“焼尻島人物伝
焼尻島の礎を築いた人　加勢玄海“

加勢玄海は、天保12年、新潟県和島村に生まれました。
若くして曹洞宗大本山・永平寺の使僧となり、北海道へ渡ります。
道内各地を遍歴したのち、明治12年ごろ、苫前村から焼尻島へと渡りました。

当時の天売島・焼尻島は人口が増えつつあり、同宗の信徒も多かったものの、
人心は乱れ、喧嘩や犯罪が絶えない状況でした。
これを憂えた玄海は、人々の心を安定させるためには寺院が必要であると決意します。

明治14年、まず説教所を開設。
さらに明治16年には雙領山願海寺（そうりょうざん がんかいじ）を建立し、
初代住職として村民の教化と布教に力を注ぎました。

また、玄海は教育の重要性にも心を砕き、
境内に寺子屋を設けて、子どもたちに読み,書き,そろばんを教えました。

さらに法灯を広めるため、天売村に海竜寺、羽幌村に東伝寺を創建し、
それぞれを願海寺の末寺としました。

島の礎を築いたその歩みは、
今も静かに受け継がれています。

**Yagishiri Island Stories – Part 19

A Pioneer of Yagishiri Island
Kase Genkai**

Kase Genkai was born in 1841 in Washima Village, Niigata Prefecture.
At a young age, he became a messenger monk of Eiheiji, the head temple of the Sōtō Zen sect,
and made his way to Hokkaido.

After traveling throughout the region, he came to Yakishiri Island from Tomamae around 1879.
At that time, the populations of Teuri and Yakishiri Islands were gradually increasing,
and many residents were followers of the same sect.
However, social order was unstable, and quarrels and crimes were common.

Concerned by this, Genkai resolved to establish a temple
to bring peace and stability to the people’s hearts.
In 1881, he founded a preaching hall,
and in 1883, he established Gankaiji Temple (Sōryōzan Gankaiji),
serving as its first head priest and dedicating himself to guiding the community.

He also placed great importance on education.
Within the temple grounds, he opened a small school
where children were taught reading, writing, and arithmetic.

In addition, to spread the teachings further,
he founded Kairyūji Temple in Teuri and Tōdenji Temple in Haboro,
making them branch temples of Gankaiji.

His efforts laid the foundation of Yagishiri Island—
a legacy that continues quietly to this day.