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Kazan Watanabe
As a scholar, an artist and as an outstanding statesman, Kazan Watanabe was active in the later years of the Tokugawa Shogunate. He was born in the Edo (Tokyo) Clan's home in the 5th year of the Kansei Era (1793). He became renowned for his scholarship from the age of 13 years, studying Confucianism and the Wang Yang-ming schooI. He enjoyed art from his infancy, and portrayed the world of his day through the outstanding power of his sketches. When he was 40 years old, he succeeded to the position of counciIor in his clan, and is famous for building the "Hominso" hostel during the Tempo famine, working to make sure not one person under his care died of starvation. |
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Monument of the Manyo's poem
On one slope of the mountain that can be seen below the lighthouse is a monument with a Tanka poem written by Tenmucho nobility Omino-okimi. It is a poem that is a response to the thoughtfulness of the village people for the prince as he was driven away from the capitoI. |
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Yoshigo Shell Mound
These shell mound ruins are representative of Japan in the latter and closing years of the Jomon Period (up to 200 BC). The bones of 340 persons from the Jomon period have also been excavated there. |
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Kurogawa Swamp BotanicaI Gardens
Many valuable plants such as the shidekobushi (Magnolia Kobus) and shiratama hoshikusa (Eriocaulon nudicuspe) grow in this garden. The wetland area is also the home of salamanders (Hynobius tokyoensis), which are designated as a natural monument of the Prefecture. |
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Tahara Castle Ruins
This castle, called "Hako Castle" at the time, was built back in about the 12th year of the Bunmei era (1480) by Mune mitsu Toda. The walls and moat recall visitors to ancient times. |
