The Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937. As the war escalated, the people’s life was impoverished. Kumagusu was not an exception. The loss of his old friends gave him an additional blow. He gradually ruined his health and stayed in bed. Although collapsing many times, however, he continued to work for the completion of Nihon (the illustrated manual of Japanese fungi; drawing pictures), writing notes and giving advice to his colleagues.
In December 1941, soon after the Pacific War had erupted, Kumagusu was in a critical condition. On the 29th of December he murmured, “I can see purple flowers blooming on the ceiling” and closed his 75 years life filled with ups and downs. The maverick scholar who had won international recognition was laid to rest peacefully at the Takayamadera Temple in Tanabe City overlooking the Kashima island.
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