Esashi, covered by mountains and basins, is a ward of Oshu City, Iwate.  It was an independent city (established in 1958) with an area of 362.50 sq km and the population of 33,360 (Dec. 2005).  It was merged with the other four neighboring municipalities in County Isawa (Mizusawa City, Isawa Town, Maesawa Town and Koromowaga Village) to form the new "Oshu City" on February 20, 2006.  Oshu City has an area of 993.35 sq. km and the current population is 124,763 (March 1, 2011): The density is 126 persons per sq. km.
  Esashi is the birthplace of Kiyohira Fujiwara (藤原 清衡), founder of the Oshu Fujiwara clan prospering in Hiraizumi, Iwate from the late eleventh to the late twelfth centuries.  Now it has a famous theme park called "Rekishi-koen Esashi Fujiwara-no-Sato" (歴史公園えさし藤原の郷) where many TV samurai dramas or other historical films are made on location frequently.
  In the Edo Period , Iwayado (岩谷堂), the central area by the Kitakami-gawa River, was developed as a commercial town ruled by the Kashiyama family (柏山一族), retainer of the Date clan (伊達藩).  Today, Iwayado is proud of its famous traditional products including "Iwayado-tansu" (岩谷堂箪笥; very finely elaborated chest of drawers made in Iwayado) and "Iwaya-do Yokan" (岩谷堂羊羹; fine sweet paste made in Iwayado).  Recently they have created a wonderful "new-old" street called "Kuramichi" (くらみち) featuring many old storehouses.  In "Kurofune Square" is attractive to tourists: "Kurokabe Garasu-kan" (黒壁ガラス館; Kurokabe Glassworks), "Kurofune Orgel Iwaya-do" (黒船オルゴール岩谷堂; Kurofune Musical Box Iwaya-do), etc.  Personally, my favorite Esashi product is definitely "Esashi Ringo" (江刺りんご; Esashi Apples): You cannot eat any other apples after eating "Esashi Ringo" in the best condition!
  People in Esashi Ward love performing arts and have been preserving their local arts from remote ages.  Esashi-jinku Matsuri (江刺甚句まつり; Esashi Jinku [Japanese Lively Dance] Festival) is annually held in the center pf Iwayado between 3-4 May.  There are numerous local dances stimulating many people, especially artists' imaginations.  A Hanamaki native Kenji Miyazawa (宮沢 賢治, 1896-1933) was one of them.  He wrote a juvenile story "Shika-odori no Hajimari" (「鹿踊りのはじまり」; "Beginning of the Group Dance with Shika [鹿;Deer; or sometimes Shishi; Mask") and a poem "Haratai Kembu-ren" (「原体剣舞連」; "A Verse for Haratai Sword Dance").
  The landscape of Esashi is beautiful in deed.  There are terraces upon terraces marching up one steep hillside.  Over one hill, there are always a small basin formed by hills and mountains.  One small plain is dotted with woods and human habitations surrounded by rice field.
  Both of my parents grew up in Ide (伊手), eastern side of Esashi and often took us to their parents' houses.  So the landscape of Ide is my primal landscape like that of Sligo, Ireland to W. B. Yeats.  They have often told me that they knew that there is another world over the hills, although they had never intended to go over the hills because it is another world where other people live in different customs and dialects.
  Such an atmosphere enabled each community to create different cultures and traditions in the past.  It was probably possible for people under special circumstances to live somewhere in Esashi to isolate themselves from all society.  However, the development of TV, transportation system (cars, etc.) and communication system (phones and the Internet) have almost destroyed varieties of such precious things, customs and opportunities of cloistral lives.  If I amplify, the technological development was the dissolution of traditional Japanese imagination.

IMAGE	IMAGE NO.	DATA
Togakushi-jinjya		Togakushi-jinjya Shrine (戸隠神社), 54 Konakada, Ide, Esashi Ward, Oshu City (奥州市江刺区伊手字小中田 54) is a branch shrine of Togakushi-jinjya Shrine (戸隠神社), Nagano City, Nagano.  Although the Nagano Togakushi-jinjya Shrine was reportedly founded in the 5th year of Emperor Kogen (孝元天皇) or 210 B.C., the Esashi branch was reportedly founded by Tamuramaro Sakanoue (坂上田村麻呂) during the Enryaku era (AD. 782-806).  It enshrines "Tajikarao-no-mikoto" (手力雄命), which have been worshipped by local people from of old.   Tajikarao-no-mikoto" was a legendary god of manual labor who opened "Ama-no-Iwato" (天の岩戸; "the cave of the sun god" of "the heavenly rock cave"), where "Amaterasu-o-mikami" (天照大神; Sun Goddess) hid behind after being insulted by Susanoo-no-mikoto (素戔嗚尊): the world was dark without light of the goddess (the sunlight) for a long time.  So other gods threw a party outside the cave making big sounds of music and laughter.  Then the goddess became afraid because she thought a new goddess came with a brighter light than hers.  She finally broke the divine seal of the cave to peep out, and misdeemed the image of herself in "Yata-no-kagami" (八咫鏡) as that of another goddess.  Tajikarao carefully watched the chance, got her out of the cave and succeeded to regain the sunlight to the world.  There is a legend that the door of the cave flew to Nagano, which later became the origin of Togakushi-jinjya Shrine.  "Togakushi" (戸隠) literally means "the door to hide."   In ancient times, this area was called Shinano-go (信濃郷), one of the four villages of County Esashi (江刺郡).  The place name probably indicates that some powerful man or people from Nagano to settle here long ago.  In the reign of Emperor Goreizen (後冷泉天皇, 1045-1067), Yoriyoshi Minatomo (源 頼義) and Yoshiie Minamoto (源 義家), generals of "Chinjyu-fu" (鎮守府; the ancient military office) came here to make earnest supplications to the god to defeat their enemies in Earlier Nine Years' War (前九年の役, 1053-1062) and Latter Three Years' War (後三年の役, 1083-1085).  Since then, the shrine have been functioned as a head shrine of the area.  People have been worshipping Tajikarao as the god of manual labor, abundant harvests and preventing tooth decay.
	ess2007-003	(Saturday 24 March) First "Torii" (Shrine Gate), Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-004	(Saturday 24 March) Stone inscription of Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-005	(Saturday 24 March) Stone inscription of Gassan (月山), Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-006	(Saturday 24 March) Second "Torii" (Red Shrine Gate), Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-007	(Saturday 24 March) Third "Torii" (Shrine Gate), Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-008	(Saturday 24 March) Stone steps to the main hall of Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-009	(Saturday 24 March) Stone steps to the main hall of Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-013	(Saturday 24 March) Stone steps to the main hall of Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-015	(Saturday 24 March) "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall) and Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-016	(Saturday 24 March) "Hon-den" (left) and "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall), Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-017	(Saturday 24 March) Inside of "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall), Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-021	(Saturday 24 March) Stone steps viewed from "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall), Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-023	(Saturday 24 March) "Go-Shin-boku" (the Sacred Tree), Esashi Togakushi-jinjya Shrine
Atago-jinjya		Bishamon-do Hall (毘沙門堂), Atago-jinjya Shrine (愛宕神社), Chifuku Fujisato, Esashi Ward (江刺区藤里字智福) was reportedly founded by Tamuramaro Sakanoue (坂上田村麻呂) in the early ninth century after he defeated Aterui the Great Hero of Emishi and his son Hitokabe-maru (人首丸).  The main shrine image is the mysterious wooden statue of "Tobatsu-Bishamon-Tenritu-zo" (兜跋毘沙門天立像; Statue of Vaisravana Manifested in Tou-po) which was reportedly made by Jikaku-daishi (慈覚大師) in A.D. 850.  Tou-po [兜跋] is an ancient kingdom in Central Asia).  The image was kept by Kissho-zan Chifuku-ji Temple (吉祥山智福寺).  These facts suggest that this shrine was a Buddhist temple in its early times.  Until the end of the Edo Period, this shrine was also a Buddhist temple.  In 1868, after the Meiji Restoration, this shrine was separated from the temple and began to enshrine Kagutsuchinokami (軻遇突智神): It was renamed as Atago-jinjya Shrine (愛宕神社).  Although the shrine has no residential priest, it is kept by Mr. Yamauchi, the shrine keeper who lived near the shrine.  the shrine still keeps many precious statues and wooden sculptures, which were made in the late Heian Period (11th-12th C) or the early Kamakura Period (13th C.).    Finally I would like to write my sincere gratitude to Mr. Yamauchi, shrinekeeper and Mr. Takahashi, staff of Esashi Kanko Kyokai (江刺観光協会; Esashi Tourist Association) who gave me a permission to take photos of the precious sculptures for this website.
	ess2007-029	(Wednesday 28 March) Poster of "Tobatsu-Bishamon-ten Ritsuzo" (Statue of Vaisravana Manifested in Tou-po), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-033	(Wednesday 28 March) First "Torii" (Shrine Gate), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-036	(Wednesday 28 March) Second "Torii" (Shrine Gate), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-038	(Wednesday 28 March) Bishamon-do Hall (now "Hai-den" or the worshippers' hall), Atago-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-039	(Wednesday 28 March) Third "Torii" (Shrine Gate), Atago-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-040	(Wednesday 28 March) Hall of Kao-gongen (花王権現), Atago-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-041	(Wednesday 28 March) An old wooden hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-042	(Wednesday 28 March) The new Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine
	ess2007-043	(Thursday 29 March) Three Buddhist statues, Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-046	(Thursday 29 March) "Mokuzo 11-men Kannon Ritsuzo" (木像十一面観音立像; Wooden statue of the 11-faced Avalokitesvara [Kuan Yin]) made in the late Heian Period, Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  165 cm in height.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-053	(Thursday 29 March) Wooden statue of "Tobatsu-Bishamon-Tenritu-zo" (兜跋毘沙門天立像; Statue of Vaisravana Manifested in Tou-po) which was reportedly made by Jikaku-daishi (慈覚大師) in A.D. 850.  Tou-po [兜跋] is an ancient kingdom in Central Asia).  175 cm in height.  The most distinctive feature is that the statue is standing on the hands of Chi-tennyo (地天女;吉祥天; Skt. Srimahadevi; Vaisravana's wife in Buddhism)  The most famous "Tobatsu-Bishamon-Tenritsu-zo" is in To-ji Temple (東寺), Kyoto.  Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-056	(Thursday 29 March) Wooden statue of "Tobatsu-Bishamon-Tenritu-zo" (兜跋毘沙門天立像; Statue of Vaisravana Manifested in Tou-po) which was reportedly made by Jikaku-daishi (慈覚大師) in A.D. 850.  Tou-po [兜跋] is an ancient kingdom in Central Asia).  175 cm in height.  Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-057	(Thursday 29 March) Wooden statue of "Tobatsu-Bishamon-Tenritu-zo" (兜跋毘沙門天立像; Statue of Vaisravana Manifested in Tou-po) which was reportedly made by Jikaku-daishi (慈覚大師) in A.D. 850.  Tou-po [兜跋] is an ancient kingdom in Central Asia).  175 cm in height.  Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-060	(Thursday 29 March) "Sogyo-zazo" (僧形座像; Seated image attired as a Buddhist monk) reportedly made in the late Heian Period, Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  52 cm in height.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-062	(Thursday 29 March) "Tembu-ryuzo" (天部立像; Statue of a Heavenly God, made in the 12th century), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-064	(Thursday 29 March) "Joshin-zazo" (女神座像; Seated image of a Goddess; date unknown), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  47 cm in height.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-066	(Thursday 29 March) "Sogyo-ryuzo" (僧形立像; Statue of a Buddhist monk; date unknown), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  It can be identified with a Jizo Bosatsu (地蔵菩薩; Jizo Bodhisattva; Guardian Deity of Children)   51.5 cm in height.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-069	(Thursday 29 March) "Mokuzo Bishamon-ten San-son-zo" (木像毘沙門三尊像; Three Wooden Statues of Vaisravana, Kissho-ten (吉祥天) and "Zennishi-doji" (善膩師童子); probably made in the early 13th century), Buddhist statues of Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-070	(Thursday 29 March) Statue of "Kissho-ten" (see above), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-071	(Thursday 29 March) Statue of "Bishamon-ten" (see above), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  192 cm in height.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-076	(Thursday 29 March) Statue of "Zennishi-doji" (see above), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-078	(Thursday 29 March) "Kannon-bosatsu-zo" (観音菩薩像; Statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva; date unknown) (right) and "Atago-shin-zo" (愛宕神像; Statue of God of Atago) (left), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-079	(Thursday 29 March) "Atago-shin-zo" (愛宕神像; Statue of God of Atago), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  God of Atago has been worshipped as a god of fire and fire prevention.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
	ess2007-081	(Thursday 29 March) Small statue of Michizane Sugawara (菅原 道真, AD. 845-903), Bishamon-do Hall, Atago-jinjya Shrine.  Michizane Sugawara is the Japanese god of learning.  (Courtesy of Esashi Tourist Association)
Oshu-Fujiwara Remains		Fujiwara O-yakata-ato (藤原御館跡) is the remain of the Oshu Fujiwara family in the age of Kiyohira's father, Korekiyo Fujiwara (藤原経清) before Kiyohira moved to Hiraizumi in c. 1099.  It is located at the top of the hill of Oyakata-yama (御館山) in Iwayado (岩谷堂).  This is considered to be the birthplace of Kiyohira.  Now this is called "Yakatayama-shiseki-koen" (館山史跡公園; Yakatayama Historical Park).
	ess2007-086	(Wednesday 28 March) Yakatayama-shiseki-koen, Iwayado
	ess2007-089	(Wednesday 28 March) Yakatayama-shiseki-koen, Iwayado
	ess2007-090	(Wednesday 28 March) Atago-jinjya Shrine (愛宕神社), Yakatayama-shiseki-koen, Iwayado
	ess2007-091	(Wednesday 28 March) Atago-jinjya Shrine, Yakatayama-shiseki-koen, Iwayado
	ess2007-092	(Wednesday 28 March) Small shrine of Inari-jinjya Shrine ["Inari" = the god of harvests; the fox deity] in the precinct of Atago-jinjya Shrine, Fujiwara O-yakata-ato, Yakatayama-shiseki-koen, Iwayado
	ess2007-093	(Wednesday 28 March) Inside of Inari-jinjya Shrine in the precinct of Atago-jinjya Shrine, Fujiwara O-yakata-ato, Yakatayama-shiseki-koen, Iwayado
	ess2007-095	(Wednesday 28 March) Nisei-in Temple (二清院), Yakatayama-shiseki-koen, Iwayado.  This octagon hall was constructed to enshrine the two wooden statues of the father and the son, Korekiyo (経清) and Kiyohira Fujiwara (藤原清衡) who lived here.  Korekiyo died at the battle of Kuriyagawa (厨川), Morioka during the Early Nine Years' War (1051-1062).
Yoshitsune Minamoto		The three towers was erected for the repose of the three souls of Yoshitsune Minamoto (源 義経, 1159-1189) and his retainers by Esashi-shi Kanko-Bussan Kyokai (Esashi City Association of Tourism and Products) on April 30, 2005.   There are many towers over the country for the repose of the soul of the most popular Japanese tragic hero Yoshitsune Minamoto who reportedly committed suicide in Hiraizumi being attacked by Yasuhira Fujiwara (藤原泰衡).  One of his retainers, Saburo Shigeie Suzuki (鈴木三郎重家) from Kii (now Wakayama) reportedly died at the same battle.  later his son Kotaro Shigesome Suzuki (鈴木小太郎重染) came here from Kii and decided to build a temple here for the repose of Yoshitsune's and Shigeie's souls.  The temple was reportedly named as Reiboku-san Chosen-ji Temple (鈴木山 重染寺).
	ess2007-096	(Wednesday 28 March) Inscriptions of Chosen-ji Temple site and "Yoshitsune Kuyo-to" (memorial tower for Yoshitsune), Iwayado
	ess2007-098	(Wednesday 28 March) The three towers was erected for the repose of the three souls of Yoshitsune Minamoto (1159-1189) and his retainers by Esashi-shi Kanko-Bussan Kyokai (Esashi City Association of Tourism and Products) on April 30, 2005.
	ess2007-102	(Wednesday 28 March) Memorial tower for Yoshitsune in the middle of the three towers.
Shishi-odori		Ide-Kanatdu-ryu Shishi-odori (伊手金津流獅子踊; Ide-Kanatsu-style dance with deer mask) was annually performed by the Ide-Kanatsu-ryu Shishi-odori Hozon-kai (伊手金津流獅子踊保存会; the Society of Preserving Ide-Kanatsu-style Dance with Deer Mask) at Taihaku-san Korin-ji Temple (太白山 高林寺), Ide, Esashi Ward during the Buddhist All Souls' Days in mid-August.   Shishi-odori or Shika-odori (鹿踊り; the Deer Dance) is a popular performing art all over Iwate with more than 150 groups who have been succeeding the traditional art  County Isawa has about 25 groups, 13 of them are based in Esashi Ward.  Most of the Shika-odori belong to the "Taiko-odori-kei" (太鼓踊系; the dance line to the drum sound)  The Kanatsu style is a popular style of Shishi-odori in the former Date domonion (伊達藩).  The characteristics of the Taiko-kei Shika-odori are putting on "sasara" (ササラ; a long bamboo whisk), lively and soul-stirringly dancing to the hard drumming.  Normally eight "shishi" dance as a group in the Esashi Kanatsu-ryu style.
	ess2004-001	(Friday 13 August) Ide-Kanatdu-ryu Shishi-odori ( Ide-Kanatsu-style dance with deer mask) performed by the Ide-Kanatsu-ryu Shishi-odori Hozon-kai (the Society of Preserving Ide-Kanatsu-style Dance with Deer Mask) at Taihaku-san Korin-ji Temple
	ess2004-002	(Friday 13 August) Ide-Kanatdu-ryu Shishi-odori ( Ide-Kanatsu-style dance with deer mask) performed by the Ide-Kanatsu-ryu Shishi-odori Hozon-kai (the Society of Preserving Ide-Kanatsu-style Dance with Deer Mask) at Taihaku-san Korin-ji Temple
	ess2004-003	(Friday 13 August) Ide-Kanatdu-ryu Shishi-odori ( Ide-Kanatsu-style dance with deer mask) performed by the Ide-Kanatsu-ryu Shishi-odori Hozon-kai (the Society of Preserving Ide-Kanatsu-style Dance with Deer Mask) at Taihaku-san Korin-ji Temple
	ess2004-004	(Friday 13 August) Ide-Kanatdu-ryu Shishi-odori ( Ide-Kanatsu-style dance with deer mask) performed by the Ide-Kanatsu-ryu Shishi-odori Hozon-kai (the Society of Preserving Ide-Kanatsu-style Dance with Deer Mask) at Taihaku-san Korin-ji Temple
	ess2004-005	(Friday 13 August) Ide-Kanatdu-ryu Shishi-odori ( Ide-Kanatsu-style dance with deer mask) performed by the Ide-Kanatsu-ryu Shishi-odori Hozon-kai (the Society of Preserving Ide-Kanatsu-style Dance with Deer Mask) at Taihaku-san Korin-ji Temple
Kane-no-Naru-Oka		Kane-no-Naru-Oka (鐘の鳴る丘; Bell Ringing at the Hill, 1947-1950) is a serial radio drama by Kazuo Kikuta (菊田 一夫, 1908-1973).  The drama gained a great fame with its theme song "Tongari-boshi" (「とんがり帽子」; "A Steeple-crowned Cap") and broadcasted 600 episodes over three and half years.  Its main setting is an orphan asylum modeled after the building of Iwayado Machiyakuba (岩谷堂町役場; Iwayado Town Hall, 42-1 Mukaiyama, Iwayado, Esashi Ward) which is now called "Meiji Kinen-kan" (明治記念館; Meiji Era [1868-1912] Historical Hall).  *The location of the movie version (3 episodes, 1948-1949) was Hodaka, Azumino City, Nagano (長野県安曇野市穂高).   Kikuta was born and raised up in Yokohama.  In autumn 1944 when Japan was attacked by the U.S. B29 bombing aircrafts, Kikuta evacuated his family to Iwayado with the aid of his student Koichi Morita (森田 康一) from Iwayado.  Occasionally Kikuta visited Iwayado and liked to take a stroll about the streets, wearing traditional hakama and kimono.  Kikuta also visited Iwayado after the war and instructed how to perform the Russian dramatist Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904)'s play The Cherry Orchard (『桜の園』1904) to students of Iwayado High School.   This historical building was originally built in July 1874 and served as "Kyoritu Hospital (共立病院) from January 1875 to c. December 1876.  After being used for various services including educational purposes, this building had been used as a Iwayado Town Hall since the early Taisho Era (1912-1925).  The reconstruction was completed in 1982 when it was renamed as "Meiji Kinen-kan," and now the attached musical box plays "Tongari-boshi" twice a day (7:00 and 17:00).
	ess2007-105	(Wednesday 28 March) Entrance to "Meiji Kinen-kan" (Meiji Era [1868-1912] Historical Hall), 42-1 Mukaiyama, Iwayado, Esashi Ward
	ess2007-108	(Wednesday 28 March) "Meiji Kinen-kan" (Meiji Era [1868-1912] Historical Hall), 42-1 Mukaiyama, Iwayado, Esashi Ward
Hitokabe River		The Hitokabe-gawa River (人首川) runs in the eastern part of Esashi Ward.  It rises from Ubaishi-toge (姥石峠, 626 m) rthough Iwayado to the Kitagkami River.  The Hitokabe River is a mecca for fishers, full of "Yamame" (a trout: Oncorhynchus masou) and "Iwana" (char(r); Salvelinus pluvius).   The origin of the river name (lit. the river of the human head) dates back to the early ninth century when Tamuramaro Sakanoue (坂上田村麻呂) defeated Akuro-o (悪路王; Aterui the Great hero of Emishi) and Hitokabe-maru (人首丸).  Aterui and his partner More were taken to Kwachi-no-kuni (now Hirakata City, Osaka) to be beheaded and Hitokabe-maru and his men were attacked by Tamuramaro's army at Omori-yama (大森山) and beheaded there.  Later people gradually called the river "Hitokabe-gawa" after him.  (There are many variations on the legend of Hitokabe-maru and the river.)
	ess2007-112	(Wednesday 28 March) The Hitokabe River near "Kane-no-Naru-Oka"
	ess2007-113	(Wednesday 28 March) The Hitokabe River near "Kane-no-Naru-Oka"
Esashi Jinku		The 34th Esashi Jinku [a lively dance] Festival (江刺甚句) was held in Iwayado (岩谷堂), Esashi Ward, Oshu City between 3 and 4 May, 2007.  On May 3rd, the eve of the festival, about 2,000 school children (from the first-year elementary school pupils to the third-year senior high school students) performed two parades in the center of Iwayado: a big music parade and the "Kodomo-odori Jinku Parade" (the children's Jinku dance parade).  On May 4th, "Hyakka Dai-gumbu" (百鹿大群舞; the Big Dance Performed by the Hundred Deer-masked), some music band floats marched in the main streets, and finally some 3,000 performers of the Esashi Jinku paraded in the main streets in the evening.   The main performers, The Seiyo-kai (成陽会; Masahiro Hagita [萩田正弘] as the president) Society in celebration of the Japanese climacteric age of 42-year-old, and the Soryu-kai (蒼龍会; Taku Ogawa [小川拓] as the president)) Society in celebration of another Japanese climacteric age of 25-year-old, performed their original song of the year in the main streets of Iwayado and at Odori Park (大通り公園).  The folksinger Mr. Takio Ito (伊藤多喜雄) performed several Japanese songs at the festival as the special guest.
	ess2007-114	(Friday 4 May) The Seiyo-kai Society Music Float, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park
	ess2007-116	(Friday 4 May) The Seiyo-kai Society Music Float, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park
	ess2007-117	(Friday 4 May) The Seiyo-kai Society Music Float, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park
	ess2007-118	(Friday 4 May) The Seiyo-kai Society Music Float, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park
	ess2007-119	(Friday 4 May) The grand finale of the joint dance performed by the Seiyo-kai Society and the Soryu-kai Society, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park
	ess2007-120	(Friday 4 May) The grand finale of the joint dance performed by the Seiyo-kai Society and the Soryu-kai Society, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park
	ess2007-121	(Friday 4 May) The grand finale of the joint dance performed by the Seiyo-kai Society and the Soryu-kai Society, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park
	ess2007-123	(Friday 4 May) The grand finale of the joint dance performed by the Seiyo-kai Society and the Soryu-kai Society, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park
	ess2007-125	(Friday 4 May) The grand finale of the joint dance performed by the Seiyo-kai Society and the Soryu-kai Society, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park
	ess2007-127	(Friday 4 May) The grand finale of the joint dance performed by the Seiyo-kai Society and the Soryu-kai Society, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park
	ess2007-128	(Friday 4 May) The grand finale of the joint dance performed by the Seiyo-kai Society and the Soryu-kai Society, Esashi Jinku Festival at Odori Park

        

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