Updated:June 17, 2016

Mayor's comment on additional designation of "Hirado-ryo Chiho Hakkisho　(the 8 Great Views in Hirado)

June 17, 2016

Today, on June 17, a report was submitted to the Council for Cultural Affairs in the Japanese Government. It suggests that as part of "Hirado-ryo Chiho Hakkisho (Hirado Hakkei: the 8 Great Views in the domain of Hirado) " in Sasebo, 4 places should be additionally designated as Nationally Designated Natural Monument (Scenic Beauties): "Takaiwa (high rock)", "Ishibashi (stone bridge at Ohashi-kannon)", "Iwaya-Gu (divine grotto at Susa shrine)" and "Shio-no-Me (junction line between sea currents at Haiki Strait) ".

　Hirado Hakkei are 8 views located in “Hirado Okan (route)” –the way for Hirado Clan Lords to their duties in Nagasaki-, selected by Hiromu Matsura, the 10th lord of Hirado Clan (Kanchu, 1791-1867) and are named "Hirado-ryo Chiho Hakkisho” in 1847, which became known widely as “Hirado Hakkei (8 Great Views in Hirado)” in Japan in the modern period.

　These 8 sites, which are scattered along “the Hirado Okan”, have been established as unified scenic sites which compose “Hirado-ryo Chiho Hakkisho” through Chinese-style poems and paintings. They developed as the scenic sites which attracted many tourists, recreational users and pilgrims from early modern to modern period in the name of “Hirado Hakkei”. These sites had been highly evaluated academically and from the viewpoint of appreciation and 3 of the 8 sites-“Senryu-Sui”,”Dai-Hikan” and “Fukuishi-Yama” had been designated as great views on March 10, 2015 as necessary processes were completed, prior to other 5 ones.

　Because of this 4 sites-additional designation, 7 of the 8 sites in total have been designated so far. It is my great pleasure that we took here again a step forward to achieve our fervent wish of the designation of all the 8 sites of “Hirado Hakkei”, which symbolize the unity of Sasebo in which 1 city and 6 towns were merged.

　I would like to thank the Culture Agency and the members of the council of the cultural affairs for their evaluation of “Hirado Hakkei” and thank local residents including landowners who had much understood and cooperated in this research project.

　Sasebo City would like to continue the research on “Megane-iwa (glasses-shaped rock)”-the one remaining site- so that all the 8 sites can be designated as cultural property as soon as possible.

　When they are designated officially as cultural property, we would like to make a full effort to protect and preserve properly them as treasures of Sasebo city so that they can be shown broadly to citizens and Japanese people.

　Dear citizens, I appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this project.

Norio Tomonaga
Mayor of Sasebo