Cruising to Tomonoura, a historic town

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There are no unsophisticated people who come to the Seto Inland Sea and travel by land from Onomichi to Tomonoura.    On the way of sea, you can see a large suspension bridge, a shipyard, and Kannon who prays for maritime safety.   However, please note that this cruise ship makes two round trips a day only on weekends and holidays.

Crusing from Onomichi to Tomonoura

Well, Tomonoura is located right in the middle of the Seto Inland Sea and was a port of waiting for the tide in the age of ships that depended on the wind and currents.   The high tide coming from the east and west channels of the Seto Inland Sea collides offshore, and the force is used to enter the port.    When leaving the port to advance offshore, it uses the power of the ebb tide that pulls it to the east and west .

The place where the Korean envoys stopped by still remains, and it is also the place where Japan’s first maritime casualty negotiations occurred between steamships on the late Edo period.    Here is the site of a true story in which the Kishu Domain (almost  Wakayama prefecture), which was under the control of the shogunate, was defeated by the Kaientai led by Ryoma Sakamoto, according to the World Public Law.

It’s fun to take a leisurely stroll through the nostalgic port town.    This is the stage of “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” produced by Studio Ghibli. Furthermore, ‘Hohmeishu’, sweet sake with Japanese herbs, is famous, but you should also try original sweet sake ‘mirin’ which enhances the flavor of the dish.

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That island occupied by rabbits

rabbit island0 welcome
rabbit island6 welcome
rabbit island6 welcome

After landing that island you are immediately surrounded by huge number of rabbits.   There are lots of stories as to why rabbits were brought in Ohkuno island and bred.   Looking at the rabbits lying on their bellies and too relaxing even when people approach, it seems like a peaceful island.   However, ruins where the former army conducted poison gas experiments remain everywhere.  My delusion (story) is that after World War II, the GHQ (occupying American army) released the rabbits to confirm the safety of the poison gas removal process.

rabbit island11 too relaxed
rabbit island11 too relaxed

Don’t forget to procure rabbit food before crossing the island.   Rabbits don’t care about people who don’t have food.

Rent a bicycle when you get to the island.   You can go around in about 30 minutes.   However, if you want to see the beauty of the many islands, you need to leave your bicycle and climb a little.

Detour

Did you know that Chukai, Takehara City has a headquarters and a factory that holds more than 50% of Japan’s jam market share?   It is  Aohata, which is the first company in the world to canned mandarin oranges grown in the Seto Inland Sea.    It is said that the president of Aohata, who watched a regatta race between the UK’s most famous universities, was impressed by the cheering of the blue flag.   English replacement of Aohata is a blue flag.      Visitable factories and photogenic shops are near Chukai JR station.

Jam factory
Jam factory

 

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Takehara was once connected to Kyoto

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It is said that Takehara began when Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto developed the land based on the law of the Nara period that allowed the land that was cultivated by oneself to be owned by oneself.    This law was the beginning of the manor system, and wealth was concentrated in those who had the financial power to cultivate the land by themselves, and it triggered the collapse of the world centered on the emperor.

Anyway, Takehara has a connection with Kyoto and still retains a townscape called Little Kyoto.    Incidentally, the Kamo River, which has the same name as Kyoto, runs through the center of the city. Also, like Kyoto, sake brewing is thriving, and one of its descendants founded Nikka Whiskey in Japan.

takehara13
takehara13

A feature that is completely different from Kyoto is salt making in salt fields.    At that time, 80% of the salt produced in Japan was produced in Hiroshima Prefecture.

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Tanabata Decoration Festival (Miyagi Prefecture)

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When you look at the Tanabata decorations in the shopping district, they all look the same(sorry),  but when you learn that each shop displays their own decorations in front of each shop,  your perspective changes.   The results of contest are indicated unobtrusively beside each decoration.

By the way, a famous person signed a streamer for Tanabata decorations, so it seems that there was an event to find it, but the person who found it would definitely tear it off, so I thought the game wouldn’t work.

Recently, sparrow dances have been incorporated into festivals and contests have also been held. After all, decorations alone lack excitement, so it has changed to a participatory festival.   By the way, the sparrow is also the family crest of the Date family of the Sendai clan.

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Hanagasa Dancing Festival (Yamagata Prefecture)

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An important tool in Hanagasa Dance is a hat decorated with flowers.  The flower is safflower, and it was very valuable in the Edo period as a raw material for dyes and lipsticks.  ”Beautiful flowers have thorns.”  It was said that the hands of the young women who hand-picked them were dyed red with thorns.   Please refer to safflower stories in Yamagata at the botton below.

safflower
Go to safflower stories

Go back to the festival, many teams that make up the parade show off their unique dances from in traditional and elegant style to in brave and dynamic style.  Television news programs often show dances in an elegant style, but in contrast to folk music, the force of moving the hanagasa hats violently in dynamic style cannot be conveyed unless you come to the site.  My impression was that elegant dance and dynamic dance in the parade were half and half.   Original dances were occasionally seen.  Each team consists of communities, schools, and workplaces, and each of them appeals their own characteristics in their dance.

yamagata3 soba
yamagata3 soba

It is held on the long main street at night.  So, no need to keep a viewing spot in advance.  Please enjoy Yamagata soba in between viewings.   Yamagata Prefecture ranks first in the consumption ranking of soba.   Please refer to soba stories in Yamagata at the botton below.

white flower of buckwheat
Go to white flower of buckwheat and soba stories

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Kanto Festival (Akita Prefecture)

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Akita is a rice-produching region.  Kanto lanterns shining in the night sky represent a bountiful harvest of rice in coming Autumn and praying for an end of epidemics like that Gion Festival in Kyoto prays.    It is interesting that many festivals both in Japan and abroad, now and in the past, are held to pray for the warding off of epidemics.

The kanto hand over the pillars to the next person while adding a piece of pillars, showing an exquisitely balanced pose each time.    The completed kanto reaches 12 meters high and weighs 50 kilograms, and the pillars are largely bent.   “The boughs that bear most hang lowest.”  This really embodies the proverb.


akita kanto7 a child who take out something decoration when the pose is decided
akita kanto7 a child who take out something decoration when the pose is decided

If you want to see Kanto at night, you should reserve a seat in the front row of the median on the main street. It is so powerful that the lanterns collapsing in front of you.

Discover a genius boy mixed with adults! As soon as he strikes an exquisitely balanced pose, he pulls out various projectiles such as fans from his chest and enjoys everyone around him.

During the daytime, the festival holds competition to compete in techniques to support the Kanto in various positions(one hand, forehead, sholder, waist !).  Even at night, you should look down, not up.

Let me briefly explain the rules. use only one hand.   Do not go beyond the 6m diameter circle.   Change technique according to the signal (every 30 seconds).   If playing an instrument, change the tune.    In my opinion, good athletes keep their balance by slightly shifting their heels.    If you can’t afford to stay overnight in Akita, I recommend you watching the daytime competition.


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Lotus flower (Junsai is one of familly) around Akita Castle

Detour

Make sure you have something to eat in advance for a long enjoying.   There is a market near the station where you can eat rock oysters from the Oga Peninsula.   You can also choose Akita’s famous sake from the list pasted on all over the wall.   The fact that “junsai” can be eaten with sake is proof that the water is delicious.  “Inaniwa udon” (Japanese noodles), which is eaten in the middle of summer, cools down to the core and releases the summer heat.

 

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Craft Balloon Festival

akita-nairiku railway
craft balloon ignition
craft balloon ignition

During craft balloon festival people return from urban to reunite with family. Their wishes drawn on the balloons by themselves will come true with craft balloon lift-up.  People including  tourists participated releasing balloons.  It was a fantastic moment !

craft balloon releasing
craft balloon releasing

 

Many balloons stay in the night sky and eventually disappear into the mountains.
What will happen to the balloon blown away at last ?  “Maybe falling in the deep mountains”, local people said.
*) Caution
It was too cold not to stay venue long time.

balloons stay in the sky
balloons stay in the sky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

rough sea
rough sea

Tug of War

snow life
tug of war
tug of war

To tell the truth,  we could not participate in the tug of war because of Craft Balloon festival held on the same night, so enjoyed tranquility in advance of fight in front of ropes enshrined in the center of town.

KARIWANO is a small town. The residence are divided into 2 groups at this event and fight.  Tourist participant is free but no guarantee of accident.

At the next time challenging the exciting match,  I would like to make a question, “How do you ensure equality on volume of participants between 2 groups?”

Japanese style hotel 'shouho-en'
Japanese style hotel ‘shouho-en’ near Kariwano

 

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taking a picture of Steam Locomotive (Tori-Tetsu ?)

steam locomotive approaching
snoe removal train
snow removal train

There are various categories of railfans.  ‘Tori-tetsu’ is a railroad photography enthusiast, ‘Nori-Tetsu’ is a ride lover, ‘Nomi-tetsu’ is a person who rides and drinks, ‘Mama-Tetsu’ is a mother who enjoy railway with her children, etc.  By the way, there was a railway study group in every high school.  Japanese people really like railways.

Steam Locomotive connected to Niigata revived only on Saturdays and Sundays one round trip a day.   If you are ‘Tori-Tetsu’, find a suitable crossing point !

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Torioi-Kannon Temple where asking for immediate death without suffering when you are dying

monkey hiding from eagle
torioi kannon
torioi kannon temple

Torioi-Kannon Temple is one component of Western Pure Land.
Since no one wants to suffer when they die, the ’Korori’ Kannon faith was born. People are fine(‘pin-pin’) just before they die, and when they die, they want to die lightly(‘korori’). In Japanese, this is called pin-pin korori.
You can listen to the fun story of the monk. However, although it is in Japanese.

There are famous sculptures you should not miss in this temple.  One of them is a monkey hiding from a eagle.  It is said to have been made by Hidari Jingoro, a famous sculptor of the Edo period. However, it seems that there are about 100 works in the whole country, and the authenticity is unknown.

tou no hetsuri shrine
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