There are seven pairs of sculptures around Kagoshima of historical people who helped shape the city, region and country. The collection is called the Tokishirube Statues. On the right is English physician William Willis. In the late 19th century, he was a principal of the local medical school, founded Akakura Hospital and helped spread British medical practices across Japan. On the left is one of his former students, Kanehiro Takaki. After eradicating beriberi disease, he founded Igaku Semmon Gakka in 1903. This was Japan’s first private medical college and the predecessor of Jikei University School of Medicine.
