The dreamer : Kan'ichi Asakawa

Personal History of Dr. Kan'ichi Asakawa (2)

Earned a Doctorate of Philosophy by submitting a thesis on the Taika era Reformation
- In 1896	Entered Dartmouth College in Hanover in the United States. Supported both physically and intellectually by the famous president of the university, Dr. Tucker, Asahara graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
- In 1899	Entered Yale University Graduate School to study history
- In 1902	Obtained a Doctorate of Philosophy by writing in English a thesis on the Taika era Reformation. Became a lecturer on the history of exchanges between the West and the East at his alma mater, Dartmouth College.

Dartmouth College

Yale University Graduate School

His research on the Taika era Reformation was significant in that it described in English Japan's ancient regime in comparison with those of overseas nations. This began before other scholars, domestic or foreign, commenced academic studies on the regime. His studies clearly explained the Reformation as part of the history of civilization.

- In 1903

Published a document on Japan's earlier social system, research on the Taika era Reformation.

Publication of a document on the conflict of Japan with Russia
- In 1904	The Russo-Japan war began. Asakawa published a document on the conflict (in English) in the United States and the United Kingdom, and pleaded Japan's case in the conflict.

At that time Japan's army led by Maresuke Nogi was attacking the 203-Meter Hill, and the Russian Baltic Fleet was proceeding along the African coast. Asakawa conducted objective research on the internationally changing relationships and the economic developments that led to the Russo-Japan War. He elucidated the causes of the conflict to show the justice of Japan's cause.

- In 1905

In June, Asakawa attended the Russo-Japan peace conference in Portsmouth as an observer on Japan's side. In October he married an American woman, Miriam J. C. Dingwall.

Miriam Asakawa

- In 1906	Requested by Yale University and by the U.S. Library of Congress to collect Japan-related publications, Asakawa returned to Japan for the first time since he moved to the United States. His father passed away.
- In 1907	Returned to the United States and became a lecturer on the history of Japanese culture at Yale University.

Publication of a book on Japanese disaster omens
- In 1909	Published a book on omens of disaster for Japan (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha, Ltd.)

In the book Asakawa reported that Americans were criticizing Japan for Japan's domineering Asian diplomacy. He warned that if Japan persisted in its coercive attitude, the country would be disliked by Asians, would be called a "betrayer" in the United States and Europe, would become isolated internationally, and would face ruin. He advised the Japanese to recognize the new situations in the world, to respect the sovereignty of Asians, and to establish new diplomatic relationships with the United States and Europe based on international principles.

- In 1910	Became a Yale University assistant professor in charge of the histories of Japanese culture and the European medieval age.
- In 1913	His wife passed away. The couple was childless.

Front cover of the book on omens of disaster in Japan

Front cover of "The Documents of Iriki"

Publication of "The Documents of Iriki"
- In 1917	Returned for the second time to Japan to study Japanese medieval history at the University of Tokyo's institute for the compilation of historical materials. Stayed for surveys in the Kansai area including Nara and Kyoto, and at Iriki Village in the Satsuma District of Kagoshima Prefecture. Returned to the United States in 1919 and never returned to Japan.
- In 1927	Was appointed as an assistant professor of history at Yale University
- In 1929	"The Documents of Iriki," which made Dr. Asakawa world famous, were published by both Yale and Oxford Universities.

In "The Documents of Iriki" he endeavored to clarify the political changes in Japan's feudal age and the essence of feudal society based on ancient documents about the long-term (500 years from 1147 to 1640) history of one Japanese area (Iriki Village, Satsuma District). By comparing Japan's feudal society with its counterparts in Europe, he essayed to position clearly the development of Japanese society in the context of the development of human society as a whole.

- In 1931	Received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree at his alma mater Dartmouth College
- In 1937	Promoted to professor of history at Yale University. (The first Japanese professor in a first-class foreign university)

Kan'ichi Asakawa in 1915

Amid friendship

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