Iimoriyama White Tiger Corps

【The True Fire, Burning Across Time】 Encounter the Souls of the Byakkotai at 'Iimoriyama'

Located to the east of Aizuwakamatsu City, 'Iimoriyama' stands. As you climb the stone steps and reach a plaza enveloped in silence, you find the spirits of the boys aged sixteen to seventeen—nineteen Byakkotai soldiers—who, while engulfed by the turbulent waves of the Restoration, upheld their 'truth' until the end. Their tragedy, having misinterpreted the black smoke rising from Tsurugajo as a sign of the castle's fall and choosing to take their own lives, is still recounted as 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, the current Tsurugajo stands dignified beyond the distant streets of Aizu.

• A Single Thread of Loyalty: Reflecting on the scene that the boys once 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 unique 'Sazae-do' with a 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 truth, the scenery of your journey takes on even more color. At dusk, standing before the graves of the boys overlooking the town, you quietly join your hands in prayer. Would you like to experience such a 'journey seen with the heart' at Iimoriyama?