Iimoriyama White Tiger Brigade

【The Flame of Truth, Burning Across Time】 Encounter the Souls of the Byakkotai at 'Iimoriyama'

Located to the east of Aizuwakamatsu City, 'Iimoriyama' is where you stand in a square enveloped in silence after climbing the stone steps. Here lie the nineteen young boys of the Byakkotai, aged sixteen to seventeen, who upheld their 'truth' until the end, even as they were swallowed by the turbulent waves of the Restoration. Their tragedy, having misjudged the black smoke rising from Tsurugajo as a sign of its fall and choosing to take their own lives, remains one of the most poignant scenes in Aizu's history.

■ The 'Smoke of Tsurugajo' that the Boys Gazed Upon

Turning your gaze from the observation deck, you can see the current Tsurugajo standing dignified beyond the streets of Aizu.

• A Single Thread of Loyalty: Reflecting on the scene that the boys gazed upon in despair, the surrounding greenery feels deeper, and the sound of the wind feels quieter.
• The Resonance of Bushido Across the World: In the mountains, there stands a 'Monument to the Byakkotai' gifted from Italy and Germany, filled with the 'aesthetics of self-sacrifice and loyalty' that resonate in people's hearts across borders.

■ The Mysterious 'Sazae-do' and the Corridor of Prayer

The attractions of Iimoriyama are not just the weight of history.

• A Miracle of Architecture: Near the Tonokuchi Seki Cave, through which the soldiers passed, stands the unparalleled 'Sazae-do' with its double-spiral structure. This mysterious wooden framework, where ascending and descending worshippers never cross paths, is a crystallization of the wisdom of Aizu's craftsmen.

The lives that were lost at a young age now support the quiet peace of present-day Aizu. When you touch upon this solemn fact, the scenery of your journey becomes even more vibrant. At dusk, standing before the graves of the boys overlooking the town, you quietly put your hands together. Would you like to experience such a 'journey seen with the heart' at Iimoriyama?