Sasayama Domain School “Shintokudo”

This is the first educational facility in this region. It was established in the Edo period (1600-1868, the school was established in 1766). Since the feudal lord of the time, Aoyama Tadataka, valued education greatly, he invited Seki Tokiyoshi from Osaka as a teacher and built a school building at the southwest corner of Sasayama Castle outer moat. Unlike other domain schools, not only the children of domain samurais but also commoners were allowed to enroll. At that time, there were 300 male students, and tuition was free.

He made woodblocks for the publication and distribution of textbooks. The woodblocks and textbooks are still on display at Aoyama Museum. The Aoyama family’s emphasis on education was carried over to the establishment of educational facilities such as Houmei Gijuku(the base of current Houmei high school) and Shoshikan in Tokyo(the dormitory for students from this area) after the Meiji period(1868-1912).

Basic information