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Iida-Yakiniku Lab.、飯田焼肉研究所

“ Iida” is in central Japan (Nagano prefecture). “Yakiniku” is cuisine of grilled meat similar to Korean barbecue. The Laboratory declares to develop Yakiniku culture in Iida. The lab is run by a meat wholesale company. We can know how Iida people love Yakiniku! コンセプト「 信州“飯田焼肉”を文化として発展させていく 」が宣言され、「地域の財産、焼肉文化を記録として残し繋いでいく」と書かれています。 食肉卸・吉清グループの施設です。 焼肉愛 をベースにした飯田の文化がわかりますよ。 Half of the gallery is an exhibition space of the local Yakiniku culture.  The iron plate under the panels is the longest griddle  which achieved a world record. 半分のスペースで飯田の焼肉文化がパネルで説明されています。 パネルの下の鉄板は、世界記録になった長い鉄板 です。 The first butcher shop which mainly sold beef started operation at Iida in 1878. You might not know that  Japanese people had not eaten animal meat because of Buddhist influence. We started eating them in the modern era  (Meiji period, 1868-1912); pig farming started at Iida in 1895. We had traditionally eaten animal or bird meat as medicine. 飯田に牛肉を主に扱う店ができたのは 1878 (明治 11 )年。明...

Tenryu River learning center “Kawaranbe”、天竜川総合学習館・かわらんべ

“Kawaranbe” ( Kappa ) is youkai monster which was said to live underwater. The center is by Tenryu River which is the tenth longest one in Japan (213km). It shows us creatures at the river, flood and its prevention . The locals suffered from flood, but have lived in the area. 「かわらんべ」は、伊那谷の方言で「 カッパ 」の意味です。学習館は、諏訪湖(長野県)を源とし、遠州灘(静岡県)まで流れる天竜川の上流域、飯田市にあります。 天竜川の水害と防災、生き物を学べます 。今は防災がしっかりしていますが、水害で苦しみながらも暮らしてきた先輩たちがいたのですねえ。 Boulders were flushed by torrent . Even stone monument (upper left) was flushed. 河川展示室では、天竜川の歴史と文化を教えてくれます。天竜川は 数々の巨石を押し流し てきました。 It was said that a dragon or a large snake caused flood . Therefore, people have enshrined a water deity. A flood often caused plague, so people established a shrine for repelling plagues and have held a ritual (festival). They relied on deities. 龍や大蛇が洪水を起こす と考えられていた時代、人びとは水神を祀り、洪水を防ごうとしました。また、洪水で疫病が流行ると津島様を勧請しました。まさに神頼みですね。 Festivals offered to deities are fun events for locals . The upper photo shows a river port; the long river was ...

Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest and museums、赤沢自然休養林の資料館

In 1665, the local government (Owari- han ) prohibited cutting trees in the area. Many trees were cut to build castles and residences back then, therefore, landslides frequently happened. Owari- han decided to protect mountains and forests. I totally agree with their long-term policy. The recreation forest was the forestry base and the birthplace of forest bathing in Japan. The train which carried timber is a popular tourism event now. 赤沢自然休養林は、 1665 年に尾張藩が伐採を禁止した留山(とめやま)でした。江戸初期に築城や都市の復興等で伐採が急増したため、山崩れが各地で起こり、留山にして森林を保護したのです。開発し尽くさないことに感心します。(木を刈り取ってしまった山は、尽山(つきやま)と呼びました)。 自然休養林は、かつての林業の拠点であり、日本の森林浴発祥の地 です。 かつて木材を運んだ鉄道は今や人気アトラクションになっています。 The train slowly ran in the forest. The  role of carrying timber was taken over by truck  in 1975. ゆっくりと森の中を進んでいきます。 木材輸送の役割は、 1975 年にトラックに 引き継ぎました。   Forestry railway memorial museum 、森林鉄道記念館 The small museum is at the ex-starting station. The  train car in front was a barbershop . Forestry workers stayed in forest, so ...

Meiji Mura (2/2) 、博物館 明治村(part 2)

“Meiji” means “Meiji period (1868-1912)” and “Mura” means “village”. The huge open air architectural museum has sixty-eight buildings built in the period in which Japanese modern era started. I focus on buildings for ordinary people  including  immigrants from Japan. part 1 of this article: Meiji Mura (1/2) 、博物館 明治村(part 1 ) 100 万㎡の敷地に、 全国の明治時代の建造物 68 施設を移築 し、入館できるようにしています。このブログでは、 庶民が通った劇場や銭湯、移民として海外へ渡った人の家を紹介 します。   Uji Yamada Post Office in Mie prefecture 、宇治山田郵便局舎(三重県) It was built in 1909. There are various exhibits about mails inside the building. 1909 年竣工。内部には郵便に関する様々な品が展示されています。 The job of  post-person is not only delivery but also communication . They know the conditions of locals well! 郵便は物を届けるだけの仕事ではない ですね。 The role of  seasonal greeting cards  is declining. Those were important communication tool before e-mail was spread. I send New Year's cards even until now in order to inform of my situation, because the greeting via e-mail do...