The people of the past learned how to read the texture of rocks, strike them with chisels, and separate them from mountains. The vestiges of such efforts are clearly visible at this former quarry.

Osaka Castle, which was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, burned down in battle. Tokugawa Ieyasu was victorious, and he filled in the former site of the castle. Then, he built an even larger and more resplendent castle right beside it. This was an effort to show the country that Hideyoshi was no longer in power, and that the Tokugawa reign had begun. It is said that over one million stones were used in the construction of his castle. Prominent builders from around the country were ordered to aid in its construction, and quarries opened up all over the Setouchi region.

This quarry also opened during that time. It was operated by the Kuroda clan, who’d carved their symbol into the rocks, designating them as from their domain. The same symbols you see here can be found on the stones currently comprising the walls of Osaka Castle, proving that the stones from Shōdoshima Island were indeed supporting the construction.

According to one source, stoneworkers were paid by the amount of work they did. The amount of rice that could fit into the ya-ana they carved that day would be their payment. A total of 43 million people labored in this quarry, and it required one thousand people to move a single massive block.

However, construction suddenly came to an end one day, leaving roughly 1,600 partially excavated rocks. You can’t help but wonder what was on those workers’ minds as they left the quarry, their work unfinished.

There is a massive boulder standing before you, which is known as Tengu-iwa. At 17 meters tall, it is said to weigh 1,700 tons. This massive rock has no signs of any carving or excavation. Why had no one touched it? Perhaps the stonemasons had been in awe of this boulder, recognizing that they couldn’t move it on their own. Along with its countless ya-ana, the Tengu-iwa Quarry continues to hold mysteries that may never be solved.