Jun 25, 2013 - 1 min read

Kenji Miyazawa's Memorial Site

Leafy park built in the memory of Kenji Miyazawa

By Sarashanti

Community writer

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A full statue of Miyawa Kenji sits beside the road of Zaimokucho Street, not far from the memorial site.

Cranes that welcome you to the Kenji Miyazawa Memorial Site.

Main memorial statue and little monument to Kenji Miyazawa.

Rows of poetry that stand adjacent to a pool.

Miyazawa’s poetry displayed along the small and shaded terrace.

While enjoying the leafy shade of the memorial site, take time to sit, relax and enjoy the view of Kitakami river.

Close-up picture of the Kenji Miyazawa monument.

Kenji Miyazawa is a famous Japanese author of children's literature, poet, agriculturalist, geologist and social activist, originally from Hienukigun, nowadays known as Hanamaki City, a city in central Iwate. Born in 1896, he completed his education to university level in Morioka, followed by a period in Tokyo, an experience that sparked the beginning of his literary output, before returning to his native Hanamaki. Throughout his life, Miyazawa was known as a clever person though he had a bad record while studying at Morioka Chugakko (now Morioka First High School). He was banned from the school’s dormitory because of participating in a boycott with other students. He received a full scholarship when he studied at Morioka Kotonorin Gakko (Morioka Agriculture and Forestry College, now Iwate University) and was always the top of his class. During his life, he published many books of poetry and children’s stories. The aim of this memorial site, built in 1998, is to commemorate the life of Kenji Miyazawa. Visitors who come here can read his poetry, notably 'Ame ni mo Makezu' (Not relenting to the rain) that is shown along the walls of the leafy grove.