An expert has unearthed a turn-of-the-century photograph that shows for the first time the two London sisters who influenced famous Japanese writer Natsume Soseki.
The picture, taken in 1903, shows sisters Priscilla and Eliza Leale, who looked after Soseki while he lived in the British capital, as well as the famous painter Kanzen Shimomura.
Sammy Tsunematsu, who was given the photo by one of the sisters' relatives, said the English women were important because it was largely through them that Soseki interpreted his time in Britain. Later in his career, he wrote a number of works influenced by his stay in London.
Tsunematsu, curator of the Soseki Museum in London, said: "Soseki did not have many friends while he was in London, and so the sisters' influence was very important."