MORI OGAI AS A SURGEON-MAJOR IN THE GERMAN EMPIRE OF 1884-88

Abstract

Rintaro Mori alias Ogai (1862-1922) studied medicine at the Royal University of Tokyo. At the time, lectures were given in German. The ministry of war sent the young surgeon-major to Berlin to study military hygiene and sanitation from 1884-88. His teachers were Franz Hofmann, Max von Pettenkofer, Robert Koch and others. He joined Saxon and Prussian armies. He also wrote poetry and novels. Back in Japan, he had a splendid career, and was eventually promoted to army head physician. His literary work comprises 38 volumes.