Kunne-shuma/Kuroiwa Rock
Tales from the Yakumo Area
MAP No.17 [Kuroiwa Park/ Kunne-shuma Description Signboard]
The place-name Kuroiwa originates from the Ainu word Kunne-shuma (or Kunne-shirara). Meaning “Black Rock”, it is named after the rock that stands on the coast. There are several Ainu legends associated with this rock.
Legends of Kuroiwa: Part 1
“Mount Komagatake happened to erupt just at the time when a group of people came from Muroran to live at the Kotan (village) in Yu-rap. The falling ash blocked the passage of their boat, and they could not move any further. The chief of the village offered sake to the gods, and prayed for safe passage to their destination. Suddenly, some unknown force appeared to carry the boat, with all her passengers, on its shoulders, and dashed forwards. The boat rocked terribly with the speed, and seemed to be about to capsize, so the chief began to pray again. This time, the boat appeared to move to the shoulders of a gentle creature, and was safely carried to Kuroiwa without swaying. It is said that Kuroiwa became known as a sacred spot due to the gods’ messengers ensuring safe passage there. (Compiled by Shinichiro Takakura)
Legends of Kuroiwa: Part 2
“There is a great black rock on a rocky beach that was called Rukuchi long ago, which the Wajin came to call Kuroiwa (“kuro” meaning black, and “iwa” meaning rock). Many years ago, when the Ainu people of Toima Kotan (a faraway country) gathered a “santomi” (army) and attempted to come ashore for a night assault of the Kotan (village) here by boat, they were surprised to be met by great numbers of Ainu assembled before their eyes. The invaders fled, rowing their boat back to from whence they came, and the Kotan here remained safe from all harm.
The horde of enemies that the army from Toima Kotan had seen was, in fact, the shape of the black rock of Rukuchi. For this reason, the Ainu people here worship the rock as a Shuma-Kamuy (Stone God) that protects the Kotan, and perform prayer ceremonies using inaw (prayer sticks).” (From Sugae Masumi’s “Ezo no Teburi” (Ezo Travel Diary))
■Kunne-shuma/Kuroiwa Rock
Kuroiwa 644-30, Yakumo-cho, Futami-gun, Hokkaido 049-3341
[Description Signboard] Approx. 1 min walk from JR Kuroiwa Station
[Kunne-shuma] Approx. 10 mins walk from JR Kuroiwa Station