自筆とみられる遺書（Handwritten suicide note found with）

元禄１５（１７０２）年１２月１４日、吉良邸に討ち入りした赤穂浪士四十七士の一人で、岡山県津山市出身の茅野和助（かやの・わすけ）（１６６７～１７０３）の自筆とみられる遺書が同市内で発見された。討ち入りの覚悟と、残す家族への思いなどがつづられている。
　遺書（縦２９センチ、横３８センチ）は当初の討ち入り予定日の前日、１２月５日の日付で、兄弟に宛てて書かれており、「手柄を立てて死ねれば幸せだと存じております」と、討ち入りの覚悟とともに「母上様に孝行を尽くされ、兄弟仲良く…」と、家族を気遣う文面もある。
　「（甥の武次郎を取り立てて）一人前にしたいと存じておりましたが…」と、心残りを感じさせる一文は、和助の遺書の写しが採録されている昭和６年の「赤穂義士史料・下巻」には書かれておらず、地元では真筆への期待が高まっていた。
　 遺書は同市で医家を営んでいた仁木永祐（１８３０～１９０２）の生家から発見され、調査を委託された津山洋楽資料館が同市出身で東大史料 編纂所の山本教授に鑑定を依頼。出身地で見つかったことや文書の構成などから「和助の自筆の可能性が高い」と判定された。
　茅野和助は津山藩の森家に仕えていた父が政争に巻き込まれて追放されたため、赤穂藩の浅野家に仕官。討ち入り時は３６歳（切腹時は３７歳）だった。得意の弓を持って吉良家裏門から攻め入った－と伝えられている。遺書は同館で展示されている。３００年ほど前の今日討ち入りがあったんですね。当事者たちは悲壮な覚悟で臨んだことでしょうね。日本の情の源は忠孝なのかもしれませんね。


15 Genroku (1702) 14 December, in one of his seventy-four labor Ako was to house Kira, 和助 Chino born in Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture (only Wasu of Kaya) (1667-1703) believed autograph suicide note was found in the same city. And prepared for 討Chi入Ri has feelings for family leave and spelled.

Testament (29 centimeters and 38 centimeters) is expected day before the initial date of December 05, addressed to the brother has written, "and common knowledge that if 死Nere happy with distinction the "and, together with the  prepared," exhausted mother like high school, friends brother ... "and the wording is also caring for the family.

"(The collection to his nephew 武次郎) but it broke and want a full-fledged common knowledge ..." and the sentence feel regret, the 1931 has accepted a copy of the wills of 和助 "Ako Martyr documents 下巻 - "is not written in, the locals had high expectations of handwriting.

Testament has been engaged in the following Eisuke Niki in the city (1830-1902) was discovered from the work, ask the expert to the historiography of Tokyo Professor Yamamoto was born in the city where the museum was commissioned to study Western Tsuyama. Configuration of a document from that found in the place of origin or a "high potential 和助 autograph" was determined.

Chino 和助 was expelled because his father was involved in politics who had served Tsuyama clan forest, the house officer Asano of Ako clan. 討Chi入Ri is 36 years old when (at Seppuku is 37 years old) was. Kira went home with an attack from the rear gate of a good bow - has been reported. Wills are on display at the museum. I 討Chi入Ri I had about 300 years ago today. It would be desired in their parties prepared tragic. Japanese sources of information I might be a Zhongxiao.