Landing Monument

Tourist attraction • 146 Ikenosawa, Minamidaito, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-3806, Japan

3.7(15 reviews)

Here is a proposed article structure about the landing monument in Iho no Sawa, Minamidaito village, Okinawa Prefecture:

Conquering the Untouched Islands: The Saga of the Early Settlers of Minamidaito

A Plaque Facing the Eternal Ocean

Facing the azure blue expanse, three stone monoliths narrate a captivating story. That of an island that remained untouched, never subjected to the rule of the Ryukyu Kingdom, until intrepid pioneers conquered it in the early 20th century.

Prelude to an Odyssey with no Return

In 1820, Minamidaito was first discovered by the Russian navy, which then named it "South Borodino Island." In 1885, Japan planted its flag there. But it was in 1900 that the human adventure truly began, when 23 brave colonists from Hachijojima, led by the merchant Tamaki Hanzaemon, set foot on its rugged shores.

Memory of the Fallen Heroes

The left stele honors the tragedy of Torishima Island, a sister colony devastated by a volcanic eruption. The central one commemorates two pioneers, Captain Komatsu Iwamatu and administrator Yamada Taekichi, who perished at sea. On the right, the main monolith celebrates the founding landing.

A Constant Challenge

Landing remains a logistical puzzle, as ships cannot moor on these steep shores. Yet, were it not for this dizzying natural obstacle, Minamidaito might have remained forever unexplored... A reverent shiver engulfs us, in the shadow of these stones of memory.

Tourist attraction Point of interest Establishment

Reviews

4(a month ago)

neon21

It is located on the way uphill from Nishi Port, overlooking the sea. “It was on January 23, 1900, that the first 23 pioneers succeeded in landing on Minami Daito Island in search of a new land, and the captain of the time was Kojima Iwamatsu. He was courageous and calm, undeterred by the summons of the settler, Tamaki, to ``try to return to his homeland again,'' and despite three difficulties, he finally achieved his goal. The monuments, from the right, are the monument to Kojima Iwamatsu, the captain of the Yomaru, who made his first successful landing on the orders of the pioneer Tamaki Han'emon. Next, in the middle, are the monuments of the late Iwamatsu Kojima, who died in a storm near Okinawa in 1902, and Taekichi Yamada (died April 10, 1902), the chief of the development office who contributed to the development of the island. On the far left is a monument commemorating the development of Daitojima and the explosion of Torishima. At first, there were two wooden pillars (erected in the early 1900s), one commemorating the first Tamaki-owned ship Yomaru Captain Kojima Iwamatsu and his crew, and the other commemorating the Torishima explosion. It was rebuilt with reinforced concrete in 1999, and now has three towers. ”

4(a month ago)

只見荘一郎

Minamidaito Island was never incorporated into the Ryukyu Kingdom's territory and remained an uninhabited island for a long time. In 1820, the Russian Navy discovered Minamidaito Island, and it was subsequently listed on nautical charts as South Borodino Island. Perry seems to have arrived in 1853. On August 29, 1885, a sign was erected marking it as Japanese territory. In 1892, several pioneer groups attempted to land on the island, but were unable to land due to the rugged coastline and all retreated. Then, on January 23, 1900, 23 people, including Tamaki Hanemon, a merchant from Hachijojima, finally landed. To the left of the pioneer monument is a memorial tower for the Torishima island that was being developed under the command of Hanemon Tamaki, which exploded and all the pioneers were killed. In the center is a memorial tower commemorating Komatsu Iwamatsu, the captain who made the first landing when he was lost in a storm in 1904, and on the right is a monument commemorating the landing in 1900. The problem in the early days of development was the berthing of ships, and even now medium-sized and large ships cannot berth. Furthermore, the port is not well maintained, with cranes unloading the goods that have been brought in. However, if there is a steep quay, it would be a problem. I shudder to think if the first discoverer had climbed over the quay.

3(a year ago)

Onsen Hopper

2022.11.13 There are three monuments. From the right is the monument to Captain Kojima Iwamatsu, who was the first to land on the island, in the center is the monument to Captain Kojima Iwamatsu, who also died in a rainstorm, and Taekichi Yamada, the first secretary general, and on the left is the Torishima explosion monument. It was built in 1930 by the director of a sugar factory. People in this country have always loved erecting monuments.

3(a year ago)

せきしゅー

This is a monument that you can see when heading from the west port to the central town such as the government office. It seems to have been built to commemorate the year that had a major impact on the history of this island. Some people are mowing the grass and it is being maintained.

3(4 years ago)

tsuyoshi ebiko

There are no notable facilities, only a monument. There is also no parking lot.

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