The late Professor Komada from Japan who taught 7 years at the Japanese Department of TKU, left the university over 7,000 books from his private collection. His wife who came from Japan specifically to hand over these books to TKU personally on the 21st of November in a ceremony held at the Ching-sheng International Conference Hall. She reveals that this is the last wish of her husband who wanted more than anything else to see Japanese literature flourishing in Taiwan. These books also embody the spirit of her husband, so that through these books, she hopes that his spirit could find peace in Tamkang.

Her husband passed away during his visit to Tamkang last November when suffering from some complications of pneumonia. During his hospitalization, he was carefully looked after by every TKU faculty and student concerned, who also took care of his funeral and other related matters. He, an unusual charismatic character, was very much respected and loved by whoever had come into contact with him, according to Perng Chuen-young, the Chair of the Japanese Department, who was also once a student of Professor Komada.

Professor Komada not only inspired students academically, but also spiritually with his great intellect that constantly challenge the conventional thinking of his students. Contrary to other stereotypical Japanese, he was very easy-going and affectionate to everyone. His students often dropped by his dorm on campus with some beer in hand for any spontaneous chat. His door was nearly open to them 24 hours per day, and he lived and breathed interactions with students. His death was a great loss to everyone that was lucky enough to come to know him.

In the book donation ceremony, Dr. Flora Chang, the TKU President, thanked the Professor’s wife and noted that these books would be of particular importance to the future Graduate Institute of Japanese Studies. In return, she maintained that it was a great pleasure to see her husband’s books had found a good home at TKU, because that has always the feeling her husband and her have towards Taiwan. (~ Ying-hsueh Hu )