Birthplace of Iwasaki Yataro

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Birthplace of Iwasaki Yataro

The Mitsubishi group was started here.

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Iwasaki Yataro was the founder of the Mitsubishi group and a successful businessman with a samurai background.
He was born on December 11, 1835, the son of an Jikaronin (former lower-ranked, rural samurai) class in in Ichinomiya, Inokuchi Village, Aki-gun, Tosa Province. His birthplace has been restored and is now open to the public.

This house was built around 1795 by Yataro's great-grandfather, Yajiemon, who as a samurai sold his shares in the township. The “Sangai-bishi” on the onigawara (decorative ridge-end roof tile) represents the Iwasaki family crest and can be seen on the storehouses stand on the west and rear sides of the house. This mark is said to be the origin for the current Mitsubishi mark, known as the "three diamonds."

Also, notice the stone arrangements in the courtyard surrounded by bamboo fences.
It is said that Yataro in his youth arranged these stones to represent his ambitious global dreams by imitating the shape of the Japanese archipelago.

The bronze statue of Iwasaki Yataro stands majestically to the east of his birthplace. The statue was built in 1985 marking the 150th anniversary of Yataro's birth and was moved to its current location in March 2015. His 3.3-meters-tall statue stands on a 1.64-meter-tall base.

Highlights

  • The house where Iwasaki Yataro, founder of the Mitsubishi Group, was born.
  • The Iwasaki family crest “Sangai-bishi” is displayed on the decorative ridge-end tile roof of the storehouse, the crest being the origin of the current Mitsubishi mark.
  • The stone arrangement in the garden in the shape of the Japanese archipelago is said to have been created by Yataro as a young boy.
  • The statue of Iwasaki Yataro standing to the east of his birthplace is a magnificent 3.3 meters tall based on a 1.64-meter-high pedestal.

Photos

  • Approximately 100 m2 one-story house with a straw-thatched roof

    Approximately 100 m2 one-story house with a straw-thatched roof

  • The Sangai-bishi, the origin of the Mitsubishi mark, on the roof.

    The Sangai-bishi, the origin of the Mitsubishi mark, on the roof.

  • The impressive statue stands in front of the house

    The impressive statue stands in front of the house

Reviews

1
  • Alex Cai

    內有西洋風格建築與日式庭園,園內的歷史建築物~被指定為日本重要文化哦很值得看哦

Details

Name in Japanese
岩崎彌太郎生家
Postal Code
784-0051
Address
1696 Inokuchiko, Aki City, Kochi
Telephone
0887-34-8344 (Aki tourist information center)
Closed
Open every day
Business Hours
8:00am-5:00pm
Fee
Free
Access
10-minute drive from Aki Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway
Credit Cards
Not accepted
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)