今は、メールや携帯など便利な通信システムが、手紙より多く利用されていますが、その昔は飛脚が唯一の伝達方法でした。
今のような、郵便システムができたのは明治になってからです。
前島 密 という方が、様々な障害を乗り越えて現代の郵便法を実現しました。
一歳にならない時に父をなくし、１２歳の時、蘭方医を志ざし、書生をしながら、オランダ語や英語
を学び、苦労の末に明治２年、３２歳で政府の役人となり、郵便局の前身を作りました。
その功績で、切手の肖像となっています。
又、４０歳では、郵便事業として、為替、貯金、生命保険、養老年金なども考えました。
そのほか、１９種もの、公的、私的、或いは福祉の要職にもついていましたが、７５歳の時、全ての職を辞し、旅を楽しみながら余生をすごし、８４歳で亡くなりました。
Father of Modern mailway
1870's in Meiji era Hisoka Maejima started the postal system.
He made stamps and set the posts at the railway stations to gather letters.
Letters used to be delivered by Hikyaku(express messengers) before, so
it took much cost and long hours to reach the address.
When he was a government official, he was sent to England to reseach
railway service and postal system, then he decided to make the postal
system in Japan.
However, the plan had some problems, one was opposition by Hikyaku.
To solve it, he contracted to hire them as deliverers in their area.
Finally, letters were able to be delivered at the same price all over Japan
in 6th year of Meiji era, and his portrait was on the stamps to praise
his merits.
When he was 75, he resigned 19 works of posts to enjoy traveling in rest
of his life. He died at the age of 84 in 1919, it's 8th year of Taisyo era.
