003 | My Love Returned to the Sea | A Legend Remaining in Tatsukushi, Tosashimizu City

A Legend Like the Little Mermaid

A fish spirit living in the beautiful sea fell in love with a human────
There is a story just like the Little Mermaid in Kochi as well.

It is a story that remains in Tatsukushi, Tosashimizu City.

The Legend of the Fish Spirit in Love

Long ago, a young samurai named Hyosuke Taimai came to Tatsukushi and built a temporary hut to live in near a large Ubame oak tree.
Hyosuke was quite a brave man, and before long, he became well-liked by the villagers.

One night with fierce wind and rain,
a beautiful pilgrim girl came by, saying she had lost her way and asking to stay the night.
Since he was a man living alone, he refused.
However, because she said she was too tired from the rain to walk, he had no choice but to let her stay.

However, even after many days passed, she did not leave, and because she helped him with various things, they eventually became husband and wife.
This girl was named "Nonoe," and she was kind and hardworking.
Once, when Hyosuke wanted to eat fish and woke up early intending to go fishing, he found fresh fish hanging from the eaves.
Mysterious events continued, such as the rice in the rice bin increasing just when he thought it had run out.
Hyosuke, who was initially creeped out, gradually got used to it.

One time, Hyosuke picked up a magnificent deer antler on a mountain path.
The wood of the eaves was rotting, so he thought it would be perfect and repaired it with the antler.
From that day on, the fish stopped coming completely.
Nonoe, who had been cheerful, became dark and depressed, her face turned pale, her body grew thin, and she finally took to her bed.

One morning, Hyosuke heard Nonoe's voice in a dream-like state.
"Actually, I am a fish spirit from Minokoshi Bay.
I was drawn to your manly appearance and served by your side, but I have been struck by the poisonous energy of the deer antler and can no longer stay here.
This is where we part.
Please live happily."
Hyosuke woke up with a start and went out to the beach, where he saw Nonoe running away across the water, which shone white as if covered in cloth.

Here is another version

Long ago, a survivor of the Heike clan who was defeated in the Genpei War fled to Tatsukushi.
An old couple hid this man, and they began to live together.
The old couple had a beautiful daughter named Kinue, and before long, she fell in love with the man, and they became husband and wife.

Concerned about Kinue, who had started living separately, the old couple went to check on her, bringing fish.
However, a large sea bream was hanging from the eaves of Kinue's house.
The next day, and the day after that, a sea bream was hanging there.
The old couple spent their days taking their own fish back home.
Several years passed in this way.

One day, the man was captured by Genji pursuers and killed.
Overcome with grief, Kinue stood on a rock in Tatsukushi, threw the robe she was holding into the sea, and disappeared across the sea by crossing over it.
It is said that Kinue was a messenger from the Dragon Palace and a fish spirit.
It is said that a small shrine was built to memorialize the daughter's spirit at a place called the Taimai Mansion in Tatsukushi.

Visiting the Shrine in Tatsukushi

Tatsukushi is a place of scenic beauty.
Rocks with mysterious shapes jut out into the sea.
Strange rocks with the soft texture unique to sandstone line the shore, creating a landscape unlike anything I have ever seen.

A small shrine remains among the private houses in Tatsukushi.
A neighbor told me it was fine to open the door and pray, so I excused myself and opened it.
A stone with the same caramel latte color as the strange rocks of Tatsukushi was enshrined there.

That person told me that people in this area call it "Nunohae-san."
It seems they pray for a big catch.
It seems that you anglers are being allowed to catch quite a lot!

Tatsukushi takes about three hours from Kochi City.
It is certainly far, but since there are walking paths where you can enjoy the strange rocks to your heart's content, an aquarium, and even an undersea observatory, you can really get a sense of being on a trip.

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