江馬勉からトラウツへの年賀状 **

江馬勉からトラウツへの年賀状

Ema Tsutomu (1884-1979) was a professor at Kyoto University and a renowned folklorist and cultural anthropologist. He dedicated his career to the study of Japanese customs, traditions, folklore, and ethnography. His research focused on various aspects of Japanese culture, including rituals, beliefs, mythology, and regional customs.

Ema Tsutomu's work involved extensive fieldwork and research to document and analyze the diverse cultural practices and traditions across Japan. He made significant contributions to the understanding and preservation of Japan's cultural heritage, providing valuable insights into the rich tapestry of Japanese society.

江馬勉（左）

In 1907, he entered Kyoto Imperial University as a member of the inaugural class in the Department of History in the Faculty of Letters and graduated in 1910. His graduation thesis was on "The History of Kyoto City." That same year, he enrolled in the graduate school of the university to study "Japanese Customs and Manners." After graduating, he became a faculty member at the Kyoto City School of Fine Arts and Crafts and established the "Customs and Manners Research Society" in 1911.

He didn't just conduct historical research on past customs and manners from literary and historical materials; he also adopted a method of reconstruction and wearing of costumes to conduct analyses. Starting from 1915, he held a "Period Costume Demonstration" every month and in 1916, he founded the society's journal, "Customs and Manners Studies." Additionally, he established a dyeing research society, contributing to the dyeing industry as well.

Throughout the pre-war and post-war periods, he excelled as a leading figure in the study of customs and manners as well as the knowledge of historical customs. In 1949, he became a professor at Kyoto Women's University. In 1960, he founded the Japan Society for the Study of Customs and Manners and became its first president. He was posthumously awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class. His final resting place is at Kodai-ji Temple in Kyoto City.

His studies and publications have been influential in both academic circles and in fostering a broader appreciation and understanding of Japanese customs and traditions among the general public. Ema Tsutomu's contributions continue to be highly regarded in the field of Japanese folklore and anthropology.