清水太右衛門殉職碑 Stele

Tragically, few know the story behind the Shimizu Taemon Memorial Stele. This stele, tucked away in the Osaka Station complex, commemorates an extraordinary act of selfless bravery. The Shimizu Taemon Memorial Stele tells the story of a man who sacrificed his life to save a child. Shimizu Taemon, a station employee, was working at the west crossing in 1940. A little girl wandered onto the tracks as trains approached from both directions. Taemon, without hesitation, leaped forward and pushed the girl to safety. He was struck by the train and died 22 hours later after urging others to attend to the injured child. Moved by his sacrifice, people erected the first Shimizu Taemon Memorial Stele near the accident site. This original stele, sadly, was destroyed in a 1945 air raid. A new stele was built in 1956. It was later moved to its current location within the Osaka Station complex. The inscription on the Shimizu Taemon Memorial Stele recounts Taemon’s courageous act. It honors his selflessness and devotion to duty. He was only 54 years old at the time of his death. Taemon’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human capacity for courage. This unassuming stele holds within it a tale of extraordinary heroism. It’s a story worth pausing to reflect upon. A story worth remembering.