Ainokura village at Gokayama area in central Japan, is downstream from Shirakawa-go. The Traditional Industry Museum is a “Ggassho-zukuri” building : a large residence featuring a steep thatched roof. Its information board notes, regarding the site's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site, that "recognition was also given to the efforts of the locals who preserved this beautiful quaint environment amidst the rapid economic growth of Japan." Indeed, while many other settlements along the river have replaced their Gassho-zukuri homes by modern housing, the preservation here is evidence of the residents' deep attachment to their landscape, their village, and their homes . 相倉集落は白川郷の下流、富山県・五箇山 にあります。伝統産業館は、合掌造りの建物。 案内板には、 ユネスコ世界遺産 になったことに関し、 “ 経済成長の著しかった日本という国で、その美しい環境を守ってきた住民の努力もまた、評価の対象となりました ” と記されています。 確かに、同じ庄川沿いでも合掌造りを現代住宅に建て替えた集落が多いなかで、萱葺きの大型住居を残したのは、住民の皆さんの風景、集落、家への愛着ですね。 So, let's go to the village. では、集落内へ。 Key features of Gassho-zukuri in...
A hunter and his wife in Akiyama-go: village deep in mountains 5/5 (published in 1983＆1992) 、 秋山郷に生きた猟師とその妻 (part 5)
Contents 目次 １． Lived in mountains and Brought up children 山で生きた、育てた ( part 1 < Link) ２． Life in Akiyama-go: an innermost mountain villages 、秘境の里・秋山郷の暮らし ( part 2 ) ３． The way of life of Kametaro (husband) 、夫・亀太郎の生きざま ( part 3 ) ４． The way of life of Harue (wife) 、妻・ハルエの生きざま ５． Fun of life in Akiyama-go 、秋山郷で生きた楽しみ ( part4 ) ６． Looking Back on Life 、半生を振り返る (part 5 、 this article) （１） Life up to now 、これまでの生活 （２） Current life 、今の生活 （３） Harue’s evaluation of Kametaro 、ハルエの亀太郎評 （４） Life ahead 、これからの生活 The book is exhibited in Akiyama-gou community hall 「とねんぼ」の展示で『山の女』を知りました ６． Looking Back on Life （１） Life up to now The "Afterword" of Mountains, Hunters, and the Valley of Slash-and-Burn Fields states: "Kametaro Yamada lived out a traditional and old lifestyle—cultivating slash-and-burn fields, hunting animals in the mountains, fishing for char, gathering nuts, and harvesting mushrooms and wild mountain vegetables." In short, that ...