These three postcards were sent by Morimoto Seizō (森本清蔵) on January 1, 1889; September 10, 1889; and January 1, 1890. In them, he addresses Maeda using different titles—once as Aburaesh (油絵師, "oil painter") and once as Rokuyōdō (六要堂), possibly a name associated with Maeda’s studio or artistic persona. All were mailed from Tokyo while Morimoto was studying at Tokyo Higher Normal School.
Morimoto, a native of Hyōgo Prefecture, played a significant role in shaping Japan’s teacher training system during the Meiji and Taishō eras. He began his formal education at Kobe Normal School, graduating in 1885 (Meiji 18), and continued at Tokyo Higher Normal School, where he completed his studies in 1889 (Meiji 22)—a time when the institution stood at the forefront of pedagogical training in Japan.
After graduating, Morimoto embarked on a wide-ranging educational career. He taught and later became principal at Aichi Prefectural Normal School, held teaching posts in Tokushima, and went on to lead Fukuoka Prefectural Normal School. He also returned to his alma mater in Tokyo to teach, and later served as principal of Osaka Prefectural Normal School.
In 1904 (Meiji 37), Morimoto was appointed school inspector for Osaka Prefecture. Two years later, he joined the Ministry of Education as a national inspector. That same year, he was dispatched to Qing China to serve as an educational advisor in Fengtian Province—a notable international role during a period of growing Japanese influence in East Asia. After returning to Japan in 1908, he held principalships at Meirin Middle School in Aichi and Miyazaki Middle School in Miyazaki Prefecture.
Spanning local schools to national policy and even international outreach, Morimoto’s career reflected the evolving landscape of Japanese education in a period of rapid modernization. His leadership in normal schools and his involvement in policy helped lay the foundation for modern teacher training in Japan.
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