Sho-sei Gushikawa-ke Kafu (Record of the Gushikawa Family, a branch of the Sho Family) Juni-sei Kōki (12th Family Head: Kōki SHO)

(September 1819 in lunar calendar) On the 17th, as the weather finally cleared up, we saw a tall island but weren’t sure what it was called. (We later learned that it was called “Yokon-kobajima Island [魚根久場島]”). On the 18th, we sailed to this island and anchored at an inlet to get some fresh water, but unfortunately could not find any springs. There we waited for a sailing wind for three days. Suddenly, a storm struck. Everything, including the anchor and ropes, was lost in the waves. The ship was left to drift in the wind. People on board were praying for divine assistance. Fortunately, we saw another tall island on the 23rd. On the 24th, we gradually got closer to the island. There was a person on top of the island waving to our ship. (He was Jinya ASATO, an officer of Ishigaki Island). Five or six other people were waving flags, indicating an inlet. When a ship officer yelled to ask the name of the place, they replied “Yonaguni Island.”