Fukumaru Chikuzen (Fukuoka) 1891 & 1892 村尾憘太郎

These three postcards bear postmarks from Fukumaru, Chikuzen (筑前福丸), dated September 29, 1891, December 18, 1891, and January 12, 1892. The return address is listed as Fukumaru, Kurate-gun, Fukuoka-ken (福岡県鞍手郡福丸). The sender appears to have been someone with the surname Murao, though we are uncertain of his first name. Even the surname itself is questionable, as the first character of the red inked stamp is written in grass script "Mura" (村). 

We now believe this is 村尾憘太郎, an educator active in the late Meiji period, known primarily for his contributions to art education. He authored the 1891 textbook 『小学用画帖』 (Elementary School Drawing Textbook), one of the earliest Japanese manuals promoting Western-style observational drawing techniques over traditional copying methods. This work reflects the broader Meiji-era movement to modernize education by integrating Western pedagogical ideas, especially in art.

Postcards addressed to Maeda Yoshihiko from Kyushu dated 1891–1892 show Murao’s brief presence in Fukumaru, Fukuoka Prefecture. Given these few letters among hundreds mostly sent from the Kansai and Tokyo regions, it is likely Murao’s stay in Kyushu was temporary. His correspondence reveals a professional relationship with Maeda, alternating respectful terms of address such as 殿 and 先生.

Although little is documented about his later career or administrative roles, Murao’s early advocacy for art education reform places him among the educators helping Japan’s schools transition toward a modern curriculum that emphasized observation and practical skills in art. The rarity of the character 憘 in his name also makes him a distinctive figure for historical research.