 Most viewed - Iimoriyama Hill (Byakkotai) 飯盛山 |
Monument from Rome, Italy, given in 1928 by Mussolini. The column is from the ruins of a palace in Pompeii.338 views
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Monument from a German, Hasso von Etzdorf (1900 - 1989).265 views
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Byakkotai souvenirs258 views
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Entrance to Iimoriyama Hill, site of the Byakkotai "White Tiger" Battalion gravesite. In 1868, a unit of teenage warriors called Byakkotai (White Tiger Battalion) fought against the Emperor-backed Imperial forces encroaching their domain of Aizu237 views
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Monument message in Italian. After WWII, the US Occupation authorities wanted this monument removed. But all they did was remove the engraved message (later restored).235 views
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About the monument from Rome.220 views
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196 views
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Graves of the 19 teenage Byakkotai warriors who killed themselves with their own swords.189 views
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Painting depicting Byakkotai suicide on Iimoriyama Hill184 views
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Byakkotai gravestones. Each one shows the name, age, and method of death called "jijin" (died with one's own sword 自刃).182 views
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180 views
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Escalator to go up Iimoriyama Hill. Their tombstones are on this hill near where they killed themselves. Their story has become legend.179 views
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Another monument179 views
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In despair, the boys decided to kill themselves rather than die in the hands of the enemy. Photo: Escalator to go up Iimoriyama Hill.177 views
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Byakkotai Gravesite. It is on a flat area which also has several other Byakkotai monuments including those from other countries.177 views
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Sazaedo177 views
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The Byakkotai were outnumbered and forced to retreat. Twenty of them escaped to Iimoriyama Hill where they saw what looked liked a burning Tsurugajo Castle. Photo: Pay a small fee to take the escalator up the hill. Or climb up the steps for free.175 views
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Byakkotai statue outside the Byakkotai Memorial Museum174 views
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Approach to the Byakkotai gravesite.171 views
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On the right side are more gravestones. These are 31 Byakkotai members who died in battle. 戦死167 views
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Grave of Iinuma Sadakichi (Sadao) (1854-1931). His grave was built here in 1957 for the 90th anniversary of the Byakkotai's demise. 飯沼貞吉166 views
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166 views
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Slope where they committed seppuku (hara-kiri). 自刃の地163 views
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Byakko Kannon statue163 views
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On the left of the gravestones, there is a monument for a poem composed by Lord Matsudaira Katamori, the last Aizu lord and whom the Byakkotai died for. 幾人の 涙は石にそそぐとも その名は世々に 朽じとぞ思う160 views幾人の 涙は石にそそぐとも その名は世々に 朽じとぞ思う
Ikutari no namida wa ishi ni sosogu tomo sono na wa yoyo ni kuji to zo omou
"No matter how many people pour their tears on these stones, these names will never fade from the world."
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Statue of a teenage samurai looking at Wakamatsu Castle.159 views
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Arrow points to Tsuruga-jo Castle.159 views
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157 views
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Names of Byakkotai members, all 14 to 17 years old.157 views
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Byakkotai Graves156 views
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Site where they committed seppuku (hara-kiri). 自刃の地156 views
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Sazaedo, a unique wooden, hexagonal structure which you will see when coming down from Iimoriyama.156 views
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Byakkotai Graves155 views
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Opened in 1956, the Byakkotai Memorial Museum has numerous artifacts related to the Byakkotai as well as the Shinsengumi. Photography inside is not allowed. Admission 400 yen.155 views
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154 views
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This has become a national shrine, almost as important as Sengakuji where the 47 masterless samurai are buried.153 views
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A short walk away is the grave of Iinuma Sadakichi, the only Byakkotai survivor who had slit himself, but was rescued by a villager passing by when everyone else had killed themselves.152 views
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Sazaedo151 views
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Monument for teenage samurai who died in battle.148 views
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Sazaedo148 views
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About Iinuma Sadakichi (later changed his first name to Sadao)147 views
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Tombs of those Byakkotai who died in action.144 views
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Grave of Iinuma Sadakichi, the only Byakkotai warrior who survived and told the story of this valiant teenage group.142 views
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Uga Shrine 宇賀神社142 views
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141 views
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Statue faces Tsuruga-jo Castle which can be seen in the distance.141 views
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Byakkotai enshrined in Uga Shrine141 views
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139 views
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Their names, age, and "senshi" 戦死 (died in battle) are engraved on the stones.138 views
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Tombs of those Byakkotai who died in action.138 views
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137 views
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135 views
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A recent addition is this statue of a teenage samurai looking at Wakamatsu Castle.133 views
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132 views
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