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Iizaka Onsen is a historic hot spring resort in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture. It is well known that Matsuo Basho stayed there, but there is another person with ties to Iizaka. The SatoShinobu , produced the Sato brothers Tsugunobu and who accompanied Minamoto no Yoshitsune .
What is Iizaka Onsen?
South of Iizaka Onsen flows Ogawa, a tributary of the Surikami River. It's believed peoplewere already living around 3000 BC where this stream intersects with the current Iizaka Kaido Yamato around the 2nd century , he soaked in a spring believed to be Iizaka Onsen, called Sabako (written in kanji as Sabako or Sabako Lake), and recovered. The Shui Wakashu, an imperial anthology of waka poetry believed to have been compiled in the early 11th century, contains "Where do we not part, and where do we live? Is it Sabako-miyuru-yama no anata?" , suggesting that Sabako has been a well-known place since ancient times.
During the Genpei period, Sato Motoharu, who is said to be the father of the Sato brothers Tsugunobu and Tadanobu, who Shinobu (present-day Fukushima City). He was known as the "Hot Spring Master," and is said to have had a deep connection with Sabako Hot Springs.
A panel of the Sato brothers installed at Iizaka Onsen Station
Towards the end of the Kamakura period, a man named Date Masanobu, who was from a branch of the Date clan, built a castle in this area and took the name Iizaka This is the origin of the name Iizaka, and it was around this time that the area became known as a hot spring resort.
In the mid-Edo period, as various roads were developed, not only common people from the surrounding area but also travelers began to visit Iizaka Onsen. One of was Matsuo Basho , who stayed overnight in Iizaka (although in his book "Oku no Hosomichi," Basho wrote about his miserable memories , "I stayed in a shabby inn that leaked. I couldn't sleep because I was bitten by mosquitoes and fleas. My chronic illness returned, and I was in so much pain that I nearly fainted. ").
In addition to Matsuo Basho, other famous haiku poets and tanka poets such as Masaoka Shiki and Yosano Akiko later visited Iizaka Onsen
During the Meiji period, the hot spring's components were scientifically analyzed and it was discovered that it contained radium, which led to the hot spring once again becoming known nationwide as "Iizaka Radium Hot Springs."
A monument marking the site where radium was first discovered in Japan
By the way, most of the explanation up to this point was written on the stone monument marking the birthplace of Iizaka Onsen
Stone monument marking the birthplace of Iizaka Onsen
I came to Iizaka Onsen by train on the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line, and the hot spring resort unfolds immediately upon exiting Iizaka Onsen Station (hot spring enthusiasts will be well aware that even at stations that call themselves "hot springs," you often still have to take a bus or other means from the station to get there). Even within walking distance from the station, there are many attractions, including the monument marking the birthplace of Iizaka Onsen (photographed earlier), Totsunabashi Bridge over the Surikami River, a registered tangible cultural property, the former Horikiri Residence, the mansion of a wealthy merchant and farmer that has existed since the Edo period, a casual public bath, and a free foot bath.
Former Horikiri Residence
For more information about the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line, which I took to get to Iizaka Onsen, please see this article
The Shinobu Sato clan who ruled the Shinobu region, including Iizaka Nakatomi Kamatari (later Fujiwara Kamatari) , who played an active role in the Taika Reforms The clan's founder was Senjo, the second son of Fujiwara Hidesato, who suppressed the Taira no Masakado Rebellion. In addition to Shinobu, the Shinobu Sato clan also ruled the neighboring Date and Shirakawa regions. was also a branch of the Oshu Fujiwara clan , whose headquarters was in Hiraizumi, now in Iwate Prefecture Motoharu's wife, Otowa, was the granddaughter of Fujiwara Kiyohira, the first head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, and Motoharu's daughter married the third son of Fujiwara Hidehira, the third head of the clan.
Sato Motoharu's castle was called Otori Castle and is said to have been located on Tatenoyama, on the west side of the Iizaka city center, and the site is now Tatenoyama Park.
Tatenoyama Park<Information>
Name: Tatenoyama Park
Location: Tatenoyama, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture
The Sato brothers Tsugunobu and Tadanobu, who assisted Minamoto no Yoshitsune
After the Genji were defeated by the Taira in the Heiji Rebellion in 1160 (the first year of the Heiji era), Minamoto no Yoritomo's younger brother, Yoshitsune , was initially entrusted to Kurama Temple in Kyoto, but then traveled the long way to Hiraizumi, where he was protected by Fujiwara no Hidehira. When Yoritomo eventually raised an army to overthrow the Taira, Yoshitsune joined Yoritomo and fought against them, eventually defeating the Taira at the Battle of Dannoura in 1185 (the second year of the Genryaku era), becoming the person who contributed most to the defeat.
However, Yoshitsune, who was under the protection of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, had almost no military power, and he was assisted by the sons of Sato Motoharu of the Nobuo Sato clan.
Motoharu's sons, Tsugunobu and Tadanobu , were ordered by Hidehira to join Yoshitsune's army in pursuit of the Taira clan. Before they could achieve their goal of destroying the Taira clan, Tsugunobu was killed in the Battle of Yashima (located in present-day Kagawa Prefecture, where Nasu no Yoichi is said to have shot through a fan target), which is said to have greatly saddened Yoshitsune.
After Yoshitsune destroyed the Taira clan in the Battle of Dannoura, he incurred the wrath of his brother, Yoritomo, and was suddenly pursued by him. Sato Tadanobu separated from Yoshitsune, who had fled the capital (Kyoto), and hid there, but his whereabouts were discovered and he was attacked by Yoritomo's men, losing his life.
The Sato brothers left Shinobu village and met their end in places far away from Shinobu. Minamoto no Yoshitsune is known as a tragic general (although he himself is not entirely blameless), but the Sato brothers also deserve to be called that.
By the way, was Minamoto no Yoshitsune someone worth risking their lives for, in the eyes of the Sato brothers? It seems there was no need for them to be overly loyal to Yoshitsune, who was merely under Hidehira's protection. One theory that answers this question is that Yoshitsune's wife, taken while he was staying in Hiraizumi, may have been Sato Motoharu's daughter, meaning that the Sato brothers and Yoshitsune were brothers-in-law.
The Nobuo Sato clan after the fall of the Taira clan
After coming into conflict with his brother, Yoritomo, Minamoto no Yoshitsune once again fled to Oshu, seeking refuge with Fujiwara no Hidehira. However, after Hidehira's death, his son, the fourth head of the family, Yasuhira, succumbed to pressure from Yoritomo. Ultimately, Yoshitsune was attacked by Yasuhira in 1189 (Bun'ei 5) and forced to commit suicide.
However, this did not bring peace to the Oshu Fujiwara clan, and Minamoto no Yoritomo set out from Kamakura to kill Fujiwara no Yasuhira as well, citing him for having hidden Yoshitsune and for having forced his younger brother Although he had left the pursuit of the Taira clan entirely to his younger brothers (Yoshitsune and Noriyori), he was determined to go to Oshu himself. This "Oshu Battle" ended with an easy victory for the Kamakura side, bringing to an end the glory of the Oshu Fujiwara clan for over 100 years.
Of course, the Nobuo Sato clan, a branch of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, did not escape unscathed either, and it is believed that Sato Motoharu fought against the Kamakura forces at Ishinazaka (thought to be around Iizaka, Hiraishi, or Matsukawa-cho in the southern part of Fukushima City) and was defeated. It is said that Motoharu was either killed in the battle or was captured alive and then released.
Regardless of Motoharu's fate, the Shinobu Sato clan itself did not perish in this battle, with some remaining in Shinobu, others moving to the surrounding areas, and most migrating to distant lands such as Ise (present-day Mie Prefecture) during the Nanboku-cho period. Eisaku Sato, the 61st to 63rd Prime Minister, is said to be a descendant of Tadanobu Sato.
Among my ancestors is a family with the surname Sato who have lived in the area close to Iizaka for generations. According to a family tree handed down in the family, my ancestors are connected to the Sato brothers Tsugunobu and Tadanobu. However, I have no memory of ever seeing the family tree myself, and I am not sure whether the family tree claiming to have been descended from the Sato brothers actually reflects the truth. Still, I find it romantic that my ancestors may have followed the great Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
The family temple of the Sato clan
Two stops south of Iizaka Onsen Station on the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line is a station called "Ioji-mae." As the name suggests, Ioji Temple is within walking distance of the station, and this temple is the family temple of the Sato clan. Tombstones for the Sato brothers, their father Motoharu, and their mother Otowa have been erected here.
There is also a camellia tree growing next to the gravestone of Motoharu and Otowa. It is said that this tree represents Otowa's deep sadness over the loss of his two sons, and that the camellia tree falls off while still in bud.
In the main hall of the temple, there are statues of Tsugunobu's wife Wakasa and Tadanobu's wife Kaede dressed as warriors. This is based on the anecdote that the two dressed up as warriors to comfort Otowa, who was in deep sorrow.
Bronze statues of the Sato brothers and Minamoto no Yoshitsune have also been erected within the temple grounds
In the Tale of the Heike, it is written that Sato Tsugunobu was shot by an enemy arrow in place of Yoshitsune during the Battle of Yashima. He died telling My purpose in this life is to be told in stories to come, that I was slain in place of my lord The end of Yoshitsune and the Sato brothers was tragic, but as Tsugunobu's final words show, their bond still touches the hearts of many people today, some 840 years later. Iizaka is not only known for its famous hot springs, but is also a recommended destination for history buffs.
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