Sekiyama Pass

A pass on the border between Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture and Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture. It is located where the Sakunami Kaido (Sekiyama Kaido) crosses the Ou Mountains, and is 601 meters above sea level. In 1882 (Meiji 15), following discussions between Miyagi Prefecture governor Miyagi Tokisuke and Yamagata Prefecture governor Mishima Michitsune, the Sekiyama Tunnel was opened below the pass, and it was valued as a transportation route connecting Sendai and Yamagata, replacing the Sasaya and Futakuchi roads that had been used since the feudal era. After the opening of the JNR (now JR) Senzan Line, the significance of the pass temporarily faded, but with the increase in automobile traffic, the road was developed as National Route 48. In 1968 (Showa 43), the new Sekiyama Tunnel was opened in the northern part of the pass, and the national route was also replaced.

[Norio Hasegawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

宮城県仙台市と山形県東根市の境にある峠。作並街道(さくなみかいどう)（関山街道）が奥羽山脈を横断する所にあり、標高601メートル。1882年（明治15）宮城県令宮城時亮と山形県令三島通庸(みちつね)との協議により峠下に関山隧道(ずいどう)が開通、藩政時代から用いられていた笹谷(ささや)、二口(ふたくち)の両街道にかわって仙台―山形間を結ぶ交通路として重視された。国鉄（現、JR）仙山線の開通後、峠の意義は一時薄れたが、自動車交通の増大に伴い街道は国道48号として整備された。1968年（昭和43）峠の北部に新関山トンネルが開削され、国道も付け替えられた。

［長谷川典夫］

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