The Symposium and Exhibition Held to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Passing of S.S. Ohashi, a Japanese Photographer from Miyazu, Kyoto
2025/5/27
On May 23, 2025, the Embassy of Japan in Seychelles organised a symposium at the University of Seychelles in collaboration with the University of Seychelles, the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts, and Miyazu City in Japan. The symposium was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing of Mr. Samuel Shingow Ohashi, a Japanese photographer from Miyazu, Kyoto.
Mr. Ohashi was born in Miyazu City in Kyoto Prefecture, and became a renowned photographer in Seychelles about 120 years ago. He produced numerous photo postcards that vividly captured the history of Seychelles, including images of the streets and port of Victoria, government offices, everyday life, giant tortoises, and the unique flora of the islands. He passed away in Seychelles on May 23, 1925, at the age of 74. These postcards have had a significant impact on the people of Seychelles and are regarded as valuable historical artefacts.
Research on Mr. Ohashi has been conducted in Japan for 30 years by Mr. Sumio Aoki, former professor at Chubu University. More recently, in February 2023, Mr. Aoki donated his private collection of 66 photo postcards of Mr. Ohashi, which were sold in the 1900s–1910s, to the Seychelles National Museum of History. In addition to Mr. Aoki, Dr. Noriko Matsuda, Associate Professor of Kyoto Prefectural University has been conducting research based on Mr. Aoki's findings. Between late 2019 and early 2020, she conducted fieldwork on Mr. Ohashi’s photo postcards in Seychelles, and produced a video, which is available online, that includes an interview with Mr. Aoki and the findings of her research in Seychelles. Furthermore, in November 2022, she organized a symposium on Mr. Ohashi in Miyazu City, as well as an exhibition featuring 73 photo postcards of Mr. Ohashi collected by Mr. Aoki, shortly before Mr. Aoki’s donation to Seychelles (The same seven of the photo postcards that were donated to Seychelles were also donated to Miyazu City).
At the symposium held at the University of Seychelles on May 23, Ambassador Sakuta expressed his gratitude to Mr Sumio Aoki in his opening remarks for his long-standing research on Mr Ohashi. He went on to highlight Mr. Ohashi's significance as a figure who fostered people-to-people exchanges and friendly relations within the context of Japan-Seychelles bilateral relations. Ambassador Sakuta also noted that while exchanges between Japan and Seychelles may not be as active as they were in the 1980s, the fact that Japan posted its first resident Ambassador to Seychelles in December 2024 demonstrates the growing importance of Japan-Seychelles relations.
Following that, Dr. Justin Zelime, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Development of the University of Seychelles, spoke about the historical significance of Mr. Ohashi in Seychelles. Then, Mr. Masafumi Kizaki, Mayor of Miyazu City, who attended online, expressed his gratitude for the symposium, introduced Miyazu City as a tourist destination known for "Amanohashidate," and stated that Mr. Ohashi’s achievements are a legacy to be proud of. He added that Mr. Ohashi’s photographs go beyond mere artistic expression, speaking volumes to us as part of humanity’s collective memory.
At the symposium, Associate Professor Noriko Matsuda of Kyoto Prefectural University, who participated online, introduced Mr. Sumio Aoki’s research findings, as well as her own research mentioned earlier. She shared the attractiveness of Miyazu City as seen through early 20th-century photo postcards, the geographical and scenic similarities between Miyazu and Seychelles, the similarities in the history of photo postcard production, and the future prospects for research on Mr. Ohashi.
On the Seychelles side, independent researcher and journalist Mr. Pat Mathiot gave a report on ongoing research about Mr. Ohashi, which he had taken over from his late brother, Seychellois historian Mr. Tony Mathiot, who passed away in January 2024. Mr. Pat Mathyot has conducted this research in collaboration with Ambassador Bernard Shamlaye, former Minister for Education, former Minister for Culture and Social Development, and former Ambassador of Seychelles to France. Mr. Matyot shared an analysis of the inventory of Mr. Ohashi's assets, delving into his work in photography and soap making. He also shared that the inventory and Mr. Ohashi's testament state that Seychellois photographer Mr. François Vel, who is said to have had a close relationship with Mr. Ohashi as his student, and Mr. Ohashi’s grandson, were among the legatees of Mr. Ohashi's assets.
At the conclusion of the symposium, Mr. David André, Secretary General of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts, spoke about the historical significance of Mr. Ohashi’s photo postcards in the context of Seychelles’ history. Also in attendance at the symposium were Seychellois historian Mr. Julien Durup, who has written articles about Mr. Ohashi, and his colleague Mr. Fabien Collas, who owns a collection of Mr. Ohashi’s photo postcards. This symposium provided an important opportunity to pass on the legacy of Mr. Ohashi, a pivotal figure in the history of friendly relations between Japan and Seychelles, to future generations.
In organizing this symposium, the Embassy would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the University of Seychelles for their generous support, particularly to Dr. Penda Choppy, Director of Creole Language and Culture Research Institute and Mrs Prema Servina, Senior Manager of the International and Local Engagement Section of the University of Seychelles.
Furthermore, the day before the symposium (May 22), the Seychelles National Museum organised an opening ceremony at the Seychelles National Library for a banner exhibition of Mr. Oashi's photo postcards donated by Mr. Sumio Aoki. At the ceremony, Ambassador Sakuta expressed his gratitude to Mr. Aoki. Mr. David André, Secretary General of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts stated that this generous donation is a significant addition to the collections of the National Museum and a testament to our growing partnership. The exhibition will run until May 30.
Related Links:
100th Anniversary Symposium in Memory of S.S. Ohashi – A Japanese Photographer from Miyazu in Seychelles（Embassy of Japan Webpage）
100th Anniversary Symposium in Memory of S.S. Ohashi – A Japanese Photographer from Miyazu in Seychelles）」（Embassy of Japan Facebook Page）
Handover Ceremony of Samuel Shingow Ohashi’s Postcards donated from Mr. Sumio Aoki to the Seychelles National Museum of History (February 2023, Embassy of Japan Webpage)
Mr. Ohashi was born in Miyazu City in Kyoto Prefecture, and became a renowned photographer in Seychelles about 120 years ago. He produced numerous photo postcards that vividly captured the history of Seychelles, including images of the streets and port of Victoria, government offices, everyday life, giant tortoises, and the unique flora of the islands. He passed away in Seychelles on May 23, 1925, at the age of 74. These postcards have had a significant impact on the people of Seychelles and are regarded as valuable historical artefacts.
Research on Mr. Ohashi has been conducted in Japan for 30 years by Mr. Sumio Aoki, former professor at Chubu University. More recently, in February 2023, Mr. Aoki donated his private collection of 66 photo postcards of Mr. Ohashi, which were sold in the 1900s–1910s, to the Seychelles National Museum of History. In addition to Mr. Aoki, Dr. Noriko Matsuda, Associate Professor of Kyoto Prefectural University has been conducting research based on Mr. Aoki's findings. Between late 2019 and early 2020, she conducted fieldwork on Mr. Ohashi’s photo postcards in Seychelles, and produced a video, which is available online, that includes an interview with Mr. Aoki and the findings of her research in Seychelles. Furthermore, in November 2022, she organized a symposium on Mr. Ohashi in Miyazu City, as well as an exhibition featuring 73 photo postcards of Mr. Ohashi collected by Mr. Aoki, shortly before Mr. Aoki’s donation to Seychelles (The same seven of the photo postcards that were donated to Seychelles were also donated to Miyazu City).
At the symposium held at the University of Seychelles on May 23, Ambassador Sakuta expressed his gratitude to Mr Sumio Aoki in his opening remarks for his long-standing research on Mr Ohashi. He went on to highlight Mr. Ohashi's significance as a figure who fostered people-to-people exchanges and friendly relations within the context of Japan-Seychelles bilateral relations. Ambassador Sakuta also noted that while exchanges between Japan and Seychelles may not be as active as they were in the 1980s, the fact that Japan posted its first resident Ambassador to Seychelles in December 2024 demonstrates the growing importance of Japan-Seychelles relations.
Following that, Dr. Justin Zelime, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Development of the University of Seychelles, spoke about the historical significance of Mr. Ohashi in Seychelles. Then, Mr. Masafumi Kizaki, Mayor of Miyazu City, who attended online, expressed his gratitude for the symposium, introduced Miyazu City as a tourist destination known for "Amanohashidate," and stated that Mr. Ohashi’s achievements are a legacy to be proud of. He added that Mr. Ohashi’s photographs go beyond mere artistic expression, speaking volumes to us as part of humanity’s collective memory.
At the symposium, Associate Professor Noriko Matsuda of Kyoto Prefectural University, who participated online, introduced Mr. Sumio Aoki’s research findings, as well as her own research mentioned earlier. She shared the attractiveness of Miyazu City as seen through early 20th-century photo postcards, the geographical and scenic similarities between Miyazu and Seychelles, the similarities in the history of photo postcard production, and the future prospects for research on Mr. Ohashi.
On the Seychelles side, independent researcher and journalist Mr. Pat Mathiot gave a report on ongoing research about Mr. Ohashi, which he had taken over from his late brother, Seychellois historian Mr. Tony Mathiot, who passed away in January 2024. Mr. Pat Mathyot has conducted this research in collaboration with Ambassador Bernard Shamlaye, former Minister for Education, former Minister for Culture and Social Development, and former Ambassador of Seychelles to France. Mr. Matyot shared an analysis of the inventory of Mr. Ohashi's assets, delving into his work in photography and soap making. He also shared that the inventory and Mr. Ohashi's testament state that Seychellois photographer Mr. François Vel, who is said to have had a close relationship with Mr. Ohashi as his student, and Mr. Ohashi’s grandson, were among the legatees of Mr. Ohashi's assets.
At the conclusion of the symposium, Mr. David André, Secretary General of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts, spoke about the historical significance of Mr. Ohashi’s photo postcards in the context of Seychelles’ history. Also in attendance at the symposium were Seychellois historian Mr. Julien Durup, who has written articles about Mr. Ohashi, and his colleague Mr. Fabien Collas, who owns a collection of Mr. Ohashi’s photo postcards. This symposium provided an important opportunity to pass on the legacy of Mr. Ohashi, a pivotal figure in the history of friendly relations between Japan and Seychelles, to future generations.
In organizing this symposium, the Embassy would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the University of Seychelles for their generous support, particularly to Dr. Penda Choppy, Director of Creole Language and Culture Research Institute and Mrs Prema Servina, Senior Manager of the International and Local Engagement Section of the University of Seychelles.
Furthermore, the day before the symposium (May 22), the Seychelles National Museum organised an opening ceremony at the Seychelles National Library for a banner exhibition of Mr. Oashi's photo postcards donated by Mr. Sumio Aoki. At the ceremony, Ambassador Sakuta expressed his gratitude to Mr. Aoki. Mr. David André, Secretary General of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts stated that this generous donation is a significant addition to the collections of the National Museum and a testament to our growing partnership. The exhibition will run until May 30.
Related Links:
100th Anniversary Symposium in Memory of S.S. Ohashi – A Japanese Photographer from Miyazu in Seychelles（Embassy of Japan Webpage）
100th Anniversary Symposium in Memory of S.S. Ohashi – A Japanese Photographer from Miyazu in Seychelles）」（Embassy of Japan Facebook Page）
Handover Ceremony of Samuel Shingow Ohashi’s Postcards donated from Mr. Sumio Aoki to the Seychelles National Museum of History (February 2023, Embassy of Japan Webpage)