Poet Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) had a younger sister named Toshi who had to be hospitalized immediately for suspected typhoid fever in early 1919.

In a letter to his father, Miyazawa reported that Toshi continued to run a fever, had no appetite and kept complaining of thirst.

She was later diagnosed with influenza, but her fever and inappetence persisted.

Ever the caring big brother, Miyazawa was said to have brought milk and eggs to the hospital and asked the kitchen to make ice cream for Toshi to eat every day.

Toshi was delighted, which must have........

© The Asahi Shimbun