“Is this really the spot?” asks a young visitor. Standing before you is the \u4f43\u6f01\u6c11\u3086\u304b\u308a\u306e\u5730 Stone. It marks a place tied to the story of Osaka’s \u4f43 district. This stone commemorates the \u4f43 fishermen. They played a vital role in history.
The \u4f43\u6f01\u6c11\u3086\u304b\u308a\u306e\u5730 Stone connects us to a tale. It begins with Tokugawa Ieyasu. In 1582, Ieyasu faced danger during the Honnoji Incident. Akechi Mitsuhide had betrayed Oda Nobunaga. Ieyasu was in Osaka and surrounded by a large army. Fishermen from Tsukuda village knew the Yodo-gawa River well. They helped Ieyasu escape.
Years later in 1604 Ieyasu remembered their help. Now the Shogun he invited 33 fishermen from \u4f43 to Edo now Tokyo. He granted them fishing rights in Edo Bay. They could catch as many fish as possible. In return, they would supply the Shogunate with fish. The fishermen built their island in Edo. They named it Tsukudajima after their hometown.
The relationship between Ieyasu and \u4f43 goes back even further. In 1586 Ieyasu visited Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Osaka. He then headed towards Tada Shrine in Hyogo. Fishermen from \u4f43 helped his party cross the Kanzakigawa River. Ieyasu said to them: “Fishing is important but people must first work the fields.” So they named their village \u4f43 meaning cultivated rice field.
The \u4f43 fishermen supported Ieyasu. During the Siege of Osaka from 1614 to 1615 they sided with him. They transported weapons and gathered supplies. The \u4f43\u6f01\u6c11\u3086\u304b\u308a\u306e\u5730 Stone here honors this bond. It stands within the grounds of Tagawa Shrine in Osaka. The shrine also has a Tosho-gu shrine dedicated to Ieyasu.
Even today Osaka and Tokyo share a connection through \u4f43. Elementary schools in both cities are sister schools. Since 1965 they have been visiting each other. This exchange keeps the history alive. The \u4f43\u6f01\u6c11\u3086\u304b\u308a\u306e\u5730 Stone serves as a reminder. It tells the story of fishermen loyalty and a lasting legacy. It is a place of connection spanning centuries and cities.