1889 森本富 and 足立利庸

This postcard bears a postmark from 摂津西ノ宮 (Settsu Nishinomiya) in Hyogo Prefecture and was sent by an individual named Morimoto Tomi—森本富. The message appears to outline travel plans, but what makes this card particularly noteworthy is how Morimoto addresses Maeda Yoshihiko: using the suffix "君" (kun).

This choice of address suggests one of two possibilities:

A close personal friendship between Morimoto and Maeda, as "kun" is often used among peers or by superiors toward younger or subordinate males.

Morimoto held a higher social or professional status than Maeda, granting him the familiarity to use "kun."

This is only the second known instance of Maeda being addressed this way in correspondence. For the previous example, refer to our October 13, 2024 post.

The second card, dated June 27, 1889, was sent from Kobe and addressed to Maeda while he was staying at Morimoto’s residence at Nishinomiya Hamakubo-chō 18-ban (西ノ宮町濱久保町十八番). The sender’s name is Adachi Toshitsune  (足立利庸). Curiously, Maeda is addressed as 前田吉彦殿 rather than the more customary 様. There appears to be some connection between the two cards, though the nature of that relationship remains unclear.

Adachi Toshitsune and His Role in Meiji Education

Born in 1853 in Nakanomachi, Takahashi (now part of Okayama Prefecture), Adachi Toshitsune was a samurai by birth and an educator by calling. He studied at the domain school Yūshūkan under Kamata Genkei and Kawada Ōkō, then went on to graduate from Tokyo Normal School. He returned to his home region and worked in elementary education across Okayama and Hyōgo prefectures for more than 40 years.

Adachi became a respected figure in local education, eventually serving as a circuit instructor, overseeing multiple schools—a role similar to what we now call a regional education supervisor. His contributions helped shape early Meiji-era education in the countryside, where trained teachers were still rare. In his later years, he lived in Suma, Hyōgo Prefecture. A poem he wrote at age 83 is preserved in the archives of Takahashi High School, and his writings are also found in local anthologies.