Blog

I watched a special program of FBC (local TV station of Fukui), which depicted Taro Kusakabe and W.E. Griffis. I know their names, but I didn’t know how they lived their lives. And I was moved by their lives watching the program.

Taro Kusakabe was born in 1845 in Fukui City. In 1856, a new domain school was opened in the city. Normally, students enter the school at the age of 15, but Taro was such a bright child and he entered it at the age of 13. In 1867, Taro went to America to study Rutgers University in New Brunswick, where Taro met Griffis to learn Latin. Taro often used to boast to Griffis about how good Fukui was.

On the other hand, things were very expensive in America at that time. Taro lived on a little money from Fukui, so he had to cut down on food expenditure. Also, he cut back on sleeping and studied hard in a cold room, and finally, he became infected with tuberculosis. In 1870, Taro ended his short life of only 24 years in New Brunswick just before his graduation.

The university was closed because of Taro’s funeral. In the church that it was held, professors, students, friends, and also Griffis, who was overwhelmed with sadness, attended. No words can describe his loneliness and sorrow that died in a far foreign country. I feel a great pity.

That is, in Fukui, in the era from the late Edo Period to the beginning of the Meiji Period, two brilliant young persons, Taro Kusakabe and Sanai Hashimoto (executed in 1859 at the age of 25). I cannot help but think if they were alive.

By the way, Griffis received a letter from Fukui Domain after several months after Taro’s death. I will continue this in my next week's blog. (H.S)

Taro Kusakabe (From Fukui City History Museum’s website)

Bronze statue of Griffis and Taro located on the river bank of Asuwa River in Fukui City

Typhoon Prapiroon occurred and it was the 7th typhoon this year. On average, there are about 26 typhoons occur every year, and about 4 of them strike Japan. (The average numbers were calculated from the typhoon record of 2011-2017)

From July to October, it is the typhoon season in Japan. There are 3 major damages caused by typhoon which are wind damage (including storm, salt damage, fire caused by a foehn-like hot and dry summer wind blowing and tornado, etc.), damage from heavy rain (including land slide and flood) and wave damage like tidal waves. We must be very careful with these damages.

The numbers of the typhoon which occurred in the world / landed in Japan from 2011 to 2016.

On average, the numbers of the typhoon which occurred in the world from 2011 to 2016 (monthly).

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

This is the video of Asuwa River which I took last year (2017).

You can see that the river level increased within 20 hours in Asuwa River in Fukui City.

The 21st typhoon of 2017 occurred, and it had struck Fukui from October 21st to 23rd, 2017.

On October 22nd, as I was walking outside (I didn’t want to go outside but I needed to, for the voting and taking care of a few things), I saw every tree in the city was swayed by the strong wind making so much noise, some parts of houses and/or buildings were destroyed and they flew in the air, and the rain was very heavy. It was terrifying to walk in the town that day.

Because of the heavy rain from the 21st typhoon, the Asuwa River which flows through Fukui City was risen. The path by the river which usually has people jogging and biking was covered with water. Luckily, the water did not go above the bridge, so Fukui City was not flooded.

After the typhoon was gone, as I was walking in Fukui City in the morning on Oct. 24th, I saw so many leaves, tinplates of houses and/or buildings and broken flower pots on the street.

Please stay safe when a typhoon strikes where you live.

T.F