The Story of TADAYA
A forbidden love beyond a big gap of social standing
In the Edo era, the Saga-Nabeshima han , the Saga-Nabeshima province, was at the heightsof its prosperity. It is well-known for its unique tradition of blending the conservative withthe progressive by accepting Western culture from Nagasaki as quickly as possible, at theperiod of national isolation. The last head of Nabeshima han was Naotora Nabeshima, whoplayed an important role as a member of the Upper House of Meiji government.
Tadaya inn dramatically changed its destiny due to the marriage of Yoshiko Nabeshima, theeldest daughter of Naotora, to Kinori Tada, the third owner of this inn.
“Forbidden Love” cherished beyond unbroken barrier leads to Tadaya inn to the present site,which gives a good view of the Gulf of Nanao.
Tadaya inn at Wakura Onsen was opened by Kisaburo Tada, the first owner, in the 18th yearof Meiji , when there were a few inns surrounding the origin of Wakura hot spring. The
second owner Sotojiro brought the inn, which had carried stably on a business, to a crisis.
He ran into a huge debt owing to others’ guarantee, or the investment on a gold mountain ofNoto. The debt caused his son, Kinori, to lead a difficult life. He, who was enjoying hiscollege life in Tokyo after graduating from high school in Nanao city, couldn’t get any moneyfrom his family. He was at a loss about how to earn money for college, and was determined
to get a driver license. (A driving license then was as uncommon as an airplane one today.)The license gave him an opportunity to make a fateful encounter with a lady.
He happened to work as a chauffeur of Nabeshima family.

He usually saw off Naotora, thehead of Nabeshima, to the building of the Upper House and welcomed him back. He also
drove Yoshiko to Women’s College of Gakushuin once in a while.
standing was heavily valued.

In those days, socialSo, a poor college student was not allowed to have even a small

talk with a daughter from rich and high-status family, to say nothing of marriage. Though
there is today no knowing how they got familiar with each other, it was not long before they
could not restrain from loving each other. It went without saying that Nabeshima family
could not admit their relationship. Besides, Yoshiko was never likely to be a kinori’s wife
because she was supposed to marry into Tokugawa family. After they had been struggling
for their marriage, they finally ran away hand in hand.

An unexpected heavyweight that supported the young lovers and their life
Kinori and Yoshiko quietly slipped out from the house and got on a train for Ishikawa.
They were about to take a little rest on the shabby seats, when the train came to a sudden stop.
It was Matsutaro Shoriki, the chief of Police, who appeared in front of them. He was ordered
to take Yoshiko back to home by her father. When Kinori thought it was all over, Mr. Shoriki
said to him, “You should be back to Ishikawa by yourself and wait until the time is right. I’ll
ask her father to allow your marriage.” Matsutaro Shoriki was such a big person as to workas the president of Yomiuri Newspaper or Nihon TV.

He was also called “Father of TVBroadcast”. Who could imagine he played Cupid for the two?
Kinori waited and waited to meet Yoshiko with Mr. Shoriki’s words in his mind. As forYoshiko, after she was taken back home, she was absent-minded, doing nothing but longing
for her lover. Her father felt painfully sorry for his daughter and at last agreed with hermarriage, taking the measure to make Yoshiko’s social standing lower to a commoner.
He let his lovable daughter have a lot of valuable things as wedding gifts.

All thebelongings of upper-class women bore the crest of thei own family, but Yoshiko’s didn’t.
Kinari could clear off a large amount of debt by selling all the stocks of big companies given
Yoshiko by her father. At first he refused firmly to do so, but she urged him, saying distinctly,“Now that we are a couple, your troubles are mine.”
After marriage, she was faced with a lot of hardships with the unfamiliar inn business.
The most tragic accident followed the hardships. She mistakenly fell into hot spring of 94
degree centigrade and was burned to death. She was as young as forty-one- year old.
She, however, didn’t lead an unhappy life. She not only got married to the man who she
loved deeply, but she was blessed with four children. She worked very hard as a landlady,and what was more, she was loved by all the persons around her. She liked the nature of
Nanao-city very much. Above all, she attached to the burning sunset, which turns the Gulfof Nanao into crimson. She hoped that she could admire the sunset every evenings, and thather guests could enjoy seeing the sun setting into the sea.
the inn to the seaside.

Her earnest desire was to transfer

For the magnificent sunset
It was in the 48th year of Showa. Matsutaro, Yoshiko’s eldest son and the fourth owner,
and Emiko, his wife, complete the transfer of the inn to the present site, which used to be
Yoshiko’s dream. It took a long and tough time. There were neither paved roads nor water
pipes on the site, off the main hot-spring street. To make matter worse, the number of thequests decreased sharply the following year because of Oil Shock.

Even during such a hardtime, the most beautiful sunset in the Wakura district coul not fail to make them lose theconfidence in their business. It was no doubt that their quests who admired the sunset wereof powerful help.

In the end
Tadaya inn began with “a forbidden love”. With Yoshiko’s dream cherished by her son,it has been settled at the seaside of the Gulf of Nanao, which can give a good sight of themagnificent sunset.
We are willing to give our quests as much satisfaction and inspiration as we can. All of us
are always welcoming our guests together with the beautiful sunset.
The sixth owner: Kentaro Tada