[Miyagi Prefecture] Matsushima is the three most famous Japanese scenery painted by Utagawa Hiroshige, an ukiyo-e artist from the Edo period. Does the island in the painting still exist today?

Utagawa Hiroshige is a ukiyo-e artist from the Edo period who is famous for bringing out masterpieces such as the "Fifty-third Tokaido" .

In his later years, Hiroshige maps of over 60 state famous spots , and among them he left behind a few precious Tohoku region landscape paintings. One is a view of the Mogami River and Tsukiyama , and the other a view of the Matsushima scenery in Mutsu and the view of Toyama .

This time, I looked up the simple question that suddenly came to mind while looking at the Matsushima scenery of [Mutsu] and the view of Toyama !

Hiroshige looked out at Matsushima from "Toyama: Reikan," one of the four major views of Matsushima.

is undoubtedly unsurprising from the title of the picture (Mutsu: view of Matsushima scenery and Toyama views Hiroshige views Matsushima Bay south of "Toyama: Reikan."

Incidentally, the Four Great Views of Matsushima are famous places where you can see the islands floating in Matsushima Bay, and in addition to Reikan: Toyama there are also spectacular spots such as Otaka Forest , Omiyama: Mt. Tamon , and Ogiya: Ogiya. .

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT

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[Miyagi Prefecture] If you want to see Matsushima's spectacular views, check out the ``Four Great Views!'' We will explain in detail the spectacular views.

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/9722

At Matsushima's spectacular view point, there are four famous spots known as the Four Great Views. It surrounds Matsushima Bay from east to west to north and south, and is called the Spectacular (Otakamori), Reikan (Toyama), Great Hall (Tamonyama), and Yukan (Ogiya). It is said that this was named by Funayama Mannen, a Confucian scholar from the Sendai domain, and praised it as "the spectacular view of Otaka Forest in the east, the spectacular view of Ogitani in the west, the spectacular view of Tamonyama in the south, and the spectacular view of Toyama in the north." It seems that this has become known as the "Four Great Views." So, this time, we will introduce each spot, along with a photo, in the order in which we went there. [South] The Great Mt. Tamon is located in Yogasakihama Yatsugamori, Shichigahama-cho...

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Is the islands shown in the painting still still there?

Returning to the main topic, there are 11 characters that appear to be island names and place names written in the painting.

• Nakome
• Moon Star SHIMA
• White Hama
• Monkey forest
• Tanoshima
• Naka (me?) Swim
• Komachi SHIMA
• Ishihama
• Ka(R?) Ketashima
• Flower
• ？？？

Is it the letters in the dark blue part at the top of the picture, even above Hanabushi? Something that seems to be. I couldn't identify this at all... so I'll look into the rest!

"Nakome" is a famous rock

It still remains as a place name today. Matsushima Town Tetaru Named Basket . This is definitely the case, given the position of the painting.

"Tsuki-Hoshishima" is Tsukishima and Hoshishima

I also discovered this soon. Offshore of Meigo Fishing Port, there is a small island that looks like the moon and the stars snuggling it. His names are Tsukishima and Hoshijima .

"Shirahama" is Shirahamajima

"Shirahama" also confirmed the existence of an island called Shirahama Island For some reason, the name has not been mentioned, but Shirahama Island is a slightly larger island that can be seen below Koshirahama .

"Monkey forest"

"Monkey Forest" ...However, since the part that falls into a thick forest, I think it's a "forest where there are many monkeys"? perhaps.

"Tanoshima" is Kunoshima

The island labeled "Tanoshima" is thought to refer to Kunoshima This is just my imagination, but I think Hiroshige had made a slight misheard when he asked the local people what the island's name. Mutsu's accent and coastal Hama language are mixed with the word "seasonal" and it is thought that the words were quite different from Edo.

Or maybe they missed the "ku" to "ta" when drawing it? It can also be considered.

Is "Naka ​​(me?)shima" Rakanjima?

Given the position of the painting, Rakanjima falls under the "Nakana (me?)shima" . This is also a speculation, but perhaps Hiroshige misheard the word "Lakanshima" > Naka (N)shima, I think so.

"Komachishima" is Komachijima

Although it is very small, Komachishima also exists as Komachijima It is generally correct in terms of positional relationships.

"Ishihama" is the place name on the island of Katsura Island, "Ishihama."

"Ishihama" Katsura Island due to its position and size There was a place name called "Ishihama" on the island

"Ka (ro?) Ketashima" is Kagetajima

there is an island called Kagetajima in a place that matches the position of the painting By the way, this island falls under Shiogama City by address category.

"Hanabuchihama" is Hanabuchihama in Shichigahama Town

This is obvious from the positional relationship. It is thought to be Hanabuchihama in Shichigahama Town

The place names and islands remained as they were back then!

After doing this research, I found out that the place names and islands remained as they were when Hiroshige painted them! It's something that really touches me to think that I can still see the same scenery as people from the Edo period.

If you have the opportunity to go see Toyama: Reikan, try looking at the scenery while comparing it to [Mutsu] Matsushima scenery and Toyama views