“Almost all Japanese primary schools once had a statue like this one.” I begin, drawing your attention to the \u4e8c\u5bae\u5c0a\u5fb3\u5148\u751f\u50cf Statue before us. It is more than just a sculpture. It represents diligence and the pursuit of knowledge.
The \u4e8c\u5bae\u5c0a\u5fb3\u5148\u751f\u50cf Statue depicts Ninomiya Kinjiro as a young boy. He carries firewood while reading a book. This iconic image embodies the spirit of self-improvement through hard work.
Ninomiya Kinjiro, also known as Ninomiya Sontoku, lived in the late Edo Period. He lived around the same time as the famous ukiyoe artist Hiroshige. Sontoku means diligence, sincerity, modesty, and charity.
Born into a poor peasant family in 1787, Ninomiya faced immense hardship. A flood washed away his home. He lost his parents and was separated from his brothers. Despite these obstacles, he studied and worked hard.
He rebuilt his family home. He showed others how to overcome the problems of that era. Ninomiya’s reputation grew, and his feudal lord appointed him. He was to overhaul the finances of poor rural villages.
Initially, Ninomiya faced resistance from the haughty samurai class. But his dedication and diligence overcame their fears. He rescued over 600 villages and hamlets from financial ruin.
The \u4e8c\u5bae\u5c0a\u5fb3\u5148\u751f\u50cf Statue served as a model for schoolchildren. It taught virtues like diligence, obedience, dignity, and honesty. Ninomiya represented studying in every spare moment.
A song celebrating Ninomiya Kinjiro became a compulsory part of the elementary school curriculum in 1911. This instilled moral values in children. The statues reinforced these values.
After World War II, many statues were removed. They were seen as obstacles to democratic education. However, in the 1960s, they reappeared in some primary schools.
Sometimes successful graduates donated bronze statues. These served as a kind of hidden curriculum. The \u4e8c\u5bae\u5c0a\u5fb3\u5148\u751f\u50cf Statue also represents a deeper message. It shows that one shouldn’t make judgments based on appearances.
Ninomiya’s success as an administrator led to him being entrusted with one of the Shogunate’s estates. He developed a philosophy based on Buddhism, Shintoism, and Confucianism. He saw agriculture as the highest form of human activity.
Shrines were established across Japan to worship his spirit. These Shinto shrines were called Hōtoku Ninomiya Jinja. They honored Sontoku’s memory.
Even today, Ninomiya remains a symbol of hard work and perseverance. A head and shoulders portrait of Ninomiya Sontoku appeared on the obverse of a 1 Yen bank note. It was issued in March 1946.
As you leave this place, remember the lessons embodied by the \u4e8c\u5bae\u5c0a\u5fb3\u5148\u751f\u50cf Statue. Let Ninomiya’s spirit inspire you. Embrace diligence, sincerity, modesty, and charity in your own lives.