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Hideyo Noguchi, the person printed on a thousand-yen bill
Hideyo Noguchi is a Japanese who is known as being printed on a thousand-yen bill.
He is a medical scientist who contributed to the global society. As a same Japanese, we should be proud of him.
Hideyo Noguchi was born in Inawashiro city of Fukushima prefecture in 1976, which was the 9th year of Meiji era in Japanese calendar. (Fukushima prefecture is in Northern part of Japan, which is about 300km and 3 hours from Tokyo by bullet train.)
In Meiji era, the impact of Edo era still remained strongly. (Edo era had been governed by Tokugawa family and samurai warriors, which continued more than 300 years.)
Hideyo Noguchi was born as the son of Sayosuke Noguchi (father) and Shika (mother).
Sayosuke was addicted to alcohol from some time, and because of that, Shika had been spending hard time.
The family was very, very poor.
Day after day, Shika had to work very hard.
In such hard days when Hideyo was little, he had a terrible accident to burn his left hand severely by falling off the burning irori fireplace (which is a traditional Japanese fireplace in the living room used to warm house, people, as well as to cook).
All five fingers were attached, and his left hand lost an original shape. As a result, he could not move it freely.
Shika felt guilty for getting her son a terrible burn, and she tried very hard to make his life bright.
In fact, the family did not have enough money to get him see a doctor.
Since Hideyo could not farm satisfactory due to his handicapped hand, Shika hoped that at least he could be better educated.
Hideyo responded to her expectation, studied very hard, and got excellent grades in school.
Due to his excellence, he received donations from neighbors to get an operation of his burned hand.
The operation was very hard to death since there was no anesthesia in that time, but the operation made each finger capable of moving separately even though they were still keloidal.
The operation cannot be said as successful in today’s world.
However, Hideyo was very touched by that operation and decided to be a medical scientist.
Although it was very hard as going through the eye of a needle, he passed the exam to be a medical scientist at his first try.
This was the result of such an effort made by Hideyo, as well as support of Shika and his neighbors.
Strong will of Hideyo Noguchi
Hideyo had been seeing his mother’s effort, which was beyond description, and he decided to be a medical scientist no matter what happens.
He was born and raised in very poor family and he also had a handicap of severe burn. There must be deep sorrow and frustration which only he could understand.
Even if he wanted to give up, he might not even have an option to give up to keep his life going.
He curved the following quote to a pole of his house when he left his home for Tokyo to realize his dream.
I love this quote.
“I wouldn’t be back until I make my dream come true”
I’m deeply touched by this quote because I feel his unfathomable will in this quote.
He couldn’t complete his education without help from neighbors. Therefore, he solemnly swore that he wouldn’t be back until he could repay their kindness and make them feel proud of him.
Hideyo specialized in germ, and he went to the USA to conduct better research.
He got married with a local woman when he was 34 years old.
He devoted his life to research even after the marriage.
Deep affection for his wife
He was very enthusiastic about his research, but at the same time, he loved his wife Mary from bottom of his heart.
When they were apart due to his work, he frequently sent telegrams to her.
Even when he was close to death, he sent a telegram to her and pretended to be fine.
She must be happy to be loved so much. I really envy her.
However, such happy wife also had another rough face. It was rare in those days, but she sometimes hit her husband when she was drunk.
It makes me smile when I imagine those two.
The quotes of Hideyo from which we should learn today
Hideyo left a number of great contributions to the world, not only from his research but also from his quote.
“You should never give up even if you are poor or handicapped because you are the only one who create joy and despair in your life. You should know that the people and situation surround you are created by yourself.”
This comes the top of my list.
He was born to be poor and had severe burn, but he was perseverant to his strong will in such a difficult situation which normally let people down. That’s why this quote moves many people’s heart.
He did not complain, and he understood that the reality, such as people and situation surround him, was the reflection of his behavior.
He wanted to say that we were all capable of being happy if we do not let ourselves down and continue to make efforts.
He also left the word “Persistence is bitter, but its fruit is sweet”.
For example, you may feel that studying for an exam is endless, anxious, blur, and hard because you are not promised to pass the exam at the end.
However, if you become patient and make a lot of effort, you can see the joy beyond the hardship.
Here is another quote.
“I cannot change the past, and I don’t even want to change the past. The only things that I can change in my life are myself and future.”
People tend to regret the past, saying that they should have done this and done that.
A great man thinks differently; he does not even want to change the past.
It is true that the time is wasted by thinking too much if it doesn’t make any difference.
It makes me feel relaxed after I recognize that I can change myself and my future.
It also makes me positive and think that I want to try my best to bring a change.
Let’s go to the house where Hideyo was born
Now, I hope that you are interested in Hideyo Noguchi.
I visited Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum which is located at Inawashiro town of Fukushima prefecture many times.
I was in the 3rd grade of my elementary school when I visited there for the first time.
I read an autograph of Hideyo Noguchi for my summer homework, which makes me a fan of him.
I was amazed that such a great person existed in Japan where I lived.
It was my father who heard it and brought me all the way to Hideyo’s house in Fukushima prefecture where he was born.
You can look at the house from the garden, and you can see the quote curved in the pole by Hideyo.
“I wouldn’t be back until I make my dream come true”
It moves my heart deeply every time when I see this.
At the same time, I feel shame of being too immature.
As mentioned before, his family was very poor, and their house is surprisingly small.
In the middle, irori fireplace where Hideyo burned his left hand stands still.
Hideyo’s last days in Africa
Hideyo was in Africa, currently called as Ghana, to research deeply about the yellow fever which he discovered.
By curious coincidence, it was that yellow fever which took his life away.
The yellow fever was first discovered at Ecuador in South America. Even though he discovered the germ and took lifetime vaccination, he was attacked by the yellow fever in Africa.
He said that he could not understand why the vaccination was not effective to the yellow fever in Africa.
He promised to be back to his wife, but he closed his life before seeing her again.
A great man as he was, he ended his life more dramatically than ordinary people.
His grave is in the USA, which is the second home of him and his wife.
Next, I will post an article with Japanese together for those who want to learn Japanese.
Hideyo Noguchi, a Japanese medical scientist who contributed to the global society
野口英世、地球を舞台に走り抜けた日本人医学者
Hello. I’m Kabocha (which means “pumpkin” in Japanese), a writer specialized in history and great people in the history. Today, let me tell you about a story of Hideyo Noguchi, a Japanese medical scientist who contributed to the global society.
こんにちは。
歴史・偉人ライターのかぼちゃです。今回は、地球という舞台を走り抜けた日本人医学者、野口英世を語ります！
Hideyo Noguchi, the person printed on a thousand-yen bill
千円札の人物、野口英世Hideyo Noguchi is a Japanese who is known as being printed on a thousand-yen bill.
千円札に印刷されている人物でお馴染みの日本人。
He is a medical scientist who contributed to the global society. As a same Japanese, we should be proud of him.
世界で活躍した、日本が誇るべき医学者・野口英世。
Hideyo Noguchi was born in Inawashiro city of Fukushima prefecture in 1976, which was the 9th year of Meiji era in Japanese calendar. (Fukushima prefecture is in Northern part of Japan, which is about 300km and 3 hours from Tokyo by bullet train.)
野口英世は、1976年(明治9年)福島県猪苗代町に生を受けた。
In Meiji era, the impact of Edo era still remained strongly. (Edo era had been governed by Tokugawa family and samurai warriors, which continued more than 300 years.)
明治と言えば、まだまだ江戸時代の影響が色濃く残っていた時代だ。
Hideyo Noguchi was born as the son of Sayosuke Noguchi (father) and Shika (mother).
野口英雄の父・野口佐代助とシカ親の間に産まれた。
Sayosuke was addicted to alcohol from some time, and because of that, Shika had been spending hard time.
父親はある頃から酒乱になり、シカに度重なる苦労をかけることになった。
The family was very, very poor.
そんな野口の家庭は極貧そのものであった。
Day after day, Shika had to work very hard.
来る日も来る日も、母親であるシカは、懸命に働かなくてはならなかった。
In such hard days when Hideyo was little, he had a terrible accident to burn his left hand severely by falling off the burning irori fireplace (which is a traditional Japanese fireplace in the living room used to warm house, people, as well as to cook).
そんな中、英雄は幼少期に火の入った囲炉裏に落ちるという悲惨な事故で左手に大やけどをおってしまう。
All five fingers were attached, and his left hand lost an original shape. As a result, he could not move it freely.
その左手は原型を失って指は全てくっついて自由をうしなってしまったのである。
Shika felt guilty for getting her son a terrible burn, and she tried very hard to make his life bright.
息子にそんな酷いやけどをさせてしまった母親は、どうにかして英世の人生を明るいものにしようと努力をした。
In fact, the family did not have enough money to get him see a doctor.
やけどをしても、病院の先生に診てもらうためのお金がなかったのである。
Since Hideyo could not farm satisfactory due to his handicapped hand, Shika hoped that at least he could be better educated.
手が不自由では農業はスムーズにいかない、せめて勉学だけは、と不憫な息子の為に祈ったんであろう。
Hideyo responded to her expectation, studied very hard, and got excellent grades in school.
英世も母親の懸命な努力に答えて、勉学に励み、優秀な学業成績を残したのだ。
Due to his excellence, he received donations from neighbors to get an operation of his burned hand.
英世の優秀さから周囲から手の手術のための医療費を募ってもらえるという喜びを得た。
The operation was very hard to death since there was no anesthesia in that time, but the operation made each finger capable of moving separately even though they were still keloidal.
麻酔もなかった時代だった為、死に物狂いの手術だったようだが、術後、ケロイド状ではあるものの指を個々に動かせるようになった。
The operation cannot be said as successful in today’s world.
現在でいうと決して成功とは言えぬ当時の手術だったようだ。
However, Hideyo was very touched by that operation and decided to be a medical scientist.
その医療に感銘を受けた英世は、医学を志すことを決心する。
Although it was very hard as going through the eye of a needle, he passed the exam to be a medical scientist at his first try.
後に、針の穴を通るほど難しいと言われていた医師試験に見事一発合格してみせたのだ。
This was the result of such an effort made by Hideyo, as well as support of Shika and his neighbors.
周囲の援護と母親シカ、それと何よりの英世の言い尽くせぬ努力の賜物に他ならない。
Strong will of Hideyo Noguchi
野口英世の曲がらぬ心情Hideyo had been seeing his mother’s effort, which was beyond description, and he decided to be a medical scientist no matter what happens.
母親の言い尽くせぬ苦労を見てきた英世は、絶対に医学者になろうと決心していたのだ。
He was born and raised in very poor family and he also had a handicap of severe burn. There must be deep sorrow and frustration which only he could understand.
やけどをしていて極貧家庭出身の英世には、本人にしか分からぬ悲しみ悔しさがあったことだろう。
Even if he wanted to give up, he might not even have an option to give up to keep his life going.
めげそうになっても、めげている生活の余裕もなかったのかもしれない。
He curved the following quote to a pole of his house when he left his home for Tokyo to realize his dream.
故郷を離れ状況をする時に、実家の柱に英世自身が刻んだ言葉がある。
I love this quote.
私が大好きな名言だ。
“I wouldn’t be back until I make my dream come true”
「志を得ざれば再びこの地を踏まず」
I’m deeply touched by this quote because I feel his unfathomable will in this quote.
この名言には、ただ知れぬ彼の心情が込められていて、身震いさせられるのだ。
He couldn’t complete his education without help from neighbors. Therefore, he solemnly swore that he wouldn’t be back until he could repay their kindness and make them feel proud of him.
周囲の人々に応援されて勉学を全うできた英世は、その地に御礼をできるまでは、絶対に帰ってこない、絶対に凄くなって帰ってくるぞっとの意気込みが凄かったのである。
Hideyo specialized in germ, and he went to the USA to conduct better research.
病原菌の研究をしていた英世は、よりよい研究のためにアメリカに渡った。
He got married with a local woman when he was 34 years old.
34歳の時、現地女性と結婚をすることになる。
He devoted his life to research even after the marriage.
結婚後も毎日を研究に費やす生活を送った英世だった。
Deep affection for his wife
でも奥さんが大好き
He was very enthusiastic about his research, but at the same time, he loved his wife Mary from bottom of his heart.
そんな研究熱心な英世でしたが、妻であるメージーをこよなく愛していた。
When they were apart due to his work, he frequently sent telegrams to her.
仕事の為に離れ離れになっている時は、頻繁に電報を打っていたそうだ。
Even when he was close to death, he sent a telegram to her and pretended to be fine.
命が尽きようとしている間際にも、元気なふりをして妻に電報を送っていた程だ。
She must be happy to be loved so much. I really envy her.
そんなに想われていた奥様は、幸せである。
うらやましい限りだ。
However, such happy wife also had another rough face. It was rare in those days, but she sometimes hit her husband when she was drunk.
そんな幸せ者の奥さんだが、当時では珍しく、お酒を飲むと夫を殴ったりと、暴れん坊な一面もあったそうだ。
It makes me smile when I imagine those two.
そんな二人を思い浮かべると、なんだかちょっと笑ってしまう。
The quotes of Hideyo from which we should learn today
現代人も学びたい野口英世の言葉Hideyo left a number of great contributions to the world, not only from his research but also from his quote.
数々の素晴らしい研究成果を挙げた英世だから、名言を沢山残している。
“You should never give up even if you are poor or handicapped because you are the only one who create joy and despair in your life. You should know that the people and situation surround you are created by yourself.”
This comes the top of my list.
その中でも「家が貧しくても、体が不自由でも、決して失望してはいけない。人の一生の幸も災いも、自分から作るもの。周りの人間も、周りの状況も、自分から作り出した影と知るべきである。」という名言！
He was born to be poor and had severe burn, but he was perseverant to his strong will in such a difficult situation which normally let people down. That’s why this quote moves many people’s heart.
産まれながらにして極貧を経験し、ひどいやけどをし、普通だったらお先真っ暗だと下を向いてしまうような環境でも、曲がらぬ心情を持ち貫いた彼が言うことだからすごく力があるのだ。
He did not complain, and he understood that the reality, such as people and situation surround him, was the reflection of his behavior.
周りに文句を言うのではなくて、そういう周囲や環境にしてしまった自分があったための現実なんだということだ。
He wanted to say that we were all capable of being happy if we do not let ourselves down and continue to make efforts.
前を向いて努力を惜しまなければ、だれでも幸せを手に入れることができるんだよ、ということですね。
He also left the word “Persistence is bitter, but its fruit is sweet”.
「忍耐は苦い。しかし、その実は甘い。」という言葉も残している。
For example, you may feel that studying for an exam is endless, anxious, blur, and hard because you are not promised to pass the exam at the end.
例えば、受験勉強って先が長いし、不安だし、掴みどころがないし、苦しいものだ。
合格が保証されてないものだからだ。
However, if you become patient and make a lot of effort, you can see the joy beyond the hardship.
でも、本気で頑張って我慢すれば、喜びはその先にあるっていうことなのです。
Here is another quote.
こんな名言もある。
“I cannot change the past, and I don’t even want to change the past. The only things that I can change in my life are myself and future.”
「過去を変えることはできないし、変えようとも思わない。なぜなら人生で変えることができるのは、自分と未来だけだからだ。」
People tend to regret the past, saying that they should have done this and done that.
人間って、あーすればよかった、こうすればよかったって後悔しがち。
A great man thinks differently; he does not even want to change the past.
流石に偉人が言うことは違って、過去を変えようとも思わない、なのだ。
It is true that the time is wasted by thinking too much if it doesn’t make any difference.
確かに何をしても変わらないことをあれこれ考えるのは無駄である。
It makes me feel relaxed after I recognize that I can change myself and my future.
自分と未来は変えられるんだ、と認識すると、心がちょっとリラックスする。
It also makes me positive and think that I want to try my best to bring a change.
では、これから努力をして変えていきたいなーなんてポジティブ思考になるのだ。
Let’s go to the house where Hideyo was born
野口英世の生家に行ってみよう！Now, I hope that you are interested in Hideyo Noguchi.
野口英世に興味を持っていただけただろうか？
I visited Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum which is located at Inawashiro town of Fukushima prefecture many times.
私は、福島県猪苗代町にある、野口英世記念館に何度も足を運んできた。
I was in the 3rd grade of my elementary school when I visited there for the first time.
初めてその記念館を訪れたのは、小学校3年生の時。
I read an autograph of Hideyo Noguchi for my summer homework, which makes me a fan of him.
夏休みの宿題だった読書感想文に、野口英世伝記を読んで、すっかりファンになってしまったのだ。
I was amazed that such a great person existed in Japan where I lived.
自分が住んでる日本にこんなにすごい人がいるんだと感動したのである。
It was my father who heard it and brought me all the way to Hideyo’s house in Fukushima prefecture where he was born.
それをしった私の父親がでは、野口英世の生家に連れて行ってあげるよっと、遥々福島県まで連れて行ってくれたのでした。
You can look at the house from the garden, and you can see the quote curved in the pole by Hideyo.
生家を庭から見学できるのですが、床柱に掘られた英世の文字を実際に見ることができます。
“I wouldn’t be back until I make my dream come true”
「志を得ざれば再びこの地を踏まず」
It moves my heart deeply every time when I see this.
毎回ジーンとくる。
At the same time, I feel shame of being too immature.
と同時に、己の甘さに恥ずかしさを感じずにはい。
As mentioned before, his family was very poor, and their house is surprisingly small.
前述したように、野口家は極貧だった為、生家も驚くほど狭いです。
In the middle, irori fireplace where Hideyo burned his left hand stands still.
真ん中には英世がやけどをした囲炉裏があります。
Hideyo’s last days in Africa
野口英世の最期はアフリカの地Hideyo was in Africa, currently called as Ghana, to research deeply about the yellow fever which he discovered.
彼は、自身が南米で発見した黄熱病の更なる研究の為にアフリカ・現在のガーナにいました。
By curious coincidence, it was that yellow fever which took his life away.
奇しくも最後はその黄熱病にかかり人生の幕をおろすことになってことになってしまったのです。
The yellow fever was first discovered at Ecuador in South America. Even though he discovered the germ and took lifetime vaccination, he was attacked by the yellow fever in Africa.
黄熱病の初めての発見は、南米エクアドルだったが、病原菌を発見して生涯有効な抗体を打っていたにもかかわらず、アフリカの地で黄熱病にかかってしまったのだ。
He said that he could not understand why the vaccination was not effective to the yellow fever in Africa.
彼は、アフリカでの黄熱病には効果がなかった、どうしてだかわからない、と言葉を残したそうだ。
He promised to be back to his wife, but he closed his life before seeing her again.
妻のもとへ帰ると約束していたそうですが、会えないまま人生を終えてしまったのだ。
A great man as he was, he ended his life more dramatically than ordinary people.
流石、偉人は最後まで凡人とは違う終り方をするのだ。
His grave is in the USA, which is the second home of him and his wife.
しかし、野口英世のお墓は妻との第二の故郷、アメリカにある。
