Donald Keene in the Eyes of Shigeaki Hinohara

You know Donald Keene of course, a noted American-born Japanese scholar, historian, writer all in one, and hopefully Shigeaki Hinohara, 104-year-old physician at St. Luke Hospital, Tokyo. They are 11 years apart in age, and the senior, Dr. Hinohara, thinks so much of Mr. Keene so that they met in a magazine interview and shared rewarding few hours, according to Hinohara, exchanging views on all subjects. The interview will appear in September issue of the "Chuo Koron". 

The Yomiuri Shimbun has a column "Yomidoc"(YomiDoctor) for Hinohara to run, and in a recent installment he talks about Keene. Here's a gist of his comments on Donald Keene as freely transcribed by this desk.

"Mr. Keene first took interest in Japan at age 12 when he learned of a piece of Haiku by the renowned lady Haikuist Chiyojo of Kaga, he told me", recalls Hinohara. The particular piece of Haiku loosely means that upon noting the well rope being "taken" by the vine of a morning glory Chiyojo dared  touch the role and instead called on her neighbor for a bucket of water. Hinohara was moved by Keene's sensitivity, he recalls.
Donald Keene was naturalized a while after the great earthquake in Northeastern Japan to prove to the world he is a genuine Japanese. Dr. Hinohara is much impressed by the way Keene has involved himself ever since with relief activities out of deep sympathy for the people of Northeastern Japan. 

A few words on Dr. Hinohara should be due. Dr. Nobuaki Hinohara is himself an amazing personality who at age 104 actively treats patients at St. Luke Hospital. He also lectures and speaks on various occasions and his whereabouts is a matter of social concern. For a decade now Dr. Hinohara lives on only one decent meal a day. Every morning he only has a cup of coffee, glasses of juice and milk and some olive oil; his lunch is two pieces of cookie and milk. Some personality he is, indeed.