徳川家康と小川孫三 Tokugawa Ieyasu and Ogawa Magozo

After the “Honnoji Incident” in 1582, Tokugawa Ieyasu feared for his life and fled across Iga to Okazaki. On the way, he was almost caught by the enemy around Shiroko (Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture) in Iga, but was rescued by Magozo Ogawa, a Shiroko peasant. Ieyasu made it safely to Okazaki, but Magozo was chased out of Shiroko for the crime of letting Ieyasu escape. Ieyasu took pity on Magozo and established a town called Shin-Shiroko in Fujieda, where Magozo was allowed to live. This is the present-day Shiroko shopping district in Fujieda City.
Ieyasu then exempted the town of Shiroko from taxes, and it prospered greatly, attracting merchants from all over.

A signboard representing the relationship between Magozo and Ieyasu has been installed in present-day Shiroko, Fujieda City. The Ogawa family also served as doctors for generations during the Edo period, and the 15th generation still runs the Ogawa Ophthalmology Clinic in Shiroko, Fujieda City. In front of the Ogawa Ophthalmology Clinic, a “Monument of Shiroko Origin” has been placed.In addition, Magozo Ogawa’s grave was built at Ryozenji Temple in Fujieda City.

Mie Prefecture Suzuka City Shiroko and Fujieda City Shiroko

The two “Shiroko” of Fujieda and the famous “Shiroko” at the entrance to the Suzuka Circuit are actually connected.
Characters of Magozo Ogawa and Ieyasu Tokugawa, who are associated with such Shiroko in Suzuka City and Fujieda City, respectively, are made into goods and sold at the following website. Fujieda Goshoin, a stone tablet that tours Ieyasu’s footprints in Fujieda City, is also on sale.
The character design is by Naoko Hasegawa, who lives in Shiroko, Suzuka City. The characters of Magozo and Ieyasu are also used in events in Suzuka City.