A note from the Kumamoto International Department of Where Einstein Stayed in Kyushu desk (merged with the Where Washington Stayed in Kyushu desk as the latter is only a single entry shorter than the former): a recently published book entitled “The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein: The Far East, Palestine & Spain 1922 - 1923” (Amazon!) notes that the Jewish Einstein spent the 1922 Christmas season in Shinto/Buddhist Fukuoka - enough to make one wonder why they mentioned Christmas in the first place - to give a lecture at Kyushu University. The former Moji Mitsui Club, where he stayed, has preserved his room, and it is open to the public. There is no word on why he didn’t visit Kumamoto; perhaps, given the proximity to Oshyougatsu, the shinkansen were all booked. Interesting article from Japan Today at the link below (photo: Einstein enjoying a traditional Japanese Christmas before the introduction of KFC), and more on the Moji Mitsui Club below that. - William
http://www.gururich-kitaq.com/kanmon/en/detail/index.php?id=35&app=0
