Shigeaki Tabata

2021/04/28

Image: Photo provided by Kitasato Shibasaburo Memorial Room, The Kitasato Institute

Shibasaburo Kitasato achieved significant research results during his more than six years of study in Germany and returned to Japan in May 1892. However, the Japanese academic community was cold toward him, and he lacked a favorable environment for research. Yukichi Fukuzawa supported him, and the Institute for Study of Infectious Diseases was established in November of that same year. Furthermore, the following year, Fukuzawa consulted with Kitasato and opened "Yojoen," a hospital for tuberculosis patients. The institute expanded with government support and came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs, but in 1914, it was suddenly transferred to the Ministry of Education.

At this time, Kitasato and others at the institute resigned en masse, believing that if it were affiliated with Tokyo Imperial University, close cooperation with health administration would be lost and academic independence would vanish. They then established an independent institute. This is the Kitasato Institute.

On January 10 of the year following the mass resignation from the Institute for Study of Infectious Diseases, Kitasato gave a speech titled "The Sanctity and Independence of Scholarship" at a memorial meeting for Yukichi Fukuzawa at Keio University. In it, he recalled Fukuzawa's advice.

"He said, 'Even if the government trusts you today, you never know when they might change their minds or what might happen. So, never let your guard down and save as much as you can while the path ahead is clear.' (Omitted) For a scholar to research academic matters, they must devote themselves entirely to it; yet, it is an unreasonable request to ask them to accumulate as much wealth as possible at the same time. Therefore, you do not need to be directly involved in that side of things; you should focus solely on advancing your research. In exchange, regarding financial matters, I will lend you a person who, in my estimation, is reliable, will not steal, and can act as your hands and feet. You should leave those matters to him.' And so he lent me one person. That person is Mr. Shigeaki Tabata, with whom I still work today."

Kitasato then stated that because "a certain amount of savings had been made through Mr. Tabata's extraordinary efforts," he was able to remain independent and carry out his principles. He remarked, "I pride myself on the fact that my actions this time (omitted) were an execution of the spiritual education I had previously received from Yukichi Fukuzawa—namely, independence and self-reliance."

Who, then, was Shigeaki Tabata, the man who made the founding of the Kitasato Institute possible?

Because Tabata followed Fukuzawa's wishes and supported Kitasato steadily throughout his life, there are few materials that speak of Tabata himself. However, a diary he kept meticulously every day remains. Spanning from 1888 to 1942, it holds extremely high historical value for understanding Fukuzawa and Kitasato and deserves to be published, though unfortunately, it has not been yet. However, since there is a paper by the late Shojiro Shoda who previously analyzed this diary, I will mainly refer to that.

Tabata was born in April 1864 in Ogawa Town, Hiki District, Saitama Prefecture. In 1880, he went to Tokyo and entered Keio University. In July 1888, he graduated from the university's special course. Seihin Ikeda and Tatsuyasu Kinoshita, who were featured in this series, were also in the same class.

From his student days, Tabata frequently visited Fukuzawa's private residence. In May, shortly before graduation, he was called by Fukuzawa to produce a clean copy of Fukuzawa's written opinion regarding the Ministry of Education's "Ethics Book." In August of the same year, he visited Fukuzawa, who was recuperating in Kamakura. Fukuzawa described the scene in a letter to Momosuke Fukuzawa, who was staying in the United States.

"During my stay here, Koshigoro Ishii and Mr. Tabata also came, and they play with the children every day; it is quite enjoyable."

Momosuke, who would later marry Fukuzawa's second daughter, Fusa, and take the Fukuzawa name, was from the same hometown as Tabata, and they were close friends.

This was a period of job scarcity, and Tabata had consulted Fukuzawa about it. That exchange is also in his diary.

"When I asked if there were any places dealing with foreign countries among the people the Master knew, he immediately looked at me. I looked back at his face and said, 'If you have anyone in mind, please let me know.' The Master immediately bowed his head and said readily, 'Yes, yes, hmm, I will talk to people and I will also ask around.'"

At that time, Keio University was still small, with only 39 graduates from the regular and special courses combined that year, so such intimate interactions between Fukuzawa and Keio students still existed.

Tabata eventually joined Shokyosha, a company that reported on commodity prices, and later moved to the Hokkaido Tanko Railway Company.

In 1893, "Yojoen" was built in Shirokane. It was a hospital built for Kitasato because an increasing number of patients wishing to receive treatment for tuberculosis were visiting the institute that Fukuzawa had supported. As shown in Kitasato's previously mentioned recollections, Tabata moved to Tokyo after being called upon by Fukuzawa.

In a letter to Kitasato dated May 16 of that year, Fukuzawa wrote:

"The person in question (Tabata) has been residing in Kyobashi until now, but as that is inconvenient for all matters, from today he will reside in the entrance hall of my house for a while. He intends to busy himself traveling between Shiba and Hiroo every day, so I would like you to consult him on even the smallest matters."

This letter also mentions that the name of Yojoen would be "Tsukushigaoka Yojoen."

This Yojoen was constructed and launched with Fukuzawa giving Tabata detailed instructions on payment of construction costs, building plans, and obtaining timber at low prices. From then on, Tabata served as the chief accountant of Yojoen and, after the founding of the Kitasato Institute, also served as the administrative manager of the institute, dedicating his life to both.

The "Fifty-Year History of the Kitasato Institute" describes Tabata's character as "truly diligent, industrious, and frugal. He always wore Japanese clothing, and for many years, no one saw him in different clothes. However, he wore a frock coat for the New Year and ceremonial occasions, and his lifestyle was extremely simple." It also records a staff member's words: "Mr. Tabata was feared as a 'scary old man' because he would shower us with scoldings mixed with biting irony, but he was a man of deep compassion who took good care of his subordinates. This created a large-family atmosphere, and there were many long-term employees. He was also a man who was meticulous in all things, had a strong sense of duty, and accumulated virtue." Fukuzawa likely foresaw that a person with such a character as Tabata was indispensable for Kitasato's work.

Looking at Tabata's diary, he reported to Fukuzawa in great detail regarding the operation of Yojoen and sought his judgment. He consulted him on a wide range of matters, not only reporting annual profit and loss statements but also discussing increases in hospitalization fees, raises in allowances for medical staff, and revisions to executive bonuses.

Regarding the buildings, he even consulted on "the decoration of the garden's exterior," such as wooden fences and stone walls. The land was originally owned by Fukuzawa, but Tabata and Fukuzawa consulted closely to sequentially purchase adjacent land and expand the site.

Furthermore, the same applied to future concepts; Tabata consulted Fukuzawa on proposals that arose with Kitasato, such as a "hospital for leprosy (Hansen's disease) patients," a "diphtheria hospital," and a "serum manufacturing plant."

Shoda pointed out this arrangement, noting that "Fukuzawa's rationalism unexpectedly gave birth to the embryonic form of modern medical management, separating clinical activities from management activities and entrusting the latter to a suitable person." It can be said that Tabata was the one carrying out those management activities.

However, Tabata was also a presence who constantly connected Kitasato and Fukuzawa even outside the management of Yojoen. Let us look at an example.

During Fukuzawa's lifetime, Kitasato lived in a house rented from Fukuzawa in Shiba Park. However, in 1897, Fukuzawa requested that he vacate the house to build homes for his children. At that time, Tabata pleaded on Kitasato's behalf so that he could continue living in the rented house. The diary says, "Regarding the matter of the eviction from the land requested by Kitasato the other day, I wish to maintain the connection as before by all means. (Omitted) In short, I spoke of the desire to keep the bond with the Master locked tight." The next day, he conveyed the situation to Kitasato, and it is said that "the Doctor was relieved."

In other words, while Kitasato felt a strong sense of gratitude toward Fukuzawa, he also seemed to find peace of mind by constantly confirming that his connection with Fukuzawa was strong. Tabata worked hard as an intermediary there as well, but it seems that Tabata's very existence was also a presence that "locked the bond with the Master" for Kitasato.

Fukuzawa suffered his first stroke in September 1898. From the diary, we can see how Tabata went around communicating between the doctors in charge of treatment and how he himself stayed up every other night to provide nursing care. Although Fukuzawa made a miraculous recovery then, he suffered a second stroke in late January 1901 and passed away on February 3. The diary entry for that day describes a hectic scene: "Nakamigawa, Asabuki, Obata, and others gathered in the middle room and held various discussions regarding the funeral arrangements." It also notes that Tabata ended up "writing the drafts for newspaper advertisements and such, and for the calligraphy on the grave marker, I wrote the funerary banner."

The year before his first stroke, Fukuzawa had stopped by Tabata's place and entrusted him with what sounded like a will. The following entry appears in the diary for February 22, 1897.

"Old Man Fukuzawa came around ten o'clock. (Omitted) He then asked to see the laboratory and spoke to me about staying and taking care of Yojoen until it collapses. He left at eleven-thirty."

Indeed, even after Fukuzawa's death, Tabata continued to devote himself to the operation of Yojoen as he had before.

For example, the entire site of Yojoen was land leased from Fukuzawa, and after his death, Tabata appears to have taken great pains to ensure that the original intent continued with the surviving family members who inherited it.

Incidentally, Fukuzawa had written the following on the land deed:

"Although this deed uses a standard form, the fact is that leasing the land to Mr. Kitasato was an act of academic goodwill. While the rent may rise according to the market conditions of the time, one must never make unlawful demands such as forcing an unreasonable eviction. Descendants, be careful never to forget this principle."

It was 13 years after Fukuzawa's death that the Institute for Study of Infectious Diseases was transferred to the Ministry of Education. Kitasato resolutely declared, "This is where human independence and self-respect lie," and founded the private Kitasato Institute on the grounds of Yojoen. Of the establishment costs, including over 200,000 yen in construction costs, over 300,000 yen could be covered by the profits accumulated through the management of Yojoen. Since the School of Medicine at the university was also made possible through the cooperation of Kitasato and the Kitasato Institute, one can see the magnitude of Tabata's achievement when considering what might have happened if there had been no savings of establishment funds.

Truly, Tabata continued to steadily protect the mission entrusted to him by Fukuzawa upon the establishment of Yojoen, even after Fukuzawa's death. And when Kitasato passed away in 1931, the tombstone erected the following year at Aoyama Cemetery was also inscribed by Tabata's hand.