What war has visited upon one family…
Three brothers and two sisters lived in Ariake Village (present-day Azumino City) of the Minami Azumi District in Nagano Prefecture. The three brothers—the eldest Yoshiharu, the second son Tatsuo, and the youngest brother Ryōji—all attended Keio University, and each lost their lives in the war.
Ryōji, who served as a member of the Special Attack Units of the Imperial Japanese Army, is widely known for his last letter written the night before his final mission, in which he states, "Tomorrow one liberalist will depart from this world."
His bereaved parents retained all the personal belongings of their three sons who fell in battle, disposing of not a single item, thus preserving a collection of various materials dating from the time of their birth.
In this exhibition, we trace the footsteps of these three brothers, while also turning our gaze to their father, Toratarō, a practicing doctor and well-respected figure in the community, as well as their grandfather, Ryōzaburō (Sansen), a modern haiku poet and pupil of Masaoka Shiki. By examining this family, we shall contemplate and gain insight into Modern Japan and the Pacific War.
Overview
・Dates: Thursday, June 19, 2025–Saturday, August 30, 2025
・Closed: Sundays, public holidays, and for the summer break between Tuesday, August 12 and Monday, August 18
・Venue: 2nd Floor, Old University Library, Temporary Exhibition Room, Keio History Museum
・Open: 10:00―18:00
・Admission: Open to the public (free of charge)
・Exhibition page: https://history.keio.ac.jp/?page_id=4008(available in Japanese)
*Please check the exhibition's website for the latest information: https://history.keio.ac.jp/en/
