Commemorating a site where Emperor Meiji’s rested during his Imperial tour in 1880, Shimura Kambee built this monument on the grounds of his house. The Shimura’s were a wealthy merchant family in Hikawa Village, located in the Kyoto Region (present-day eastern part of the Kofu Basin, mainly Yamanashi City, Kofu City, and Fuefuki City), and Kambee was born in 1874 as the first son. He opened Shimura Bank when he was only 26.
A major flood in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1907 caused by the heavy rains from August 21 to 26 seriously damaged Hikawa Village. Kambee also suffered serious damage from the flood, including that loss of a silver cup with engraved Imperial crest presented to him by Emperor Meiji, and amber silk crepe rolls measuring about 60 meters long. Despite the seriousness of his situation, he endeavored to rescue people and helped to deliver food and water to others. When Emperor Meiji dispatched chamberlain Hinonishi Sukehiro to Yamanashi Prefecture, Kambee received a silver cup with engraved Imperial crest in praise of his efforts.
The monument to Shimura Kambee (commemorating his virtuous deeds) stands next to this monument because the Shimura Family residence is one of the historic sites due to Emperor Meiji’s visit. It is managed by Yamanashi Prefecture and the Yamanashi City municipal government. A monument commemorating Emperor Meiji’s rest site in Hikawa stands next to a police station along the old Koshu-kaido Road to show the location of Shimura Kambee’s house at that time.
A major flood in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1907 caused by the heavy rains from August 21 to 26 seriously damaged Hikawa Village. Kambee also suffered serious damage from the flood, including that loss of a silver cup with engraved Imperial crest presented to him by Emperor Meiji, and amber silk crepe rolls measuring about 60 meters long. Despite the seriousness of his situation, he endeavored to rescue people and helped to deliver food and water to others. When Emperor Meiji dispatched chamberlain Hinonishi Sukehiro to Yamanashi Prefecture, Kambee received a silver cup with engraved Imperial crest in praise of his efforts.
The monument to Shimura Kambee (commemorating his virtuous deeds) stands next to this monument because the Shimura Family residence is one of the historic sites due to Emperor Meiji’s visit. It is managed by Yamanashi Prefecture and the Yamanashi City municipal government. A monument commemorating Emperor Meiji’s rest site in Hikawa stands next to a police station along the old Koshu-kaido Road to show the location of Shimura Kambee’s house at that time.