Christian? Monster? God? What is the mysterious gravestone "Poppo-sama" that remains in the Motoyoshi district? [Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture]

In the Motoyoshi district of Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, there is a place known as Poppo's Grave

The legend surrounding this grave is of an unidentified figure known as " Poppo-sama ." The story, passed down in the Motoyoshi area, begins on a snowy night and continues to be told today as the memory of a man who saved people suffering from an epidemic.

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A man who cannot speak the language appears on a snowy night

The following legend has been passed down about an incident that occurred on a snowstorm night long ago in the Motoyoshi area of ​​present-day Kesennuma City

One night, a man visited the village seeking lodging for the night. However, the man was ill, and for fear of infection, no household would welcome him.

However, only the people of a village called

"Hayashi no Sawa" The man could not speak Japanese, and his origins and history were unknown, but the villagers did not use this as an excuse to reject him.

It is said that the man recovered safely a few days later.

Excerpt from Motoyoshi Town Chronicle II

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The words "Paw paw, paw paw" that healed illness

After recovering, perhaps out of gratitude to the villagers, the man began to visit each house where someone was suffering from illness

The treatment was extremely simple

• Gently rub the area that hurts
• Blow on the area
• Then chant "Paw paw, paw paw"

It is said that just doing this miraculously cured the illness

began to respectfully call this man "Mr. Popo."

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Lord Popo was not a "name"

What is unique about this legend is that almost no personal information about Lord Popo, his real name, birthplace, age, or appearance , is revealed.

The story that has been passed down is,

• The act of healing
• The words repeated at that time

Only

, the name " Pawpaw-sama derived from the words uttered during the healing

In the world of folklore, it is not uncommon for a person's actions or experiences to be remembered more strongly than their personal history

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Pawpaw as a cross-cultural healer

The reference book for this article, " Motoyoshi Town Chronicle II ," also touches on the legend of Popo-sama, including examples of cross-cultural healers found in other regions.

In some regions, people who do not speak Japanese and heal the sick by chanting incomprehensible words are interpreted as Christian missionaries

However, in the Motoyoshi area,

• Historical documents directly showing the existence of Christians
• Records of Missionary Activity

None of these have been confirmed

Therefore, it is not possible to categorize Popa-sama as a specific religious figure, and it is appropriate to understand him as an example of a healer from a different culture being accepted by the general public

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Why the "pow pow" sound remains

that the word "pawpaw" may be derived from the Latin word pater , meaning "father," and the sound of repeating it.

However, this is merely one possible interpretation based on the similarity of the sounds, and there is no definitive historical evidence

What is important is not the meaning of the word itself, but the fact that the sound was remembered along with the experience of being cured of illness

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The fact that a "grave" is said to exist

In Motoyoshi, there is a place that is said to be the grave of Lord Popo

This suggests may have been mourned as a human being

While no shrines or festivals remain, only the graves and legends have been passed down, indicating that was remembered as a living benefactor of the land

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How memories of saving people remain

The legend of Lord Popo is not a tale of horror or supernatural powers

It a folklore record that has been preserved along with the word "Paw Paw," and tells the story of "the memory of a stranger and the villagers who took in a sick stranger on a snowstorm night and repaid his kindness .

The story of this man, whose name and background are unknown, is still passed down quietly in Motoyoshi

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Google Map (Traditional name: Popo's Grave)

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