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).