久保田写真館 高野山 to F. M. Trautz *

久保田写真館 高野山 to F. M. Trautz

久保田写真館 (Kubota Photo Studio) in Koyasan, Wakayama, was a renowned photography studio with a rich history. Founded by Norimatsu Kubota, the studio was known for its high-quality work and artistic approach to photography. It became a well-respected establishment, serving both locals and visitors to Koyasan.

The studio's legacy took a tragic turn when Norimatsu's son, Koichi Kubota (久保田耕治), was born in 1935. Little did Norimatsu know at the time that his son would later become a victim of a shocking crime. In 2006, at the age of 71, Koichi Kubota was tragically murdered at the studio by a high school student. This event deeply impacted the community and left a profound mark on the history of the Kubota family and their photography studio in Koyasan.

森馬壽商店 to エフ・エム・トラウツ *

森馬壽商店 to エフ・エム・トラウツ

This postcard, postmarked in Nara on January 1, 1933, was sent by Morimasu Shoten to F. M. Trautz. Morimasu Shoten was known for selling Nara-zuke.

Nara-zuke is a type of Japanese pickle that originated in the Nara region of Japan. It is typically made by pickling vegetables in a mixture of rice bran, salt, sugar, and sake lees (called "sake kasu"). The vegetables are usually left to ferment for a period of time, which gives them a unique flavor and texture.

Nara-zuke is known for its sweet and tangy taste, as well as its crunchy texture. It is often served as a side dish or snack and is popular in the Kansai region of Japan, particularly in Nara and Kyoto. Nara-zuke is also considered a traditional souvenir from Nara and is often sold in gift shops and markets in the area.

内藤虎次郎 Sinologist to トラウツ先生 **

内藤虎次郎 Sinologist  to トラウツ先生

This 1933 dated New Year's card from 内藤虎次郎 (Naitō Torajirō), also known as 内藤湖南 (Naitō Konan) is addressed to Dr. Trautz and his wife. 

内藤虎次郎 (Naitō Torajirō), also known as 内藤湖南 (Naitō Konan)

Naitō Kojirō (1866–1934) was a pioneering Japanese historian, philosopher, and scholar of Chinese and Japanese history. Born in Kazuno, Akita in 1866, he completed his education there before starting his career as a gradeschool teacher. Later, he moved to Tokyo, where he worked as a reporter for several newspapers. In 1901, he was invited to teach at Kyoto University, eventually becoming a professor.

In 1899, at the age of 33, Naitō embarked on a journey to China, driven by his deep interest in Chinese culture, language, and philosophy, as well as a desire to advance his scholarly pursuits. During his time in China, he immersed himself in the study of Chinese thought and culture, studying under prominent Chinese scholars, visiting historical sites, and engaging with the local community. This experience broadened his intellectual horizons and deepened his understanding of East Asian thought.

One of the highlights of Naitō's trip to China was his study of Confucianism and Taoism, two philosophical traditions that greatly influenced Chinese intellectual history. His interactions with Chinese scholars and firsthand experience of Chinese culture provided him with a deeper insight into these philosophies and their impact on Chinese society.

Naitō's scholarly focus was on the history of Japanese thought, particularly the study of ancient Japanese texts and the development of Japanese Buddhism. He also made significant contributions to the study of Chinese philosophy and its influence on Japanese intellectual history. His research underscored the importance of understanding Japan's intellectual heritage within the broader context of East Asian thought.

Naitō Kojirō's journey to China was a transformative experience that not only enriched his understanding of Chinese culture and philosophy but also influenced his perspective on the cultural and intellectual connections between China and Japan. His experiences in China played a pivotal role in shaping his scholarly pursuits and his contributions to Japanese studies.

月日亭 奈良 Tsukihitei Ryokan to F. M. Trautz *

月日亭 奈良 Tsukihitei Ryokan to F. M. Trautz

Postmarked in Nara on January 1, 1933, this New Year's card is from 大内セイ (Ōuchi Sei) of Tsukihitei Inn, which is still in operation today. We believe Ōuchi Sei is a woman's name and that she likely ran the inn as the 女将 (okami), the female manager or proprietress responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the establishment. The role of the 女将 is highly respected in Japanese culture, as they are seen as the face of the inn or restaurant and are responsible for ensuring guests have a pleasant and comfortable stay.

I cannot say whether the reading of 月日亭 has changed over the years, but Trautz pronounced it as 'Getsu-Jitsu-Tei' in 1933, based on his handwritten notation on this postcard. 

Tsukihitei Ryokan ca.1905

笹原喜作 of 敷香郡 樺太 to F. M. Trautz *

笹原喜作 of 敷香郡 樺太 to F. M. Trautz

This card was sent by Sasahara Kisaku (笹原喜作) of Kitonkan, Shikika-gun, Karafuto (気屯館 敷香郡 樺太). The postal marking, 樺太敷香 / 8. 1. 1, indicates it was sent from Shikika, Karafuto on January 1, 1933.

The character '館' (kan), as in 気屯館, means 'building.' In the context of a place name like 'Kitonkan' (気屯館), it likely refers to a hotel or an inn. Additionally, from the penciled notation written by Trautz himself that reads 'Hotel in Shikika,' there is no doubt that it was indeed a hotel. Furthermore, Trautz's contemporary written note clarifies the reading of 敷香 as 'Shikika,' which is particularly helpful today, as there have been questions regarding the correct reading of the word, which could also be pronounced as 'Shisuka' and 'Shikuka.'

Shikika circled in red

Sasahara makes an error in addressing one of the recipients. He writes "エフ・エム・トラウツ" and "エフ・エム・ヒルタ."  Sasahara referred to both Trautzs as エフ・エム. Sasahara's error in addressing the recipients could have been due to several reasons:

• Misunderstanding or Misinterpretation: Sasahara may have misunderstood the proper way to address the recipients or misinterpreted their titles or names.
• Confusion: Sasahara might have been confused about the correct titles or names of the recipients, leading to the error.
• Assumption: Sasahara may have assumed that both recipients shared the same title or name format, leading to the incorrect addressing.
• Lack of Information: It's possible that Sasahara did not have complete or accurate information about the recipients, which led to the error in addressing them.

From 永田信吉 (泊居郡 樺太) to F. M. Trautz **

From 永田信吉 (泊居郡 樺太) to F. M. Trautz 

This card bears the postmark of 泊居 (Tomarioru) dated January 2, 1933, and was sent from 永田信吉 (Nagata Nobukichi) to ドクトル エフ・エム・トラウツ様 (Doctor F. M. Trautz). 泊居郡 (Tomarioru District) 名寄村 (Nayori Village) was located on the island of Karafuto. Nagata was likely an educator.

Nagata wrote a note in Romaji: 'okuni e okaeri natta / yoni kikimashita node / goburai o itashimashita / okusamanimo yoroshiku' (お国へお帰りなったように聞きました ので ご無礼 をいたしました、 奥様にも よろしく).

As the context of this note is unknown, its translation is based on a presumed context, 'I heard that you have returned to your home country, so I apologize for not contacting you sooner. Please give my regards to your wife as well.'

Romaji, which refers to the Romanization of the Japanese language, has a history that dates back to the 16th century when Jesuit missionaries devised a system to transcribe Japanese words using the Latin alphabet. However, the widespread use of Romaji as a method for writing Japanese text, particularly for non-Japanese speakers, began to gain popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as Japan opened up to the West. 

泊居 (Tomarioru) is framed in red above

樺太真岡町から ヒルダ・トラウツ への年賀状 *

樺太真岡町から ヒルダ・トラウツ への年賀状

This is an interesting pair of New Year's cards from Miyamoto Komakichi of Sumirekan in Maoka-cho, Karafuto (宮本駒吉, 菫館 樺太真岡町). They were not only sent to F. M. Trautz but also to his wife, "ヒルタ-Hilta" (Hilda von Landwüst Trautz, 1887–1973). Based on my limited knowledge, correspondence addressed to Hilda is very uncommon.

Maoka-cho was a town that existed in Karafuto during Japanese occupation. Karafuto (樺太) was also known as Saharin (サハリン) in Japanese. It has a complex history, being inhabited by the Ainu people and later becoming a disputed territory between Japan and Russia. The southern part of the island was under Japanese control from 1905 to 1945, while the northern part remained Russian territory. After World War II, the entire island came under Soviet control.

Sumirekan would have been located where circled in red

Although these cards bear the same postmark dated January 1, 1933, with an acceptance mark of '真岡' (Maoka), they seem to have been processed an hour apart and by two different sorters, based on the different designs of the postmarks. Sumirekan seems to have been lost in history. It was likely a 旅館 (ryokan / small hotel / inn).

館太豊原 樺花屋旅 から エフ・エム・トラウツ *

Sent to F. M. Trautz from Hanaya Ryokan, Toyohara, Karafuto (January 1, 1933)

樺太豊原 花屋旅館 から エフ・エム・トラウツ

This hotel or inn appears to have been quite well-known, as I was able to find multiple postcards featuring its image. The two images on this postcard were obtained from the following sites:

https://rmda.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/collection/asia-pc/sk

http://gazo.library.city.sapporo.jp/

Hanaya Inn Karafuto

Trautz's time in Japan must have been filled with remarkable journeys, evident from the wide-ranging correspondence he received from all corners of the country. From the bustling streets of Kyoto, where he resided, to the distant reaches of Hokkaido and Karafuto, the adventures of Trautz unfolded across Japan. The recently published Die Sammlung Trautz sheds light on their travels, revealing a rich tapestry of experiences. This new discovery adds a fascinating layer to our understanding of their journey, enriching the narrative of their time in Japan. Daniel Gerichhausen provides insights into the travels of the Trautzs in his work 'Hilda Trautz, Tagebuch Hokkaidō- und Karafuto-Reise' ('Diary Hokkaidō and Karafuto Trip' - ヒルダ・トラウツの '北海道・樺太旅行日記').

Die Sammlung Trautz

This postcard bears a postmark from Toyohara, the capital of Karafuto (now Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), which was the Japanese name for the southern part of Sakhalin Island, now part of Russia. Karafuto was under Japanese control from 1905 to 1945, with Toyohara serving as its administrative center during that time. If you look closely, you'll notice a slight error in the address for Trautz. The name 'エフ・エム・トラウツ' was mistakenly written as 'エフ・イム・トラウツ,' with the イ crudely altered to エ, presumably to correct the mistake. 

Toyohara is colored in red on this map of Karafuto

小室昌信 から 都良宇津先生 (F. M. トラウツ) **

小室昌信 から 都良宇津先生 (F. M. トラウツ)

Komuro Masanobu sends New Year's greetings to F. M. Trautz and his wife. This Komuro was likely the father of 小室昌義 Komuro Masayoshi (see our post dated February 21, 2024), evident from their shared surname and address.

The card is addressed to 都良宇津先生 (Dr. Trautz - To-Ra-Wu-Tsu-Sen-Sei) and his wife. On the verso, similar text appears, but reading ドクトル都良宇津先生 / ドクトル・トラウツ先生夫人様, using both kanji and katakana for the name Trautz. In addition to their names, Komuro wishes them good health and luck in their research.

March 17, 1932 Nippon Shinbun (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

After a thorough internet search, only a single result was found regarding Komuro Masanobu of Kyoto. His name appeared in the March 17, 1932 issue of the Nippon Shinbun (Japan Newspaper Company, Brazil, São Paulo), where it was noted that his poem (tanka 短歌) was one of five selected from the general public by Emperor Hirohito for that year (see photo). These selected poems were featured in the New Year's Poetry Reading Ceremony, held on January 18, 1932, at the Imperial Palace. The theme for this year was "The Cock's Crow at Dawn" or "The Voice of the Dawn Rooster." 

Tanka by Komuro Masanobu 小室昌信の短歌  (昭和7年）

しらみゆく　夜船のまとに　聞ゆなり (Shirami yuku yofune no mato ni, kikoyu nari)

みなとの町の　にわとりのこえ  (Minato no machi no niwatori no koe)

An article published in Time Magazine on February 1, 1932, sheds light on the annual tradition:

"The greatest New Year's honor that can befall a Japanese is to have his poem recited to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Hirohito. Less than ten poems are recited. All must be on the same subject (chosen in advance by the Imperial Household Ministry). All must be in the requisite tanka form of 31 syllables in lines of five, seven, five, seven and seven syllables. Each year at least 30,000 Japanese poets strive for the honor. U. S. cable companies are grateful for the fact that Japanese living abroad usually wire their contributions. Those who do not win have another consolation: some may be invited to the Phoenix Hall of the Imperial Palace to hear the tankas composed by members of the Imperial family. This ceremony occurred last week. Subject of this year's composition was "The Cock's Crowing at Dawn..."