Encouraged by his teacher, Jian, he began his diary at the age of 12 and continued writing into his adult years. His diary contains a number of details about daily life, affairs of business, politics, and social relations. Most of the diary has been lost. In fact, the parts that are extant (mostly those from his childhood) are basically third generation copies using the same techniques Matasaburou alludes to in his diary when he speaks of "copying lyrics". Copies of the diary now exist in the National Library at Ueno in Tokyo as well as in the Prefectural Museum of Kochi. Content and time period have both been verified by Japanese scholars, and we can be fairly sure that both text and drawings are much as Matasaburou originally rendered them.

While he earned his living by continuing his family's business in sake (Japanese wine), Matasaburou (Katsurai Suan) loved academic subjects and continued to study most of his life. He attained the tile of "sensei" (which at the time was equivalent to "PhD") as a scholar of Chinese Classics concentrating primarily in Confucianism.

His diary gives us a good picture of the "ordinary" times of the Edo era. It provides us with views of people who lived at that time as well as the day to day "business" of life. It also provides us with the record of a very astute young man who had the same kind of wonder with regard to the sky that many 12 year olds have. Obviously, he had great curiosity and showed a remarkable amount of insight and critical thinking (as is seen in his skepticism of remarks made by his elders and peers with regard to celestial phenomena). Most amateur and professional astronomers will perhaps nostalgically identify with the efforts of the inquisitive Matasaburou to make sense of the world and phenomena around him.

Katsurai Soan's life ends on a tragic note. In later years, he had an argument with one of his servants, and in the ensuing scuffle, the servant was killed. At that time, such a crime by a distinguished person was punished by banishment. Matasaburou spent the last ten years of his life in exile in a small community in the Western part of Kochi Prefecture called Usa. Upon returning to Kochi, his spirit was lost, and he died at the age of 54. He was buried near the fields his family had owned for generations, just north of modern Kochi Station in Higashi Jinzenji (East Jinzen Shrine). A rather obscure tombstone, somewhat hidden from surrounding traffic by trees, marks his place of burial.

Keiichiro Okamura and Saori Ihara beside the tomb of Katsurai Soan (Matasaburou) in Higashi Jinzenji (East Jinzen Shrine)

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Tiger Tail Star, Part 1

Part 2: December 21-31, 1664

Part 3: January 3 - February 6, 1665