This statue commemorates Itagaki's contributions in saving the Nikko-zan Mountains from the fires of war by persuading the former retainers of the shogun, including Keisuke OTORI, who were holed up in Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine, and persuading the Satsuma Domain who had vehemently insisted on destruction.
日光東照宮に立て籠もる大鳥圭介ら旧幕臣達を説得し、また強硬に破壊を主張する薩摩藩を説得して日光山を戦火から守った功績によるものである