KAJIMURA Hideki His Korean Classroom / 4 April 2005

KAJIMURA Hideki
His Korean Classroom

TANAKA Akio

I first met KAKJIMURA at 1970 and he taught me the Korean in the small class of foreign language.
Text was SONG Jihak’s "Chosengo Nyumon, Chosono Immun" published by Daigaku Shorin, Tehak Sorim Publisher. It was one of a few books for beginners of Korean at the early 1970s.

I was 21 and KAJIMURA was 30s.
Class was opened in the forth period and the room was dim-lit in late autumn season.
In the same room, I was also taught Russian from CHINO Eiichi and Natary MURAVIJOVA.
So I have fine memories of learning some foreign languages in this room.

KAJIMURA was a high school teacher in those days and was also teaching history and Korean in universities, so I heard.
I clearly remembered his remark that Korean grammar was once explained by using Russian grammar which was far apart from Korean and its family of languages.
He said the words with smiling. “Such times surely exist in short period.” When I heard the fact, I felt that the times had changed rapidly in linguistic world.

He wore the round glasses and always no tie. Jacket was old looking and the shoulders were always down a little for his thin shape.

When I was absent in the winter season from my schedule for the post-graduate work, he wrote me a letter "Why absent recently?".
Being so obliged, I wrote a reply telling the situation of mine immediately, adding the saying that Korean language was precious for me and I decided to keep on learning the language all my life. What I wrote tin the letter was true till now.

Once he invited me to his home. But I could not go because of feeling that it depend too much to him.
But now I regret that I had not received his favour. Later when he became the professor of a university, I would go to his study room for congratulation to the post . But at that time I did not go there because I thought I was always able to visit him so we were living rather near. After all my visit was not realised. It is so regrettable for me till now.

He incessantly wrote the papers. A lot of researchers respected his sincere attitude of studying.
I did not meet him in those days.
And I heard suddenly his death.
He died from disease in 1989.
He taught me the Korean and further more a way of living.

Tokyo
4 April 2005
2 December 2014 Revised
SIL