Marios Observatory

Hoonji Temple/Gohyaku Rahats

An ancient temple of the Soto sect, the principal image is Shaka Nyorai. The Arhat statue housed in Arhat Hall was created by nine Buddhist sculptors in Kyoto over a period of four years starting in 1731. All are made of marquetry and lacquered, and some of the statues include Marco Polo and Kublai. A cultural property designated by Morioka City.

Place of publication of “Shotenchi”

Takuboku Ishikawa left his newlywed home (3-chome, Chuo-dori, Morioka City) where he lived for three weeks after marrying his wife, Setsuko, and moved to Kagano Iki-cho, Morioka City. Takuboku lived here for nine months from July 1908 until he returned to Shibumin as a substitute teacher in March of the following year, and these were memorable days in Takuboku's life. It was also here that he published the literary magazine ``Shotenchi,'' and his thoughts at the time are described in the foreword of his long poem ``Eban Magazine.''

Manji Kasai

Architect from Morioka City. Studied architecture under Kingo Tatsuno, said to be the founder of architecture in Japan, at the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Imperial University. Major representative buildings include Tokyo Station, the former Kokugikan (currently the Nihon University Auditorium), and the Morioka Bank Head Office (currently the Iwate Bank Nakanohashi Branch).