1967年に　帯広市とスワード市の姉妹都市の縁結びをした大園雍彦はスワード市開基100年記念式典にスワード市より招待された。その折りスワード市でホームステイしたお宅が当時の市長スチュー・クラーク氏宅であった。

私はクラーク氏宅に行くまでスチュー・クラーク氏が北大のシンボルとして有名なウィリアム・スミス・クラーク博士の曾孫である事は知らなかった。クラーク氏宅でクラーク博士の写真や色々の書物を見せて頂き、驚き、帰国後乏しかったクラーク博士の事を詳しく知りたいと思って、インターネット上で調べたり、下記の様に関係ある色々の方とコンタクトをとりました。

2004.12/23日かって連絡を取り合った東京工業大学名誉教授・芳賀 綏先生から連絡があり2004.12/31産経新聞朝刊にウィリアム・スミス・クラーク博士に関する記事が載る事をお知らせ頂きました。今日その記事を入手しましたので急遽この文を作成し、それまでの経緯を順を追って説明します。

2003年７～10月

（１）   ８月２０日 北大総務部国際交流課国際企画掛（011-706-2334）の梶本宏円氏と連絡をとり、クラーク博士の子孫の方々が北大を訪問された時期やお名前などを教えて頂き、クラーク博士の１１人の子孫の家系図も送付頂きました。

スチュー・クラーク氏はクラーク博士の５男ヒューバート・ライマン氏の孫で、お父さんがⅡ世を、現在スチュー・クラーク氏のお孫さんがウィリアム・スミス・クラークⅢ世を継いでおられます。

2006年の北大創基130年にスチュー・クラーク氏ご夫妻が訪日し、北大を訪れたいとの希望を梶本氏に伝えました。「まだ式典などの具体的な計画はないが、スチュー・クラーク氏がお見えになるときは連絡を下さい」との連絡を頂きました。

　　　　　　　　　　　＜大園からの手紙に下記メール返信あり＞

　　　大園　様> 北海道大学総務部国際交流課の梶本です。資料送付ありがとうございました。
　　　　　　　　クラーク氏の家系図ですが、英文のものは残念ながらございません。 エクセルフ　　　　　　　　ァイルですが、添付いたします。 今後ともどうぞよろしくお願いします。　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　> 北海道大学総務部国際交流課　　　　　　　　　　梶本　宏円

（２）   ９月７日　私の１年後輩の小泉守氏から、恵迪寮東日本・石川幹事長から送付された東京エルム新聞を私に送付してくれました。ｓ61.3.10、ｓ61.4.10，東京エルム新聞に掲載された「ジャネット・エミリー・ゴフさん」が日本の古典文学を研究される為に度々日本を訪れ、東大などで学んでいること、能「羽衣」を東京・新宿の矢来能楽堂で舞った事が北海道新聞提供の写真と共に紹介されていました。ゴフさんはクラーク博士の長女の曾孫で、クラーク博士の玄孫にあたります。東京エルム会ではゴフさんを招いて歓迎会を開いたとの事でした。

（３）   北大恵迪寮の創刊号に「クラーク先生の大志と野望」を寄稿され、長年クラーク家の研究をされている佐山峻氏に電話やメールで下記の連絡をしました。佐山氏は何度もアメリカでクラーク博士の足跡を追い、2003年６月には私達のスワード市訪問２ケ月前にすでにスワード市長のスチュー・クラーク氏を訪ねていらっしゃいました。佐山峻氏の紹介でJohn M.Makiさんのクラーク伝を訳した高久真一さんにも下記の様に連絡を致しました。

佐山峻氏は電話で「クラーク先生の大志と野望」の内で、博士は銀山投資で儲けたが地元の投資家は大損をし今でも博士の出身地元では博士に冷たい事など書いて、北大ＯＢの大多数から反発を買っている等こぼしておられました。昔の天皇の様に博士は北大関係者の間では（私を含め）神格化しているが、私は「クラーク先生の大志と野望」を読んで初めて人間クラーク博士に接した感じがしていますとお答えしました。

　　
＜大園からの手紙に対し佐山峻氏からのメール（9/4）＞

大園様　只今、沢山の資料を頂戴しました。精力的にご活躍のご様子で、誠に興味深く拝見いたしました。特に川部貞夫さんをご存知のようで、大変懐かしく存じました。川部さんとは多分７０年代の終わり頃からのお付き合いだったと思いますが、TVの仕事でもいろいろご協力いただきました。「東芝日曜劇場」のスワードロケでは、川部さんに無理を言って、彼の家の２階を八千草薫さんと池部良さんの控え室として使わせてもらいました。

８０年代の中ごろ、札幌で会った時に「佐山さん、僕アメリカ人になりましたよ」というような話をしたのが最後になりました。いい人でした。シアトルのカワベ・ハウスにも行ったことがあります。日系の老人が沢山、余生を送って居られましたね。懐かしさの余り、長々と書きました。またお目にかかることもあろうかと存じます。

益々のご活躍をお祈りいたします。草々　　　　　　　　佐山　峻（私の名前は山偏です）

＜大園から佐山氏にお礼のメール（9/4）＞

ご丁寧なメール頂き恐縮しております。思わぬところで佐山様との接点がありましたね。川部貞夫さんがご親友であったなどビックリです。文中にスワードロケとありましたが。アラスカのスワードでロケがあったのですか？どんな番組か見ていませんが、一回見てみたいものです。私はたまたま以前に接点があったのみで、長生きして36年ぶりに過分なご褒美を頂いた様なものです。佐山様の様に長い間クラーク先生の足跡を追った方とは雲泥の差です。このきっかけで佐山様の著書の一端やご活躍のご様子をインターネットで知り、改めてこのような世界があったのかと知りました。有難うございました。
　　　

＜大園から佐山氏にお願いメール（9/10）＞

北大恵迪寮を英文で説明するには、どんな表現が適切でしょうか？恵迪寮とクラーク博士との説明もどんな風にしたらよいか？英語の弱い私は、思いあぐねています。厚かましく教えて頂きたいとメールしています。もし佐山様の使い慣れた用語があれば教えて頂きたいと切に願っています。お願いまで。　　　大園 雍彦


＜佐山氏よりの返事メール（9/10）＞

誠に申し訳ありませんが、小生恵迪寮のことを英文で書いた事もありませんし、また適切な英文も存じません。どういう理由で大園さんが英文で恵迪寮のことを書かれるのかよく分かりませんし、第一私はそれほど英語に強いわけでもありません。

クラークさん関係で私が知っている唯一の英語の達人は、John M.Makiさんのクラーク伝を訳した高久真一さんです。

お急ぎなら高久先生にメールされたらどうですか？もう少し英文で書く理由を詳しく説明されてお願いすれば教えてくださると思います。私の名前を出してくださっても結構です。

メールのアドレスは夫人名義ですし夫人も先生なので「高久真一先生」と宛名を明記されるといいでしょう　お役に立てず申し訳ありません。

＜大園より 高久真一先生宛メール （9/10）＞

私は大園 雍彦と申し、72才です。昭和27（1952）年に北大恵迪寮に入寮しました。今年７月までクラーク博士は雲の上の神様みたいな存在で私どもが近寄る事は出来ないと思っていました。

帯広市とスワード市の姉妹都市提携に貢献したとして、私はアメリカ・アラスカ州・スワード市開基100周年に招待され、平成15年8月1日より４日間、スワード市長クラーク氏宅にホームステイしました。

その時始めてクラーク氏が　かの有名なウィリアム・スミス・クラーク博士の曾孫であることを知り感激しました。その折り先生の英文のクラーク博士伝記を見せて頂きましたが、英語に弱い私は写真と、年号と氏名を理解しただけでした。今回、佐山様の紹介で、その著者の先生に直接メールできる機会に恵まれました。

佐山様より「もう少し英文で書く理由を詳しく説明されてお願いすれば教えてくださると思います」とのアドバイスを受けましたので、長い文となりますが、お許し願い、その経緯をご説明し、ご理解頂きたいと願っております。

 特に本を書くなどの才能はありませんので、何かを書くためでなく、クラーク氏にメールする時どんな形で伝えるか、英語に弱い私は、恵迪寮と、恵迪寮とクラーク博士との説明を英文でどんな形で説明したら良いかわからず、なかなかクラーク氏にメール出来ずにいます。現在クラーク氏の訪日に備え、東京や千葉の恵迪寮エルム会などで「クラーク氏を囲む会」などを計画すべく企画しています。クラーク氏の訪日の際、北大訪問、帯広市訪問と東京や千葉での「クラーク氏を囲む会」のスケジュールをどの様に進めるか、「クラーク氏を囲む会」などの動きがある事を予めクラーク氏に説明しておいた方が、クラーク氏が訪日スケジュールを決めやすいと思っています。

 私の家は東京と成田の丁度中間に位置し、成田より車で確実に35分で着きます。クラーク氏の訪日の際は私の家にキャロル夫人と共に何日間かを過ごして頂く事になっています。キャロル夫人はスワードで日本着物を着るなどして興味がおありのようですので、私の長姉が佐賀市で着物やお茶の学校を開いており、平安の貴族の着物から、本格的な着物が試着して写真を撮ることが出来ます。佐賀市でならクラーク氏も紋付き袴姿で写真が撮れます。ゆっくりのスケジュールならこんな事も出来ますが？佐賀に行く暇が無ければ、姉の日程が合えば私の家に来てもらって本格的な着付けで着物を着せてあげたいとも思っています。

クラーク氏は過去東京はすでに見物されていることでしょう？何処に行き、何を見たいか？など判れば、できる範囲で手配したいと思います。しかしなかなか英文のメールが作成できず、億劫で困っています。

以上の理由から先生に「恵迪寮と、恵迪寮とクラーク博士との説明を英文で」どんな形で説明したら良いか、教えて頂きたいとメールしています。

先生はすでにスワードのクラーク氏のメールアドレスと住所はご存じと思いますが、念の為、下記に記しておきます。

尚北大国際交流課の梶本様に北大130周年記念行事は何時あるか、クラーク氏を正式に招待するのか？の問い合わせしましたら、「現在の時点では130周年計画はたてられていない」との事でした。その折り梶本様からクラーク博士の家系図を送付頂きました。尚この家系図には載っていないJanet　Emily　Goff　さんの記事が昭和31年の東京エルム会誌に（クラーク博士の長女　Emily　Williston　Clark　の曾孫　Janet　Emily　Goff）載っていました。私の一年後輩の人がその記事を送ってくれました。

 私と帯広市とスワード・クラーク氏との偶然の出会いと、その関係の一端を、私宛送付されて来ましたスワード現地新聞記事をＯＣＲスキャナ取り込みし、下記に記しておきます。(以下省略)　　　

＜大園より　高久真一先生の返事を佐山氏に送付し、今までのお礼メール （9/12）＞

佐山　峻様

私のあまり世間知らずで、善意は通じるの精神で生きてきました。今回は佐山様にまでご迷惑をおかけしました。高久真一先生より下記メールありましたので、下記の返信を送付しました。ご報告しておきます。　大園　雍彦

大園様

　　　佐山様よりご用件をご連絡いただき札幌の高久真一がe-メールを差し上げております。

　　　第一に、私の知っている限りではクラーク先生と恵迪寮とは全く関係がないと思います。このような学生寮を建てたらよいと言った等という記録は一切ございません。これはむしろ寮の歴史をお調べなさるともっとはっきりすることではないでしょおうか。英文で説明をどうするかということも、寮とクラーク先生とどのように結びつけるかということをはっきりしませんと、英文に直すことが出来ませんし若しその種の日本文をお知らせくだされれば喜んで英文に訳して差し上げたいと存じます。　　　　　　高久真一　　　　　　　　　　　　　

 
＜大園より　高久真一先生へのお礼返事（9/12）＞

高久真一先生　　　ご返事有難うございました。ご返事の意味判りました。

私は北大や北大恵迪寮・クラーク博士の事に疎く、北大開始時代は全寮制であった事と、恵迪寮時代の確かでない記憶と、下記の記載文等で、勝手に恵迪寮とクラーク博士は関係あると思いこんでいました。

北大恵迪寮の恵迪創刊号ｐ４１に北大恵迪寮そして札幌農学校寄宿舎、自治と自由（自治寮の源流）と題し、クラーク博士は舎生一同を集め「諸氏をして、紳士をもって対するだろう。ビー・ジェントルマンゆえに寄宿舎においても特に煩雑な規約を設けようとは思わぬ。諸氏、各自自治をして本分を尽くせよ」と訓示され、「舎生の自治はクラーク教頭の教育方針であった」と「恵迪寮史、第一章自治の興り」の中に書いてある。と切替辰哉氏述べておられます。　

 先生が指摘された「クラーク先生と恵迪寮とは全く関係がないと思います。このような学生寮を建てたらよいと言った等という記録は一切ございません」との違いがあまり小生には判りません。上記「恵迪寮史、第一章自治の興り」も歴史的に文献があるかどうかも判りません。私は歴史を紐解く程の情熱も知識もなく、ただ漠然と、殆どの恵迪同窓生と同じく上記切替辰哉氏の様な感覚でいました。歴史の正否に関係なく、ただウィリアム・スミス・クラーク博士のゆかりの方々には、心を尽したいと私以外の同窓生も思っています。

スケジュールの打ち合わせで恵迪同窓会やエルム会の事をどう英語で伝えるかのだけのお願いでした。先生方はその道のオーソリティでいらっしゃるので簡単に英語で教えて頂けると錯覚していました。あまりに知識がなく、一寸先生方に甘えすぎたと反省しています。お詫びまで　大園　雍彦　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

（４）元北大総長（現放送大学学長）丹保氏に北大創基125周年記念行事にクラーク博士の家系の方をお招きしたか？問い合わせしました。「クラーク博士の家系をはじめ外国人を招いた記憶はない」との返事を頂きました。

2004年２～1２月

（５）  ２月頃、深夜ＮＨＫ教育テレビを途中から見ていましたら、その中で東京工業大学名誉教授・芳賀綏氏が「ウィリアム･スミス･クラーク博士が如何に日本の文化や思想に影響を及ぼしたか」等をお話ししておられました。

翌日ＮＨＫ教育テレビに電話し、その番組のビデオが欲しいと依頼しましたが断られました。電話番号も教えて貰えませんでしたが、東京工業大学名誉教授・芳賀綏氏の名前は教えて頂きました。

　　　　早速工業大学に電話し、事情を話しましたら、芳賀綏氏の電話番号を教えて頂きました。　　　　

芳賀綏氏に電話しＮＨＫ教育テレビのその番組のビデオが欲しいと依頼しました。やはり出演者であっても番組のビデオは外部に出さないＮＨＫの方針で入手出来ませんでしたが、芳賀先生から近い内にＮＨＫ教育テレビの公演内容を筆記し送付するとの有り難い申し出を受け、待ちに待ちましたが一向に送付されてこず、先生はお忙しくて忘れられたのだと諦めていました。

（６）12月23日頃思いがけず芳賀綏先生から「12月31日産経新聞朝刊にＮＨＫ教育テレビで話したクラーク博士の事に加え寄稿したので見てください。曾孫のスチュー・クラーク氏も喜んでくださる内容と思います」と電話があり、12月31日に産経新聞を手配し、下記記事を入手しました。

Mr. William Smith Clark and His Great-Grandson, Mr. Stu Clark
2004.12.31    by Mr. Yasuhiko Ohsono　　　　　　Revised 2005.1.4

Because of the role I played in the development of the sister city relationship between Obihiro and Seward, formed in 1967, I (Yasuhiko Ohsono) was invited to participate in Seward’s Centennial Celebration in 2003.  It was then that I stayed at the home of the mayor at that time, Mr. Stu Clark.  I didn’t know until I stayed with Mr. Clark that he was the great-grandson of William Smith Clark, who came to be known as a symbol of HokkaidoUniversity.  While at Mr. Clark’s house, I had the honor of being shown many photos of and documents by William Clark.  After returning to Japan, I decided that I wanted to increase my knowledge about him.  I gathered information via internet and also made contact with people who are in some way related to William Clark.  Details of my findings are below.

On December 23, 2004, I was contacted by the honorable Professor Yasushi Haga of Tokyo Institute of Technology, who informed me that an article about William Smith was due to appear in the December 31 morning edition of Sankei Newspaper.  I received a copy of the article today so I quickly wrote out this document in order to detail the sequence of events up until then.

July – October, 2003

(1)        On August 20, I received some information from Mr. Kajimoto of Hokkaido University’s General Affairs Division / International Relations and Planning Department (tel. 011-706-2334).  He shared the names of the descendants of William Clark who have visited HokkaidoUniversity, as well as the dates of those visits.  He also sent a chart detailing William Clark’s 11 descendants.

Mr. Stu Clark is the grandson of William Smith’s fifth-born son Hubert Ryman (sp?).  Mr. Stu Clark’s father was named William Clark II, and his grandson is named William Clark III.

When I told Mr. Kajimoto of Mr. and Mrs. Stu Clark’s desire to attend the celebration marking the 130^th Anniversary of the founding of Hokkaido University in 2006, he said that the university has yet to create concrete plans for a ceremony but that he would definitely like me to contact him after the Clarks arrive.

<A Message from Mr. Kajimoto>

Mr. Ohsono, I am Kajimoto of Hokkaido University’s General Affairs Division / International Relations and Planning Department.  Thank you for sending the documents.  Regarding the Clark family tree, I am sorry but we don’t have an English version.  I will send what we do have as an Excel file attachment. 
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Thank you.　　　　　　　Kajimoto

(2)       On September 7, Mamoru Koizumi (who was a year behind me in school) sent me some articles from Tokyo Elm Newspaper, which had been sent to him by Mr. Ishikawa, the secretary-general of HokkaidoUniversity’s Keiteki Dormitory.  The articles, which appeared in Tokyo Elm Newspaper on March 10 and April 10, 1986 and which were run in conjunction with photos from Hokkaido Newspaper, were about Ms. Janet Emily Goff.  Ms. Goff is the great-granddaughter of William Clark’s eldest daughter and is therefore the great-great-granddaughter of William Clark.  She is conducting research Japanese classic literature and has been to Japan a number of times.  She has studied at TokyoUniversity and has performed the Noh dance “Hagoromo” at the Yarai Noh Stage in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

(3)       I made contact via phone and e-mail with Mr. Takashi Sayama, who has for many years conducted research on the Clark family and who contributed the article “Professor William Clark and His Ambitions” to the inaugural edition of Hokkaido University’s Keiteki Dormitory’s publication.  Mr. Sayama has, in his efforts to follow the trail left by William Clark, been to America a number of times and, in fact, had just visited the home of Mr. Stu Clark a month before I stayed there in July of 2003.  Thanks to an introduction by Mr. Sayama, I was also able to make contact with Mr. Shinichi Takaku, who translated Mr. John Maki’s biography of Mr. William Clark.  On the phone, Mr. Sayama said that he wrote in “Professor William Clark and His Ambitions” that, because Clark profited from his investments in silver mines while other investors in the area did not, there remains a degree of anti-Clark sentiment in his hometown.  He also indicated dissatisfaction that some alumni of HokkaidoUniversity are not pleased with him for writing about the anti-Clark sentiment. I told him that, like so many people, I viewed William Clark as almost a god among those individuals connected to Hokkaido University and that it was only after I read his article that I felt that I had come to know William Clark as a human being.

Mr. Takashi Sayama’s E-Mail Reply to My Letter (September 4)

Mr. Ohsono, I just received the materials.  I reviewed them with great interest and could see how passionately you are pursuing your research.  I was especially struck that you seem to know Mr. Sadao Kawabe, whom I remember fondly.  I believe I have known him since the late 70’s, when he helped me out with my television work.  While on location in Seward for Toshiba Television’s “Sunday Theater,” I imposed on him to let the actresses Ms. Kaoru Yachigusa and Ms. Ryo Ikeberi use the second floor of his house as a lounge.

When I met up with him in Sapporo in the mid 80’s, Mr. Kawabe informed me that he had become an American citizen.  It was the last time I saw him.  He was a good person.  I have also been to Kawabe House in Seattle.  I met many elderly people of Japanese descent, enjoying their sunset years there.  I seem to have gotten wrapped up in reminiscing and have therefore written a long note.  Anyway, I look forward to seeing you again.

With wishes for your good health.                                         Takashi Sayama

The Thank You Mail Sent By Mr. Ohsono to Mr. Sayama (September 4)

I am much obliged for your kind mail.  It seems we have an amazing thing in common. I had no idea that you were friends with Mr. Sadao Kawabe.  You wrote in your mail “on location in Seward;” is it that you were filming in Seward?  I have no idea what kind of program it was, but I am interested in seeing it.  In 1967 I just happened to come into contact with Seward.  In 2003, I was able to return to Seward after 36 years and, in doing so, received a generous reward.  There is a world of difference between myself and you, a person who has for a long time been following the trail of William Clark.  As luck would have it, I came to know about your writings and research on the internet and therefore was reminded of the fact that there are people like yourself doing research such as yours.  Thank you very much.

A Request Sent by Mail Sent by Mr. Ohsono to Mr. Sayama (September 10)

How can I describe “Hokudai Keiteryou” (Hokkaido University’s Keiteki Dormitory) in English?  How should I explain the connection between Hokkaido University’s Keiteki Dormitory and William Clark?  Given my limited English abilities, I can’t seem to come up with anything.  Sorry to bother you with this request but, if you have any suggestions, I would appreciate getting them.  Thank you.　　　　　　Yasuhiko Ohsono

Reply from Mr. Sayama (September 10)

I apologize, but I have never had occasion to write about “Hokudai Keiteryou” (Hokkaido University’s Keiteki Dormitory) in English so I can’t suggest any proper expressions.  Moreover, there is no possible way that your English abilities could be lower than mine!  Excuse me for asking, but why do you need to write it in English?  I know of only one person who is familiar with Clark and who can speak English - Mr. Shinichi Takaku, who translated John M. Maki’s biography of Clark.  If you are in a hurry for the information, you could inform him of your purpose and ask for his help via e-mail.  Please feel free to make reference to me.  His wife is also a teacher so I would suggest that you use his first and last name in the subject line.  His address is　・・・・・・and his address is  Sorry that I couldn’t be of more help.

Mail from Mr. Ohsono to Mr. Shinichi Takaku (September 10)

My name is Yasuhiko Ohsono and I am 72 years old.  In the 27^th Year of Showa (1952), I entered HokkaidoUniversity’s Keiteki Dormitory.  Up until July of this year, I felt that William Clark was a god that was inaccessible to a person such as myself.

In 2003, I was invited to the Obihiro-Seward Sister City Centennial Celebration and thus spent four days (August 1 – August 5) at the home of Mr. Stu Clark, former mayor of Seward.  It was then that I first found out that Mayor Clark is a descendant of the famous Professor William Smith Clark.  I was shown a copy of Mr. John Maki’s autobiography but, since my English is so limited, I could only make sense of the photos, names, and dates.  It is on the suggestion of Mr. Takashi Sayama that I am writing to you, the translator of Mr. Maki’s work.

Mr. Sayama thought that if I explained my reason for wanting to write in English, you would be willing to help me.  Therefore I am following his advice and sending this rather long note to you in hopes that you will understand my purpose.  Since I have no talent for writing, it’s not that I want to write something formal.  However, I would like to be able to write to Mr. Stu Clark.  The fact is, though, that my English abilities are low and so I don’t know how to explain the connection between Mr. William Clark and Hokkaido University’s Keiteki Dormitory in English.  As a result, I have yet to send mail to Mr. Clark.  Actually, Mr. Clark is intending to come to Japan and, as such, I am in the process of planning a welcome party for him that will include members of the Tokyo and Chiba Keiteki Dormitory Elm Association.  I think that it will help in creating an itinerary for Mr. Clark if I explain something about his visits to Hokkaido University and Obihiro, as well as about the welcome party, to him ahead of time.

 I live right between Tokyo and Narita, and it is about 35 by car from the airport to my house.  It has been arranged that Mr. Clark and his wife Carol will spending a few days at my house.  Carol has indicated her interest in experiencing traditional Japanese culture through trying on a kimono and so on, so I hope to take her to my eldest daughter’s house in Shiga.  Since my sister runs a kimono and tea ceremony school, Ms. Clark will have the opportunity to try on and have her photo taken in authentic kimono from the Heian Period.  Mr. Clark will also be able to try on and have his photo taken in a hakama (men’s kimono) with a formal family crest.  If the Clarks’ schedule is too full to allow a trip to Shiga, I will have my sister come to my house with kimono in hand.

Do you know if the Mr. Clark had a chance to do any sightseeing during his previous visits to Tokyo?  If I can get a sense of where he visited and what he saw, I will be better able to prepare a schedule for him.  Unfortunately I can’t, as I mentioned before, write mail in English and I am therefore struggling.

It is for the above reasons that I would appreciate your help in explaining, in English, the connection between Mr. William Clark and Keiteki Dormitory.

 I believe that you already have Mr. Stu Clark’s contact information but I will include it just in case.  When I wrote to ask Mr. Kajimoto of Hokkaido University if Mr. Clark had been invited to the celebration marking the 130^th Anniversary of the founding of Hokkaido University, he said that there were no plans at the time to have one.  About that time I received a copy of the Clark family tree from Mr. Kajimoto.  Also, I received from Mr. Mamoru Koizumi (one year my junior at university) a copy of an article from a 1956 Tokyo Elm Association publication about Ms. Janet Emily Goff.  Ms. Goff was not listed in the family tree but was indeed the great-grand-daughter of Ms. Emily Williston Clark, William Clark’s eldest daughter.

For your reference I have enclosed a scanned copy of an article, which ran in a Seward newspaper, about my involvement with Seward and coincidental meeting of Mr. Stu Clark. (The rest of this message has been omitted.)

Mail Sent by Mr. Ohsono to Mr. Takashi Sayama (Copy of Mail from Mr. Shinichi Takaku to Mr. Ohsono Attached)

To Mr. Takashi Sayama:

Despite my naiveté, I have always tried to do what I thought was right.  However, it seems I have bothered you unnecessarily.  I received a message from Mr. Takaku Shinichi, so I will attach it for your reference.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yasuhiko Ohsono

To Mr. Ohsono:

I am Shinichi Takaku of Sapporo, to whom you wrote on the suggestion of Mr. Sayama.　First off, as far as I know, there is no connection at all between William Clark and Keiteki Dormitory.  There is no record that William Clark said that such a student dormitory should be built.  I think this will become clear to you if you do some research on the history of the dormitory.  As far as an explanation in English is concerned, of course one can’t be done if the connection between Mr. Clark and Keiteki Dormitory is not certain.  If, however, you are able to find some information in Japanese, I would like to help you with the translation.                                                                                                              Shinichi Takaku 　　　　　　　　　　　　

Thank You Note to Mr. Shinichi Takaku from Mr. Ohsono

Professor Takaku:  Thank you for your reply.  This is a reply in response to yours.

Based on my ignorance regarding Hokkaido University, Keiteki Dormitory and William Clark, on my knowledge that all students at Hokkaido University were housed in dormitories in the early days of the institution, on the possibility that my memories of my own residence at Keiteki Dormitory are not clear, and on a certain piece of writing (which I will detail for you below), I arrived at the conclusion that there is some connection between Mr. William Clark and Keiteki Dormitory.

On page 41 of the inaugural edition of Hokkaido University’s Keiteki Dormitory’s publication, an article was run by Mr. Tatsuya Kirikae.  In his article, entitled “Hokkaido University’s Keiteki Dormitory and Sapporo Agricultural School’s Dormitory, and Encouraging Self-Government Through Independence,” Mr. Kirikae states that, according to two other documents (“Head-of-School William Clark’s Policy Was Self-Government” and “The History Of Keiteki Dormitory, Chapter One: The Rise of Self-Government”), William Clark gathered up the residents of the dormitories and told them “You must face things as gentleman.  But I don’t think that your becoming gentlemen requires that your dormitories lay down a complicated set of rules.  Sirs, it up to you to rule yourselves and to perform your duties to the best of your abilities.”

You wrote, Professor, “as far as I know, there is no connection at all between William Clark and Keiteki Dormitory.  There is no record that Clark said that such a student dormitory should be built.”  Honestly, given the information in Mr. Kirikae’s article, I cannot be completely convinced to agree with your opinion.  I also cannot know for sure whether or not the aforementioned “The History of Keiteki Dormitory” has historical merit or not.   I have no passion or special talent for deciphering history, so I just had a vague notion similar to that of Mr. Kirikae and to most of the alumni at Hokkaido University.  Regardless of historical accuracy, my former classmates and I simply wanted to be of service to William Smith Clark’s relations.　　　　　　　　

I wrote to you because I simply wanted to get your advice on how to express, as I was planning out [Mr. Stu Clark’s] schedule, Keiteki Dormitory Alumni Association and Elm Association in English.  I was under the impression that you, as an authority on William Clark, could provide a simple English translation.  I see now that apparently I was mistaken.  My apologies.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yasuhiko Ohsono

(4)         I asked the former chancellor of Hokkaido　University, Mr. Tanbo (currently the head of The University of the Air), if any of Mr. William Clark’s descendants were invited to the celebration marking the 125^th Anniversary of the founding of Hokkaido University.  He answered that, to the best of his knowledge, no non-Japanese person (including descendents of William Clark) has ever been invited to participate.

 February 2004 – January 2005

(5)       Late one night in February, I was watching NHK Education Television and happened to catch a program on which Professor Yasushi Haga of Tokyo Institute of Technology was speaking about “The Influence of William Smith Clark on Japanese Culture and Thought.”

The next day I telephoned NHK Studio and requested a video tape of the program but was turned down.  My request for the speaker’s phone number was also denied, but I was told that the speaker was Professor Yasushi Haga of Tokyo Institute of Technology.  Immediately I contacted the Institute, explained my reason for calling, and was given Professor Haga’s phone number.

　　I explained to Professor Haga that I had seen him on NHK and was interested in getting a copy of the video but, not surprisingly, NHK’s policies prohibit the outside distribution of their programs.  Professor Haga most kindly offered to send me a written outline of his presentation and I eagerly waited for it but, alas, nothing came.  I assumed he was busy and had eventually forgotten about the outline.

(6)    Around December 23, after I had all but forgotten about it, I got a phone call from Professor Haga, who informed me that he had contributed an article to run in the December 31 morning edition of Sankei Newspaper.  He said that it was a summary of his NHK presentation and said also that he thought that William Clark's great-grandson, Mr. Stu Clark, would enjoy reading it.  I picked up the newspaper on the 31^st and have attached a copy of the article to this.

(7)    On January 4, I put in a call to Professor Haga to thank him.  I also told him that Mr. Hatano, vice president of the Obihiro Committee for International Friendship, had made a request to the Obihiro City International Relations Section that they translate the article into English and that the request had been granted.  I promised to send a copy of the translation to Professor Haga as soon as I get it.

From the Sankei Newspaper article “History is the Transfer of ‘Spirit’ from One Person to Another” (December 31, 2004)

By Professor Yasushi Haga, Tokyo Institute of TechnologyOne Can’t Become Top Class By Oneself

This year, thanks to Ichiro breaking the season-hit record, Major League Baseball underwent a major transformation.  Ichiro has something in common with Hideo Nomo, the person responsible for really making the MLB world accessible to Japanese players.  Both of them were able to develop their natural talents under Akira Oogi, who coached Nomo during his days with the Kintetsu Buffaloes and Ichiro during his days with the Orix.  Says well-respected former baseball coach Tadayuki Kondo, “Nomo and Ichiro coincidently came into contact with Coach Oogi in the prime of their youths and thus had the chance to open the doors to their futures.  We must not forget about the people who influenced them when they were young.”

In fact, Oogi himself had the experience of a chance meeting with someone who changed his life.  In 1954, he joined the Nishi Testu Lions and thus received the guidance of renowned coach Osamu Mihara, under whom he saw his future as a ballplayer develop.  Says Kondo, “As Mihara did for Oogi, people need someone to guide them if they are to excel.  Without a mentor, one cannot hope to become even moderately good at something, much less top-class.”

The mentor Mitsuhara, Mitsuhara’s mentee Oogi, and Oogi’s mentees Nomo and Ichiro.  By a stroke of luck, this lineage was created.  Nomo and Ichiro themselves may not realize it, but they are the third generation in the “Mitsuhara Line.” Already this can be called “history.”  The chain of events that makes up one part of the history of baseball is really created by the fate of who meets whom.

“Wait a minute,” you might be thinking.  “This article is about baseball, not history.”  But history is what connects people.  It’s the passing of “spirit” from one human being to another.  Through the transfer of that spirit, people create relationships.   As people create relationships, history is made.

The Spirit of Clark Lives On

In 1876, William Smith Clark came to Japan as the head-of-school of Sapporo Agricultural College.  Clark, who believed that “it is more important to nurture men of character than intellectuals,” had a wide effect on Japan.  One member of Clark’s first graduating class of 13 students, Mr. Masatake Oshima of Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, went on to become a linguist and eventually an educator who was in charge of all the junior high schools throughout Japan.  In 1901, when Mr. Oshima was appointed as the principal of Yamanashi Prefectural Junior High School (now named Kofu Dai Ichi High School), there was a pupil at the school named Tanzan Ishibashi.  Twice Ishibashi had failed to graduate and remained behind, therefore coming into contact with Principal Oshima.  Ishibashi was captured by Oshima’s character and by the spirit of Smith.  He said, “I myself will become Clark; I myself am Clark’s disciple.”  The young man got himself back on the right track, took advantage of the chance to develop his character and spirit, and eventually became a noted speaker, economist, politician, and prime minister.

In 1965, an elderly and physically weak Ishibashi gave a speech at the dedication ceremony for a monument built in Oshima’s honor.  “It could be said that, thanks to meeting Mr. Oshima, changing one’s approach to one’s education and to one’s life in general was a common-place affair,” said Ishibashi.  “But…it really was like a miracle…that’s the only word that fits…a miracle.”  Overcome with emotion, Ishibashi was unable to go on with his speech.

The force behind Ishibashi’s breakthrough, and what enabled him to become such an intellectual through his pursuit of religious and ideological knowledge, was his realization of and pride in his being “a disciple of Clark.”

The influence of Clark, passed down through his students such as Kanzo Uchimura (a bible scholar) and Inazo Itobe (an internationalist, scholar, and one-time Undersecretary General of the League of Nations), has reached many young people in Japan.  I have written before in this column about the Itobe’s character development-based approach to education as principal at the former Sei　Ichi High School.  The number of his students that went on to excel is too high to count, but those who studied under him include Tokyo University professor Eijiro Kawai.  Kawai, in turn, taught a number of people who became leaders in various fields, such Masamichi Yamagiwa, the president of the Bank of Japan; Kazutaka Kikawada, the President of Tokyo Electric Company; Shojiro Kikuchi, the president of NYK Shipping; Shigeru Sotoyama, a member of the board of trustees of the Bank of Japan; and Isao Mizuno, the vice-president of Nippon Steel Corporation.  All of these stars in the world of economics received and have kept alive the spirit of Clark.

Kawai had an influence on many others as well.  In the mass media world, journalist Kiyoshi Tsuchiya has unfailingly promoted the principles of democracy.  In the education world, there is economist Kenko Kimura; in the world of social sciences, there is historian Yoshihiko Seki; in politics, there is political scientist Masamichi Inoki.  The seeds that Clark planted in the hearts of his students have blossomed and sent out many colorful shoots.

The Necessity of Learning from the Great Pioneers

Shinichiro Matsui, a particularly spirited modern historian was impressed by Professor Kawai’s belief in the importance of having “a mind that longs to be educated.”  He writes, “It is with such as mind that one can discover a noble master/apprentice relationship, something that is missing from most educational institutions today.”

Within human society, people have connections with others not only on a horizontal level, but on a vertical level as well.  We need to see “spirit” as a core that is passed down from generation to generation, we need to see history as the collective efforts that come as a result of that spirit, and we need to release our young people from the narrow confines of everyday life by educating them about the great teachers.  At the same time, if we recognize that "education" is at the heart of this vertical spirit, we can predict that limitless friendship will be born between teacher and student.  I have given many examples of the connections between great and famous people, but invaluable master/apprentice relationships are possible for even the most "common" men.