Edward S. Morse - Newly Discovered Correspondence: Six Newly Discovered Postcards Addressed to Edward S. Morse

According to S. Kimura, the author of Exchanges between Morse and Japanese People as Evidenced Through Written Correspondence, she mentions that out of the vast collection of over 12,000 letters, a mere 267 can be definitively attributed to Japanese senders corresponding with Morse, underscoring the rarity of such exchanges.

Among the recently discovered postcards (purchased from an online auction simply listed as "Japanese Postcards," with no mention of Morse or their content), four were written by Chujiro Sasaki (佐々木忠次郎) and are dated 1910, 1916, 1922, and 1924. There are also two other postcards in the collection: one from Seiken Takenaka (竹中成憲) dated 1900, and another from Chiyomatsu Ishikawa (石川千代松) dated 1901.

Chujiro Sasaki (1857-1938) stands as a noteworthy figure, having been a protégé of Edward S. Morse during his tenure at the University of Tokyo. As a student in 1877, Sasaki engaged in excavations and surveys at the Omori Shell Mound. In the subsequent years, he also explored the Okadaira Shell Mound, a site of significant archaeological import. Graduating from Tokyo University in 1881, Sasaki pursued further studies in Germany over a span of two years. His academic journey led him to eventually become a professor specializing in zoology, entomology, and sericulture at the Imperial University Agricultural College in 1893.

Seiken (Hachitaro) Takenaka (1862-1925) emerges as a prominent presence within Morse's book Japan Day by Day 1877, 1878-79, 1882-83. Serving as Morse's assistant and interpreter during his initial years in Japan, Takenaka's early affiliation with Morse is well-documented. He pursued a medical education at the University of Tokyo and later transitioned into the role of a military doctor. Notably, Takenaka established his own hospital on Sado Island around 1905.

Ishikawa Chiyomatsu (1861-1935), another student under Morse's tutelage, contributed significantly to the propagation of the theory of evolution in Japan. His impact and achievements extend far and wide.

For a more comprehensive exploration of the lives and accomplishments of the individuals mentioned above, read Sagiri Kimura's paper, available as a PDF file. Thanks to her research paper, I managed to accurately identify the origins of those postcards.

https://edo-tokyo-museum.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/313/files/report35_55-70.pdf

She is a researcher at Edo-Tokyo-Museum: https://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/en/