Jisshi Park, along with its surrounding facilities, stands on the site of the former Tenmachō Prison. During the turbulent Bakumatsu period, Yoshida Shōin, implicated in the Ansei Purge, met his end here. Within the park stands a stone monument inscribed with his death poem: “Though my body may rot away Upon Musashi’s fields, My Yamato spirit shall remain.” This poem was included at the beginning of the “Ryukonroku” (Record of Retaining the Soul), which Shōin left for his disciples. The stone monument is said to be carved with an enlarged version of his own handwriting. Shōin’s greatest achievement was undoubtedly the education he provided at the Shōka Sonjuku. The efforts of Matsushita Village School students like Kusaka Genzui, Takasugi Shinsaku, Ito Hirobumi, and Yamagata Aritomo became a powerful force, realizing the great transformation known as the Meiji Restoration. I believe they acquired the strength to build the foundation of modern Japan not merely through acquiring knowledge, but by learning from Shōin’s way of life—one of holding fast to his convictions with unwavering resolve.

Jūzaburō Tsutaya and Shōin Yoshida—though they lived in different eras and led distinct lives—are connected by Nihonbashi, a place that marked pivotal moments in both their journeys. One disseminated culture through the medium of books, while the other nurtured the next generation of leaders through direct, hands-on education with his students. In their shared pursuit of transforming society through the power of knowledge and ideas, I sense something that transcends time, something that resonates and intersects between them. And as one who also conducts business in Nihonbashi, we at Hotel Kazusaya wish to continue offering soothing moments and spaces of relaxation, while inheriting this town’s history, tradition, and the spirit of Edo.