自然公園の入り口に、二基の古い墓石が並んで立っています。

一基には「会津小原内匠忠貫墓」、もう一基には「会津山内一学豊忠墓」と刻まれています。そして、墓石には「文化五年戊申七月」と記されています。

文化五年といえば、今から二百年以上も前のことです。

この二人について、焼尻島には詳しい記録が残されていません。しかし、当時、北方ではロシアの南下が警戒されており、幕府は会津藩に宗谷・利尻方面の警備を命じていました。

その任務に向かう途中で亡くなった二人を焼尻島に埋葬し、後の航海で墓石を運んできたのではないかと考えられています。

二人が亡くなった理由については諸説ありますが、航海中の野菜不足などから脚気が広がり、命を落としたのではないかという説もあります。遠い北の海を渡る当時の航海が、いかに厳しいものだったかが想像されます。

この墓石は、最初から現在の場所にあったわけではありません。

もともとは役場支所前の坂の中腹にあり、その後、西浦の墓地へ移され、さらに元の場所へ戻されたのち、現在の位置へと移されました。幾度もの移転を経て、今も島に残されています。

そして、興味深いことがあります。

毎年、お墓の前には供え物が置かれています。会津藩ゆかりの方々が島を訪れた際に、今もお参りをされているのでしょうか。

それとも、誰かが、遠い昔にこの島で亡くなった二人を思い、手を合わせているのでしょうか。

真相はわかりません。

けれども、二百年以上もの時を越えて、今も誰かがこの墓を気にかけている。そう思うと、二基の墓石がただの古い石には見えなくなります。

自然豊かな焼尻島の森の入り口に、ひっそりとたたずむ会津藩士の墓。

ここには、北の海を越えてこの島にたどり着いた、二人の武士の歴史が静かに刻まれています。

Sights of Yagishiri Island: The Graves of Two Aizu Samurai

At the entrance to Yagishiri Island’s Nature Park stand two old gravestones, side by side.

One is inscribed with the name “Aizu Ohara Takumi Tadatsura,” and the other with “Aizu Yamauchi Ichigaku Toyotada.” Both bear the date: the seventh month of Bunka 5, corresponding to 1808.

More than two hundred years have passed since then.

Unfortunately, no detailed records of these two men remain on Yagishiri Island. However, at that time, Japan was increasingly concerned about Russian advances in the north. The Tokugawa shogunate had ordered the Aizu Domain to guard the areas around Soya and Rishiri.

It is believed that the two samurai died while traveling north to carry out this duty. They may have been buried on Yagishiri Island, with their gravestones brought over on a later voyage.

There are several theories about the cause of their deaths. One possibility is that a lack of fresh vegetables during the long sea voyage led to an outbreak of beriberi, a disease caused by vitamin B1 deficiency, and that the two men succumbed to it.

Their story offers a glimpse into just how harsh and difficult sea travel in the northern waters must have been in those days.

The gravestones have not always stood where they are today.

Originally, they were located halfway up the slope in front of the local government branch office. They were later moved to the cemetery in the Nishiura district, then returned to their former location, before being moved once again to their present site. After several relocations, they remain here to this day.

There is something else that catches the eye.

Every year, offerings are placed in front of the graves. Perhaps people connected to the Aizu samurai still visit the island to pay their respects.

Or perhaps someone else, remembering these two men who died far from home so long ago, simply comes to offer a quiet prayer.

We do not know the truth.

But when I think that someone still cares for these graves after more than two centuries, they no longer seem like mere old stones.

Standing quietly at the entrance to Yagishiri Island’s beautiful forest, the graves of the two Aizu samurai preserve the memory of two warriors who crossed the northern seas and met their fate on this remote island.

Their story remains here, silently etched in the passage of time.