokyo City Trams, Lee Pan-neung(이판능). With hammers and knives, Lee attacked the family of his colleagues Endo Gohyakujiro, the family of his boss Imahoko Kanichi, as well as passers-by and Lee’s own family, killing 7 and injuring 10. This incident was widely reported and shook Tokyo citizens. The “Record of the Great Earthquake in the Taisho Period 1923” compiled in 1925 is an official record of the Great Kanto Earthquake, in which the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department compiles records of the head office and other offices. According to this record, one...
Politics

Thursday, June 2, 1921: Crown Prince Hirohito ascended the Eiffel Tower

At 11 AM on Thursday, June 2, 1921 (Taisho 10), Crown Prince Hirohito, on a trip to Europe, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris and recited a eulogy. After meeting with Japanese residents in France, he ascended the Eiffel Tower at 3 PM under the guidance of Gustave Eiffel. At the observatory, Imperial Prince Hirohito was interested in souvenir photos and postcards, but none of the Imperial Prince and his attendants had any extra money with him. So Hachiro SAIONJI, an attendant and a reporter of ‘Jiji Shinpo,’ borrowed 2750 francs from Mr. Goto and bought souvenirs. Although the money was repaid before Imperial...