When I was in a junior high school student, I become interested in history after reading a manga depicting the turmoil of the end of Edo period. I was particularly interested in the historical spots in Kumamoto. This essay describes the historical background and fascination of Tabaruzaka. I’m sad that Tabaruzaka is now a spot that everyone is afraid of as a psychic spot and can’t get close to it. I want Tabaruzaka to change into one of Kumamoto’s fascinating places like Kumamoto Castle, not a lonely place that everyone cannot approach due to sad history.
The sad history of Tabaruzaka began with the Satuma Rebellion that broke out on February 15, 1890. The clan army led by Saigo Takamori burned down Kumamoto Castle and headed for Tabaruzaka while wrapping the castle town in a big fire. Tabaruzaka is a gentle slope with a length of 1.5km and an altitude difference of 60M, as the word that “it rains, human horses get wet, and Tabaruzaka cannot be passed.” Tabaruzaka is the biggest battlefield in the Satuma Rebellion, which has been going up and down repeatedly from March 4th to 17th day and night. 320,000 bullets fell a day, killing 14,000 people. Due to these, Tabaruzaka become a psychic spot and become a place that everyone could not approach.
Tabaruzaka, which is often touched by sad history, is full of attraction. It is also known as a famous place for azaleas and cherry blossoms, and is a scenic spot with abundant nature designated as Kinpozan Prefectural Natural Park. Tabaruzaka is roughly divided into “the first slope”, “the second slope” and “the third slope”, and “the first slope” is near the entrance of Tabaruzaka, which is the starting point. Bambo forests spread out on the left and right of the slope, creating a quiet atmosphere even in the daytime. The unique scent of bamboo spreads throughout the slope, and it is deeply moving to walk in the cool even in summer and very beautiful bamboo grove with history in mind.
In “the second slope”, the meandering road continues, and you can find why the government forces struggled here. From here, we can climb through the bamboo of “the first slope”, gradually expanding view and the sky above, while gazing at scenery.
When approaching” the third slope”, it becomes gentle and gives an impression of being almost flat. There is Tabaruzaka Park at the end of “the third slope”, where we can see the positional relationship of remains of battery of the government army. We can enjoy the bright atmosphere and nature unlike the quite atmosphere.
Place where sad events occur are treated as psychic spots and become in accessible. There is no need to make place where a sad historical even happened a lonely place that is inaccessible forever. I want it to be a place where people gather in Tabaruzaka like a normal park or tourist spot where children’s laughter sometimes echoes as a fascinating place while memorializing many dead people. (500 word)
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