Otani Kozui was the man behind the Otani expeditions into Chinese Turkestan at the beginning of the 20th century. He was the heir to the abbotship of the largest religious organization in Japan, the Nishi Honganji branch of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism. Before inheriting the leadership from his father, the young Otani Kozui travelled around China and India before making it over to England where he spent 2 years. From London he eventually returned home via an overland route through Russia and Chinese Central Asia or, as it is known today, Xinjiang. This trip was what we call today the first Otani expedition. Another two expeditions were to follow a few years, although these were financed and directed by Otani from his headquarters in Kyoto.
When it comes to photographs and pictures of Otani Kozui, there is always one picture that is shown. To counter-balance this, I omitted that particular one and am showing a few others.
This is the young Otani Kozui in London, in his twenties.
This is an even younger Otani before going to London.
Here is Otani already in his sixties, living in exile in Manchuria and Indonesia.
And yet another picture of Otani Kozui, also from his later years.
