⚓ A Quiet Tribute by the Sea: Taisetsumaru Anchor in Hakodate

I didn’t plan to find the anchor of the Taisetsumaru—it just appeared quietly along the Hakodate waterfront as I wandered past the Masu Maru Memorial Ship. At first glance, it looked like just another maritime relic, rusted and forgotten. But something about its size, its stillness, made me stop.

This wasn’t just a display. It felt like a memory anchored into the earth. I learned later it belonged to the second Taisetsumaru, a ferry that served these waters for decades. This was its spare anchor, later brought back here when the quay was renovated. There’s no flashy signage, no crowds. Just a massive, weathered anchor resting on stone, and a story hiding in plain sight.

Standing beside it, I could almost hear the engines of long-gone ferries humming across the Tsugaru Strait, feel the salt air that once carried the voices of passengers and crew. It made me think about how many lives passed through this port—quiet, ordinary moments, and some not so ordinary. The Toyamaru disaster came to mind, a tragic reminder of how unforgiving the sea can be.

This spot isn’t a major tourist attraction. But maybe that’s why it hit me the way it did. Just the wind, the water, and a heavy steel memory waiting for someone to notice. I left feeling strangely moved—grateful that something so simple could feel so alive.

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Post by Crumpled Nomad | Jul 7, 2025