This stone monument features an inscription of a tanka, or a short Japanese poem, written by Rokuro Takano. He was a bureaucrat deeply involved with the operations of national and public sanatoriums for Hansen’s Disease all across Japan. The monument is made from natural stone and measures 1.5m tall and 2m wide. The engraving of Takano’s poem reads, “Higo, which I visited after a day and night train ride from afar, had an avenue lined with wax trees with autumn leaves." (Higo is the old name for Kumamoto Prefecture.) Rokuro Takano was born in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1884 and died in 1960. Highlights of his career include working at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Hygiene Bureau, being the director of the Hygiene and Prevention Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and later holding the position of chairman of the Tofu Association. Takano was also an active poet and writer and is said to have contributed to the literary activities of Keifuen’s residents. The poem-inscribed monument was erected in 1962 under the approval of members of the HinoKage Tanka Kai, a circle made up of Keifuen residents.
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National Sanatorium Kikuchi Keifuen History museum
Rokuro Takano was born in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1884 and died in 1960. Highlights of his career include working at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Hygiene Bureau, being the director of the Hygiene and Prevention Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and later holding the position of chairman of the Tofu Association. Takano was also an active poet and writer and is said to have contributed to the literary activities of Keifuen’s residents.
The poem-inscribed monument was erected in 1962 under the approval of members of the HinoKage Tanka Kai, a circle made up of Keifuen residents.