The Red Cross Hospital of Matsuyama
"A spring wind is blowing
we had been constant in our devotion
to the philanthoropy" (Mokuzen Sakai)
Mokuzen Sakai(1883-1972) was born in Mizuta village, Yame county, Fukuoka
Prefecture. His real name was "Wataro".
He graduated from the medical department of Tokyo University via the 5th Highschool of Kumamoto and began to compose Haiku in the Haiku gathering of Tokyo University.
After that time, he studied Haiku under Kyoshi and became a member of "Hototogisu". Kyoshi sent him the Haiku, "An east wind get the docter board on the ship for Takahama", as a parting gift when Mokuzen left for Matsuyama to take his new post of the director of Red Cross Hospital at the age of 38, in Mar. of 1920(Taisho 9). He had filled the post of the directer of Red Cross Hospital till 1954 for twenty-nine years and had made efforts to compose Haiku in his life.
This haiku was composed by Mokuzen in his speech of congraturations at the 44th graduation ceremony of Matsuyama Red Cross Nurses' Highschool in Mar. of 1920(Taisho 9). This Haiku was given the nurses go out into the world, as the farewell present.
This monument was built by the persons concerned with Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, in 12th, May. of 1953(Showa 28), and lies at the site of the Red Cross Hospital, a little to the north of the streetcar station, across the street from the Johoku Campus of Ehime University.
The stone of this monument is the fine natural stone washed and cleaned in the upper stream of Ishite River.
