「明治帝の北海道開拓の詔勅を背負ってもたらした藩士・島義勇はいかがでござったか？」
　「それはそれはみごとでしたよ。毎日北海道神宮社殿前に置かれた像に拝礼していますよ」
　「・・・でござるか。みごととはかたじけない」
　・・・という会話妄想に浸っていましたが、どうも写真は照れくさくての破顔一笑ぶり。失礼。はじめて訪れた佐賀県の県庁所在都市、佐賀市の中心にある佐賀城内にて、であります。写真が残されているということで明治期の最先端藩・肥前鍋島藩のお殿様・10代藩主の鍋島直正（なべしま なおまさ）公の写真とのツーショットをご案内の方に撮影していただいた。
　梅雨まっ盛りの九州の旅路と言うことで、ぐしょ濡れを覚悟していたのですが、案に相違して晴天ぶりですっかり日焼けしたにやけ顔で、申し訳ありません。ブログ記述人であります。北海道人は本来色白系なので日焼けするとご覧のような「真っ赤っか」ぶりであります（泣）。
　案内者の地元の方とは「いや、薩摩の連中は奸佞にて・・・」と悪口放言大会（笑）。「おかげで島義勇は明治帝の詔勅を背負って渡道し道都・札幌開拓の礎となったにもかかわらず、最後は政府への反乱者として征伐されてしまった経緯。
　そういう歴史の無念への思いを鎮魂するような訪問意図。そんな話題を案内の方と話していたら、さすがに地元人としてのプライドを刺激されてしまったようで、すっかり上機嫌に対応していただいて、最後にはこういう写真撮影の申し出を受けてしまった次第です。
　まことにお恥ずかしい写真でありますがお許し願いたい。
　さて、梅雨時なのに晴れ続きだったのですが、本日はさすがにこの時期本来の雨空。連日の野外露天行脚を少しはペースダウンしたいと思います。さすがに日焼け過ぎ。
　というところに実は、先般の広島県電撃往復からの家系調査に大きな進展の知らせ反応を受けた。まことにありがたい情報に感謝しておりました。ということで本日は早めにホテルに着陣して、想を練って参りたいと思います。一転して「雨あめ降れ降れ」。関係各所にこの情報を共有したい。
　あ、そういえばこのあと薩摩鹿児島にも行く予定だった・・・。さてさて。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇
　
[Having a private chat (or rather, a casual chat) with the Lord of the Nabeshima Domain inside Saga Castle (lol)]
The Hizen Nabeshima Domain played a major role in the Meiji Restoration and the development of Hokkaido. Grateful for their kindness, I innocently snapped a photo with the Lord. I can’t help but smile—it’s a bit embarrassing…

　“What did you think of Shimazu Yoshiyuki, the samurai who carried the Meiji Emperor’s imperial edict on the development of Hokkaido?”
“He was truly magnificent. I pay my respects every day to the statue placed in front of the Hokkaido Jingu Shrine.”
“…Is that so? I am humbled by your praise.”
…I was lost in this imaginary conversation, but looking at the photo, I realize I was just grinning shyly. My apologies. This was taken inside Saga Castle, located in the center of Saga City—the prefectural capital of Saga Prefecture, which I was visiting for the first time. I was told that a photograph of Lord Naomasa Nabeshima, the 10th lord of the Hizen Nabeshima Domain—one of the most progressive domains of the Meiji era—still existed, so the person who guided me took this photo of me posing alongside it.
　Since this was a trip to Kyushu in the middle of the rainy season, I was prepared to get soaked, but contrary to expectations, the weather was sunny, and I ended up with a sunburned, grinning face—my apologies. I’m the blogger here. People from Hokkaido tend to have fair skin, so when we get sunburned, we turn “bright red” like you see here (sob).
　My local guide and I had a good old time trading insults, saying things like, “Man, those Satsuma folks were such schemers…” (laughs). We talked about how, despite Shima Yoshiyuki crossing to Hokkaido bearing the Meiji Emperor’s imperial edict and laying the foundation for the development of Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, he was ultimately crushed as a rebel against the government.
The purpose of my visit was to pay my respects and soothe the lingering regret of that historical injustice. As I was discussing this topic with my guide, it seems my remarks really struck a nerve—or perhaps I touched on a point of local pride—because he became quite cheerful and accommodating, and in the end, he even agreed to this photo op.
It’s a truly embarrassing photo, but I hope you’ll forgive me.
Now, even though it’s the rainy season, we’ve had nothing but sunny days, but today, as expected, we have the typical rainy skies of this time of year. I think I’ll slow down the pace of my daily outdoor excursions a bit. I’ve definitely gotten too much sun.
　Just as I was thinking that, I actually received news of a major breakthrough in the family history research I’d been conducting following my recent whirlwind round trip to Hiroshima. I was truly grateful for this valuable information. So, I plan to check into the hotel early today and reflect on my thoughts. Suddenly, I’m thinking, “Rain, rain, please fall.” I want to share this information with all relevant parties.
Well then…

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.　
　

Posted on 5月 27th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類