NEW NHK DRAMA: DID YOU KNOW!?

Agathe Okumura (Univ. of Hamburg)
Daniela Lemmermann (ibid.)
En-Tzu Yang (Tamkang University)
Yasuyuki Nakae (Faculty of Economics)

Begins : January 2013, 50 episodes
Executive Producer : Naito Shinsuke
Directed by : Kato Taku, Ichiki Tadashi, Suenaga Hajime, and others
Starring


 : Yae - Ayase Haruka
 : Jo - Odagiri Jo
 : Brother (Yamamoto Kakuma) - Nishijima Hidetoshi
Story : 


This new exiciting drama shows how Yae fights for Aizu in the war. It tells the story of a strong, slightly manly woman, who is not to be compared to other women of her time. Details can be read below.

Historical background

  After having studied in the United States of America, Neesima came back to Japan in 1874, thoroughly influenced by the Christian teachings that he came to know while studying abroad. So he came back with the desire to build a University based on Christian values. He thought about building this University, while working as a teacher himself.
  However, at this time founding a christian University wasn’t that easy. Neesima did ask for permission to build one in Osaka and Hyogo Prefecture for example but his request was resolutely turned down by the local governments.
    Finally he met a man called Yamamoto Kakuma in Kyoto who was advisor to the chancellor at this time and who owned a big piece of land. This big piece of land is where the Imadegawa-campus is today. With the help and advice of Yamamoto Neesima finally got the permisson to build a christian university in Kyoto.
  Working very close together with Yamamoto, Neesima also happened to meet Yamamoto’s sister, Yae, with whom he got along very well with. Before long he married Yae, and they stayed together until his death in 1890.
  Compared to other women of her time Yamamoto Yae was a very forward thinking woman. She was a very strong-minded person with an extremely free and modern way of thinking. But not only her thinking was special, even her clothes were very individual. Yae actually participated actively in the Boshin-war, fighting to protect the place she loved, wearing clothes which usually only men were allowed to wear. Even after the war ended she still continued to practice shooting, wearing a kimono now, but still wearing boots.
  Because Neesima was different from other men of that time he and Yae got along very well and he was able to accept her way of thinking and behaving, something not many people would have been able to do.

Manga

  If there are some people who would like to find out more about Neesima, about how he founded our University, or how he met his wife Yae, we recommend The Manga Story of Jo Niijima (Japanese version available). The Manga Story of Jo Niijima consists of 2 books, which are produced by Doshisha University and sold for \952 (VAT not included).
  We would also like to present one part of this book that impressed us. (See right.)
  After having read the pages above there might be some that have become interested in the grave of Neesima. So we actually went there to have a look at it.

Visiting the grave of Neesima

Do you know where the grave of Joseph Hardy Neesima (Niijima Jō) is?
  You can reach it if you walk around 4 kilomters to the east starting at Doshisha University. It is located between Ginkakuji and Nanzenji.
  If you walk the Philosoher’s walk nearly until the end there is a sign spelled “Doshisha Communal Burial Ground; Yae and Joseph Hardy Neesima Gravesite” which is leading in the right direction.
  After you have reached this very sign you will have to follow a steep mountain path for 20 minutes to get to the burial ground. The entrance to this mountain path is behind an old, small gate, where there is also a sign that really surprised us. What is written on it is: “Beware of the boars.”
  Furthermore, we thought we cannot enter at first because the gate looked as if it were closed, but because the gate was also mentioned on the sign (it said to close it again after entering), we decided to give it a try and entered.
  After a while of climbing the steep slope, which was exhausting, a lot of decrepit gravestones came into our view. Obviously, we thought one of these had to be the grave of Neesima at first. However, because none of the visible graves appeared to be well looked after and there was no sign either, we came to the conclusion that we would have to climb on even further. As we did so, slowly the path we walked became a proper way. Following this way, which was illuminated by the shining evening sky, we finally reached the top where there was a surprisingly wide graveyard.
  Wondering where Neesima’s grave might be, we realized that there were a lot of stones with crucifixes carved on them.
  Suddenly very pretty, bright red momiji came into the view. At this beautiful place there was also a handsome gate, which led to Neesima’s impressive tomb.
  Peacefully resting beside him were his wife Yae and their children – nearby, Yae’s brother and Neesima’s close friend, Yamamoto Kakuma.
  With the enigmatic feeling of having met someone who lived more than a hundred years ago, we could sense the greatness of Neesima once more.
  What do you think now, about eventually going to visit this splendid place yourself?

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