松陰の最期
安政六年（1859）十月二十七日の朝、松陰は判決申し渡しのため、評定所に呼び出された。その声を聞いて松陰は辞世の歌を書いた。
このほどに思い定めし出で立ちは今日きくこそうれしかりける
判決は予想通り死罪だった。松陰は既に覚悟していたので従容として「お申し渡しの儀、委細承知仕りました」と答え、役人に挨拶した。そして引き立てられてくぐり戸を出ると、次の詩を高らかに吟じた。
吾、今国のために死す、死して君親にそむかず、悠々たり天地のこと、鑑照明神にあり
それから獄内の刑場で処刑となった。行年わずか三十。松陰の首を切った山田浅右衛門は、「これ程最期の立派な人はなかった」と語った。
The final moments of Yoshida Shoin."
On the morning of October 27th, 1859, (the 6th year of Ansei era) Yoshida Shoin was summoned to the court of judgment to receive his sentence. Upon hearing the summons, Yoshida Shoin composed a farewell poem. "In this moment, my resolve is firm, setting out on this journey, I find joy today”
The verdict was, as expected, a death sentence. Yoshida Shoin, having already prepared himself mentally, calmly responded, "I have received your notification with full understanding of its details." He then bid farewell to the officials. As he was led out through the prison gate, he recited the following poem with a resolute spirit:
"For my country's sake, I now embrace death, Dying without turning my back on my lord and parents. Calmly I gaze upon the affairs of heaven and earth, As I shine brilliantly in the divine presence."
Afterward, he was executed at the prison's execution grounds. He was only 30 years old at the time. The executioner, Yamada Asaemon, remarked, "I have never seen anyone as dignified in their final moments as him.