Here stands a silent storyteller. It commemorates a piece of local history. This is the \u77f3\u795e\u4e95\u706b\u8eca\u7ad9\u4e4b\u7891.
The \u77f3\u795e\u4e95\u706b\u8eca\u7ad9\u4e4b\u7891 marks the opening of the Musashino Railway \u77f3\u795e\u4e95 Station in 1915. The station is now known as Shakujii Park Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. The stele was erected in May 1920.
This \u77f3\u795e\u4e95\u706b\u8eca\u7ad9\u4e4b\u7891 stands 351.5 cm tall. The stele itself measures 288.5 cm in height, 114 cm in width and 14.7 cm in thickness.
The inscription on the \u77f3\u795e\u4e95\u706b\u8eca\u7ad9\u4e4b\u7891 reads \u77f3\u795e\u4e95\u706b\u8eca\u7ad9\u4e4b\u7891 at the top. The text below it consists of Chinese writings and poetry. These were written by Tatsuru Namekawa. He was a calligrapher from the Taisho and early Showa periods. Riyuemon Toyoda was one of the stele’s founders. He wrote the text. Gonryo Imaizumi, a stonecutter from Nakano, carved the letters.
The inscription on the \u77f3\u795e\u4e95\u706b\u8eca\u7ad9\u4e4b\u7891 mentions nearby landmarks. These include Shakujii Castle, Sanbōji Pond and Chōmeiji Temple. It commemorates the convenience and joy brought by the railway’s completion.
The names of the stele’s founders are engraved on the back. This includes Riyuemon Toyoda.
The area around the \u77f3\u795e\u4e95\u706b\u8eca\u7ad9\u4e4b\u7891 has a rich history. The name \u77f3\u795e\u4e95 is ancient. It appeared in documents from the Nanboku-chō period. Legend says villagers found a stone rod with an eye mark. They enshrined it as a deity called \u77f3\u795e. Shakujii Park contains the ruins of Shakujii Castle. The Toyoshima clan built it before the Edo period.
The railway’s opening transformed the area. Initially, it became a tourist destination. The Sanbōji Pond was a scenic spot during the Edo period.
Toyoda Gin’emon created two gardens. Kashiwara Ginzo improved Sanbōji Pond. He created boating and other attractions. In 1920, the first 100-meter pool in Japan opened there.
In 1934, Shakujii Pond was created east of Sanbōji Pond. In 1935, the marsh plants of Sanbōji Pond became a national natural monument. The area evolved into its present form.
The \u77f3\u795e\u4e95\u706b\u8eca\u7ad9\u4e4b\u7891 is more than a stone. It is a symbol. It embodies the hopes and dreams of a community embracing change. It marked a new era of connectivity. The \u77f3\u795e\u4e95\u706b\u8eca\u7ad9\u4e4b\u7891 stands as a reminder of progress.