In the November number of his Corconlogical Magazine, 1907, he finally published his prospectus for the establishment 
of a conchological museum. After hard striving and diligent labour for years, he secured a site for the museum at a place 
just opposite and a little south of the Kyoto Zoo. It commands a fine view and is provided with easy communications. Here 
he successfully established with his own means a conchological museum which was limited to the exhibition of shells or 
whatever related to shells; and held a most successful opening ceremony on the 22nd of March, 1913. One week later he 
had the great honour of receiving a party of Royal Guests,— the Imperial Crown Prince and his two brothers, Prince Atsu- 
nomiya and Prince Takamatsunomiya. 
The president, employed and educated certain assistants whom he sent to different parts of the empire with the view of 
collecting land, marine, and fresh-water shells. It can easily be understood that no small amount of money has been spent 
in these collecting expeditions ; and that he has been giving away a great deal for specimens coming from collectors at different 
parts of the empire who have been working for his sake. The publication of his conchological magazine also has compelled 
him to sustain a loss of thousands of yer. 
Then the construction of his museum demanded a sparing life, and the expenditure of tens of thousands. Thus he can 
afford to spend no more. But, finding that the admission fees— 5 sez for adults and 3 sew for children, and the sales of 
articles made of shells or in the shape of shells are not sufficient to maintain the museum, he has been running about in all 
directions in search of a proper method of maintenance. 
Unfortunately he suffered from illness connected with the gall-bladder last June. He recovered last November, but he 
was attacked by the same illness last February, and has heen confined to his bed since. ‘To make the matter worse, disturb- 
ances breaking out in Europe, our economic circles were depressed ; and consequently he suffered no little loss in the rema nder 
of his means. The visitors to the museum have greatly decreased in number. 
Surrounded by these unfavourable circumstances, he has found it more and more difficult to maintain his museum, and yet 
he is determined to fight against and overcome all obstacles that he may enlarge and promote his work. 
He is now quite well. We have now published this album of our museum in order to introduce to the public the general 
views of the buildings, both interior and exterior, and also to appeal his patrons both abroad and at home to favor him kindly 
with their warm sympathy, and to render him any assistance in their power. 
The Hirase Conchological Museum. 
Kyoto, July toth, 1915. 
