Association between Hajime Hoshi and Imperial princes

Hajime Hoshi established Hoshi Pharmaceutical Company in 1911, and developed it into the No. 1 pharmaceutical company of Japan by 1918. He had many well-known friends and acqaintances including Hirobumi Ito, Shinpei Goto, Koki Hirota, Hideyo Noguchi, Inazo Nitobe, Kojiro Matsushita and Mitsuru Toyama. In this paper, the Imperial Family (princes) who had personal relationships with Hajime Hoshi are reported. Six princes visited the factories of Hoshi Pharmaceutical Company and Hoshi Pharmaceutical Commercial School from 1922 to 1928. They were Princes Fushimino-miya, Asakano-miya, Chichibuno-miya, Kitashirakawano-miya, Takedano-miya and LiKen-Ko. Each of His Imperial Highnesses showed much enthusiasm when visiting the factories and school. They wished to see the latest world-scale modern factories that were producing important drugs and exporting them to advanced Western countries. The anniversary date of the founding of Hoshi University is May 18, the day on which Fushmino-miya visited the former school of the University. Hajime Hoshi named his daughter Yasuko after Prince Asakano-miya Yasuhiko. He used to receive invitations to visit from those princes, hold congenial talks with them, and was sometimes presented with Imperial gifts. Hoshi had a global view and warm character, and entertained a deep respect for the Imperial Family. Therefore, it is conjectured that the princes had a favorable impression for Hoshi. It is believed that the splendid historical association between Hajime Hoshi and the Imperial princes should be recorded as historical events.