The sender of these two cards is Naganuma Koichirō, a knowledgeable teacher well-versed in science and botany. He was a mentor to Makino Tomitarō (牧野富太郎, 1862–1957), who later became a distinguished botanist often referred to as the "Father of Japanese Botany." It's interesting to note that Makino was also an artist. He initially created botanical illustrations in the traditional Japanese style, but his artwork later evolved to reflect Western influences.
Both cards are dated 1889 and were sent from Kōchi, Tosa. One is an ordinary New Year's greeting card. However, the second card, postmarked August 1, 1889, is quite intriguing. Naganuma mentions taking his students on a trip and describes feeling a mild earthquake during their travels. Given the date, he was likely referring to the 1889 Kumamoto earthquake on July 28, which affected the western part of Kumamoto.
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