Love is the secret of the human world, love and the later human world ...
Montaro Toruya Kitamura, a pioneer in modern Japanese literature, was born in Odawara in 1868, and moved to Shichi-cho, Yazaemon-cho, Kyobashi-ku in 1881 with his parents and brothers. My father goes to the Ministry of Finance and my mother starts a tobacco retailer. After moving into Yasuaki Elementary School, he was recognized for his outstanding talent by Principal Kazutaka Taniguchi. After graduating from the following year in 1882, he became a politician and joined the Liberal Rights Movement, but eventually left there, entered Christianity, proceeded to the path of literature, and published poems and criticisms that surprised the world. In May 1894, the premature genius ended himself in a short life of 25 years and 4 months.
Yazaemon-cho Shichi is the current Ginza 4-3. It was a two-story building with a corner lot on the middle left from Sukiyabashi toward Owaricho intersection. (The name of Toruya comes from Sukiya Bridge.) Toruya moves many times after that, but he returns here after a while.
Of course, I went to Yasuaki Elementary School from here, and my marriage with Minako Ishizaka also published "Shu Prison Poetry" at my own expense. The year before his death, it was the clothesline in this house that committed suicide by piercing his throat.
Toson Shimazaki, who was impressed by Tokoya's text and had a friendship, said that he often went to play on the second floor of that tobacco shop. (Fujimura also learned from Yasuaki Elementary School, but his friendship with Tokoya began long ago in 1892 with the introduction of Yoshiharu Iwamoto.)
At the entrance of Yasuaki Elementary School, there is a familiar monument called "Learn here at Toson Shimazaki Kitamura Toya Young Children". This seems to be the only thing in Toruya that remains in Chuo-ku.
(One snake leg. Although it is the above monument, I think that the order of name is the opposite even if you think about various things such as birth order, transfer order, literary relations, etc. ...)
(At the same time, one more snake foot. In Odawara, Toruya's fabric, "Kitamura Toriya Birthplace" monument (Hamacho 3-chome), "Toruya Kitamura Montaro Tomb" (Shiroyama 1-chome, Kochoji), and "Kitamura Toriya Monument" (Minamicho 2-chome, Odawara Literature Museum site. It was made by Fujimura's rush. It is engraved with Fujimura brush as "Dedicated to Kitamura Toya." ) In addition, you can see a lot of related materials at Odawara Literature Museum. If you are interested in Toruya, this is a must-see.
[Photo] From the top
◎Around 7-chome, former Yazaemon-cho (currently Ginza 4-3)
◎Monument at the entrance of Yasuaki Elementary School
◎Toruya Birthplace Monument (3-chome, Hamacho, Odawara City)
◎Tomb of Kitamura Toya (1-chome, Shiroyama, Odawara-shi, Kochoji)
