Man’yoshu Monument

A monument stone on the grounds of Koganeyama Shrine. Engraved on it are verses from the Man’yoshu by Otomo no Yakamochi who, alongside Emperor Shomu, wrote of his delight at the discovery of gold in Japan. It is written that the gold was collected “at a mountain in Oda District” (now part of Wakuya Town).  This gold was carried to the capital in faraway Nara, where it became the cause of national celebration. This poetry monument memorializes and celebrates the gold of Michinoku.