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

The village “Kinasa” is in central Japan (Nagano prefecture). The name “Ki ( 鬼 , demon or powerful being)-na ( 無 , non-existent)-sa ( 里 , village)” is interesting; it is said that demons were driven away in the ancient era. Although the village is in a mountainous area, it prospered as a hemp production center and made money to own gorgeous festival floats . There had been smart people who were good at creating business probably. 鬼無里。 古代に鬼が退治されて居なくなったという伝説がある集落 です。長野市と合併する前は鬼無里村でした。山中の村ですが、 麻の生産で栄え、精緻な祭り屋台を作るほど富を集めました 。糧を得る知恵をもつ人々がいたのですね。   Four actual festival floats  are in the first exhibition room. The village had seven floats in the peak-time. Master craftsman (Kitamura Kiyomatsu, 1830-1906) made all in a decade; he was invited from the neighboring prefecture (Niigata). 最初の展示室には 祭り屋台（市重要文化財） が並びます。往時は７台ありましたが、４社の４台が残り、祭りの時は展示室から出ます。越後の北村喜代松（ 1830 ～ 1906 ）が 10 年で７台を製作しました。 The one above (Kagura) is similar to a portable shrine . Locals shoulder it and parade around the...

The village in central Japan (Nagano prefecture) is in a mountainous area. The museum in a village facility “Furusato land Ogawa” which has a cafe; I reckon it would be a gathering space of villagers. The exhibition room is about half the size of a classroom in which exhibits concerning history and folklore are displayed. Photography was prohibited. 長野県北部の小川村 、“ふるさとらんど小川” にある資料館です。展示室は教室半分ぐらいの広さで、歴史と民俗を展示しています。喫茶室があり集いの場としての機能が強いようです。室内の 写真撮影は禁止 でした。 A temporary art exhibition was held in the entrance hall. The permanent exhibition room is in behind. エントランスホールとの仕切りが取り払われた特別展示室では絵画展が開かれていました。奥が常設展示室です。 Images of the exhibition room are  pictures on the brochure . There were three items which looked like portable shrine which is named “Kagura”; its wood carving is so elaborate. Similar ones which are also named Kagura are exhibited in the museum of the neighboring area. The same clan "Oohigata" ruled the villages in the medieval era. I just guess the cultural exchange am...

The village which population is 1,600 is in central Japan (Nagano prefecture). It’s a mountainous area ; people live in small flat land along a river wherein also fields, shops and public facilities are (the photo below). The museum in a village facility was built in 2000 due to strong demand of villagers . They donated items for exhibits . The exhibits filled with their memories are well organized with good panels. 生坂村は長野県 ・松本盆地の水を集めて千曲川に流れる犀川沿いにある人口 1600 人（ 2025 年）の村。 多くが山林 で、川沿いの小さな平地に田畑や店、公共施設があります（写真は犀川と生坂村中心部です）。 資料館は、村民からの強い要望で、村民からの寄贈資料の展示ホールとして 活性化センター内に 2000 年に作られました。村民の思いが詰まった品々が、整然と展示され丁寧に説明されています。   The lion dance heads from settlements in the village are in the showcase.  The curtain in behind was used in Kabuki performance by villagers . I felt like hearing of applause of villagers. Gifts in the  Edo period  (1603 ～ 1868) are written on the panel at innermost. For example, at celebration party when pilgrim returned from  Ise Shrine , folding f...

Aoki Village is in Nagano prefecture (central Japan). Three museums are connected in the facility. The folk museum prioritizes on items in the Showa period (1926-1989) , and the history and culture museum dose on the respected leaders of peasant uprisings from 17 th to 19 th century and a local poet “Kuribayashi Issekiro”. The last one is Gotoh Keita future creation hall. I was moved by the locals’ respect to the uprising leaders even until now. 青木村は長野県東部 ・松本市と上田市の間にあります。３つの資料館が内部でつながっており、 民俗資料館は昭和にフォーカス 。一方、 歴史文化資料館では、江戸から明治初頭に領主に物を申し処罰を受けた義民について展示 しており、今でも、彼らが村民の誇りになっていることに心動かされました。文化の展示は、当地出身の俳人・栗林一石路、もう一つの資料館は郷土の偉人を紹介する五島慶太未来創造館です。   Its entrance is at Goto Keita future creation hall; it shows the history of Goto Keita (1882-1959) who established Tokyu Corporation which is a major railway and real-estate company. We can know he had made a great effort since he was a student. However, I don’t show the museum because it is out of scope of this blog “Fun of Good Old Japan...