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were well-to-do. Her father, Okada Hanjurō, was one of the founders of a local bank. Her only brother Sanemaro, after graduating from Dōshisha, went abroad to complete his studies at Harvard. On his return he became a professor at Daiichi Kōtōgakkō.
In the fall of 1903 Michiyo, feeling the desire to become a writer, contacted Katai with a heart-rending letter asking him to be allowed to study under his tutelage. Katai did not reply; however, this did not deter Michiyo who again wrote at great length explaining her desires. Katai, on his part, replied in a manner that he hoped would dissuade her from following out her plans to become a writer. The receipt of this discouraging letter in no way dampened Michiyo's spirits and she once more wrote laying out her plans and imploring his help. By now Katai could see that Michiyo's letters were well written and had a winning flair; he then agreed to her appeals and advised her that he would accept her as his pupil. Michiyo, accompanied by her father, came to Tokyo in February 1904 and was permitted to live in Katai's home.[1] Such was the way Michiyo came into Katai's life.
Katai's lonely life appeared to be brightened by the presence of Michiyo; however, this situation lasted only a little over a month as Katai left to join the Second Regiment of the Army in the Russo–
- ↑ This information was furnished by Senuma Shigeki in Katai's chronological personal history listed in Tayama Katai Shū, Vol. XXI of Nihon Gendai Bungaku Zenshū (Tokyo: Kōdansha, 1962), p. 471.
