“Jisetsu Daishogun (Commander-in-Chief) – Otomo no Tabito – “ by Yasuda Yukihiko

The new era name is “Reiwa (Beautiful Harmony).” The source of this word is in the preface of Baika no Uta (Plum-blossom Poems) in Manyoshu. This Baika no Uta was composed in the New Year of 730 AD (the 2nd year of Tenpyo era), and this Plum-blossom viewing banquet was held at the residence of Otomo no Tabito, Governer-General of the Dazaifu, in Kyushu at that time.
Otomo no Tabito and Otomo no Yakamochi, his son and known as the compiler of Manyoshu, and this Otomo-family is being the ancestors of Shigyo-family. When I heard the source of this new era name, I sensed a mysterious turn of fate, and in a flash, I had a sensation that the present era and the Nara era was linked.
In fact, in the summer of 728 AD (the 5th year of Jinki era), Tabito has lost his lawful wife・Otomo no Iratsume from illness, whom he shared the joys and sorrows of life over many years. Although he has endeavored to cure her illness such as taking her to hot–spring cure, yet could not resist fate. Here is a poem composed in reply to the condolence caller from Kyoto.

　Yononaka wa munashikimono to shiru tokishi
　Iyoiyo masumasu kanashi karikeri
　When I truly realize this world is transient, then all the more,
　sorrow in this world deepened.

As Otomo no Tabito, who is the head of Otomo-family, known since the ancient times to be the high-military-lineage, has openly expressed his sorrow, his inner sense of deep sorrow must have been beyond our imagination.
Plum-blossom viewing banquet related to the source of “Reiwa (Beautiful Harmony) was held about one year and a half from the death of his wife. Although one year of mourning period has passed, it was still the time his sorrow has not yet faded. In this banquet, I think that there must have been the sorrow of Tabito for not being able to greet an early spring month with his beloved wife, and his empty tears disappearing in a spring gentle wind. Like Tabito, uncontrollable sorrow and agony strike in this world. I cannot help but think, by not forgetting something behind the new and joyful things, and keeping these in the depth of own-self and live powerfully, and this exactly must be the living-way in the new era of “Reiwa.”