Touching the embers burning inside of me, I am polished into a great scholar by a small inkstone. Chitao Kato

These are words that were recited after gazing upon Kumagusu’s long-used and very worn inkstone. On December 29, 1941, Kumagusu departed from this world, leaving behind many things he treasured, such as a vast collection of specimens, writing materials, and the inkstone box on display. He was 74 years old. When he died that day, he spoke these words:

“I can see purple flowers blooming on the ceiling, and actually I feel fine. Please, by no means, do not send for the doctor today. If the doctor comes, the flowers in the ceiling will disappear.”

As requested in the “Request for Brain Analysis and Autopsy” document on display, after Kumagusu’s death his brain was removed and sent to Osaka University’s Medical School, where it remains preserved to this day. It is said that they found that the hippocampus in the inner part of his temporal lobe had atrophied. Perhaps that is where the madness of his genius had come from.

Later, famous folklorist Kunio Yanagita said that Kumagusu represented the utmost limit of Japanese potential.

“For those people with the will and motivation to revive the country to the full potential it once was, Minakata Kumagusu is an integral part of their ongoing story. He will never be forgotten.”