In Memory of Professor Wolfgang J. Mommsen.

The article focuses on Professor Wolfgang J. Mommsen, Director of German Historical Institute in London, England, and his work in social science. In Japan, he is known foremost as a scholar of sociologist Max Weber studies. In particular his masterpiece, "Max Weber and German Politics, 1890-1920," provided a major sensation to Weber studies. Its impact shocked not only German scholars, but scholars worldwide, including Japanese. Mommsen not only vigorously gathered unknown or unopened pieces of material on this subject, but also analyzed those pieces in accordance with Weber's multi-faceted academic achievements, and provided a synthesized view. It is an essential nautical chart for the next generation who launch into the exploration of the vast ocean of Weber's political thinking. He visited many universities including Tokyo and Kyoto in the 1980s and 1990s, and gave so many impressive lectures on Max Weber and on the situations and tasks of modern German history. Japanese scholars were inspired and motivated by his lectures.