A fire broke out at the dormitory in the University campus, Hongo, late at night, January 25, 1889, causing the death of a medical student and injuring several students, of literature and medicine. The scene of the fire was depicted by students in their diaries and Dr. Erwin von Balz, German professor of medicine, whose official residence was not far from the dormitory, described what he saw during the catastrophe. The cause of the fire was the careless treatment by the dormitory servant of the oil-lamps then widely used.
Ten days passed and on February 7, the minister of Education, Arinori Mori gave address to all the students in the University hall, 'at the request of the President of the University, ' he added. In his address the minister referred to the recent fire and felt regret for the conduct of the University staff and students. Hearing the comment of the minister, the students felt indignant.
On February 11, the National Foundation Day, the long-waited-for Constitution of Japan was promulgated and the solemn ceremony was held in the Imperial Court in the presence of the Emperor. Arinori Mori was preparing to leave for the Imperial Palace, when a young man called at the hall of the official residence, saying he had a secret information what the indignant students would do for the minister, and he would tell it minutely to the minister himself. Then he stabbed Mori by a sharp cooking knife.
抄録全体を表示