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Taisokenshokai - The Taiso Foundation

  The Taiso Foundation, originally known as Taisoko, was founded in the Meiji Era after the death Tsuto Nitobe, whose private pen name was Taiso.  By tradition, the mayor of Towada City is its president.  In the beginning, the Foundation's purpose was to coordinate the Taiso Festival, which celebrates the area transforming achievements of Tsuto and Jujiro Nitobe.  After the establishment of the Nitobe Private Bunko (in Taisho 14), the Foundation's rules were changed to add the keeping of  Dr. Inazo Nitobe's collection of  books, and the Nitobe Family's historic records of the Inaoigawa Canal and Sanbongi Plateau Reclamation Project.  In 1964 (Showa 39) Taisoko was renamed Taisokenshokai.  Towada City enlarged the museum to its current dimensions and renamed it the Nitobe Memorial Museum.  When the name changed, in addition to keeping the records and coordinating the festival, the Foundation became responsible for conducting the museum's business.

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History of the Nitobe Memorial Museum

Meiji Era photo of  Taisozuka

The Shoyodo houses the funereal plaques of Jujiro Nitobe and his family, contributors to the Reclamation Project, canal workers, and some of the original businessmen of Inaoi Town.