The Dreamer of Fukushima -Kan'ichi Asakawa-

We hereby introduce Dr. Kan'ichi Asakawa, a great man born in Fukushima.

Dr. Asakawa left great achievements
as a world-respected historian.
He is also remembered for his
dedication to making of himself
a bridge between the United States
and Japan to promote amicable
relations.

Dr. Kan'ichi Asakawa (1940)

When Dr. Asakawa passed away at the age of 74 in 1948

Professor Simpson, representing Yale University delivered a funeral address.

"Dr. Asakawa was always a faithful ambassador who worked as a friendship bridge between the American and Japanese people. His life in the United States was always glorious. People will remember him with great compassion and respect."

Reaction by the AP and UPI, and the U.S. Yokosuka Base

Both the AP and UPI reported that modern Japan's most famous, world-renowned scholar had passed away. At the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base, the American flag was flown at half-mast to express grief over the death of Dr. Asakawa.

The year 1998 is the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. Asakawa's death.

Let's inquire into the life of Dr. Asakawa.

The period (1873-1948) covered by Dr. Asakawa's life

Dr. Asakawa lived in times in which great wars occurred successively: the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, World War I, and World War II. The period was also characterized by revolutions in Russia, Central Europe, and China. He thus lived in an age of wars and revolutions.

Personality of Dr. Asakawa

Was called "Asakawa-tenjin" (prodigy)

Actually ate an English-Japanese dictionary

Delivered a valedictorian address in English

Predicted the suicide of Hitler

Tried to prevent war between the United States and Japan

Achievements of Dr. Asakawa

Left great achievements as an international historian

People say, "Everyone quotes the works of Dr. Asakawa when writing papers on Japan's feudalism." This attests to Dr. Asakawa's international renown as a scholar.
Dr. Asakawa won immortality by publishing "The Documents of Iriki" in 1929. The document contributed substantially to the comparative study of legislative annals. He also left world-famous works including (a) the Yale University Graduate School degree thesis he wrote in English on the "The Early Institutional Life in Japan ; A Study in the Reform of 645 A.D." (published in 1903), and (b) the collection of his posthumous works on "LAND AND SOCIETY IN MEDIEVAL JAPAN" (published in 1959).

Aggressively engaged in peace activities as an internationally known scholar

Dr. Asakawa, as a Japanese living in the United States over a long period, objectively observed the conflicts in which Japan participated, from the Russo-Japan War to World War II. He left works on "The Russo-Japanese Conflict ; Its Causes and Issues" (written in English and published in 1908), as well as on omens of disaster for Japan (written in Japanese and published in 1909). He also exchanged a huge volume of letters with Japanese as well as with American and European intellectuals, and in 1941 drafted for President Roosevelt a letter addressed to Emperor Showa. Through his writing activities, he devoted himself to the improvement of U.S.-Japanese relations at a governmental level as an internationally respected personality.

[ Achievements | Personal history (1) | Personal history (2) | Personal history (3) | Related documents ]