横大路村道路元標 Stele

Can a simple stone hold the echoes of a bygone era? This unassuming stele, the Yokōji-mura Dōro Genpyō, whispers tales of a time when roads were new and distances were vast. The Yokōji-mura Dōro Genpyō, or road origin marker, stands as a testament to a moment in 1920. That year, the old Road Law and its enforcement order mandated these markers in towns and villages. These steles, like the Yokōji-mura Dōro Genpyō, weren’t placed haphazardly. They marked the heart of a community, often near government offices or village centers. They served as the starting point for road measurements, essential for calculating distances between towns. This Yokōji-mura Dōro Genpyō specifically marked the road’s origin for Yokōji Village in the Iga district. The official notice from the Kyoto Prefecture, dated March 30, 1920, details its original location: “Large characters: Yokōji, small characters: Kusakaru Hitomi Village.” Today, the Yokōji-mura Dōro Genpyō rests in Kusakaru-cho, Fukui City. This area has seen changes over time. For instance, a temporary bridge called Hanegibashi-Shinsetsu, built nearby during the construction of the Hanegibashi Bridge, was removed in 2002. The Yokōji-mura Dōro Genpyō stands 61cm tall, 24cm wide, and 25cm deep. It’s a simple stone, yet it holds a tangible link to the past. It speaks of a time when such markers represented progress and connection in rural Japan. The Yokōji-mura Dōro Genpyō, a silent sentinel, reminds us of the journeys taken and the roads that connect us.