Dogo Sagitani-cho

"Our country called "Iyo" is
Mild and warm all the year round
The hot spring gushed out"
(Moutengai Mori)

Moutengai's real name is "Koutaro". He was the headman of Yodo Villege, A member of the prefectual assembly, a social activist and Haiku originator. He had felt something unusual in his eyes since 1894(Meiji 27), he went up Tokyo for treatment, but he lossed sight in both eyes in 1896(Meiji 29).
After deep anguish of heart, he opened his eyes to something with a grain of rice in his hand and practiced asceticism at Hieizan Temple in Kyoto. He was inaugurated as the headman of his country home , Yodo Villege on the recommendation of the villagers in 1898(Meiji 31). He became well known all over the country for making Yodo Villege the model villege in spite of his blindness.
The records in the meantime have been remained as famous book "a grain of rice".
He studied Haiku under Shiki from his youth. He took a pen-name "Tengai" from Shiki, but he called himself "Moutengai" after the loss of his eyesight.The monument of this Haiku was built on the Haiku Road too.