Ishigaki Island—Monument Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Head Tax—

A monument located on the grounds of the Ishigaki City Yaeyama Museum, accessible by walking along Route 390 from the Remote Islands Terminal and turning right at the Bunkkan-mae Intersection.

A poll tax levied in the Yaeyama Islands from the early modern period through the late Meiji era.

The poll tax, levied on each individual according to their headcount, led to many tragedies…

After the transition to the new tax law on January 1, Meiji 36, which abolished the poll tax, a stone monument was erected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its abolition.

There are monuments in Taketomi Town, Ishigaki City, and Yonaguni Town, respectively.

Directions to the Monument Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Head Tax

The monument commemorating the 100th anniversary of the abolition of the poll tax is located about a 24-minute drive from New Ishigaki Airport and about a 5-minute drive from the Remote Islands Terminal.

If you're coming from New Ishigaki Airport
After leaving New Ishigaki Airport, turn left and head south on Route 390.

Turn right at the sixth T-intersection, and when you see Hoshizora Farm on your left, turn left at the next intersection.

Follow the road south, and at the T-intersection where Route 390 joins, turn right.

Turn right at the T-intersection immediately after crossing the Isobe River.

Turn left at the end of the road, then immediately turn right at the Y-intersection.

Continue straight along the road, and turn right at the next Y-intersection after the road branches off from Route 214.

Turn left at the intersection where Route 87 joins, then turn left at the intersection in front of the Bunkan, and you'll find it on your right.

If you're coming from the Remote Islands Terminal
Exit the Remote Islands Terminal, turn right, and pass the intersection with the 730 Monument.

Turn right at the intersection in front of the post office, then turn left at the next intersection, and you'll find it on your left.

How to Enjoy the Centennial Monument Commemorating the Abolition of the Head Tax

The poll tax, which remained in effect until 1879.

Even though it was officially abolished by the Okinawa Prefectural Government, it continued in practice until it was fully abolished in 1903. It is said that this tax was so significant and burdensome to the people of that time that there are monuments dedicated to it on each island.

Visiting the monument is highly recommended as a way to learn about and gain a deeper understanding of the rich history of the Yaeyama Islands.

Details of the Monument Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Head Tax

The Centennial Monument Commemorating the Abolition of the Poll Tax is a stone monument erected to commemorate the abolition of the poll tax, which was in effect from the 1600s through the 1900s.

A poll tax is a tax levied on all island residents at a fixed rate per person.

At that time, the Ryukyu government imposed heavy taxes on the Yaeyama Islands and Miyako Island.

The program was open to people aged 15 to 50; men made their contributions in rice, while women made theirs in cloth.

Based on current knowledge, it is said that taxation began in 1637.

This poll tax was abolished after the Meiji Restoration, and the people had suffered under this heavy tax for a long time.

Because the taxation was extremely harsh, folklore includes stories such as the legend of the Pipa-Tiroma, who fled the island en masse, and population control through abortion.

A monument was erected on the grounds of the Yaeyama Museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the abolition of the poll tax.

It was not until 1903 that the harsh poll tax, which had been imposed on individual residents of Miyako Island in the Yaeyama Islands, was abolished.

The pioneers of Miyako Island saw the petition campaign to abolish the poll tax gain momentum.

With the completion of the Okinawa Prefecture Land Readjustment Project, a new tax law took effect on January 1, 1903, and the poll tax was abolished.

A celebration was held in the Yaeyama Islands to commemorate this event.

To pass on to future generations the fact that the Yaeyama and Miyako Islands of today were built upon the hard work of our predecessors, the Yaeyama Head Tax Abolition Centennial Monument was erected on January 1, 2003—100 years after the abolition of the head tax.

On Ishigaki Island, it is erected in the front garden of the Yaeyama Museum, but similar structures have also been built on neighboring islands, such as Nbufuru on Taketomi Island and Nanta Beach on Yonaguni Island.

Recommended Sightseeing Spots Near the Monument Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Head Tax

Road Origin Marker

The road marker is located on the left as you turn left at the monument commemorating the 100th anniversary of the abolition of the poll tax and head northwest on Route 390.

It's right next to the Yaeyama Museum, so it takes less than a minute to walk there.

Road origin markers are markers designating the starting and ending points of roads; under the Road Act of Taisho 8, one such marker was installed in each municipality.

While the shape and materials were standardized, each municipality had its own distinctive road milestone.

The government road milestone on Ishigaki Island in the Yaeyama Islands was restored during the Taisho era, and nearby historical sites include the ruins of a storehouse and a monument commemorating the 100th anniversary of the abolition of the poll tax.

Ishigaki City Yaeyama Museum

The Ishigaki City Yaeyama Museum is a museum where visitors can learn about the history and culture of the Yaeyama Islands; it features a monument on its grounds commemorating the 100th anniversary of the abolition of the poll tax.

The museum opened as part of the commemorative projects marking Okinawa’s return to Japan, and its exhibits include archaeological and folklore artifacts from the Yaeyama Islands, as well as works of art such as Yaeyama jofu and Yaeyama-yaki.

Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis)

To get to Tōrin-ji Temple from the Centennial Monument Commemorating the Abolition of the Head Tax, leave the monument, turn left, and head northwest on Route 390.

Turn right at the Momobayashi-ji intersection, then turn right at the next intersection, and you'll find it on your right.

Tōrin-ji is the oldest wooden structure in Okinawa Prefecture; it was built after it was brought to the attention of King Shō Nei that there were no temples or shrines at all in the Yaeyama Islands when the Satsuma Domain invaded in 1614.

In the same year, the Gongen-dō Hall was also constructed, and in 1737, two Nio guardian statues were enshrined at the mountain gate.

This wooden structure is registered as a prefecturally designated tangible cultural property and is known as the oldest wooden sculpture in Okinawa.

This temple has a very mystical atmosphere, thanks to its red-tiled roofs—typical of the Yaeyama Islands—and the large banyan trees growing on the grounds.

Details of the Monument Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Head Tax