Monument of Kobayashi Takiji

Kobayashi Takiji, Itoh Sei, Ishikawa Takuboku The famous writers Kobayashi Takiji and Itoh Sei graduated from Otaru Higher Commercial School (the present Otaru University of Commerce) and spent their youths in Otaru. Kobayashi, a year older than Itoh, became famous with his Kanikousen ("Crab Catching Ship"). Itoh was an English teacher and wrote works, including the famous Wakai Shijin no Shouzou ("Portrait of a Young Poet") and Yukiakari no Michi ("Snowlit Path"). Another famous poet, Ishikawa Takuboku, a journalist for the Otaru newspaper, wrote about Otaru in his works of art. There are monuments dedicated to these famous writers within the city.