About
At the quiet northern end of Senju Ohashi, where the Sumida River flows gently, stands the unassuming Senju Ohashi Park. This place is precisely the starting point from which the haiku master Matsuo Basho set out on his journey for “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” in March of Genroku 2 (1689).
Within the park stands the “Monument of the First Use of the Yatate.” A yatate is a portable writing instrument combining a brush and ink pot, and the act of taking up the brush at the beginning of a journey is called “yatate hajime.” It was here that Basho composed the poem, “Departing spring—birds cry, and in the eyes of fish are tears,” expressing his feelings at the outset of his travels. This verse entrusts the loneliness of departing spring and setting out on a journey to the cries of birds and the tears reflected in the eyes of fish.
Senju was developed in the early Edo period as the first post town on the Nikko Highway, bustling with many travelers and merchants. Basho, too, departed from this place on a journey of about 600 ri (approximately 2,400 km) through Oshu and Hokuriku.
Inside the park, there are displays such as a “Route Map of The Narrow Road to the Deep North” showing Basho’s journey, and an information board about “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” by Katsushika Hokusai, who depicted Senju as a subject, conveying the atmosphere of that era to visitors.
Additionally, not far from Senju Ohashi Park, there is a seated statue of Basho. This statue was donated to Adachi Ward by Ms. Yasuko Kawasaki in celebration of the erection of the “Historic Site: Monument of the First Use of the Yatate on The Narrow Road to the Deep North” at the northern end of Senju Ohashi in Showa 49 (1974). When the Haiseiden (Hall of the Haiku Saint) was built in Basho’s birthplace, Iga Ueno (Iga City, Mie Prefecture), a seated statue of Basho was made from Iga ware, and this statue was fired as a duplicate. The original model was created by Eisaku Hasegawa, nephew of General Nogi Maresuke, and the statue weighs about 400 kg.
Furthermore, within the grounds of Senju Moto Hikawa Shrine, there is a monument inscribed with Basho’s poem, “Spring, too, is gradually taking shape—moon and plum blossoms.” This monument was erected in Heisei 3 (1991) to commemorate the 300th anniversary of The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Originally, a monument from Bunkyu 3 (1863) stood within the main shrine grounds, but it was relocated to the local museum for preservation to prevent damage.
Although the townscape of Senju has changed with the times, the traces of Basho remain deeply etched in this place where he set out on his journey. Visitors here can sense Basho’s thoughts as he embarked on his travels and let their minds wander to the distant road he once traveled.