These two postcards were sent by Kamiya Shukichi (神矢粛一) on January 5, 1889, and January 1, 1890, respectively. Both were postmarked at Toyo Oka in Tajima (但馬豊岡) and addressed to Maeda Yoshihiko in Kobe. Given that both men were regional educators, it is likely that Kamiya and Maeda knew each other personally and professionally.
Shukichi Kamiya (1849–1919) was an important figure in Japanese education, especially in the development of elementary schools during the Meiji period. Born in Oiso Village, in what is now Hyogo Prefecture, Kamiya dedicated his life to improving education and giving children the tools they needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
Kamiya began his career after graduating from Tokyo Normal School, one of Japan’s early institutions for training teachers. In 1878, he briefly served as the acting principal of Hyogo Normal School before taking on a key role as the first principal of Toyo-oka Elementary School. This school became a model for education in the area, thanks to Kamiya’s leadership and forward-thinking ideas.
One of Kamiya’s standout contributions was his focus on physical education. He believed that children needed to be strong and healthy to succeed in life. To support this, he introduced swimming lessons at schools and even helped set up swimming facilities, which was an innovative move at the time.
Kamiya also cared deeply about sharing knowledge in ways that children and teachers could easily understand. He wrote books like Shogaku Jintai Mondo (Questions and Answers on the Human Body for Elementary Students), which made science accessible and fun for young learners.
Beyond the classroom, Kamiya worked to improve the education system as a whole. He helped establish the Hyogo Educational Association and the Kobe Educational Society, bringing teachers together to share ideas and improve schools across the region. His efforts laid the groundwork for many of the advancements in education during that time.
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