DescriptionTaro Kusakabe (Yasohachi Yagi) was the first Japanese student to go to Rutgers College, where he studied mathematics and the physical sciences. Kusakabe died prematurely from tuberculosis, two weeks before his intended graduation as a member of the class of 1870. His degree was awarded posthumously. He was the first Japanese student to graduate from an American college, and the first Japanese member of Phi Beta Kappa. Kusakabe's burial began the Japanese section of the Willow Grove Cemetery in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His plot was purchased by the Japanese Consulate on behalf of the Imperial Government. His funeral was attended by other Japanese students at Rutgers including Kozo Soogiwoora (second from the left), and Saburo Takaki (fourth from the left).
Name: Inventory to the William Elliot Griffis Collection (East Asia), 1859-1928
Detail: The items in this record are part of the William Elliot Griffis Collection. A finding aid with information about the contents of the collection is available online.
CollectionEarly Japanese Students at Rutgers, Rutgers Meets Japan
Organization NameRutgers University. Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
RightsThis work is made available for non-commercial educational, scholarly, or research purposes subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). Proper attribution must be provided. Please contact the rightholder to obtain permission for other purposes or for uses in excess of fair use. Use outside the United States is subject to the copyright law of the nation where the work is being used.