HWS News
28 April 2025 • Alums A Proud Legacy
Notable Japanese alumnus maintains connections to Hobart College.
Samuel Masao Yoshida's ’57 grandson recently contacted Hobart and William Smith for wire transfer instructions. At age 90, Yoshida wanted to donate to his alma mater from his home located south of Tokyo, Japan. He proudly noted that his grandfather had also graduated from Hobart in 1900 and shared his family’s history.
It was Yoshida’s maternal grandfather Barnabas Shigeharu Kimura who advised him to attend Hobart College. “He was an early Christian after the Meiji government changed its policy of prohibition and punishment for a Japanese (person) to become Christian,” Yoshida explains.
In the late 19th century, Hobart’s reputation among Episcopal schools attracted international students like Kimura. He had heard about Hobart through his friend Tokutaro Sakai. The two men attended St. Paul’s School, a Christian institution in Tokyo. Sakai later enrolled at Hobart, becoming the first Asian graduate in 1894. Kimura followed the same path.
“These two men had aspired to become clergy men, but they told me that they could not be accepted as their views were too liberal,” Yoshida says.
Throughout their distinguished careers, both Kimura and Yoshinda maintained a strong connection with Hobart. Both began as professors—Kimura specializing in Japanese history and institutions, while Yoshida focused on Africa and developing economies.
Grandfather: Barnabas Shigehara Kimura
Kimura graduated from Hobart in 1900, becoming the college’s second Japanese graduate. He continued his education at an Episcopal theological school before earning an M.A. in European History from Harvard University. He returned to Japan in 1904 and began teaching at Keio University in Tokyo.
His academic career included positions at Japanese universities including Yamaguchi University and Hitotsubashi University (then-known as National College of Commerce). In 1931, Hobart awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Law degree. Though he could not attend the ceremony, he wrote, “I always look back at the happy days I spent at Hobart among the friends who were so kind and so deeply interested in me.”
The following year, Kimura became president of Rikkyo University, also known as St. Paul’s School. He later served as a visiting professor at University of Hawaii. After World War II, he continued teaching at Tokyo Jogakkan College. In 1967, he died in Tokyo at 93.
Grandson: Samuel Masao Yoshida
Yoshida graduated from Hobart in 1957 and now resides in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. As a student he recalled being a member of Beta Sigma Tau, living in the fraternity house and working in the kitchen.
After returning to Japan, he earned an M.A. from the University of Tokyo and joined the Institute of Developing Economies, a semi-governmental research institute promoting relations between Japan and developing countries.
“I worked there for 30 years as a specialist on African affairs. In its last year, I served as the secretary general of the Nelson Mandela Reception Committee of Japan, when Mr. Mandela came to Japan in 1990 during his tour of Asia just after he was released from the prison life of 27 years,” Yoshida writes.
Following his tenure at the Institute, Yoshida became a professor at Chubu University. He also served as a visiting professor at University of California, Los Angeles and in Uganda. His varied career always centered on Africa. Over the years, he has stayed connected to HWS, returning to campus in 1996, 2000 and for his 50th reunion in 2007. Yoshida recently attended an HWS gathering organized by alumni in Japan (pictured above).
“It was my grandfather, Kimura, who encouraged me to study a wide world, and communicate with the citizens of the world.”
Yoshida retired in March 2010.
The photo above features alumni at an HWS reception in Tokyo hosted by Masaaki Shibamoto ’94 and Kayo Tamatsuka Wakabayashi ’90. The photo (back row) Yuka Obayashi ’87, Toimi Itabashi Yamada ’88, Kayo, Yuki Kimura ’88, Mizue Sekine Sato ’89, Masa; (seated) ShihoSuzuki Ichinoi ’86, Keiko Kohara Morita ’84, Samuel Masao Yoshida ’57, Mari Kawai Ataka ’83 and Toshiyuki Sekiya ’83.
