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...
Social

Wednesday, June 1 1921: Jikka Girls’ High School in Niigata City opened.

1921 (Taisho 10) Wednesday, June 1 The opening ceremony of Jikka Girls’ High School in Niigata City was held. In the Taisho Era, girls’ education developed in the late Meiji Period, especially after the Russo-Japanese War, has grown further. Not only girls’ high schools but also the number of women’s high schools nationwide including Jikka, which offers practical subjects such as housework and sewing. Niigata Jiska Girls’ High School was newly established in the trend. In 1925 (Taisho 15), 4 years later, Jikka Girls’ School changed its name to Niigata City Girls’ High School in response to requests for higher education in Niigata City, such as English and mathematics as...
Politics

Tuesday, May 31 1921: Hanzo YAMANASHI will be appointed to Army Minister

1921 (Taisho 10) Tuesday, May 31 Prime Minister Takashi HARA visited Aritomo Yamagata. Yamagata came to Tokyo from his home in Odawara on the 28th and stayed at the Chinzan-so villa in Tokyo. In February, Army Minister Giichi TANAKA received angina pectoris and submitted his resignation, but Prime Minister Takashi HARA did not accept his resignation. Hara consulted with Yamagata about the appointment of Tanaka’s successor. Hanzo YAMANASHI, who was recommended by Tanaka, was tentatively appointed as his successor. Yamanashi carried out the first disarmament in the Army’s history the following year. This famous disarmament is called Yamanashi Disarmament. Takashi Hara visited Aritomo Yamagata and said as follows. As for...
Economy

Tuesday, May 31 1921: Senkichiro Hayakawa became president of South Manchuria Railways Company

1921 (Taisho 10) On Tuesday, May 31, Senkichiro Hayakawa became president of South Manchuria Railways Company, the so-called Mantetsu. Former president Ryutaro Nomura and vice president Seiichi Nakanishi resigned to take responsibility for the Mantetsu bribery scandal that shook the political world, and Prime Minister Takashi Hara took the initiative in selecting a successor, who was entrusted to Hayakawa, vice president of Mitsui Gomei Kaisha. Hayakawa was a financial magnate at the time and the first civilian to serve as president of Mantetsu. Joji Matsumoto, the company’s executive vice president, also joined the company. Matsumoto is known for making the Matsumoto draft for the constitution of Japan after World War...
Social

Monday, May 30 1921: The Far Eastern Olympic Games kicked off in Shanghai.

1921 (Taisho 10) Monday, May 30 The Far Eastern Olympic Games kicked off in Shanghai. Although it was positioned as the current Asian Games, the participating countries were only Japan, Republic of China and Philippines. International Olympic Committee member Jigoro Kano attended the opening ceremony held at Shanghai Hongkou Park (present Lu Xun Park) in a light rain. It was held until June 4, but overall Japan’s performance was poor. China won the volleyball and basketball tournaments. The Philippines won the baseball, tennis, and swimming tournaments. Japan didn’t win any team competitions. The sixth event will be held in Osaka the following year.
Art

Sunday, May 29 1921: Shingeki-za was launched by Shotaro Karyu

1921 (Taisho 10) On Sunday, May 29 “Shingeki-za” was launched, which was newly established by young new actors like Shotaro Karyu. The first performance was held at Nihon-Meijiza. The program consisted of four works, “Enma’s Eye,” “Border Flower,” “Arabian Tent” and “Shoryo,” but due to lack of preparation, the first performance didn’t have a very good reputation. Later, Karyu led the post-war Daido Danketsu of the new school as the leader of the troupe. In 1955, he 30 received the Award of the Japan Art Academy. He later became a Bunkakorosha (Person of Cultural Merits) and a Living National Treasure. However, in 1965 (Showa 40), he suddenly died of myocardial...