Tomoeda Takahiko (友枝高彦) to Doctor Trautz 1933 **

Tomoeda Takahiko (友枝高彦) to Doctor Trautz 1933

This is an interesting card for several reasons. There is a printed background depicting chickens and roosters for the sign of the zodiac for the year 1933. This print is quite light and does not standout at the observer, so unless it is viewed at a certain angle, it is difficult to see and it seems to just disappear, as the greetings in black ink with the red stamp above it overtakes the the card as a whole. The red stamp appears to be handstamped, but it is actually printed. 

Tomoeda Takahiko (友枝高彦) was a Japanese philosopher and professor who played a significant role in strengthening relations between Japan and Germany in the 1920s and 1930s. Born in 1876 in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, Tomoeda studied philosophy and ethics at the University of Tokyo before becoming a professor at Kyoto Imperial University.

Tomoeda Takahiko (友枝高彦)

During the Russo-Japanese War, he traveled to Europe as a secretary, where he was impressed by liberalism in England. Tomoeda later studied in Berlin and Leipzig, deepening his understanding of German philosophy and culture.

Returning to Japan, Tomoeda became a professor at the University of Tokyo and was actively involved in educational policies. He also served as the head of the Japanese-German Cultural Institute in Tokyo, promoting cultural exchange between the two countries.

After retiring, Tomoeda founded educational institutions in Japan and continued to write on ethics, pedagogy, and cultural topics. He received recognition for his contributions to academia and cultural exchange. Tomoeda passed away in 1957 in Tokyo, leaving a lasting impact on Japanese-German relations and education.