花井記念室および結城豊太郎記念館に保管されている高楠家の人々からの書簡 : 花井稲子と結城豊太郎宛ての書簡四通について=Letters Archived in Hanai Memorial Room and Toyotaro Yuuki Memorial Museum : Four Letters from Takakusu Family to Ineko Hanai and Toyotaro Yuuk
The aim of this paper is to introduce the four letters that I found in conducting the research project of “Junjiro Takakusu Research Group” at Musashino University. Dr. Junjiro Takakusu (1866-1945) was a prominent Buddhist scholar and the founder of Musashino University. Our research group is conducting research on the life of Dr. Takakusu, his circle of relationships and his Buddhist and educational thoughts.
I am hoping to contribute to our research project by introducing these letters. Of the four letters that I found, three letters (Letter1; Letter2; Letter3) sat on the shelf in the Hanai Memorial Room (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) for many years, probably more than half a century. These letters were sent to Mrs. Ineko Hanai (1900-1982; wife of Mr. Tadashi Hanai (1894-1973; illustrious advocate and Attorney General of Japan) and daughter of Dr. Takuzo Hanai. Dr. Hanai (1868-1931) was a prominent adovocate, legal scholar and political figure, and Dr. Takakusu’s lifetime best friend.) from Dr. Takakusu, Mrs. Shimo Takakusu (Dr. Takakusu’s wife) and Masao Takakusu (Dr. Takakusu’s eldest son). I found another letter (Letter 4) in the Nanyo City Toyotaro Yuuki Memorial Museum (Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture). Mr. Toyotaro Yuuki (1877-1951) was an influential figure of Japanese economy and held prominent positions such as Minister of Finance and Governor of Bank of Japan. This letter was sent to Mr. Yuuki from Dr. Takakusu.
The discovery of these letters would be meaningful to the research project from mainly five points of view:
1. Three letters found in the Hanai Memorial Room (Letter1; Letter2; Letter3) constitute primary source documents publicized here for the first time.
2. The letter displayed in the Toyotaro Yuuki Memorial Museum (Letter 4) is a primary source document treated as a meaningful historical document for the first time.
3. The letters are meaningful for knowing more about the founding period of Musashino University.
4. The letters are meaningful to knowing more about the deep relation between Hanai family and Takakusu family, based on the strong friendship between Dr. Takuzo Hanai and Dr. Takakusu.
5. It is meaningful to know about the relationship between Dr. Takakusu and Mr. Toyotaro Yuuki, an economic and financial magnate of the time.
To this end, I will first show the images of the four letters and explain their contents. Secondly, I will explain about the people concerning these letters, and discuss the historical background of these letters.
