Translation of the article on the 30th anniversary of Heidegger's death in the City Bulletin, issue 7/2006, page 2 Special topic: 30th anniversary of Heidegger’s death Martin Heidegger (1889 to 1976) Nishida Kitaro and Martin Heidegger On the homepage of the Japanese Embassy in Germany (www.de.emb-japan.go.jp), presently Kahoku is cited as a model city among the 50 sister cities in Japan. Apart from Kahoku, the capital cities of Tokyo and Berlin, the old capital of Kyoto and Cologne, and the porcelain cities of Arita and Meissen are mentioned. That Kahoku is listed here, is of course because the cities became sister cities due to the bond of being the homes of the world-renowned philosophers Nishida Kitaro and Martin Heidegger. As you may know, the interaction with Messkirch has been going on for 20 years, and there have not only been mutual visits almost every year, but the influence of Messkirch’s Cats Festival is also the reason for the cat dance performance at Kahoku’s summer festival. Moreover, a very intense and multifaceted exchange has developed for example by hosting the special project “Thinking about the environment” at the philosophy museum last year in order to learn from Germany as an environmentally-advanced country. We would like to provide a brief introduction to the origin of the exchange, M. Heidegger, who died 30 years ago. Who is M. Heidegger? M. Heidegger was born in Messkirch on September 26, 1889. His parents were pious Christians (Catholic). His father, who was a cooper, also served as a sacristan. Because his family wasn’t rich, he received a church scholarship and enrolled at a Gymnasium [grammar school] at the age of 14. At the age of 20, he enrolled at Freiburg University and studied Christian theology in order to become a clergyman. However, due to physical and mental disorders and to his growing interest in philosophy, after much agonizing he eventually turned to philosophical studies. After graduation he became an assistant and lecturer at the same university, and before long he studied phenomenology under freshly inaugurated professor Husserl. In 1925, at the age of 36, Heidegger, who had became a full professor at Marburg University, published “Being and Time.” His revolutionary thinking electrified the world and instantly made him world-famous. In 1928, he became professor at Freiburg University as the successor of professor Husserl. In 1933, the Nazi government formed in Germany and Heidegger also joined the party. He is inaugurated as the university head of Freiburg University and adopted a cooperative attitude toward the Nazis. Therefore he was prohibited from teaching activities for a long time after the war. However, as his world-class academic genius and achievements were missed, he returned to his teaching activities in 1951. On May 26, 1976, he passed away at the age of 86. The publication of the complete works of Heidegger started in 1975, but as it consists of more than 100 volumes, editing and issuing still continues. The relation between Nishida Kitaro and M. Heidegger For one thing, there is the age that both lived in. Nishida Kitaro was born in 1870 (Meiji 3) and died in 1940 (Showa 2) at the age of 75. Heidegger was born in 1889 and died in 1976 at the age of 86. It is fair to say that both lived in the same age, although Nishida Kitaro is 19 years older than Heidegger. However, sadly, the two never directly met nor exchanged letters. Instead, disciples and friends of Nishida have visited Heidegger and actively interacted with him. Moreover, the niece of Nishida Kitaro, Takahashi Fumi (birthplace Kizu) attended lectures of Heidegger. And his good friend Suzuki Daisetsu who had visited Heidegger’s house after the war noted “I was reminded of my late friend Nishida. The physical features of both philosophers appear in their thinking.” The two world-renowned philosophers from the East and the West Nishida Kitaro and Heidegger are indirectly connected by a marvelous bond. Attending the commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of Heidegger's death As May 26, 2006 is the 30th anniversary of Heidegger’s death, a commemoration was held to praise the glorious achievements of professor Heidegger. Kahoku also received an invitation to this commemoration, and a delegation of four headed by Deputy Mayor Hasatani visited Messkirch from May 24 to 27, 2006, to attend the commemoration. On the day of the commemoration, Deputy Mayor Hasatani and City Council Chairman Yamada placed flowers on Heidegger’s grave. Deputy Mayor Hasatani said in his speech “I would like to make the exchange between the two cities connected through philosophy even more fruitful.” Later, on the commemoration held in Messkirch Castle, they heard an oration by the philosophy museum's honorary director Ryosuke Ohashi, who had acted as an intermediary for the sister city exchange 21 years ago. About 1,000 interested people came to the venue, and one could once again sense the greatness of Professor Heidegger’s achievement. Kahoku presented the Kahoku Citizens' Charter (in German translation) and two volumes of the complete works of Nishida Kitaro (more volumes will follow), and received a panel that was created in Heidegger’s remembrance from Messkirch. The panel will be set up in the philosophy museum. An Kahoku Association for International Exchange adult exchange delegation of four visited Messkirch at the same time and also attended the commemoration.