KOTAIJI TEMPLE

Kameyama Shachu’s Kondo Chojiro is buried, along with Kosene Eishiro, a member of the Kaientai, in the Kosone family grave at this temple. As an employee of the Kameyama Shachu company founded by Sakamoto Ryoma, Kondo played a role in the procurement of ships and weapons for the Choshu clan in 1865. However, following an accusation that he broke company rules, he committed seppuku in the Kosone residence on January 14, 1866. The epitaph “Baika Shooku” is said to have been written by Ryoma. Kosone Eishiro (1841-1890) was the younger brother of the Nagasaki merchant Kosone Kendo, and tirelessly supported Ryoma’s activities. He also served as the finance officer for the Kaientai.

SENFUKUJI TEMPLE

Sofukuji is not a Japanese temple, but a Chinese temple. Not only that, it is also said to be one of the best examples of Ming Dynasty temple architecture remaining anywhere, even within China. Sofukuji was established around 1629. The Inner Gate, Daiippomon, and the main Buddha Hall, Daiohoden, were made in Ningbo, China, disassembled, shipped to Nagasaki and reassembled. They are both national treasures. The Buddha hall is claimed to be the oldest building in Nagasaki. The other buildings, including the first gate you enter through, were constructed later in the 19th century.

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