Gardens Related to Roka Tokutomi in “Yae's Sakura”

Roka Koshun-en Gardens in Setagaya Ward served as one of the locations in the long-running historical drama series “Yae's Sakura” (2013). Following episode 46 in which novelist Roka Tokutomi (Taiga) was featured, The Roka Koshun-en Gardens was introduced as part of ‘“Yae's Sakura” Kiko,’ a program that airs after each episode and which presents facts and places in connection with the drama series. Literary master Roka Tokutomi was active starting in the Meiji era until the Taisho era. The park features an old house and garden where Roka spent the latter part of his life in quiet retirement dividing his time between work and intellectual pursuits. Visitors will be able to imagine Roka’s bucolic lifestyle during his late years. Other points of interest include a moso bamboo grove as well as a small forest of mixed trees, which includes sawtooth and konara oak trees, planted by Roka himself. In another corner of the gardens is a flower hill where a variety of flowers bloom according to the change of seasons. The nature and vestiges of Roka’s beloved Musashino can be enjoyed to this day.