⑦ Yew Forest and Literary Forest
This forest was handcrafted by the people of Hokuryu, supported by their desire to cherish nature.
Along the walking path through the forest, you can experience the romance of literature at these monuments, including a stone monument to Yoshiue Shoryo, who has ties to Hokuryu Town; a stone monument to Takahashi Nobukiyo, who was nicknamed "Mr. Doro-Kame" and inspired many people at the University of Tokyo Experimental Forest in Furano; and a stone monument to Minamoto Oniroku, the leader of the "Michi" haiku group.
The yew forest is located 550m west of the park golf course, on a hillside adjacent to Himawari no Sato and the park golf course, and was developed in 1995, covering an area of approximately 2 hectares. The yew (onko) was designated as the "Tree of Hokuryu Town" in 1982. As a tall evergreen tree, its ability to withstand wind and snow symbolized the pioneering spirit.
At the end of 1994, Kanayama Shinji visited the town office with Nozuki, the representative of the Yamakawa Soki Association, to talk about protecting the mountains, the danger to the Earth, and planting even one tree. Then-Mayor Yamamoto Takashi also heard what they had to say and immediately agreed. The following year, June 11, 1995, was designated "Yew Day," and a planting festival was held with the participation of Fukagawa Forestry Office staff, members of the Yamakawa Soki Association, and over 200 townspeople.
Among them was the famous Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University, Professor Takahashi Nobukiyo, nicknamed "Dorokame-san," who Kanayama Shinji, upon learning that he would be visiting, made a giant dragon figurine out of Kamuiko stone. Professor Takahashi was so moved by the sight of so many townspeople that he later received a monument bearing his poem from Professor Doro in 1997.
It is "The forest has beauty and love, and dreams abound here." (The forest is beautiful because of the loving hearts that think of future generations. Hokuryu Town, where there are many people who share this sentiment, has a future and dreams.)
* Nobukiyo Takahashi - Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo and Director of the University of Tokyo Experimental Forest in Furano, Hokkaido, where he devoted himself to forest research for 36 years and established methods for managing natural forests. He is said to be the foster father of the Experimental Forest, and has received numerous awards, including the 1st Asahi Forest Culture Prize and the Japan Academy Duke of Edinburgh Award. His books include "Living in the Sea of Cargo," "Poetry Collection: Mr. Dirty Turtle," and "Playing in the Forest."
In this forest, one monument to a song, one monument to poetry, and eight monuments to haiku have been erected, and there are plans to continue erecting monuments related to literature. The aim is to create a unique tourist spot as a "forest of yew and literature."
"Poetry monument"
Tamaki Haru: The love for life and the magnitude and nobility of the work we do. November 3, 1996. Yoshiue Atsushi.
"Poetry Monument"
There is beauty in the forest, there is love, and there are dreams here. June 11, 1997 Takahashi Nobukiyo (Dorogame-san)
"Hiku monument"
The reeds are green and my knees are tired. July 19, 1992.
* I can't even see my head as I dig through the snow and soil. June 11, 1998, by Koji Nakamura
Mori Satsuki with the transparent eyes of a small fish June 11, 1999 Ryu Miyawaki
〇 Oblate transparent hometown snow country June 11, 2000 Mitsuko Sasaki
The Winter Geese's Chest Measuring the Depths of the Sky June 11, 2001 by Shindo Murasaki
- Frozen Tree Forest: A place associated with Kosei June 20, 2012 Reiko Yamamoto
The ocean currents flow to Sakhalin, during the end of the war, July 18, 2014, by Minamoto Onihiko
〇 Grip habits that remain in the gloves of the rice field sieve September 16, 2020 Masatoshi Yamagishi
*A literary monument has also been erected in front of the community center.
"Poetry Monument"
Every day, the sun sets and the villagers head home towards the crimson sky.
The evening primrose lifts its buds and smiles, as the twilight wind still blows, and the butterfly draws an electrocardiogram
He flew off to the other side of Mount Shokan and said
July 20, 1974 Aio Kato
"Hiku monument"
A frog returns to a stump with its father's rings August 10, 1969, Hokukosei
Spring breeze, a flute sleeping in the depths of the hearth August 20, 1989 Hokuto Tanaka
