Hoshino Gorobei (1827/8–?)
Hoshino Gorobei worked on his own for seven years to clear the first road to the basin of Kegon Falls. Already in his sixties when he began the project, he was fondly known as “Old Man Gorobei.” Until he completed the road in 1900, the only way to see the falls was from an observation platform at the top of the valley. Gorobei then built a teahouse to serve visitors. His road and teahouse no longer exist, but the falls are still accessible by an elevator service, which first opened in 1930.
Shown below are a letter from Hoshino Gorobei to Futarasan Jinja Shrine, requesting permission to clear a new road to Kegon Falls, and artist Kosugi Hoan’s (1881–1964) drawing and recollection of his encounter with Gorobei in Furusato.
In the book, Hoan recalls a spring visit to “Old Man Gorobei” at work on the road. They were partway up the cliff when suddenly an ominous crack reverberated overhead, and dirt, rocks, ice, and snow came tumbling down upon them. Gorobei jumped one way, and Hoan jumped the other. While Gorobei nonchalantly stuck his tongue out and laughed, the young Hoan could not stop his knees from shaking after their narrow escape.
The bottom photograph is of the Gorobei Teahouse near the basin of Kegon Falls.
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Oshima Tosaburo (birth and death dates unknown)
Oshima Tosaburo lived in the Chugushi area year-round and was instrumental in Okunikko’s economic development. Oshima was born in Joshu (present-day Gunma Prefecture) and moved to Nikko after the Meiji Restoration (1868). He worked as a schoolteacher and ran the post office, among other duties.
Oshima was a pillar of the fishing community. As a close friend of Thomas Glover, he was entrusted with the management of Glover’s lakeside villa. In 1886, he founded the Lake Chuzenji Fishery Association, and was active in stocking fish in the waters of Okunikko.
Shown are Oshima’s certificate of membership in the Japan Fisheries Association (left) and a photograph of the Oshima family in the Meiji era (1868–1912).