先般3/16の傷ましい女子生徒の沖縄・辺野古沖での抗議船転覆死亡事故を受け、教育機関である同志社国際高校に対して刑事告訴が行われ、昨日海上保安庁が家宅捜索に入ったという報道。
　写真はそれを「速報」で伝えたABCニュースのYahooニュース画面ショット。ABCテレビ＝朝日放送テレビは、近畿広域圏を放送対象地域とするテレビ朝日系列（ANN）加盟局。この速報の画面下には要旨以下の情報。
　〜刑事告訴の対象は高校の校長ら４人と「ヘリ基地反対協議会」の共同代表ら７人の11人。遺族側によると、捜索は業務上過失致死傷容疑などでの告訴を受けたもので、学校法人同志社は27日夜のＡＮＮの取材に対し、「取材対応できる者が帰っているので、分からない」とコメント。〜
　この事故についてはわたしはまったく門外漢で、特段の知見を持っていません。たいへん傷ましいことであり、ご遺族の心中を思い、ひとりの人間として深く同情の念を持っておりました。
　ですが、わたしの「家系史探索」活動から明治維新前後期に深く関係していた親族に、明治後のキリスト教布教活動に中心的に関わり、故地にほど近い岡山県西部地方での教会設立の中心だった人物の足跡を知るに及んできています。その人物と祖父は手紙のやり取りを活発に行ってきている（古文書くずし字満載で解読には悩まされ続け・・・）。家系史研究では当然、その生きた先人の心情などを慮ることが基本になる。
　わが家系では幕末〜明治の社会の大変動のなかで非常にきびしい局面を迎えていたと思われます。
　広島県福山市近郊の松永塩田の出荷基地としての今津集落での「藩の御用」商家としてのそれまでの基盤が大きく影響を受けていた。そういうなかで、大きな力添えを受けていたと推認されるのが、この教会設立の中心だった人物。かれは新島襄の同志社設立とも連携していた足跡もある。
　こういった背景情報に向き合い始めてみて、明治後のキリスト教布教活動の流れとわが家系の受けた影響についても考究させられている次第。わが家系の信教自体は真言宗寺院と深い関係があって北海道移住後もこちらの寺院とご縁を持ち続けてきています。ただ、キリスト教のみなさんとも疎遠ではない関係性の中で一族は生き延びてきている。まことに思いが沈殿するような気分であります。

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English version⬇

[Christianity in Japan from the Early Meiji Period to Doshisha’s Current Position]
The spread of Christianity in Japanese society has followed a politically sensitive path. I feel as though I am sinking into the current state of affairs…

　Following the tragic accident on March 16, in which a female student died when a protest boat capsized off the coast of Henoko, Okinawa, a criminal complaint was filed against Doshisha International High School—an educational institution—and reports indicate that the Japan Coast Guard conducted a search of the school yesterday.
　The photo is a screenshot of the Yahoo News page showing ABC News’ “Breaking News” report on the incident. ABC TV (Asahi Broadcasting Corporation) is an affiliate of the TV Asahi Network (ANN) that serves the Kansai metropolitan area. The following information is summarized at the bottom of this breaking news screen:
　~ The criminal complaint names 11 individuals: four people, including the high school principal, and seven co-representatives of the “Heliport Opposition Council.” According to the bereaved families, the search was conducted in connection with criminal complaints filed on charges including professional negligence resulting in death or injury. When interviewed by ANN on the evening of the 27th, the Doshisha Educational Foundation commented, “The person authorized to respond to media inquiries has already left for the day, so we do not know.” ~
　I am a complete outsider when it comes to this accident and have no particular expertise on the matter. It is a deeply tragic event, and thinking of the bereaved families’ feelings, I have felt deep sympathy for them as a fellow human being.
　However, through my “family history research,” I have come to learn about a relative who was deeply involved in the early and late periods of the Meiji Restoration—specifically, a figure who played a central role in post-Meiji Christian missionary activities and was instrumental in establishing a church in western Okayama Prefecture, near his hometown. My grandfather and this individual exchanged letters frequently (the ancient documents are full of cursive script, which has been a constant challenge to decipher…). In genealogical research, it is, of course, fundamental to consider the feelings and circumstances of those ancestors who lived before us.
　It appears that my family faced an extremely difficult period amid the massive social upheavals of the late Edo and Meiji eras.
　Their previous foundation as a merchant family serving as an “official supplier to the domain” in the Imazu settlement—a shipping hub for the Matsunaga Salt Fields near Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture—was significantly affected. Amid these circumstances, the figure who played a central role in establishing this church is believed to have provided significant support. There is also evidence that he was involved in the establishment of Doshisha University by Jo Niijima.
　As I’ve begun to engage with this background information, I’ve found myself delving into the flow of Christian missionary activities after the Meiji era and the impact they had on my family lineage. My family’s religious affiliation itself has deep ties to a Shingon Buddhist temple, and we have maintained a connection with this temple even after migrating to Hokkaido. However, our clan has also survived while maintaining a relationship—albeit not a close one—with members of the Christian community. It is a feeling that truly weighs heavily on my heart.

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Available on Amazon.

Posted on 7月 28th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類