地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Mt. Iimori and the Boys of the Byakkotai

The Byakkotai (White Tiger Brigade) was a military unit primarily made up of boys aged 15–17. The boys were the sons of Aizu samurai families involved in the Boshin War (1868–1869), which was fought between the Tokugawa shogunate and those opposed to its continued rule. Mt. Iimori is the final resting place of 19 members of the unit who took their own lives after being cut off from the rest of their troops. One of the group survived to give his account of the tragic incident. Today, the Byakkotai are an enduring symbol of the spirit of the Aizu samurai. Visitors can pay their respects at the boys’ gravesites, which can be accessed by hiking up the steps to the summit or taking an escalator for a small fee.

Daimyo lord Matsudaira Katamori (1836–1893) organized his troops into four units by age. The Byakkotai were the youngest of these and were initially intended only to serve as reserves in the fighting. However, by the autumn of 1868, most of the Aizu forces were fighting in other regions of the domain, leaving only around 3,000 troops, including the Byakkotai, to defend Tsuruga Castle and the town. In October, pro-imperial forces laid siege to the castle, and the Byakkotai found themselves fighting to defend their lord and families.

An agonizing decision

Twenty members of one Byakkotai squad were separated from the rest of their unit following the Battle of Tonoguchihara, in a village to the northeast of Aizu-Wakamatsu. After wading through deep water in a small, dark ravine to escape, the boys climbed to the top of Mt. Iimori. They were dismayed to look down and see smoke rising from the town, believing the castle had fallen to the enemy and was burning. In reality, the castle was still standing—the smoke was coming from nearby houses. However, the boys thought everything was lost and took their own lives instead of surrendering to the enemy.

Many accounts of the story focus on the dramatic way in which the boys ended their lives, but historians offer a more nuanced version of events. They believe that not all of the group would have supported the decision at first. The Byakkotai were raised and educated to follow samurai ideals, but they were also a diverse group of lively, inexperienced teenagers. The boys probably discussed various options before reaching reluctant consensus on their final course of action. Iinuma Sadakichi (1854–1931) was the group’s only survivor, having been rescued by chance when a local woman found him. While Sadakichi carried the sadness of losing his companions for the rest of his life, he went on to have a family and a successful career in the telecommunications industry. After his death, he was laid to rest alongside the other 19 Byakkotai members on Mt. Iimori.

Visitors to the mountain can look out over the town of Aizu-Wakamatsu, just as the boys did in 1868. Nearby is Uga-shindo, a shrine that honors a white snake as a god of abundance and fertility. The Byakkotai Museum of History and the picturesque Sazaedo Temple are situated at the base of the mountain. The museum displays historical documents and artifacts about the Byakkotai and the Boshin War.

飯盛山和白虎隊的少年

白虎隊主要由15～17歲的少年組成，他們都是參加了戊辰戰爭（1868-1869）的會津武士子弟。戊辰戰爭是發生在德川幕府軍（擁幕派）和反對其統治的勢力（倒幕派）之間的一場內戰。白虎隊的20名成員在與其他部隊斷聯後敗走此地，最終選擇自盡，飯盛山成了他們的安息之地。這組隊伍中只有一人倖存下來，他向人們訴說了這一悲慘事件。今天，白虎隊是會津武士精神的永恆象徵。少年們的墳墓建在飯盛山上，遊客可以沿著通往山頂的台階前往，或乘坐付費（小額）電扶梯上山。

藩主松平容保（1836-1893）將他的部隊按年齡分為四組，白虎隊是其中最年輕的部隊，最初只打算在戰鬥中充當後備軍。然而，到了1868年秋天，大部分會津藩部隊都在會津其他地區作戰，只剩下包括白虎隊在內的約3000名士兵留守鶴城和城下町（圍繞城郭發展起來的市鎮）。10月，新政府軍圍攻城池，白虎隊也為保護領主和家人而加了入戰鬥。

痛苦的決定

在會津若松東北的村莊「戶之口原」經歷一戰後，白虎隊中由20名成員組成的一支分隊與其他部隊斷聯。為了逃生，他們蹚過幽暗小峽谷中的深水，爬上了飯盛山山腰。然而當他們俯瞰山下時，卻見煙霧正從城中升起，便以為城池已經落入敵人之手並被付之一炬。少年們頓感無措，而實際上那些煙霧只是來自附近的房屋。最後，認為己方已經完敗的他們沒有選擇向敵人投降，而是決意拔刀自盡。

關於這個故事的許多描述都聚焦在少年們結束自己生命這一震撼人心的事件上，但歷史學家的描述更加詳盡，他們認為最初並非所有人都支持這個決定。白虎隊隊員雖然從小在武士準則的框架中成長，但也是一群天性活潑、經驗不足的青少年，各自出身背景也不同。他們可能討論了各種選擇，最後達成的共識也不一定都盡人意。飯沼貞吉（1854-1931）被一位當地婦女發現並意外得救，成為了白虎隊唯一的倖存者。他一生都在為失去戰友而痛苦，但他後來成了家，並在電信業取得了成功。他去世後也被安葬在飯盛山上，那裡長眠著他的19位戰友。

遊客可以從飯盛山眺望1868年那群少年生活過的會津若松街市。附近有一座宇賀神堂，供奉著一條白蛇，祂是五穀豐登之神。白虎隊紀念館坐落於山腳，展示有關白虎隊和戊辰戰爭的歷史文件和文物。造型獨特的榮螺堂也在附近。

饭盛山和白虎队的少年

白虎队主要由15～17岁的少年组成，他们都是参加戊辰战争(1868-1869)的会津武士子弟。戊辰战争是一场发生在德川幕府军（拥幕派）和反对其统治的势力（倒幕派）之间的内战。20名白虎队成员在与其他部队断连后败走此地，最终全都选择自尽，饭盛山成了他们的安息之地。这支队伍中只有一人得以幸存，他向人们诉说了这一悲惨事件。今天，白虎队是会津武士精神的永恒象征。饭盛山上建有少年们的坟墓，来访者可以沿着通往山顶的台阶徒步前往，或支付少量费用乘坐自动扶梯上山。

藩主松平容保(1836-1893)将他的部队按年龄分为四组，白虎队是其中最年轻的部队，最初只打算在战斗中充当后备军。然而，到了1868年秋天，大部分会津藩部队都在会津其他地区作战，只剩下包括白虎队在内的约3000名士兵留守鹤城和城下町（围绕城郭发展起来的市镇）。10月，新政府军围攻城池，白虎队也为保护藩主和家人加了入战斗。

痛苦的决定

在会津若松东北的村庄“户之口原”经历一战后，白虎队中由20名成员组成的一支分队，与部队的其他成员断连。为了逃生，他们蹚过幽暗小峡谷中的深水，爬上了饭盛山山腰。然而当他们俯瞰山下，却见烟雾正从城中升起，便以为城池已经落入敌人之手并被付之一炬。这让少年们完全不知所措，但实际上那些烟雾只是来自附近的民舍。认为己方已经完败的少年们，没有选择投降，而是决意拔刀自尽。

关于这个故事的许多描述，都焦距在少年们结束自己生命这一令人震惊的结局上，但历史学家的描述更加全面，他们认为最初并非所有人都支持这一决定。虽说白虎队队员从小就在武士准则的框架中成长，但他们也是一群天性活泼、经验不足的青少年，而且各自出身背景也不同。他们可能讨论了各种选择，最终达成的共识也不一定都尽人意。饭沼贞吉(1854-1931)被一位当地妇女发现并意外得救，成为了白虎队唯一的幸存者。他一生都在为失去战友而痛苦，但他后来成了家，并在电信业取得了成功。他去世后也被安葬在了19位战友长眠的饭盛山上。

来访者可以从饭盛山眺望1868年那群少年生活过的会津若松街市。附近有一座宇贺神堂，供奉着一条白蛇，它是五谷丰登之神。白虎队纪念馆坐落于山脚，展示有关白虎队和戊辰战争的历史文件和文物。造型独特的荣螺堂也在附近。