Aihachi no Haka Aihachi's grave

The Nagasaki Maruyama Hanamachi ruins suddenly became nationally famous as the setting for Nakanishi Rei's novel Nagasaki Burabura Bushi, which won the Naoki Prize. In the movie, the main character Aihachi, played by Sayuri Yoshinaga, is Sada Matsuo, also known as Aihachi, a real-life Maruyama geisha from the Meiji period.

Born in 1874 in a quiet fishing village in Himi Village, Nishisonogi District (present-day Amiba Town, Nagasaki City), he was sent to work as an apprentice geisha in Maruyama at just 10 years old. He debuted as "Aihachi" at the age of 17. She excelled at performing arts such as the shamisen and nagauta, and quickly became a popular geisha.She was also known as a woman with a good-natured bamboo-splitting personality, a kind heart, and a strong sense of justice, and was loved by those around her. .

When Aihachi was 57 years old, he released a record of 10 songs, including Nagasaki's representative folk song ``Burabura Bushi,'' and Nagasaki's folk songs became known throughout the country and became very popular. You can currently hear his singing voice at Naka no Chaya (Kon Shimizu Exhibition Hall).

Aihachi passed away in 1933 at the age of 59, and his funeral, presided over by the scholar Junjiro Koga, was attended by locals and others who mourned the death of the famous geisha, as well as sumo wrestling and plays that Aihachi loved. Condolences were received from the people behind the event, and an article in the local paper says it was a grand event.

If you walk about 400 meters from Nakakojima Park on your left from Nakano Chaya, you will find a cemetery in front of Nagasaki Girls' High School, and in one corner of the cemetery is Aihachi's grave. Fans who have probably seen the novels and movies still visit and lay flowers.