Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object Identification Number |
2011.013.008 |
Object Name |
Letter |
Donor |
Snow, Carey |
Scope / Description |
A set of four letters and two envelopes which are all sent from Japan by Aage J. Clement to his sister Gerda Clement between March 1922 and February 1924. All letters are written on typewriter in black and are signed by hand in black ink. In all the letters Aage writes about his perception of Japan and the Japanese people and about his daily life in Tokyo. He is disappointed and describes Japan as being less modern and civilized than he had expected. The Japanese people he finds to be outright uncivilized and acting indecent. Letter 1: March 1, 1922. Six pages, each blank on the back. Pages two to six are numbered at the top center of the page. On all pages but the last "v.o." is written at the bottom of the page; on pages 1, 2, and 4 it is written by typewriter, and on pages 3 and 5 it is written by hand. On some pages there have been made corrections to the text by hand in black (or grey) ink. There are pinholes in the top corner of all pages to the viewer's left from a pin that was used to hold the pages together. The first page has "Tokyo, den 1'Marts 1922." at the top of the page to the viewer's right. All pages have a watermark that looks like it says "REM ICO PARAGON LINEN / MADE IN U.S.A.". In this letter Aage describes his journey from Hamburg to Tokyo with stops on the way in Port Said, Singapore, Hong Kong, Pukow, Kobe, and Yokohama. From Hamburg to Yokohama he went by ship and then by train from Yokohama to Tokyo. In this letter he gives his first impressions of Japan and the Japanese people and writes about his disappointment. He mentions that people take their baths in the street and that the walls of the houses will sometimes be pulled to the side leaving everything that happens inside the house on public display. He also writes about how he finds that the Japanese are ridiculously polite. In the letter he also describes a trip to Kammakura, a popular seaside resort among Europeans in Japan. 8 1/2 x 13. Letter 2: October 9,1922 (matches envelope 2) Two pages. The back of page one is blank, but on the second page there is text on both sides of the paper. Pages two and three are numbered at the top center of the page. There are pinholes in the top corner to the viewer's left on both pages from a pin that was used to hold the pages together. A piece of the first page of about 5 1/2 x 1 inch is missing at the top corner on the viewer's right side. Below this the date, "9/10 - 1922." is printed. Both pages have a watermark that looks like it says "CHAIUS BANK". In this letter Aage describes daily life in Tokyo. Apart from his work he mentions the hot weather, typhoons, earthquakes, and a cholera epidemic, but he writes that if one were to worry about such things one wouldn't be able to live in Japan. The beautiful scenery he describes as a redeeming factor. He also comments on happenings at home that Gerda has described to him in her letters, one of them being their parents moving away from the family home at Falster. 8 1/2 x 13. Letter 3: February 6, 1923 One page with text on both sides. On the first page "v.o." is written by hand at the bottom of the page to the viewer's right. Page two is numbered at the top center of the page. Undecipherable watermark. At the top of the first page to the viewer's right it says "Omotecho, 2, Sanchome, Akasaka-ku, / Tokyo, den 6/2 - 1923." This letter is a birthday greeting for Gerda, but Aage also writes in passing about a visit he has made to a fellow Dane, Mr. Glahn, who is living in Japan, and mentions a recent earthquake. He also comments on news about the parent's new home that Gerda has written to him about. 8 1/2 x 13. Letter 4: February 18, 1924 Four pages. All the pages are blank on the back. Pages two to four are numbered at the top center of the page. On some pages there have been made corrections to the text by hand in dark ink. The pages all have a watermark that looks like it says "BLANDFORD BOND / STRATHMORE QUALITY / U.S.A.". The pages have been held together by a wide staple in the upper corner to the viewer's left. The pages have later come apart leaving holes after the staple in pages two, three, and four. The staple is still in page one. In this letter Aage describes his situation at work: he'll likely get a new boss soon, but there seem to be no hope of a promotion for himself. He writes that he'll discuss his situation with the ministry. He also mentions some plans about a poultry farm that he and Gerda can discuss in more detail, if the discussions with the ministry leads to his going home to Denmark. He also writes about a visit to old Mr. Glahn, a Danish man living in Japan with a Japanese wife. He also mentions that they have had some minor tremors and that Miss Laugesen has now had her house rebuild after the latest shocks. He writes about the state of the city, where the streets become puddles of mud when it rains and where a project to modernize the city in his opinion has come to a complete halt due to bureaucracy and corruption. He begins and ends the letter by wishing Gerda a happy birthday next month. 8 1/2 x 13. Envelope 1: April 12, 1922 Grey paper. The recipient's address on the front is written on a typewriter and then crossed out by hand and a new address is added in black ink. On the back the sender's address is written on a typewriter with the city, "TOKYO" underlined. On both the front and the back side there is a postmark and on the back there are three additional half postmarks. The upper corner to the viewer's right (where the stamp would have been) has been cut off the envelope. The end of the envelope to the viewer's left has been torn off. The envelope is addressed to Miss Gerda Clement at Strandvejen 17 in Sønderborg, but this address has been crossed out and replaced with Harsdorffsvej 6B 4th floor, Copenhagen. The letter is sent from Aage J. Clement c/o The Royal Danish Legation, Tokyo. 5 1/4 x 4 1/2. Envelope 2: October 10, 1922 (matches letter 2) White paper. On the front the recipient's address is written on a typewriter with the city, "SØNDERBORG" underlined. Apart from the address there is a sticker with the text "TOKIO" on it (top center), two blue Japanese stamps (top and to the viewer's right), two postmarks (one to the viewer's left and one to the right), and a number of Japanese characters (both to the viewer's left and right). On the back of the envelope the name of the sender is typed and the address is expressed through an imprinted seal. The seal is red and shows a crown and has the text "LEGATION DE DANEMARK". The envelope is closed in the middle by a was seal of that same design. There are three postmarks, two to the viewer's right and one to the viewer's left. The envelope is addressed to Miss Gerda Clement at Strandvejen 17 in Sønderborg, and the letter is sent from Aage J. Clement c/o The Royal Danish Legation, Tokyo. 4 3/4 x 5 3/4. |
Language of Material |
Danish |
Title |
Letters and Envelopes |
Creator |
Clement, Aage |
Dates of Creation |
1922-1924 |
Associated People |
Clement, Aage J. Clement, Gerda Clement, Ellen Laugesen, Magda Clement, Magda Høst, Minister |
Search Terms |
Clement, Aage J. Clement, Gerda Clement, Ellen Laugesen, Magda Clement, Magda Høst, Minister Port Said Singapore Hong Kong Pukow Kobe Yokohama Tokyo Kammakura Japan China The Royal Danish Legation letter envelope correspondence |
Given In Memory Of |
In Memory of Annelise Magdelene Clement Stoaks |
Date Received by Museum |
06/06/2011 |
Images |
139\2011013008.JPG |
Accession number |
2011.013 |
Collection |
Stoaks, Annelise Clement Collection |