Outstanding sculptor. One of his few extant works is a bust of Frederick Billings at the Fleming Museum a the University of Vermont. It was commissioned by, Mr. Sho Nemoto, who was born in a small Japanese village in 1850, converted to Christianity, studied English, and became intrigued by America and its technological advances. He eventually graduated from the University of Vermont, where he had been mentored and supported by Frederick Billings. The two remained friends for life. After his graduation, Billings paid for his trip home, via a European tour. Billings’ parting advice to Sho, according to Atsushi, a descendant, was, “Be a useful man in Japan.” Sho took the words to heart. He won a seat in the Diet, Japan’s House of Representatives, and introduced legislation restricting access to alcohol and tobacco, promoting free education, and encouraging the development of railroads. He sent his eldest son and heir, whom he named Billings, to study in the United States, but the ship on which he traveled sank, and the young man drowned. Sho subsequently commissioned Ujihiro Okuma to create the bust of Billings that he donated to UVM. The bust is one of few extant works by Okuma, whose sculptures at home were melted for munitions during World War II.
Outstanding sculptor. One of his few extant works is a bust of Frederick Billings at the Fleming Museum a the University of Vermont. It was commissioned by, Mr. Sho Nemoto, who was born in a small Japanese village in 1850, converted to Christianity, studied English, and became intrigued by America and its technological advances. He eventually graduated from the University of Vermont, where he had been mentored and supported by Frederick Billings. The two remained friends for life. After his graduation, Billings paid for his trip home, via a European tour. Billings’ parting advice to Sho, according to Atsushi, a descendant, was, “Be a useful man in Japan.” Sho took the words to heart. He won a seat in the Diet, Japan’s House of Representatives, and introduced legislation restricting access to alcohol and tobacco, promoting free education, and encouraging the development of railroads. He sent his eldest son and heir, whom he named Billings, to study in the United States, but the ship on which he traveled sank, and the young man drowned. Sho subsequently commissioned Ujihiro Okuma to create the bust of Billings that he donated to UVM. The bust is one of few extant works by Okuma, whose sculptures at home were melted for munitions during World War II.
Bio by: Warrick L. Barrett
Advertisement
