Junesay Iddittie

Sumimasa Ijichi was a Japanese English scholar and a professor, trustee, and emeritus professor at Waseda University’s Faculty of Commerce. He was born on June 17, 1884, in Kakuto Village, Nishimuro District, Miyazaki Prefecture (now Ebino City, Miyazaki Prefecture). His parents were Akihira Ijichi and Tatsu.

While attending Miyazaki Prefectural Miyazaki Middle School, Ijichi decided in his third year to express his opinions through English writings. He was scheduled to take the entrance exam for the old imperial high school in July 1902 (Meiji 35), but he gave up due to illness. The following year, in September 1903 (Meiji 36), he transferred to Waseda University’s Commercial Preparatory Course, and in 1904 (Meiji 37), he enrolled as one of the first students in the university’s Faculty of Commerce. During his studies, he was influenced by Shakespeare and Lafcadio Hearn, as well as by his teacher Yutaro Takefusa. Additionally, he founded the Waseda University English Society while still a student. He graduated in 1907 (Meiji 40).

In 1908 (Meiji 41), through an introduction by Yutaro Takefusa, he joined the Japan Times and worked as a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1909 (Meiji 42), he taught English composition at Waseda University’s Advanced Preparatory Course. Between 1911 (Meiji 44) and 1913 (Taisho 2), he studied abroad in the UK, France, and the United States. During his stay in Britain, he studied phonetics of English and French with Daniel Jones. While in America, he also worked as a journalist for the monthly magazine *The Oriental Review*.

In 1914 (Taisho 3), he became a full-time lecturer, and the following year was promoted to professor, starting to teach English conversation. In May 1925 (Taisho 14), he was appointed as a lecturer in the English specialization. In November 1933 (Showa 8), he established the Business English Study Group, and in 1940 (Showa 15), as part of Waseda University’s 60th anniversary celebrations, he published *The Life of Marquis Shigenobu Okuma: A Maker of New Japan*.

After World War II, in 1945 (Showa 20), he became the chair of Waseda University’s Athletic Association and in December was appointed head of the External Relations Department to promote new organizational reforms. On July 5, 1946 (Showa 21), he was elected to Waseda University’s Board of Trustees. On October 1, 1949 (Showa 24), he became the head of the First Faculty of Commerce. He remained on the faculty until January 1962 (Showa 37), when he retired from Waseda University.

Later, from 1956 (Showa 31) to 1962 (Showa 37), he serially published articles on English correction guidance titled “Business Writing” in the magazine *Eigo Seinen*. He passed away due to old age on August 11, 1964 (Showa 39).

His scholarly activities were somewhat incomplete due to illness and death, including the compilation of the *Business English Dictionary* and the publication of a history of the Meiji Restoration. Ijichi was deeply knowledgeable about Shakespeare’s works; several of his books were always kept in his room, and he enjoyed reading and memorizing Shakespeare at home. He was known to have a stubborn personality and was somewhat resistant to changing his opinions once he had made up his mind.