In memory of the cleaning god, Professor Hidezaburo Kagiyama
Yoshie Doi
I received the news that Professor Hidezaburo Kagiyama, who was my mentor in life, passed away in January of this year. I had been in contact with Professor Kagiyama for many years, and received about 50 postcards and letters from him, who was known as the art of postcard writing. I also received many of his books, and I think the last postcard I received was when he was recuperating due to illness. In response to my report about the Okudosan Summit, he wrote that he also used a cooking stove (Okudosan).
About 30 years ago, I received a copy of his book “Thorough Practice of Ordinary Things.” On the back cover, he wrote, “Doi Yoshie-san, The Taste of Persimmons Battered by Frost, The Taste of People Who Endured Hardship, Kagiyama Hidesaburo.
He founded Yellow Hat by selling goods from his bicycle, and I have heard a lot about the hardships he faced after that. I have always respected him as a man who lived a life of faith.
About two years ago, Professor Kagiyama sent me his last book, and this was his last letter in response to the letter of thanks I received. I am very grateful for the many pieces of advice he gave me over the past 30 years when I was in real trouble. He has given me advice on various matters of life, including my daughter and sister. Every time we consulted, he sent me his books and publications, and showed me the path of hope.
”Performing ordinary tasks thoroughly” became my way of life, and I tried to make it a habit to do ordinary things with extraordinary thoroughness. I was also taught that “if you pick up one piece of trash, it will become a clean place,” and I participated many times in toilet cleaning events organized by the “Japan Beautifying Association” with my daughter, who was a high school student at the time. Also, at that time, the leader taught me how to clean, and we still keep in contact with each other today.
I remember one time when he went to Beijing as a volunteer to teach toilet cleaning, and after returning home, I received a postcard from him saying that his diarrhea had not stopped even a month later. I immediately sent him some Chinese herbal medicine that had been handed down since the Edo period from a Kyoto court physician, and then he sent me a postcard saying that his diarrhea had stopped. I remember how happy I was.
The postcard I received is a treasure to me. I learned about the philosophy that permeated Professor Kagiyama’s life through his way of life, and although there are many things I cannot reveal here, he was a great man filled with justice and human strength.
I was really touched when I met him in Kyoto and he even mailed me a postcard from Kyoto Station on his way back. I am filled with loneliness when I think that I will never meet Professor Kagiyama again. I pray for his soul to rest in peace. I will do my best to pass on what I learned from Professor Kagiyama to the next generation. Thank you very much.
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Translated by Masami Otani
