Head Tax Stone, Historical tax marker stone in Miyakojima, Japan.
The Head Tax Stone is a stone marker on Miyakojima that denotes a taxation system from the Ryukyu Kingdom period. The stone dates from a time when individuals had to pay fees before leaving the island.
The stone originates from the Edo period, when the Ryukyu Kingdom implemented a system to tax people leaving the island. This practice shaped the island's economic life across multiple generations.
The stone sits in a location where locals and visitors pass by, creating a tangible link between everyday life and administration. It reveals how the island functioned and how people navigated the rules of their time.
The stone is easily accessible and features information panels explaining how the taxation system worked at the time. Visitors should plan time to read the text and understand this historical connection to the island.
Despite its modest size, this stone played an important role in daily life by reminding people they had to pay fees. Today it stands as a quiet reminder of economic control that shaped island society.
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