In May, 1877, Sano Tsunetami created the Hakuaisha, a relief organization to provide medical assistance to soldiers wounded in the Satsuma Rebellion.

It was apparent that the activities of Hatono were the forerunners of the Red Cross in Japan.

The first appeal for the establishment of the Hakuaisha (which later became Japan Red Cross) was made on May 1, 1977 by Sano Tsunetami and the day of the establishment of the Japan Red Cross is May 1, while the start of the activities was on May 3, at Shonenji Temple, Gyokuto-son, Tamanagun, Kumamoto.

On the contrary, Hatono started his activities on February 23, at the Umekiko of Takahira, Shimizu, Kumamoto.

[1] In 1998, a nonprofit organization in honor of the place of the origin of the Red Cross activities was approved in Kumamoto.