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David Thompson

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David Thompson was an early fairy tale translator/writer for Hasegawa. Thompson was one of the leading Presbyterian missionaries in Japan, arriving in 1863. Thompson knew Japanese and taught English and biblical studies, including a teaching position at Tsukiji Daigaku. He worked with James Curtis Hepburn on a translation of the Gospel of Matthew, and translated the Book of Genesis on his own. Following internal conflict amongst the Presbyterian missionaries in 1873, Thompson left the mission and established his own church, the Church of Christ in Japan, in opposition to Hepburn’s Presbyterian church. Thompson also worked as an interpreter at the American legation. In 1874 Thompson married missionary Mary Parke, one of the founders of Joshi Gakuin alongside Julia Carrothers and Kate Youngman, and they had three daughters. According to Sharf, Thompson and Hasegawa’s friendship and work together was important at the start, but later gave way to the academic community around Tokyo Imperial University.

1. Momotaro
1. Momotaro

David Thompson, Hasegawa Takejirō, Kobayashi Eitaku

2. The Tongue Cut Sparrow
2. The Tongue Cut Sparrow

David Thompson, Kobayashi Eitaku, Nishinomiya Yosaku

3. Battle of the Monkey and the Crab
3. Battle of the Monkey and the Crab

David Thompson, Kobayashi Eitaku, Nishinomiya Yosaku

4. The Old Man Who Made The Dead Trees Blossom
4. The Old Man Who Made The Dead Trees Blossom

David Thompson, Kobayashi Eitaku, Nishinomiya Yosaku

5. Kachi-Kachi Mountain
5. Kachi-Kachi Mountain

David Thompson, Hasegawa Takejirō, Kobayashi Eitaku

6. The Mouse’s Wedding
6. The Mouse’s Wedding

David Thompson, Hasegawa Takejirō, Kobayashi Eitaku