English Version
Aso Ohashi Bridge, once known locally as Akabashi, or “the Red Bridge,” stood in Tateno, Minamiaso Village, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Rumors about the area have circulated for years. Some people claimed to have seen spirits in nearby buildings, while others said that countless ghosts could be seen drifting beneath the bridge.
From the time the bridge was completed, it was also said to have been the site of repeated suicide jumps. In response, high fences and safety nets were installed to help prevent further incidents. A small guardian statue known as Mate Mate Jizo, roughly meaning “Wait, wait, Jizo,” was also placed there as a suicide-prevention measure.
The bridge was once famous for its red color, which gave rise to the nickname Akabashi, though it appears to have been repainted in later years.
On April 16, 2016, Aso Ohashi collapsed during the Kumamoto earthquake. Because the former bridge site and surrounding terrain may involve restricted or unsafe areas, travelers should follow official guidance, avoid closed zones, and view the area only from safe, permitted locations.
Japanese Language
周辺の建物で霊を見たという噂が相次いでいる。橋の下では、無数の霊が浮遊しているという。竣工時より飛び降り自殺が相次いで発生していた。自殺防止のため、高いフェンスやネットを設置し、さらには自殺防止のための「まてまて地蔵」という地蔵まで設置していた。かつてその赤い橋の色から「赤橋」と呼ばれていたが近年塗りなおされたもよう。2016年4月16日熊本地震により崩落。熊本県南阿蘇村立野
