Shimazu Tadayoshi, also known as Jisshin-kō, was a warlord of the Satsuma domain during the Sengoku period and an early leader of the Satsuma domain in the early Edo period (early17th century).
 
He is highly regarded as the “reviver of the Shimazu clan” for his reforms and efforts that stabilized the Satsuma domain and established a foundation for its later prosperity.
 
One of the key areas Tadayoshi focused on was education. He studied Confucianism and Buddhism deeply and invested significantly in the education of his retainers.
 
Notably, he composed the Iroha Songs to serve as a moral and guiding principle for his samurai.

Jisshin-kō created the Iroha Songs, which became the foundation for Satsuma’s “Goju Education (郷中教育)”.
These songs encapsulated the teachings of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto into 47 verses, aimed at transmitting moral values and education to his retainers.

As time passed and the Meiji Restoration came into effect, Satsuma-born figures such as Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi emerged as prominent leaders.
The foundation of their achievements was the unique Goju Education of Satsuma.
This educational system was especially directed at young samurai, organized by local villages, and aimed at teaching them the character and responsibilities of a samurai. Older youth would teach younger youth about moral principles, ethics, samurai conduct, and swordsmanship.
 
The Iroha Song was an essential educational tool in this system, used to teach fundamental moral values and codes of conduct to the young retainers.
By repeatedly learning the lessons of the Iroha Songs, they were able to solidify the mental and ethical foundations required of a samurai.

To the left of the shrine’s road, there is the “Inishi-e-no Michi” (Path to the Past), where stone monuments engraved with the Iroha Songs are installed. Each stone monument represents a moral teaching associated with the respective verse of the Iroha Song. As visitors walk through the path bathed in dappled sunlight, they can reflect on the teachings of Jisshin-kō (Shimazu Tadayoshi).
 

Next to each stone monument is a plaque explaining the essence of the Iroha Song’s verse, helping visitors understand its meaning and background.
 
Additionally, hidden among the cobblestones of “Inishi-e-no Michi” are eight heart-shaped stones, making the walk even more enjoyable as visitors search for them.

On the same grounds, there is the site of the “Jōjun-in”, a temple annex (or study hall) established by Jisshin-kō. After Jisshin-kō passed away, this became his burial site, where a portrait of him was placed.