Raphael von Koeber

Raphael von Koeber (January 15, 1848 in Nizhny Novgorod – June 14, 1923 in Yokohama) was a notable German-Russian teacher of philosophy at the University of Tokyo.

He was born a Russian but his father was German. He worked for 21 years at the University of Tokyo from 1893 to 1914 teaching philosophy, in particular, Greek philosophy. He had many students, one of which was the famous writer Natsume Soseki. "Koeber Sensei" was the nickname given to him by his students.

Raphael also taught piano at the Tokyo National Music School, which has now become a part of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. In 1901 it is said that he wrote the music for the opening of Japan Woman's University. In 1903 Raphael also provided piano accompaniment for the first opera performed in Japan.

He had intended on retiring from his teaching position in 1914, however with the outbreak of World War I he passed up the opportunity to return to Russia. In 1923 he died in Yokohama. His grave remains in the Zōshigaya cemetery in Tokyo.