One Great Grandather's Entry at a time.
神戸大学の工学部前身であった神戸高工開校とともに教鞭をもった祖父、大正１１年（１９２２）の話をよんでいた。 "埠頭を離れた、万歳の声が 鯨波のように起こる。楽隊のマーチが湧く。テープが切れる。００先生の顔も、同僚諸君の顔も、生徒諸君の顔を母や兄弟たちの顔も全てがだんだんに小さく、刻々にかすんで神戸の街とともに水平線の彼方に消えて行く。さらば六甲の海よ、瀬戸の海よ、なつかしの人々よ。故国を離れんとするにあたっての哀別の情と、万里の波濤を蹴って、未知の世界に旅線とする歓喜の念とに胸ふさがれながら、私は看板にたって、船尾遠く引いた航跡流にいつまでもいつまでも眺め入った。１９３１年、大正１１年。（”家、地震、台風” 田邊平学著。読売新聞社 昭和２９年。３４p）
。。。。同大学からは初の留学・洋行だったといい、授業を休んで全校で見送りだったと言う。同じ船で神戸小学校の芥川校長という方が出発なさったため、楽隊付きの小学児童の見送りも有り、埠頭は人の山だったと言う。いまでこそNaritaに御見送り、、などと言って家族全員、同僚などが足を運ぶ時代ではなくなっているが、この時代に海外に出て行った人の血はたしかに私の中に流れているらしい。私が日本を１９８７年に離れた日、母、弟、そして一番身近ないとこが見送りに成田に出向いてくれたのを思い出す。
祖父は３年後に初の洋行から、日本へ戻った。私はそういえば最初は８年も日本へは帰らなかった。
祖父が“我が足あと”となずけた日記のなかで触れる名前の中には、あっと思う名前が時々出て来る。江戸川乱歩の推理小説の会で会話したとか、トヨタ佐吉の息子さんの豊田喜一郎氏と研究の計画とグラントの話をしたとか。。。。。。大変興味深い
祖父は、二度目の洋行、を文部省のから命ぜられて昭和１６年、1941年にシベリア経由でドイツ入りをしている。東京から博多への道中、長崎医大学長角尾晋博士と一緒で、食堂車では状況を理解された角尾先生がお昼を御ちそうしてくださったなど。。。。”前回外遊時の知己と門出に同車”、、云々、ということで１９２２年にわたったときにどこかでかなり接触が有ったらしい事が伺えるが詳細はどこにもまだ出てこない。。。。。祖父は医学的な研究はしていなかったが、どのような知己だったのだろう。当時日本からドイツへ言った人間はあまり多くないので、おそらくどこかでかなりの接点があったと思われる。
東京工大現役で早くになくなったため一度も会う事のなかった祖父。会いたかったと、しばしば思う。こまめに書く事が好きな人だった事と万年筆好きだったことは、現代に生きる我々子孫に取って ある時は、愉快な、あるときは身震いさせられるほど親近感を感じる記録を残してくれた。神戸からの長い旅の途中の話も面白い。“船での旅の途中のインド洋もいそいそ今日限りで、明日からは紅海へはいるという夜、船員の演芸大会が開かれ、船客も飛び入りで何かやらねば成らない事に成った。。。。。自分にも番が まわって来たので、ハーモニカをポケットから出して、一番得意の、自分で編曲した”世界国歌集”を奏した。船客には外人たちが大勢で、ひどく喜ばれ、思いのほかの喝采をはくした。アンコールの荒城の月も好評で、拍手の音は灯火輝く船の甲板から静かなインド洋の海面に流れ出て、母のいる遠い日本へお届いたような心地がして嬉しくてたらまなかった。ドイツにいたころは、ドイツの青年たちのギターに負けずにハーモニカを吹いた。なかでも箱根八里はよい行進曲だといってドイツ人たちも褒めてくれた"。
私の祖父が音楽が好きだったのは確かである。D N Aを感じる。
彼の手記の中でピアノとシューマンに触れているところはさすがにドキッとした。ドレスデンで研究で一日過ごしたあと、疲れて下宿に戻る彼に、ピアノが堪能な下宿先のお嬢さんが毎晩ピアノのコンサートをしてくれたことを感慨深く書き残している所をよんだ時は、ふと、祖父が息子のピアノを聞きにふらりと我が家に立ち寄りそうな気がした。特にシューマン作曲のトロイメライを毎晩聞いたと言う。息子もシューマンの曲をつい最近のコンペティションで弾いている。息子の先生の一番好きな作曲家もシューマンだそうだ。。。先生はなんと、シューマンがあまりに好きなので、シューマンの奥様のクララの名前を愛猫の名前にしているほどだ。。。。シューマンの奥様には失礼かもしれないが。。。。。。と話が横へ行ってしまったが、、、、この祖父の本の中には大変興味深い事がいろいろ書いてあり、有った事のない祖父の人柄が手に取るようにわかる。
I would love for Erik to learn to read Japanese one day. There would be a day, when he is a bit older when he probably wishes that he could read and understand many entries his great grandfather left. My grandfather passed away years before I was born, unfortunately due to the exposure in Hiroshima, so I did not know him. But what I knew about him was very special,, mostly from my grandmother and my mother who spoke about him left me with the impression that he was a cool guy. The book the family put together is titled, "House, Earthquake and Typhoon". He was an architectural, civil and mechanical engineer who endeavored to change the Japanese architectural engineering culture drastically. He often writes about his shock he felt seeing stone buildings standing for ages in Europe, comparing with the homes he is used to seeing in Japan, built with all easily burnable material such as paper and wood. Japanese sliding doors are made of wood frame covered with paper.
He was a very fortunate man who graduated with an exemplary accomplishment and was asked to teach at a technical university, a bit like Louisiana Tech. It was an engineering college and Japan was doing everything possible in the early 1920's catch up with Europe or the US. Under the government appointment. He left Japan in 1922 to travel to Germany and also for a short time in the US (University of IL). He also had appreciation for music, quite seriously. He played harmonica well and he arranged a unique medley of National Anthems from various countries. One day while he was traveling on a large ship, as they traveled from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea, the staff on the ship decided to have some sort of talent show. The staff invited, impromptu guest appearances in this program. So, when my grandfather was requested to "DO Something", he pulled out his harmonica out of his pocket and played the National Anthem Medley for the passengers. He says that he received an encore and played a Japanese melody about the Moon. Can you imagine what that was like on a ship? He stated that "I was so delighted hearing the audience's strong response and felt as if the sound of the thunderous applause heard on the deck glistened by the light of the lanterns slid off to the Indian Ocean and traveled all the way to the mother land where my dear mother waits for me".
He also spoke of the apartment that he rented in Germany during his first trip, again in the 1920's. A widow and her daughter's very nice home was partially rented out to allow him a bedroom, and also an office to enjoy. He describes the apartment as, "the place which also had a special charm,,, their daughter was a beautiful young pianist who played music for us every evening after a day of my research at the concrete lab. It was such a soothing experience and I often thought of home, my home in Japan while listening to her beautiful performances." He stated that his favorite among many German pieces he enjoyed was Schumann's piece called Traumerei (also it was the landlord's daughter's most favorite and that is why she always ended the mini concert with this piece).
I can see how this piece appealed to the Japanese researcher living away from home, my grandfather that I had never met, it has the tone of sadness, longing, and also something else that convinces you that it is all going to be all right...
I just think that it is precious to read how he loved Schumann's music. How much this "living with music" influenced him is all packed in the Yamaha reed organ he purchased for 180 yen in 1930 after he was married to my grandmother. He took his neighbor and a friend who was a well known composer in Japan to go select this organ for his wife so they will always have music in their home. Later they also purchased a piano. Every child, including my mother all took some degree of music, but war prevented them to continue the music lessons. During the years when things were difficult, they almost had to give anything made of wood for fuel to create warmth. I am glad that this organ survived,,, so that we have something tangible that helps us know my grandfather. None of my cousins wanted the organ and I brought it to my home!!!
My grandfather writes about the day when he left Kobe Port in a large ship headed to Germany in 1922. How he watched the faces of his mother, siblings, students, and colleagues become smaller and smaller and eventually faded away beyond the horizon as he departed. He also, in the same sentence/paragraph, expresses the excitement for the unknown....some of his words just make you want to cry. He was an adventurous man with the strong spirit of determination. I sure wish that I had the opportunity to meet him to hear him tell us all the stories. I wonder if he may be, just may be stopping by occasionally to hear Erik play his piano. The memories of our loved ones definitely do stop by to inspire something special.... one memory and one inspiration at a time.
。。。。同大学からは初の留学・洋行だったといい、授業を休んで全校で見送りだったと言う。同じ船で神戸小学校の芥川校長という方が出発なさったため、楽隊付きの小学児童の見送りも有り、埠頭は人の山だったと言う。いまでこそNaritaに御見送り、、などと言って家族全員、同僚などが足を運ぶ時代ではなくなっているが、この時代に海外に出て行った人の血はたしかに私の中に流れているらしい。私が日本を１９８７年に離れた日、母、弟、そして一番身近ないとこが見送りに成田に出向いてくれたのを思い出す。
祖父は３年後に初の洋行から、日本へ戻った。私はそういえば最初は８年も日本へは帰らなかった。
祖父が“我が足あと”となずけた日記のなかで触れる名前の中には、あっと思う名前が時々出て来る。江戸川乱歩の推理小説の会で会話したとか、トヨタ佐吉の息子さんの豊田喜一郎氏と研究の計画とグラントの話をしたとか。。。。。。大変興味深い
祖父は、二度目の洋行、を文部省のから命ぜられて昭和１６年、1941年にシベリア経由でドイツ入りをしている。東京から博多への道中、長崎医大学長角尾晋博士と一緒で、食堂車では状況を理解された角尾先生がお昼を御ちそうしてくださったなど。。。。”前回外遊時の知己と門出に同車”、、云々、ということで１９２２年にわたったときにどこかでかなり接触が有ったらしい事が伺えるが詳細はどこにもまだ出てこない。。。。。祖父は医学的な研究はしていなかったが、どのような知己だったのだろう。当時日本からドイツへ言った人間はあまり多くないので、おそらくどこかでかなりの接点があったと思われる。
東京工大現役で早くになくなったため一度も会う事のなかった祖父。会いたかったと、しばしば思う。こまめに書く事が好きな人だった事と万年筆好きだったことは、現代に生きる我々子孫に取って ある時は、愉快な、あるときは身震いさせられるほど親近感を感じる記録を残してくれた。神戸からの長い旅の途中の話も面白い。“船での旅の途中のインド洋もいそいそ今日限りで、明日からは紅海へはいるという夜、船員の演芸大会が開かれ、船客も飛び入りで何かやらねば成らない事に成った。。。。。自分にも番が まわって来たので、ハーモニカをポケットから出して、一番得意の、自分で編曲した”世界国歌集”を奏した。船客には外人たちが大勢で、ひどく喜ばれ、思いのほかの喝采をはくした。アンコールの荒城の月も好評で、拍手の音は灯火輝く船の甲板から静かなインド洋の海面に流れ出て、母のいる遠い日本へお届いたような心地がして嬉しくてたらまなかった。ドイツにいたころは、ドイツの青年たちのギターに負けずにハーモニカを吹いた。なかでも箱根八里はよい行進曲だといってドイツ人たちも褒めてくれた"。
私の祖父が音楽が好きだったのは確かである。D N Aを感じる。
彼の手記の中でピアノとシューマンに触れているところはさすがにドキッとした。ドレスデンで研究で一日過ごしたあと、疲れて下宿に戻る彼に、ピアノが堪能な下宿先のお嬢さんが毎晩ピアノのコンサートをしてくれたことを感慨深く書き残している所をよんだ時は、ふと、祖父が息子のピアノを聞きにふらりと我が家に立ち寄りそうな気がした。特にシューマン作曲のトロイメライを毎晩聞いたと言う。息子もシューマンの曲をつい最近のコンペティションで弾いている。息子の先生の一番好きな作曲家もシューマンだそうだ。。。先生はなんと、シューマンがあまりに好きなので、シューマンの奥様のクララの名前を愛猫の名前にしているほどだ。。。。シューマンの奥様には失礼かもしれないが。。。。。。と話が横へ行ってしまったが、、、、この祖父の本の中には大変興味深い事がいろいろ書いてあり、有った事のない祖父の人柄が手に取るようにわかる。
I would love for Erik to learn to read Japanese one day. There would be a day, when he is a bit older when he probably wishes that he could read and understand many entries his great grandfather left. My grandfather passed away years before I was born, unfortunately due to the exposure in Hiroshima, so I did not know him. But what I knew about him was very special,, mostly from my grandmother and my mother who spoke about him left me with the impression that he was a cool guy. The book the family put together is titled, "House, Earthquake and Typhoon". He was an architectural, civil and mechanical engineer who endeavored to change the Japanese architectural engineering culture drastically. He often writes about his shock he felt seeing stone buildings standing for ages in Europe, comparing with the homes he is used to seeing in Japan, built with all easily burnable material such as paper and wood. Japanese sliding doors are made of wood frame covered with paper.
He was a very fortunate man who graduated with an exemplary accomplishment and was asked to teach at a technical university, a bit like Louisiana Tech. It was an engineering college and Japan was doing everything possible in the early 1920's catch up with Europe or the US. Under the government appointment. He left Japan in 1922 to travel to Germany and also for a short time in the US (University of IL). He also had appreciation for music, quite seriously. He played harmonica well and he arranged a unique medley of National Anthems from various countries. One day while he was traveling on a large ship, as they traveled from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea, the staff on the ship decided to have some sort of talent show. The staff invited, impromptu guest appearances in this program. So, when my grandfather was requested to "DO Something", he pulled out his harmonica out of his pocket and played the National Anthem Medley for the passengers. He says that he received an encore and played a Japanese melody about the Moon. Can you imagine what that was like on a ship? He stated that "I was so delighted hearing the audience's strong response and felt as if the sound of the thunderous applause heard on the deck glistened by the light of the lanterns slid off to the Indian Ocean and traveled all the way to the mother land where my dear mother waits for me".
He also spoke of the apartment that he rented in Germany during his first trip, again in the 1920's. A widow and her daughter's very nice home was partially rented out to allow him a bedroom, and also an office to enjoy. He describes the apartment as, "the place which also had a special charm,,, their daughter was a beautiful young pianist who played music for us every evening after a day of my research at the concrete lab. It was such a soothing experience and I often thought of home, my home in Japan while listening to her beautiful performances." He stated that his favorite among many German pieces he enjoyed was Schumann's piece called Traumerei (also it was the landlord's daughter's most favorite and that is why she always ended the mini concert with this piece).
I can see how this piece appealed to the Japanese researcher living away from home, my grandfather that I had never met, it has the tone of sadness, longing, and also something else that convinces you that it is all going to be all right...
I just think that it is precious to read how he loved Schumann's music. How much this "living with music" influenced him is all packed in the Yamaha reed organ he purchased for 180 yen in 1930 after he was married to my grandmother. He took his neighbor and a friend who was a well known composer in Japan to go select this organ for his wife so they will always have music in their home. Later they also purchased a piano. Every child, including my mother all took some degree of music, but war prevented them to continue the music lessons. During the years when things were difficult, they almost had to give anything made of wood for fuel to create warmth. I am glad that this organ survived,,, so that we have something tangible that helps us know my grandfather. None of my cousins wanted the organ and I brought it to my home!!!
My grandfather writes about the day when he left Kobe Port in a large ship headed to Germany in 1922. How he watched the faces of his mother, siblings, students, and colleagues become smaller and smaller and eventually faded away beyond the horizon as he departed. He also, in the same sentence/paragraph, expresses the excitement for the unknown....some of his words just make you want to cry. He was an adventurous man with the strong spirit of determination. I sure wish that I had the opportunity to meet him to hear him tell us all the stories. I wonder if he may be, just may be stopping by occasionally to hear Erik play his piano. The memories of our loved ones definitely do stop by to inspire something special.... one memory and one inspiration at a time.
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