Fun of Good Old Japanese - 江戸・明治に学ぶ　楽しむ生き方

Forest occupies 96% of Okuwa village in Kiso region of central Japan. Its important industry has been forestry. Okuwa people grow high quality trees and provide timbers to Ise Shrine (the highest-ranking shrine). Many articles which were used in the village are displayed. We can take photo except for the special exhibition room. 木曽路にある大桑村は、その面積の 96 ％が森林 、林業の村です。伊勢神宮の御用材も提供しています。資料館には村で使われていた様々な品が展示されています。特別展示室を除いて撮影可能です。 Exhibits on the left are forestry tools .  The timber on the right is made of Nezuko which is one of five kinds of Kiso trees . Nezuko is light, hard and water resistant; I found Nezuko geta (Japanese wooden sandal) at souvenir shops. 左は山仕事の道具 、 右下は木曽五木のひとつ「ねずこ」 です。土産物店では、ねずこ下駄が売られていました。軽く、堅く、水に強い木曽の名産です。 Everyday goods in the early 20 th  century  are displayed. Although wooden skis and sled are exhibited, I couldn’t find typical utensils which were used in mountainous area. I reckon the way of life became similar across Japan. 大正、昭和の生活用品 が並びます。山間部らし...

Although the facility (upper left) is in a roadside rest area, it shows us the nature and the faith of Mt. Ontake very well. It is an attached facility of Earthquake and Volcano Research Center of Nagoya University. Mt. Ontake (volcano) has made us happy as the object of faith and as the onsen hot spring resort; however, its eruptions have caused locals to suffer. Japan archipelago is in the pacific ring of fire. I reckon that we Japanese think it is our destiny to suffer from earthquakes, tsunami and eruptions: on the other hand, we have enjoyed the blessings of nature (hot spring) and have considered deities reside in uncontrolled nature such as volcanos. 御嶽山の麓の「道の駅三岳」にある展示施設（左上）ですが、 御嶽山の自然や信仰がよく分かる のでびっくりしました。木曽川に注ぐ王滝川横にあり、名古屋大学の火山研究施設の付属施設でした。御嶽山は、信仰や温泉で人々に楽しみを与えてくれると同時に、噴火で人々を苦しめてきたのですねえ。 我々が住む日本列島は、環太平洋造山帯にあります。いつも思うのですが、地震と津波、噴火に苦しめられるのは宿命として受け入れ、温泉の恩恵を楽しみ、抗いようがない火山や自然を信仰の対象として崇めてきたのが日本人ではないでしょうか。 We can compare stones of Mt. Ontake with ones of Mt. Komagatake which is t...

Kaida Highland (1100 ～ 1200m above sea level) is at the foot of Mt. Ontake (3,067m) in central Japan. It was formed by the collapsing of Mt. Ontake around sixty thousand years ago. The land is barren and cold, however people had cultivated the land . The photo below is the view of Kaida Highland and Mt. Ontake from Kuzo pass, which is famous for autumn leaves viewing spot. I was moved. 開田は御嶽山の麓、海抜 1100 ～ 1200 ｍに広がる高原 です。約６万年前の山体崩落でできた場所で、痩せていて寒冷、厳しい土地なのですが、人々は切り開いてきました。 下の写真は、 九蔵峠から見た御嶽山と開田高原 。紅葉の名所です。美しかった。   Kaida people 、開田の人々 Their photos are displayed at the entrance hall.  They look tough . エントランスに開田で生きてきた人々の写真が展示されています。 たくましそう ですね。馬がいて、「がんこじ」を背負って作物を運ぶ人がいます。 They went to the town center by train which carried lumber in around 1950 . They got on the lumber not on a passenger carriage, didn’t they? The woman on the left sat like sitting on a  tatami  mat. If careless, you might fall down. 昭和 20 年代は、木曽福島へは林鉄軽便で 行きました。客車ではなく、木材の上に載ったのですね。大人は正座しています。油断すると落ちます...

Kiso-Fukushima was a post-town on Nakasendou highway which linked Edo (old name of Tokyo) and Kyoto. It is in Nagano prefecture of central Japan . Kiso-Fukushima is a center of “Kiso” region at Kiso Valley. Although Kiso-Fukushima is a tourist spot, only I was a visitor of the museum at the foot of a mountain. However, I could know lots about trips, the post-town and lives in mountainous area . Moreover, the house which was brought from Kaida Highland made me image their daily life . Although Kiso is a cold area, people have kept livelihood for long time. 観光地の木曽福島から少し山側で、平日のせいか訪問者は私だけでした。でも、 木曽の暮らしがよく分かり おすすめです。旅のようす、宿場の暮らし、山の暮らし、そして 開田高原から移築された民家 があり、生活を実感できました。冬は寒い土地ですが、なんとかかんとか生きてきたのですね。   Main building 、本館 Lacquer-ware are packed in the first floor . Kiso-Fukushima is said the birthplace of Kiso lacquer-ware. The article (lower left), which is probably used to carry foods and beverage, attracts me. 一階には、木曽漆器 がぎっしり。福島八沢町は木曽漆器の発祥地といわれています。食べ物を運ぶような気になる一品（右下）もありましたよ。 The exh...