8. Bronze statue of E.H. Hunter (part 2)
The bronze statue of Hunter was erected to coincide with the relocation of the head office to Sakurajima on October 1, 1916. E.H. Hunter prepared a response for the unveiling ceremony , which was read on his behalf by his eldest son, Ryutaro. The following is an excerpt.(1)
・・ very early in the Meiji era I conceived the idea of founding a shipbuilding yard for the construction of vessels such as I foresaw would soon be required in this country, in the hope that it would become a great establishment worthy of modern Japan.・・ I should like to take this opportunity of saying that the success which has been achieved is due in no small measure to the loyal assistance of men still in the service of the Company, who stood by me in days of adversity as well as of success.・・If the statue of the pioneer has any influence, I hope that it will be in the direction of consolidating and extending the position that has already been won.
E. H. HUNTER
Osaka, November, 25th. 1916
(仮訳)
・・明治の最も初期に、私は造船所を建設して船を建造することは、近い将来この国にとって必要となるという考えに至りましたし、このことは近代日本にとって価値のある素晴らしい事業となるであろうとの期待を持ちました。・・この機会に是非申し上げたいことは、これまで成し遂げられてきた事業の成功は、逆境の日にも順風の日にも私を支えていただき、現在にいたるまで会社のために尽力しておられる方々の多大なる誠意あふれるご助力がなければ達成できるものではなかったということでございます。
・・もし、このパイオニアの像が何らかの心を伝えることができるならば、これまで築き上げてきた会社の地位を一層確固なものにし、さらに将来に向かって拡大して行くような挑戦する心を持ち続けてほしいと望む次第です。
E. H. ハンター
大阪において 1916年11月25日
The bronze statue that was a symbol of Hunter's challenger spirit was seized during the Second World War and no longer exists. Bronze is a commonly used material in ship propellers. It pains one to think that the Hunter statue may have become part of a warship that fought against that from his home country.
Osaka Iron Works was renamed Hitachi Zosen in 1943. Following the war, the company weathered the critical dissolution of zaibatsu conglomerates, and moreover, went on to engage in mainstay export industry and become a leader of economic recovery. The bronze statue was an embodiment of Hunter's challenger spirit in its DNA, and that DNA lived on.
Bibliography
- 1『ハンター翁銅像建設小誌』大正6年3月1日、株式会社大阪鉄工所
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- 1. Maizuru Maru
- 2. Hunter and Aiko
- 3. E.H. Hunter & Co. at Kobe Foreign Settlement No. 29
- 4. Rokko Maru: Wooden steamship on the "golden route"
- 5. E. H. Hunter, a man with Japanese spirit and Western technology(part 1)
- 6. Japanese spirit, Western technology (part 2)
- 7. Bronze statue of E.H. Hunter (part 1)
- 8. Bronze statue of E.H. Hunter (part 2)
- 9. Temple bell tuned to 122 cycles with Shosoin flute