Yonaguni Island - Hito Masuda
Hitomasuda (Tungda)Meaning
Yonaguni Island,SonaeFrom the sugar refinery inHikawaThis is a historic site located along the way to the village.
In the 17th century, heavyHead TaxIt is a sad place on Yonaguni Island, where people have been struggling with this issue and have been reducing the population.
Right now, there’s nothing there but a sign, but the tragic history of the Yaeyama Islands brings a lump to my throat.
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How to Get to Hitomasuda
It's in a hard-to-find spot with no signs.About a 30-minute walk from Yonaguni Airport, ,It is located along the road that crosses the island, connecting Sonoh and Hikawa.
Since it's currently surrounded by sugarcane fields, please proceed with caution so you don't miss it.
The History of Hitomasuda
On Yonaguni Island, following the Satsuma invasion of the Ryukyu Kingdom, a tax known as the poll tax was imposed. The poll tax isA tax system in which the tax amount is divided by the number of people and levied accordinglyindicates certainty, emphasis, etc....It was a harsh system under which all men between the ages of 15 and 50—even those with physical disabilities—were required to pay taxes without exception.
For this reason, it is said that one day, without warning, they sounded gongs and drums to summon the island’s men to “Tunguda” (Hito-Masuda), and killed those who arrived late or were unable to enter the grounds.
Without knowing about this tragic history, it would just be a field, but isn’t stopping by a place like this and reflecting on the history of the Yaeyama Islands part of the true joy of travel?
HitomasudaDetails of
| Location | Shimanaka, Yonaguni Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture (View in MAP) |
| Access | About a 30-minute walk from Yonaguni Airport |
| parking lot | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
| toilet | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
| Business Hours | - |
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