Johannes Justus Rein

Johannes Justus Rein (January 27, 1835 in Raunheim, near Giessen – January 23, 1918 in Bonn) was a German geographer, author and traveler in East Asia. On the title page of each of his books, his name is given as either J.J. Rein or Johann J. Rein.

Biography

He was educated in mathematics and science at the University of Giessen. He made various scientific journeys in Europe, Asia, and America, and was appointed professor of geography at the University of Marburg in 1876, and subsequently at Bonn (1883).^[1]

Rein spent the first five months of 1874 in Japan, residing in the German Legation in Tokio [Tokyo] and studying lacquer. After submitting a detailed report on the subject, he traveled throughout Japan.

Works

He wrote Japan, nach Reisen und Studien (2 volumes, 1881–86), which was translated into English, under the title, Japan: travels and researches undertaken at the cost of the Prussian government (1884), as was also his book on Japanese industries (1889). Another work was Columbus und seine vier Reisen nach Westen (“Columbus and his four trips to the West,” 1892).^[2]

References

• Ursula von den Driesch (2003), "Rein, Johannes Justus", Neue Deutsche Biographie (NDB) (in German), 21, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 341–342 ; (full text online)
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Thurston, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Rein, Johannes Justus". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.