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

 What is “ Oni ” ?  If you look up “ Oni ” in a Japanese-English dictionary, it is translated as “ demon ” or “ ogre ” . However, it is not correct.   Some are bad (demons/ogres) like Oni in “ Demon Slayer ” (Kimetsu-no-Yaiba, Movie). However,  many of them help people and they are enshrined .   This city museum in northern Japan shows us what is Oni for Japanese with understandable display.    「鬼滅の刃」で、鬼が注目されましたが、ここでは、様々な日本の鬼を四つに分類するなど、とても分かりやすい展示で、 日本人にとって鬼は何なのか を考えさせてくれます。 The building is large enough as “Oni” themed museum. 鬼に絞った展示ですが、大きな施設です。  In front of the permanent exhibition room, there is  “Oni-do” which is a trap to capture Oni . It is mentioned in a local folklore in Kitakami area.  常設展示室の前には、 鬼を捕まえる罠「鬼ど」 があります。北上地方の昔話を元に、漁具と同じく、入ると出られない構造にしています。 Oni-kenbai is a traditional Oni-themed dance  in Iwate prefecture where the museum is. Dancers wear Oni masks and swords. 当地の民俗芸能・ 鬼剣舞（お...

 Old houses of Morioka prefecture are preserved in the site. It is a peaceful and nostalgic landscape. I feel someone lives even now when I saw floor cushions (zabuton) around an “irori” fireplace. It’s a good display.  Not only residences but also huts are in the village which help us to understand old lives. Moreover, the houses in the ancient period were rebuilt here.  There was a feudal rule about houses. The pillars of a samurai’s house are made of Japanese cedar. On the other hand, the ones of farmer’s houses are made of chestnut tree which doesn't look good but is strong. In addition, there is no ceiling in the farmer’s houses.  The volunteer guide showed me around for an hour, so I could understand how people lived well.  北上川周辺の家屋を保存 する民俗村は、のどかでした。いわゆる原風景ですね。  でも、武士の家は、杉材で造られ天井があり、農家は、栗材（強いが曲がりが多い）で天井なし、商人の家は、天井だけでなく書院もあって良い造り。身分に応じたルール、封建制の縛りを感じました。囲炉裏の周りに藁布団があったり、今も人が住んでいる感じがする保存の仕方です。  ボランティアガイドの方が、一時間をかけて村を説明してくださり、いろいろな階層の人々の暮らし...

  Michinoku (northern Japan) Folklore Village in Kitakami city in Morioka prefecture has ten old houses which were moved from various places in the area. The museum is in the village and it has plenty of old utensils and tools which inform me how people lived and enjoyed their lives.   古民家を集めた「 みちのく民俗村 」の中に民俗資料館があります。民具の物量が豊富で、人々の暮らしや楽しみが伝わってきました。  The building was a girls’ high school which was built in 1927; it is designated as a national cultural asset.  資料館は、昭和 2 年に建造された黒沢尻実科高等女学校の校舎でした。国指定登録文化財です。   Horse and farming tools 、馬と農具  The full-scale model of the horse is small. I think it is a domestic variety. In Nanbu area, people  kept a horse in their house and cherished it . The horse covers its head with a cloth which is similar to a farmer; it’s adorable. The tools for farming by horses were developed.  馬の実物模型を展示しています。小柄なので国産種だったのかも知れません。南部では、 馬を家の中に飼って大切にしました 。馬のための農具も進化しました。畜力農業です。馬はほっかぶりをしている様で親しみが湧きます。   Human being and...