"It wasn't the oldest in Japan." To be honest, what should I do ... June 28, 19:51
A clock tower built in the Meiji era.
It was called "Japan's oldest clock tower" and was introduced in tourist pamphlets.
However, according to its history, it was not actually the "oldest".
The tourist attractions in the town are in trouble.
Well, what would you do?
(Kobe Broadcasting Station reporter Megumi Taguchi)
"Japan's oldest" clock tower
The name of the clock tower is "Shinkoro".
It is made of wood and is about 13 meters high.
Located in Izushi-cho, Toyooka City in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture, I have been watching over the townspeople for many years from the top of the stone wall at the site of Izushi Castle.
It was in the 14th year of the Meiji era that a big clock like the one we have now was displayed.
It was the same year that the Sapporo Clock Tower, an important cultural property of Japan, known as Japan's oldest existing clock tower, began to move.
The information board built by the city's Board of Education is engraved with the words "Along with the Sapporo Clock Tower, it is popular as Japan's oldest clock tower."
It was introduced in the tourist pamphlet as "the oldest in Japan" and was the pride of the locals.
The 140th anniversary of the installation of the clock
The "Tatsukoro" building itself was built in the 4th year of the Meiji era.
Initially, it was built as a tower that sounds a drum to let you know the time.
"Dragon" means "dragon time (7 am-9am)", "drum" means "taiko", and "ro" means "building".
And 10 years later, in the 14th year of the Meiji era.
A large mechanical clock was attached to it, and it became the current clock tower.
A doctor who was practicing in a castle town ordered and donated it at his own expense to thank many people for making a request when he suffered from a serious illness.
This is the 150th anniversary of the building and the 140th anniversary of the installation of the clock.
The local community was excited, with a ceremony being held inviting the great-grandson of the doctor who donated the watch.
Time with Corona Severe Now is the time to explore history
"When did the clock tower start to move?"
There was a man whose mystery remained in his mind.
This is Tomoya Shibuya, the owner of Izushi's famous dish soba restaurant.
Actually, I didn't know the exact date of the month and day of the 14th year of the Meiji era when the clock of "Tatsukoro" started to move.
The town of Izushi, which was visited by 700,000 people every year, is now affected by the new corona.
Mr. Shibuya's store was also forced to close temporarily, and the number of customers decreased significantly.
Mr. Shibuya loves to find out about local history and culture.
Now that he has time, he decided to take a look at its history.
Tomoya Shibuya
"I couldn't
hold
an anniversary event because I don't know the day when the clock started to move. But I thought that it would be useful after the corona converged by examining this. But I think it's because of adversity. "
I want to find a day that will be an "anniversary"
Mr. Shibuya first examined "History of Izushi Town".
But nothing is listed.
I then visited the local library to look up the newspaper, but unfortunately the collection was from 1902 onwards.
The newspaper of 1887 was not found.
I also contacted the descendants of the doctor who donated the watch, but couldn't find any clues.
When I visited two watch stores in the town, he answered, "We didn't do business in the Meiji era."
As a last resort, I called on the neighborhood association's public relations paper to "seek information," but there was no response.
Finally discovered at an elementary school that continues from the clan school
But finally you can find clues.
Mr. Shibuya visited the oldest Kodo Elementary School in Izushi Town.
It has a history of about 250 years, following the flow of the Izushi clan school.
The school building used to be next to the "Tatsukoro".
"I'm investigating the history of Shinkoro. I want to solve the mystery."
The teachers were a little surprised by Mr. Shibuya's sudden visit.
However, a word from the principal.
I
took out the diary of the school in the Meiji era from the safe in the principal's office saying,
"
I have
old documents left
."
There were a total of 12 books, of which 2 were in the 14th year of the Meiji era when the clock was installed.
The first volume is a diary from January to July.
There was no mention of the clock there.
The second volume is a diary from August to December.
It was on September 8th.
September 8th
Tatsukoro, with repairs completed, today at 12 o'clock Yori Hokkosu
The letters "Shinkoro" and "Repair completed".
Since it was written with a brush, Mr. Shibuya took a picture and asked the Cultural Properties Office of Toyooka City to check it.
I was informed that it was confirmed that the clock started to move on September 8th.
27 days after Sapporo was not "the oldest in Japan"
Great discovery for the first time in 140 years.
However, Mr. Shibuya seemed to think what to do at first.
In fact, the clock tower in Sapporo started to move on August 12.
"Tatsukoro" started to move 27 days later.
It is no longer the oldest clock tower in Japan.
Tomoya Shibuya
"I'm glad I knew the date when the clock moved, but it was decided that it was the second in Japan. I was a little worried about how everyone in the town would take it."
Proudly calling himself "the second in Japan"
Mr. Shibuya honestly told the townspeople that it was not the oldest clock tower in Japan.
The townspeople were surprised, but they said, "It's amazing. I checked it carefully."
"Oh, I'm glad. Don't lie."
Actually, the local Tajimakuni Izushi Tourism Association people always say "Japan's oldest" on the information board and tourist pamphlets, because they can't get the back. To be honest, he answered, avoiding the statement that "it may be the oldest in Japan."
So far, he explained that he didn't understand even if he received an inquiry about the interview.
Now that the facts are finally known, I decided to call myself "the second oldest clock tower in Japan".
The tourism association has begun to devise new ideas, such as holding an event on September 8 when the corona has converged, or introducing it to tourists as "the oldest" class "in Japan."
In addition, we decided to consider what to do with the expression "Japan's oldest" in the PR manga supervised by Hyogo Prefecture.
In this news and on the internet, there
were a lot of
positive opinions such as
"
I like to say that it is the second one" and
"The historical facts are clear and clear"
.
Mr. Shibuya feels that by telling the history honestly, "Tatsukoro" became a hot topic and the atmosphere of the town became brighter.
Tomoya Shibuya
"Once the date is fixed, there is no
telling
whether it will win or lose. The value of Tatsukoro will not change whether it is earlier or later than the clock tower in Sapporo. It must have been a special day to have left it in the diary. "
"Rival" Sapporo
On the other hand, thanks to rivals, the Sapporo Clock Tower has become a form that proves "the oldest in Japan".
Director Yasunari Shimomura was pleased and sent an ale to "Shinkoro".
Director Yasunari Shimomura, Sapporo Clock Tower
"I was very pleased to know the day when I moved. The Tatsukoro must be a valuable building. To know the history of the town and the activities of people. I want to keep track of time together with old clocks that can be made. "
In the time when it started to move
September 8th, when the Tatsukoro started to move, was registered as "Izushi Anniversary" by the Japan Anniversary Association.
And recently, a new poster has been completed.
To be honest, it says "Japan's oldest clock tower."
Honest clock tower.
We will continue to watch over the town as a symbol of the region and keep track of time with the honest people of the town.
Kobe Broadcasting Station reporter
Megumi Taguchi's
specialty, "Izushi soba," is served on a small plate of Izushi ware, which is a special product, and served on five plates. You can eat as many dishes as you like, freshly brewed, freshly made, and freshly boiled soba.