Rickshaw Driver Letters
Dublin Core
Title
Rickshaw Driver Letters
Subject
A series of letters written by a rickshaw driver in WWII Era Japan towards the end of the war discussing a Mr. Yasuda.
Description
Pg1
この安田一殿の、人情がたぶりある自々のペン先でも一日も早くしやいせきと、解決をつけてオ店へ
出勤をしたい、それに引き換え係長がありながらもいくちも休んでも尋ねには来ない人情がなさすぎ
る
成りあがり者ほど下者を見下げて、したものをやたらに使う、すべての人は、いくら小生が、手紙を、
出しても車夫見下げて、返事をくれぬが安田一殿は偉い方
Mr. Yasuda has so much compassion in his writing, he quickly wants to solve this issue and
head to the store to work. On the other hand, the chief has no compassion at all, despite his
position he takes days off without permission.
Those who have risen to power tend to look down on those below them and use their power
excessively. Everyone, no matter how many letters I send, looks down on me as a porter and
won't even bother to reply. But Mr. Yasuda is truly a great person.
Pg2
昭和20年七月十七日（火）午前十時に着す小雪が時々降り。
この方に免じて小生は何事も我慢を、して御国と安田の為に御奉公をする者なる
七、七日八九十十一十二十三十四十五十六十七日を休日
この方はあくまでも身分を、見下げつ小生にありがたき返事をくれた、この人が、眞との人なり人情
あつき人である、それに引き換え永年の車夫、不用であるからいらぬともす人もある、人力車も今は
重大の、役割をはたす、とおときがすりんの代用を、はたす人力車夫なり
July 17th, 1945 (Tuesday) 10 am, light snow was falling from time to time.
For the sake of him, I endure everything and am a servant for the sake of the country and
Yasuda. July, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th are days off.
This person gave me a grateful response without looking down on my status. He is a truly
kind-hearted person who values human relationships. On the other hand, there are those who
may say they don't need the eternal rickshaw puller, but the rickshaw still plays a significant role
today. Rickshaw puller doing the job of the long lost gasoline.
この安田一殿の、人情がたぶりある自々のペン先でも一日も早くしやいせきと、解決をつけてオ店へ
出勤をしたい、それに引き換え係長がありながらもいくちも休んでも尋ねには来ない人情がなさすぎ
る
成りあがり者ほど下者を見下げて、したものをやたらに使う、すべての人は、いくら小生が、手紙を、
出しても車夫見下げて、返事をくれぬが安田一殿は偉い方
Mr. Yasuda has so much compassion in his writing, he quickly wants to solve this issue and
head to the store to work. On the other hand, the chief has no compassion at all, despite his
position he takes days off without permission.
Those who have risen to power tend to look down on those below them and use their power
excessively. Everyone, no matter how many letters I send, looks down on me as a porter and
won't even bother to reply. But Mr. Yasuda is truly a great person.
Pg2
昭和20年七月十七日（火）午前十時に着す小雪が時々降り。
この方に免じて小生は何事も我慢を、して御国と安田の為に御奉公をする者なる
七、七日八九十十一十二十三十四十五十六十七日を休日
この方はあくまでも身分を、見下げつ小生にありがたき返事をくれた、この人が、眞との人なり人情
あつき人である、それに引き換え永年の車夫、不用であるからいらぬともす人もある、人力車も今は
重大の、役割をはたす、とおときがすりんの代用を、はたす人力車夫なり
July 17th, 1945 (Tuesday) 10 am, light snow was falling from time to time.
For the sake of him, I endure everything and am a servant for the sake of the country and
Yasuda. July, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th are days off.
This person gave me a grateful response without looking down on my status. He is a truly
kind-hearted person who values human relationships. On the other hand, there are those who
may say they don't need the eternal rickshaw puller, but the rickshaw still plays a significant role
today. Rickshaw puller doing the job of the long lost gasoline.
Source
Purchased from Kaiser Bill's Military Emporium in Pomona, CA U.S.A. Translation provided by Yuske Tamura.
Date
July 17th, 1945
Collection
Citation
“Rickshaw Driver Letters,” CIC Museum, accessed June 3, 2025, https://cicmuseum.org/items/show/49.