34 Sketches of ”Hometown” Kochi Drawn by Naomasa Yamasaki in 1891 and his Birthplace

Abstract

Naomasa Yamasaki, one of the famous founders of the Association of Japanese Geographers and the first president, was born in 1870 (Meiji 3) in Akaishi, Asahi-mura, Tosa-gun, Kochi. However, the exact location of his birthplace is unknown. When Naomasa returned to his hometown during the winter vacation of the Third Higher School student in 1891 (Meiji 24), he painted 34 sketches of hometown landscape (Furusato) in Kochi. This study attempts to identify Naomasa's birthplace and his thoughts about hometown by the Yamasaki family’s public and private historical information and 34 sketches by Naomasa.