JAPAN PICS
Hanamaki, Iwate
岩手県花巻市
Table of Contents

  Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine (丹内山神社)
  Feast at Mr. & Mrs. Takahashi's (高橋さんご夫妻宅のご馳走)
  Toyosawa (豊沢) and Mt. Nametoko (なめとこ山)
  Hanamaki Station (花巻駅)
  Escena (エセナ) or Kenji's Square (賢治の広場)
  Miyazawa-shoten (宮澤商店), Kaji-machi (鍛冶町)
  Toyosawa-cho (豊沢町)
   Hanamaki-jo Castle Remains (花巻城跡)
  O-dori Street (大通り)
  Kyu-ko-do (求康堂)
  Hanamaki General Hospital (花巻総合病院)
  Hanamaki Koto-Jogakko Site (花巻高等女学校跡)
  Kofunato Hachiman-gu Shrine (小船渡八幡宮)
  Igirisu Kaigan [the English Coast] (イギリス海岸)
  Asahi Bridge (朝日橋) and Se-gawa Bridge (瀬川橋)
  Kenji Miyazawa's Pear Tree (宮沢賢治の梨の木)
  Gindoro Park (ぎんどろ公園)
  Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple (遠光山 身照寺)
  Itachibei-Inari-jinjya Shrine (鼬幣稲荷神社)
  Doshin-yashiki (同心屋敷)
  Yasuke-bashi Bridge Site (弥助橋跡)
  "Ame nimo Makezu" /Rasu-chijin Kyokai/ "Shita-no-Hatake"
  (「雨ニモ負ケズ」詩碑) /(羅須地人協会跡)/ 「下ノ畑」
  Kenji Miyazawa Museum (宮沢賢治記念館)
  Hanamaki Agricultural High School (花巻農学校; now 花巻農業高校)
JAPAN PICS GENERAL INDEX
Hokkaido District
  
Do-o (Hokkaido Central)
  
   Naganuma Town (The Tsuchinotomi Society Tour)
2006
   Otaru City (The Tsuchinotomi Society Tour)
2006
   Sapporo City (The Tsuchinotomi Society Tour)
2006
   Sapporo City ("Nihon-no-Matsuri" 2006)
2006
Iwate of the Tohoku District
  
   Esashi, Oshu City
2004-2011
   Hachimantai City
2006
   Hanamaki City
2005-2007
   Hiraizumi Town
2003-2007
   Ichinoseki City
2004-2010
   Iwaizumi Town
2005
   Kitakami City
2005
   Miyako City
2009-2011
   Mizusawa, Oshu City
2004-2012
   Morioka City
2004-2012
   Ninohe City
2007
   Rikuzentakata City
2008-2011
   Shizukuishi Town
2007
   Tono City
2003
Other Tohoku Regions
  
Aomori
  
   Hachinohe City (The Tsuchinotomi Society Tour)
2006
Miyagi
  
   Matsushima Town
2006
   Tome City
2005
Yamagata
  
   Yamadera, Yamagata City
2005
Kanto District
  
Ibaraki
  
   Joso City
2007
   Kashima City
2006
   Mito City
2008
   Shimotsuma City
2007
Kanagawa
  
   Kamakura City
2005-2007
Tochigi
  
   Nikko City
2002-2007
   Utsunomiya City
2007
Tokyo
  
   Tokyo Central
2002-2012
Yamanashi
  
   Kofu City
2007
Chubu District
  
Aichi
  
   Nagoya City
2008
   Toyokawa City
2009
Fukui
  
   Eiheiji Town
2009
   Fukui City
2009-2011
   Obama City
2009
   Tsuruga City
2009-2011
Gifu
  
   Gujo-Hachiman
2009
   Sekigahara Town
2008
Ishikawa
  
   Kanazawa City
2008
Nagano
  
   Nagano City
2007
   Matsumoto City
2007
Shizuoka
  
   Fuji City
2009-2010
Kansai (Kinki) District
  
Hyogo
  
   Ako City
2008
   Himeji City
2008
   Kobe City
2008-2012
   Nishinomiya City
2012
   Tamba City
2010
Kyoto
  
   Kyoto City Central
2005-2012
   Kyoto City East
2005-2012
   Kyoto City North
2005-2011
   Kyoto City South
2006-2012
   Kyoto City West
2005-2012
   Ayabe City
2010
   Maizuru City
2010
   Miyazu City
2012
   Uji City
2006
   Yahata City
2006
Mie
  
   Iga City
2011
   Ise City
2009
Nara
  
   Asuka Area
2006
   Ikaruga Town
2005
   Nara City Central
2006-2010
   Nishinokyo, Nara City
2005-2010
   Sakurai City
2011
   Tenri City
2011-2012
   Yoshino Town
2010
Osaka
  
   Hirakata City
2005-2012
   Osaka City Central
2007-2011
   Sakai City
2010
Shiga
  
   Azuchi-cho, Omihachiman City
2008-2010
   Hikone City
2008
   Koka City
2011
   Nagahama City
2008-2011
   Otsu City
2006-2009
Wakayama
  
   Koya Town
2009
   Wakayama City
2011
Chugoku District
  
Hiroshima
  
   Hiroshima City
2002-2012
   Miyajima, Hatsukaichi City
2002-2012
   Onomichi City
2002
Okayama
  
   Kurashiki City
2008
   Okayama City
2008
Shimane
  
   Izumo City
2011
   Oda City
2012
   Tsuwano Town
2012
Yamaguchi
  
   Hagi City
2012
   Iwakuni City
2012
   Shimonoseki City
2010-2012
   Yamaguchi City
2010-2012
Shikoku District
  
Ehime
  
   Matsuyama City
2011
Kagawa
  
   Kotohira Town
2011
   Takamatsu City
2011
Kochi
  
   Kochi City
2011
Kyushu District
  
Fukuoka
  
   Dazaifu City
2010
   Fukuoka City
2010
   Kitakyushu City
2010-2012
Kagoshima
  
   Hioki City
2010
   Kagoshima City
2010
Nagasaki
  
   Nagasaki City
2010
Oita
  
   Oita City
2010

Hanamaki City, Iwate
2005-2007

  Hanamaki (花巻), located between Morioka (盛岡) and Kitakami (北上), South Iwate, is often associated with many hot springs, but perhaps the region's true symbol is Kenji Miyazawa (宮沢 賢治, 1896-1933).  His deep love for the environment of "Ihatov" (his imaginary world based on Iwate Prefecture), his researches of geology, biology, astrology, and hundreds of poems and children's stories that made Miyazawa one of the nation's most popular literary giants.  In 1924 he published two books, one poem collection, Haru to Shura (『春と修羅』; Spring and Ashura) and one collection of children's stories, Chumon no Oi Ryoriten (『注文の多い料理店』; The Restaurant of Many Orders and Other Stories); he published only those two books during his lifetime, but left a great number of manuscripts which were published after his death.
  Hanamaki Festival (花巻祭り), annually held in early September, is one of the well-known traditional festivals of Iwate.  In addition, it is the only city in Iwate which has an airport: It has regular flights to Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka.
  Hanamaki City assimilated the three neighboring towns, Ohasama Town (大迫町), Ishidoriya Town (石鳥谷町) and Towa Town (東和町) in order to form the new Hanamaki City on January 1st, 2006.  The new city's population is 105,350 (May 31, 2007).

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Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
     Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine (丹内山神社), 2-303 Taninai, Towa-cho, Hanamaki City.  It is located off Route 107 near Lake Tase (田瀬湖; Tase Dam).  Or it is about 15 minutes by taxi from Tsuchizawa Station (土沢駅) on the JR Kamaishi Line.
   The origin of the shrine can trace back to the Nara Period (710-793) or the early Heian Period (794-1192) when the Great God "Arahabaki" was worshipped as the God of Reclaiming Waste Land around this area.  The worship of "Arahabaki" was probably brought by the Mononobe family (物部氏; originally from Izumo-no-kuni [出雲の国; now Shimane]) who governed this area producing various iron products like swords and arrows at that time.  Officially the shrine worships "Tanichihiko-no-kami" (多邇知比古神) which is identified with "Arahabaki" (荒覇吐; 荒吐; 荒脛巾).
  The first Shogun Tamuramaro Sakanoue (坂上田村麻呂, 758-811) is known to have worshipped this shrine in the time of the expedition in the late eighth century and the early ninth century.  Since then, this shrine had been widely known to possess miraculous powers.   Around 1096 (3rd year of Kaho), the first Oshu-Fujiwara (奥州藤原) lord Kiyohira (清衡) began to worship this shrine and donated 24 choho [48 acres] of rice-fields.  Furthermore, he built 108 halls and contributed 108 Buddhist images in the precincts.  Kiyohira came here to pray and organize every annual festival because at that time he lived at "Toyoda-no-tachi" (豊田館; Toyoda House), Co. Esashi (江刺郡) adjacent to this county formally called Waga.  After Kiyohira's time, many lords governing this area including the Anhyo-Obara family (安俵小原氏) and the Nambu clan (南部藩) had worshipped this shrine.
  If you need the guided tour of the shrine, call Shinto Priest Obara (小原 宮司): 0198-44-2623 (only in Japanese).
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(Sunday 18 September) Signpost of Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine, 2-303 Taninai, Towa-cho
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(Sunday 18 September) The two wooden lanterns, Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Komagata-sha" (Hall of Horses), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Jii-sugi-no-Nekabu" (爺杉の根株; The Stump of the Old Cryptomeria [the Japanese cedar]), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine.  This sacred tree was about 2,000 years old in 1913; 12.12 meters in circumference and 60 meters high: It was burnt down in 1913 (2nd year of Taisho) because of the spreading of a fire.  Even now, however, the stump is enshrined in the precinct of Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine.
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(Sunday 18 September) "Yon-no-Torii" (The Fourth Shrine Gate), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Manabi-ya-no-?" (学びやの?; Learners' Hall), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine: It enshrines "Jyu-ichi-men Kannon Ritsu-zo" (十一観音立像; the Statue of Kuan Yin [Buddhist Goddess of Mercy] with Eleven Faces).  It was said to be donated by the Oshu-Fujiwara family in Hiraizumi in the late Heian Period (12th century).  It was made of one "Katsura" (Cercidiphyllum japonicum Sieb. et Zucc.) and uncolored; the height is 158 cm.
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(Sunday 18 September) "Manabi-ya-no-?" (Learners' Hall), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Manabi-ya-no-?" (Learners' Hall), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Chu-kon-hi" (忠魂碑; Monument for the Faithful Soldiers Who Died in the Wartime), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Buto-den" (舞踏殿; Dance Hall), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Go-no-Torii" (五ノ鳥居; The Fifth Shrine Gate), "Kyu-jo-seki" (弓場石; Stone for Arrows), Two small halls for Kamo-jinjya Shrine (加茂神社; left) and Hachiman-jinjya Shrine (八幡神社; right), and "Okagura-den" (お神楽殿; Hall of Sacred Dances), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) Two small halls for Kamo-jinjya Shrine (加茂神社; left) and Hachiman-jinjya Shrine (right), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine.  As legend tells, these were founded by Yoshiie Minamoto (源義家; or Hachiman-Taro-Yoshiie; 八幡 太郎 義家) and Jiro Yoshitsuna Kamo i (加茂 次郎 義綱) n 1062 (5th year of Kohei [康平]).
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(Sunday 18 September) "Hada-ishi" (肌石; The Skin Stone), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine.  It is said that no snow stays on this stone.
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(Sunday 18 September) "Chozu-bachi" (手水鉢; the wash-basin), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine.  It is said that no drought can dry up this basin.
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(Sunday 18 September) "Go-no-Torii" (五ノ鳥居; The Fifth Shrine Gate); the innermost shrine gate, Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Go-no-Torii" (The Fifth Shrine Gate); the innermost shrine gate, Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) Stone steps to "Go-hon-sha" (御本社; Main Hall), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Go-hon-sha" (Main Hall), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) Inner gate, viewed from "Go-hon-sha" (Main Hall), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Tainai-seki" (胎内石; The Womb Stone), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine.
  This sacred stone is said to be the incarnation of the Great Shinto God of "Arahabaki" who is enshrined as the God of Iron Mines in many places around the Tohoku District: "Arahabaki" is strongly related to the Rock Worship which can be seen all over Japan (for instance, "Ishiwari-zakura" [石割桜; the Rock Splitting Cherry Tree] and Mitsuishi-jinjya Shrine [Shrine of the Three Rocks] in Morioka).  The ancient people had believed that there is a big rock where it is an iron mine.
  In Katsuhiko Takahashi (高橋克彦, 1947-)'s historical novel Kaen (『火怨』, 1999), Aterui the great hero of the Emishi and his chief staff More were guided here by a vestal virgin of the Mononobe family (物部氏) and was given an oracle that their troops would fight with the Yamato Chotei's large army by the Kitakami River soon (vol. 1. "Challenge," chap.2).
  As legend tells, if one can go through the "womb" stone without touching its wall, his/her prayer is heard by the God "Arahabaki."  It is worth trying!
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(Sunday 18 September) "Tainai-seki" (The Womb Stones), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
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(Sunday 18 September) "Tainai-seki" (The Womb Stones), Tannai-san-jinjya Shrine
  
     
Mr. & Mrs. Takahashi's
     Feast at Mr. & Mrs. Takahashi's (高橋さんご夫妻宅のご馳走).
  The Takahashi family originally lived in Toyosawa (豊沢) until Toyosawa Dam was constructed in 1961.  Then they moved here near Hanamaki Airport.  Mr. Takahashi likes mountain-walking very much and often goes to Toyosawa Area.  He is very good at collecting edible wild plants and Mrs. Takahashi is very good at cooking traditional local foods.  These are dishes for us, all of which were collected by Mr. Takahashi and cooked by Mrs. Takahashi.  They proudly explain us that they prepared for these dishes almost for nothing.  We are much impressed at their hospitality and their rich food culture.
  The Japanese word "Go-chiso" (feast or treating; ご馳走) literally means "galloping and running (for collecting food materials for treating guests)."  These dishes are real "Go-chiso" etymologically.  All the dishes are delicious indeed!  Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Takahashi, we can learn how rich their traditional food culture!
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(Wednesday 12 September) Mr. & Mrs. Takahashi with their genuine feast.  Tonight's lucky guests are us!
  
     
Toyosawa
      Mt. Nametoko (なめとこ山, 860 m) is located in northwest of Toyosawa (豊沢), Hanamaki City near the border with Sawauchi Village (沢内村).  Until 1996, Mt. Nametoko, described in Kenji Miyazawa's story "The Bears of Nametoko" (「なめとこ山の熊」) had been considered to be a fictional mountain or a generic name for mountains in Toyosawa, northwest of Hanamaki City over Namari Spa Resort (鉛温泉).
  In 1996, however, the centenary anniversary of Kenji Miyazawa's birth, enthusiastic researchers found the name in an old map during the late Edo Period in the nineteenth century.  Thus Geographical Survey Institute (国土地理院) officially includes the name on the authorized map drawn on a scale of 1 to 25,000 since then.   Now this low mountain becomes a pilgrimage resort for readers.
 



 
The opening passage from "The Bears of Mt. Nametoko" (「なめとこ山の熊」) by Kenji Miyazawa

  
  なめとこ山の熊のことならおもしろい。なめとこ山は大きな山だ。淵沢川はなめとこ山から出て来る。なめとこ山は一年のうち大ていの日はつめたい霧か雲かを吸ったり吐いたりしている。まわりもみんな青黒いなまこや海坊主のような山だ。山のなかごろに大きな洞穴ががらんとあいている。そこから淵沢川がいきなり三百尺ぐらいの滝になってひのきやいたやのしげみの中をごうと落ちて来る。
  中山街道はこのごろは誰も歩かないから蕗やいたどりがいっぱいに生えたり牛が遁げて登らないように柵をみちにたてたりしているけれどもそこをがさがさ三里ばかり行くと向うの方で風が山の頂を通っているような音がする。気をつけてそっちを見ると何だかわけのわからない白い細長いものが山をうごいて落ちてけむりを立てているのがわかる。それがなめとこ山の大空滝だ。そして昔はそのへんには熊がごちゃごちゃ居たそうだ。ほんとうはなめとこ山も熊の胆も私は自分で見たのではない。人から聞いたり考えたりしたことばかりだ。間ちがっているかも知れないけれども私はそう思うのだ。とにかくなめとこ山の熊の胆は名高いものになっている。
  腹の痛いのにも利けば傷もなおる。鉛の湯の入口になめとこ山の熊の胆ありという昔からの看板もかかっている。だからもう熊はなめとこ山で赤い舌をべろべろ吐いて谷をわたったり熊の子供らがすもうをとっておしまいぽかぽか撲りあったりしていることはたしかだ。熊捕りの名人の淵沢小十郎がそれを片っぱしから捕ったのだ。
  
  It's interesting to talk about the bears of Mt. Nametoko.  Mt. Nametoko is a big mountain, and the Fuchizawa River [the Toyosawa River] originates somewhere in it.  Usually, most of the year, the mountain breathes in and out cold mists and clouds.  Other peaks around it are also like livid, pale and dark sea-cucumbers or sea monsters [green turtles].  In the middle of the mountain there gaps a great grotto, from which the River Fuchizawa abruptly pours down about three hundred feet in a waterfall through the thick-growing hinoki [Japanese cypresses] and maples.
  These days nobody comes along the old slap, so butterbur and knotweed occupies and obstructs the route, and people have put fences on the track to stop the cattle from straying and climbing up the slops.  However, if you rustle undergrowth and push your way for about seven and half miles, you will hear a sound like the wind on the mountain top way back.  If you scan carefully in that direction, you might see something mysterious, white and slender trailing down the mountain and sending up a cloud of spray: this is the famous Ozora Falls of Mt. Nametoko.  And they say, in that area, bears jostled each other.  Now I must confess that I have never seen either Mt. Nametoko or the liver of a fresh-killed bear.  Everything is based on what I've heard from other people or what I have imagined.  I may have misheard some parts, but I really want to believe this story.  Anyway, Mt. Nametoko is famous for its bear's liver.
  It is good for stomachaches and heals wounds.  At the entrance to the Namari Spa Resort there is a sign board saying "Bear's Liver from Mt. Nametoko."  So it is definitely that bears breed in Mt. Nametoko, going across the valleys with their pink tongues lolling out, and the bear cubs wrestling with each other until they finally lose their tempers and give a drubbing to each other.  Kojyuro Fuchizawa, the famous hunter, killed countless bears one after another. (trans. Eishiro Ito)
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(Thursday 13 September) Makudate Bridge (幕舘橋) crossing over the Toyosawa River (豊沢川).
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(Thursday 13 September) The Toyosawa River, viewed from Makudate Bridge
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(Thursday 13 September) Information Board of Mt. Nametoko (なめとこ山), the setting of one of Kenji Miyazawa's juvenile stories, although the location of the mountain is not correct.  At Makudate Bridge along Prefectural Road No. 12 .
  From this bridge, go west and turn left at the T junction and go along Prefectural Road No. 234 parallel to the Toyosawa River.  4.3 km away from the T junction, you will find a square where the road is divided into two between it.  The right road leads you to Naka-no-Matazawa (中ノ股沢), the long and gently-sloping route to the top of Mt. Nametoko (about 3-4 hours' walk).  Going the left dirt road for about 2.4 km leads to Nishi-no-Matazawa (西ノ股沢), the short and steep route (about 2 hours' walk).
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(Thursday 13 September) Mt. Nametoko is the small lamp in the back (not the front one).  Viewed from Makudate Bridge
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(Thursday 13 September) Road sign of Nametoko-zawa (Nametoko Valley; なめとこ沢)
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(Thursday 13 September) Indicators of several forest roads near one trailhead of the short and sharp route to Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) At the trailhead of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) In Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) Nishi-no-Matazawa, the short and steep route to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) At the top of Mt. Nametoko (860 m)
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(Thursday 13 September) At the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) The short and steep route back to the Nishi-no-Matazawa trailhead of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) The short and steep route back to the Nishi-no-Matazawa trailhead of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) The short and steep route back to the Nishi-no-Matazawa trailhead of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) A bear's nail mark on a tree on the short and steep route back to the Nishi-no-Matazawa trailhead of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) A bear's nail mark on a tree on the short and steep route back to the Nishi-no-Matazawa trailhead of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) An edible wild plant on the short and steep route back to the Nishi-no-Matazawa trailhead of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) The Nishi-no-Matazawa trailhead to the top of Mt. Nametoko
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(Thursday 13 September) The River Toyosawa
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(Thursday 13 September) A mamushi (a kind of pit viper; Agkistrodon blomhoffi) probably run over by a car near the Toyosawa River
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(Thursday 13 September) "Mizu-no-Kobu" (みずのこぶ), a sticky edible wild plant from Mt. Nametoko.  We ate this delicious food at Fujisan-ryokan (藤三旅館) in Namari Spa Resort (鉛温泉), Hanamaki City
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(Friday 14 September) Fujisan-ryokan (藤三旅館) in Namari Spa Resort (鉛温泉), Hanamaki City.
  No more sign board saying "Bear's Liver from Mt. Nametoko"!
  
     
Hanamaki Station
     JR Hanamaki Station (花巻駅)
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(Friday 14 September) JR Hanamaki Station
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(Friday 14 September) Signpost indicating the site of the former Hanamaki Station on Iwate Keiben Tetsudo Line (岩手軽便鉄道) south of JR Hanamaki Station
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(Friday 14 September) Nahan Plaza (なぱんプラザ) south of JR Hanamaki Station
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(Friday 14 September) "Karakuri-dokei Ginga Poppo" (からくり時計銀河ポッポ) at the upper wall of the north porch of Nahan Plaza, which has a mechanism based on Kenji Miyazawa's Ginga Tetsudo no Yoru (『銀河鉄道の夜』; Milky Way Railroad) to give an amusing four-minute show at top of the hour between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
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(Friday 14 September) "Karakuri-dokei Ginga Poppo" at the upper wall of the north porch of Nahan Plaza, which has a mechanism based on Kenji Miyazawa's Milky Way Railroad to give an amusing four-minute show at top of the hour between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
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(Friday 14 September) "Karakuri-dokei Ginga Poppo" at the upper wall of the north porch of Nahan Plaza, which has a mechanism based on Kenji Miyazawa's Milky Way Railroad to give an amusing four-minute show at top of the hour between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
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(Friday 14 September) Nahan Plaza just south of JR Hanamaki Station
  
     
Escena
     Escena (エセナ) or Kenji's Square (賢治の広場), Kami-cho (上町)
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(Friday 14 September) Kenji's Square on the 1st floor of Escena, Kami-cho
  
     
Miyazawa-shoten
     Miyazawa-shoten (宮澤商店; Miyazawa's Store; two buildings between the street), Kaji-machi (鍛冶町)
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(Friday 14 September) Miyazawa-shoten (Miyazawa's Store), Kaji-machi
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(Friday 14 September) Miyazawa-shoten (Miyazawa's Store), Kaji-machi
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(Friday 14 September) Miyazawa-shoten (Miyazawa's Store), Kaji-machi (鍛冶町): It was Kenji Miyazawa's mother Ichi (イチ)'s house where Kenji was actually born on August 27, 1896 (29th year of Meiji).
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(Friday 14 September) The well used for Kenji Miyazawa's first cleaning bath behind Miyazawa-shoten
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(Friday 14 September) The well used for Kenji Miyazawa's first cleaning bath behind Miyazawa-shoten
  
     
Toyosawa-cho
     Toyosawa-cho (豊沢町) was formerly called Kawaguchi-machi (川口町) in the Meiji Era.  On August 27, 1896 (29th year of Meiji), Kenji Miyazawa was born at 295 Kawaguchi-machi (now 4-11 Toyosawa-cho), Hanamaki as the first son of Masajiro and Ichi Miyazawa (宮澤政次郎/イチ).
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(Friday 14 September) Kenji Miyazawa related small square in the opposite side of his house in Toyosawa-cho
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(Friday 14 September) Kenji Miyazawa related small square in the opposite side of his house in Toyosawa-cho
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(Friday 14 September) Toyosawa-cho's festival car for Hanamaki Festival
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(Friday 14 September) The signpost indicating the birthplace of Kenji Miyazawa, 295 Kawaguchi-machi (now 4-11 Toyosawa-cho), Hanamaki City.  The real birthplace, however, is in Kaji-machi (now behind Miyazawa-shoten; see above).
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(Friday 14 September)Birthplace of Kenji Miyazawa, 295 Kawaguchi-machi (now 4-11 Toyosawa-cho), Hanamaki City.  The real birthplace, however, is in Kaji-machi (now behind Miyazawa-shoten; see above).
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(Friday 14 September) Birthplace of Kenji Miyazawa, 295 Kawaguchi-machi (now 4-11 Toyosawa-cho), Hanamaki City.  The real birthplace, however, is in Kaji-machi (now behind Miyazawa-shoten; see above).
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(Friday 14 September) Birthplace of Kenji Miyazawa, 295 Kawaguchi-machi (now 4-11 Toyosawa-cho), Hanamaki City.  The real birthplace, however, is in Kaji-machi (now behind Miyazawa-shoten; see above).
  
     
Hanamaki-jo Remains
     Hanamaki-jo Castle (花巻城) or Toyogasaki-jo Castle (鳥谷ヶ崎城) was originally built by Yoritoki Abe (阿倍 頼時) in the early eleventh century.  In the Civil War Period (戦国時代) the Hienuki clan (稗貫氏) owned this castle until 1591 (19th year of Tensho [天正19年]) when they were declared forfeit by Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣 秀吉) for not having entered the war on his side.
  It was reconstructed by Hidechika Kita (北 秀愛, ?-1598), a retainer of the Nambu clan.  In the early seventeenth century Masanao Nambu (南部 政直), the second son of Toshinao (南部 利直), moved here with stipend of 20,000 koku in rice and his descendants governed this area until 1869 (2nd year of Meiji).
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(Friday 14 September) Ote-mon Gate (大手門), Hanamaki-jo Remains
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(Friday 14 September) Hanamaki Elementary School (花巻小学校) built in the site of Hanamaki-jo Castle
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(Friday 14 September) "Poran no Hiroba" (Porano Square), Hanamaki Elementary School.  Built named after Kenji Miyazawa's story "Poran no Hiroba."
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(Friday 14 September) Wall featuring the silhouette of Kenji Miayazawa, Hanamaki Elementary School
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(Friday 14 September) "Hon-maru" (本丸; donjon), Hanamaki-jo Remains
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(Friday 14 September) Hanamaki City Gymnasium (花巻市体育館), Hanamaki-jo Castle Remains.  This is the site of Hanamaki Kawaguchi Jinjo-koto-gakko (花巻川口尋常高等小学校; Hanamaki Kawaguchi Normal Higher Elementary School) or later Kajo Jinjo-koto-gakko (花城尋常高等小学校; Hanamaki Normal Higher Elementary School) where Kenji Miyazawa studied from 1903 (36th year of Meiji) to 1909 (42nd year of Meiji).
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(Friday 14 September) Stone monument for Kajo Jinjo-koto-gakko (花城尋常高等学校), Hanamaki City Gymnasium
  
     
O-dori
     Hanamaki Branch of Yamaguchi-katsubanjo (山口活版所; Yamaguchi Printing Office), now Terui Kashi-ten (照井菓子店; Terui Confectionery), is 2 0-dori (大通り).  This is the place where Kenji Miyazawa's poetry collection Spring and Asura (『春と修羅』, April 1924) was printed.  The head office of Yamaguchi-katsubanjo, Morioka is known to have printed 1,000 copies of Kokuyaku Myoho Renge-kyo (The Japanese Translation of the Lotus Sutra;『國訳妙法蓮華教』) at Miyazawa's will.
  Now Terui Kashi-ten sells dango or delicious dumplings.  I ate two sticks of dango (one soy sauce stick and one bean jam stick) on September 14, 2007.  Each stick costs 80 yen.
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(Friday 14 September) Signpost indicating Yamaguchi-katsubanjo (Yamaguchi Printing Office) in front of Terui Kashi-ten (Terui Confectionery), 2 O-dori Street
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(Friday 14 September) Yamaguchi-katsubanjo (Yamaguchi Printing Office) in front of Terui Kashi-ten (Terui Confectionery), 2 O-dori Street
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(Friday 14 September) Yamaguchi-katsubanjo in front of Terui Kashi-ten (Terui Confectionery), 2 O-dori Street
  
     
Kyuko-do
     The Kyuko-do (求康堂) site ( now Abe Laundry) is located on the opposite side of the street in front of City Hall.  Kyuko-do is a newsagent/bookstore run by Sojiro Saito (斎藤 宗次郎, 1877-1968), a distinguished disciple of the famous Christian missionary Kanzo Uchimura (内村 鑑三).  Saito was an elementary school teacher.  Because of his excessive piety for Christianity, he had to resign his teaching job and opened this store.
  Saito and Kenji's father Masajiro Miyazawa (宮沢 政次郎) were good friends and Kenji respected Saito very much.  Their friendship continued throughout their lives.  It is often said that Saito's faith influenced Kenji's understanding of Christianity.  Refer to numerous elements of Christianity in his works including Milky Way Railroad (『銀河鉄道の夜』).
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(Friday 14 September) Signpost indicating the Kyuko-do site.
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(Friday 14 September) Kyuko-do site (now "Cleaning Abe" [Abe Laundry]) in the opposite side of Hanamaki City Hall
  
     
Hanamaki General Hospital
     Hanamaki General Hospital (花巻総合病院) stands in the site of Hienuki No-gakko (稗貫農学校; Hienuki Agricultural School, est. 1921) where Kenji Miyazawa worked as a teacher in December 1921 for 16 months.  The school was renamed as Hanamaki No-gakko (花巻農学校; Hanamaki Agricutural School) and moved to Wakaba-cho (若葉町) in April 1923.
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(Friday 14 September) Signpost indicating the site of Hienuki No-gakko (Hienuki Agricultural School) in front of Hanamaki General Hospital
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(Friday 14 September) Hanamaki General Hospital
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(Friday 14 September) The flower garden of Hanamaki General Hospital called "Fantasia of Beethoven" designed by Kenji Miyazawa and reconstructed by Susumu Sato (佐藤 進) in 1990.
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(Friday 14 September) The flower garden of Hanamaki General Hospital called "Fantasia of Beethoven" designed by Kenji Miyazawa and reconstructed by Susumu Sato in 1990.
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(Friday 14 September) The flower garden of Hanamaki General Hospital called "Fantasia of Beethoven" designed by Kenji Miyazawa and reconstructed by Susumu Sato in 1990.
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(Friday 14 September) The flower garden of Hanamaki General Hospital called "Fantasia of Beethoven" designed by Kenji Miyazawa and reconstructed by Susumu Sato in 1990.
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(Friday 14 September) The flower garden of Hanamaki General Hospital called "Fantasia of Beethoven" designed by Kenji Miyazawa and reconstructed by Susumu Sato in 1990.
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(Friday 14 September) The flower garden of Hanamaki General Hospital called "Fantasia of Beethoven" designed by Kenji Miyazawa and reconstructed by Susumu Sato in 1990.
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(Friday 14 September) The flower garden of Hanamaki General Hospital called "Fantasia of Beethoven" designed by Kenji Miyazawa and reconstructed by Susumu Sato in 1990.
  
     
Hanamaki Koto-Jogakko
     Hanamaki Koto-Jogakko Site (花巻高等女学校跡; the site of Hanamaki Higher Girls' School).  Now Hanamaki Shogai Gakuen-toshi Kaikan (花巻生涯学園都市会館; Hanamaki Lifelong Learning Community Center) or "Managi-gakuen" (まなび学園; Manabi School) stands on the site.  Kenji Miayzawa's beloved sister Toshi (トシ) graduated from Hanamaki Higher Girls' School and came back her to teach after she finished Japan Women's University (日本女子大学) in September 1920 (9th year of Taisho).  However, she became ill one year later and resigned her teaching job to recruit her health.
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(Friday 14 September) Signpost indicating the site of Hanamaki Koto-Jogakko Site (Hanamaki Higher Girls' School)
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(Friday 14 September) Site of Hanamaki Koto-Jogakko Site (Hanamaki Higher Girls' School).  Now Hanamaki Shogai Gakuen-toshi Kaikan (Hanamaki Lifelong Learning Community Center) or "Managi-gakuen" (Manabi School) stands on the site.
  
     
Hachiman-gu Shrine
     Kofunato Hachiman-gu Shrine (小船渡八幡宮), Kami-kofunato (上小舟渡), Hanamaki City is located between Route No. 4 and the famous "Igirisu Kaigan" (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River.  Legend tells that it can date back to the ninth century.   According to the Nambu clan's official record "Goryo Bun-shado" (御領分社堂), the present structure was constructed by the Nambu clan in 1614 (19th year of Keicho [慶長19年]) as the north gate guardian shrine for Hanamaki-jo Castle.
  Normally every Hachiman-gu shrines enshrine "Hachiman-sama" (八幡様; the Japanese God of War) but this Hachiman-gu has kept the statue of Amida-nyorai (阿弥陀如来; Skt. Amitabha Tathagata) as its main image following the idea of "Honchi-suijyaku-setsu" (本地垂迹説; the theory of the manifestation of the prime noumenon).   This theory explained that the Kami (Shinto gods) were merely "gongen" (権現; manifestations) of Buddha and Bodhisattva.  This theory had been widely accepted all over Japan since the Heian Period until the Meiji Government's order of the Separation of Kami and Buddhas (神仏分離令; officially called 神仏判然令) in March 1868 (4th year of Keio [慶応4年]).
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(Friday 14 September) Kofunato Hachiman-gu Shrine, Kami-kofunato
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(Friday 14 September) Kofunato Hachiman-gu Shrine, Kami-kofunato
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(Friday 14 September) "Hai-den" (Hall of Worship), Kofunato Hachiman-gu Shrine, Kami-kofunato
  
     
Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast)
     Igirisu Kaigan [the English Coast] (イギリス海岸), Hanamaki is located in the west bank of the Kitakami River.  It is 400 m east of Kofunato Hachiman-gu Shrine.  The Igirisu Kaigan is a mudstone geographical feature that appears on the riverbed of the Kitakami River.  Kenji Miyazawa named this area so after the Albion (White Cliffs of Dover) viewed from the English Channel (Fr. La Manche).
  If you actually stand on the west bank of the Kitakami River here, you may be disappointed at the landscape which can hardly remind you of the Albion.  The only similarity between the Igirisu Kaigan and the real English Coast is a stratigraphic one.  Miyazawa studied geology and mineralogy in Iwate University and learned the stratum of the real English Coast.  Probably he really wished he could have been there.  However, his father never allowed him even to go to Tokyo Imperial University because he was the first son who was considered to succeed to his father's business.  He was very glad to find this place and even wrote a short story titled "Igirisu Kaigan" (dated August 9, 1923).
  Doubtlessly this is one of the places for Miyazawa to fire literary imagination and get a creative power.  Miyazawa often visited here, sometimes with his students to study geology.  Unfortunately the level of the water has been recently high over these ten years, so now you cannot see the peat deposits which might stimulate your imagination.
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(Friday 14 September) Stone steps to the Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River
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(Friday 14 September) The landscape of the Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River
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(Friday 14 September) Information Board of the Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River
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(Friday 14 September) Stone monuments of the Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River
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(Friday 14 September) This board introduces the second passage from Kenji Miyazawa's song titled "Igirisu Kaigan no Uta" (「イギリス海岸の歌」; "A Song for the English Coast"):
  
  Tertiary the younger tertiary the younger
  Tertiary the younger mud-stone
  なみはあをざめ支流はそそぎ
  たしかにここは修羅のなぎさ
  (The wave turns pale, and the affluent joins.
  Truly this is the shore of Asura [or the flume].)
  (trans. Eishiro Ito)
  
  
  The first two-lined English chorus is the original text itself.  Miyazawa wrote in his story "Igirisu Kaigan": "In fact, it is not a reckless attempt to call the place a coast, because, doubtlessly, it was often a coast of the sea at the end of the third stage of the geological age called the Tertiary" (trans. Eishiro Ito).
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(Friday 14 September) The Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River
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(Friday 14 September) The Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River
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(Friday 14 September) The Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River
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(Friday 14 September) The Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River
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(Friday 14 September) The Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River
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(Friday 14 September) The Igirisu Kaigan (the English Coast) along the Kitakami River
  
     
Asahi Bridge
     Asahi Bridge (朝日橋) and Se-gawa Bridge (瀬川橋) are crossing over the Kitakami River.  This is the place where Kenji Miyazawa heard the cries of the electric cable in "Fuyu no Sketch 16" (「冬のスケッチ 十六」; "Sketches in Winter No.16"):
  
  にはかにも立ち止まり
  二つの耳に二つの手をあて
  電線のうなりを聞きすます。
  
  そのとき桐の木みなたちあがり
  星なきそらにいのりたり。
  
  みなみ風なのに
  こんなにするどくはりがねを鳴らすのは
  どこかの空で
  氷のかけらをくぐって来たのにちがひない
  
  瀬川橋と朝日橋との間のどてで、
  このあけがた、
  ちぎれるばかりに叫んでゐた、
  電信ばしら。
  
  風つめたくて
  北上も、とぎれとぎれに流れたり
  みなみぞら
  
  Out of the blue I stop here.
  Putting my two hands behind my two ears
  I listen attentively to the roaring of the electric cable.
  
  Just then every paulownia stands up,
  And utters a prayer to the sky without stars.
  
  The southerly wind blows, but
  The cable bongs the wire so keenly,
  Because, somewhere in the sky,
  It must have passed through chunks of ice.
  
  On the bank between Segawa Bridge and Asahi Bridge,
  At the peep of the dawn,
  The telegraph pole cries
  Nearly enough to be torn off.
  
  The wind is cold, and
  The Kitakami River runs staccato
  Under the southern sky.
      (trans. Eishiro Ito)
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(Friday 14 September) The bank between Segawa-bashi Bridge (left) and Asahi-bashi Bridge (right) crossing the Kitakami River, where Kenji Miyazawa listened to the cries of the telegraph poles.
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(Friday 14 September) The bank between Segawa-bashi Bridge (left) and Asahi-bashi Bridge (right) crossing the Kitakami River, where Kenji Miyazawa listened to the cries of the telegraph poles.
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(Friday 14 September) Asahi-bashi Bridge with its arch crossing the Kitakami River
  
     
Miyazawa's Pear Tree
     Kenji Miyazawa's pear tree (梨の木) in Wakaba-cho (若葉町), Hanamaki City.
  In April 1923 (12th year of Taisho), Hanamaki Agricultural School (花巻農学校; now Hanamaki Agricultural High School) was newly founded in Wakaba-cho.  Kenji explained the necessity of a more spacious orchard for students to learn methods of pomiculture.  Knowing this, Kenji's grandfather Zenji Miyazawa (宮澤 善治) lent this land for free to make a new wonderful orchard.  Then Kenji and students could plant various kinds of fruits here.  As the time went by, the school moved to the present place (1−68 Kuzu [葛], Hanamaki City) in 1969 but this pear tree miraculously survives.  This pear tree is a sort of "Shinchu" (真鍮), an excellent plant which were very popular in the Kanto District in the Meiji Era.
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(Friday 14 September) Kenji Miyazawa's pear tree in Wakaba-cho
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(Friday 14 September) Kenji Miyazawa's pear tree in Wakaba-cho
  
     
Gindoro Park
     Gindoro Park (ぎんどろ公園), 3 Wakaba-cho (若葉町) was constructed in the site of Hanamaki Nogakko (花巻農学校; Hanamaki Agricultural School) where Kenji Miayazawa taught for three years.  "Gindoro" means a white [silver] poplar (裏白箱柳; うらじろはこやなぎ).  The local people called it "Doro-no-ki" but Kenji named it Gindoro because of its white brightness of the underleaves.
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(Friday 14 September) Signpost of Gindoro Park, 3 Wakaba-cho
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(Friday 14 September) Signpost indicating the site of Hanamaki Agricultural School, 3 Gindoro Park
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(Friday 14 September) Memorial stone for the site of Hanamaki Agricultural School in Gindoro Park: It says, "Once upon a time in this area Hanamaki Agricultural School stood."
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(Friday 14 September) Stone inscription for the first passage of Kenji Miyazawa's short story "Matasaburo the Wind Boy" (「風の又三郎」):
  
  どっどどどどうど どどうど どどう、
  (Dod-do-do-do-doudo dodoudo-dodou)
  青いくるみも吹きとばせ
  (Aoi Kurumi mo Fukitobase)
  すっぱいかりんもふきとばせ
  (Suppai Karin mo Fukitobase)
  どっどどどどうど どどうど どどう
  (Dod-do-do-do-doudo dodoudo-dodou)
  
  The wind blows, blow hard, blow harder!
  Blow over the green walnuts
  Blow off the sour quinces
  The wind blows, blow hard, blow harder!
      (trans. Eishiro Ito)
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(Friday 14 September) The group of Matasaburo the Wind Boy, Gindoro Park.  The group consists of the statue of Matasaburo, who wears the cloak made of glass and is about to fly away, and other six children.  It was made by the four Sculpture Course students of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music (東京芸術大学美術学部彫刻科): Kazuko Abe (安倍和子), Kenji Kaneko (金子 健二), Toshiaki Kuwahara (栗原俊明) and Sakae Terada (寺田 栄) in March 1981.
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(Friday 14 September) The group of Matasaburo the Wind Boy, Gindoro Park.  The group consists of the statue of Matasaburo, who wears the cloak made of glass and is about to fly away, and other six children.  It was made by the four sculpture course students of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music: Kazuko Abe, Kenji Kaneko, Toshiaki Kurihara and Sakae Terada in March 1981.
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(Friday 14 September) Signpost of the monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "So-shun" (「早春」: "Early Spring")
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(Friday 14 September) Monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "So-shun" (「早春」: "Early Spring")
  
  まことひとびと (Makoto Hitobito)
  索むるは (Anaguru wa)
  青き gossan (Aoki Gossan)
  銅の脈 (Do no Myaku)
  わが求むるは (Waga Motomuru wa)
  まことの/まことの (Makoto no Makoto no)
  ことば/ことば (Kotoba Kotoba)
  雨の中なる (Ame no naka naru)
  眞言なり/ (Shingon nari)
  眞言なり (Shingon nari)
  
  The truth is that people
  Quest
  the blue mining, or,
  the vein of copper.
  What I desire is
  The true/ the true
  word/ word
  In the rain
  the mantra [the mystic spell of Esoteric Buddhism]
  the mantra [the mystic spell of Esoteric Buddhism]
      (trans. Eishiro Ito)
  
     
Shinsho-ji Temple
     Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple (遠光山 身照寺) or Minobe-betsuin Temple (身延別院; the Minobe Branch) belongs to Nichiren-shu sect of Buddhism.  The address is 389 Ishigami-cho, Hanamaki City (花巻市石神町389) near Gindoro Park.  The origin of this temple can date back to AD 1394 or the 1st year of Ouei (応永年間).  The 8th lord of the Nambu clan, Masamitsu Nambu (南部 政光) stood for the Southern Dynasty (南朝) against the Ashikaga Shogunate (足利幕府) and abandoned his land (南部郷) in Kai-no-kuni and drew back to Hachinohe (八戸).  Masamitsu, a pious believer of the Nichiren-shu sect and invited Holy Priest Nisso (日崇 上人) to construct Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple (遠光山 身照寺) in Hachinohe in 1394.  After Nissho passed away, they invited Holy Priest Nichigaku (日学 上人; later 9th Kuonji [久遠寺9世]) and in 1396 (3rd year of Ouei) renamed it as Enjo-zan Minobu-dera (円公山身延寺), which was the oldest branch temple of Minobu-san (身延山).  However, the temple gradually declined.
  Holy Priest Nichijitsu Nambu (南部 日実) reconstructed the temple here in Hanamaki in 1946 (21st year of Showa), the 650th anniversary of his ancestor Sanenaga Nambu (南部 実長), one of the Yon-dai Danotsu (四大檀越; the Four Danapati [donators]) of Nichiren.   It was Kenji Miyazawa who wrote the Konryu-kanjin-cho (建立勧進帳; subscription paper for constructing the temple) and built in 1946 succeeding the honory name of Shinsho-ji (身照寺).  It is widely known to have Kenji's grave next to the grave stone for Miyazawa family's.
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(Friday 14 September) Statue of an owl (a symbol of Kenji Miyazawa) in front of Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple
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(Friday 14 September) Stone steps to Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple
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(Friday 14 September) Stone monument of Saint Nichiren, Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple: It says, "Rissho Ankoku Banmin Waraku" (立正安国/萬民和楽; Creating a Peaceful and Secure Country through Establishing the Correct Teachings of Buddhism/ Peace and Harmony for the Whole Nation).  Rissho Ankoku-ron (『立正安国論』; Treatise for Creating a Peaceful and Secure Country through Establishing the Correct Teachings of Buddhism) is Nichiren's major work.
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(Friday 14 September) Main Hall (本堂) of Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple
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(Friday 14 September) Lecture Hall (講堂) of Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple
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(Friday 14 September) The grave of the Miyazawa family, Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple
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(Friday 14 September) The grave of the Miyazawa family, Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple
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(Friday 14 September) The grave of the Miyazawa family, Enko-zan Shinsho-ji Temple: Kenji's gravestone is on the left.
  
     
Itachibei-Inari-jinjya Shrine
     Itachibei-Inari-jinjya Shrine (鼬幣稲荷神社), 336 Ishigami-cho, Hanamaki City (花巻市石神町336).  It was one of the three Inari-jinjya shrines of the Nambu Dominion (南部藩領) with Shiwa-Inari-jinjya Shrine(志和稲荷神社), Shiwa Town (紫波町) and Donko-Inari-jinjya Shrine (呑香稲荷神社), Ninohe City (二戸市).  Needless to say, it enshrines "O Inari-sama" (お稲荷さま) or the fox deity considered to be the God of Harvests.  The present main hall "Hon-den" (本殿), originally constructed here in 1684 (1st year of Jogyo [貞享元年]), was reconstructed in 1813 (10th year of Bunka [文化10年]) in the original Irimo-ya style (入母屋造り: a building with a hip-and-gable roof construction).
  Kenji Miyazawa's best friend Takashi Abe (阿部 孝, 1895-1986), a son of the priest, lived here.  Abe went to Tokyo Imperial University and became a scholar of English literature.  He worked as a professor of English literature in Kochi University (高知大学) and ended his career with the presidency of the university.  Kenji Miyazawa visited here every time Abe came back to Hanamaki, discussed and argued various literary subjects.
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(Friday 14 September) Itachibei-Inari-jinjya Shrine, 336 Ishigami-cho
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(Friday 14 September) Itachibei-Inari-jinjya Shrine, 336 Ishigami-cho
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(Friday 14 September) "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall) of Itachibei-Inari-jinjya Shrine, 336 Ishigami-cho
  
     
Doshin-yashiki
     Doshin-yashiki (同心屋敷; the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi (桜町; the former 向御組町), south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River.  They are of typical lower-class samurai in the late Edo Period in the early nineteenth century.  According to the official map (「向御組町付近図」) in 1858 (5th year of Ansei [安政5年]), there were 30 doshin-yashiki across the Oshu-kaido (奥州街道) highway: 15 houses in east and 15 houses in west).  The two existing doshin-yashiki, the former Hirano's (旧平野家; the L-shaped house) and the former Imagawa's (旧今川家; the U-shaped house) were purchased by the city authorities and moved here in 1970 (45th year of Showa).
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(Monday 17 September) The gate to the exhibition of Doshin-yashiki (the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi, south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River
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(Monday 17 September) The former Hirano's (旧平野家; the L-shaped house) in the exhibition of Doshin-yashiki (the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi, south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River
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(Monday 17 September) The kitchen of the former Hirano's (旧平野家; the L-shaped house) in the exhibition of Doshin-yashiki (the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi, south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River
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(Monday 17 September) "Irori" (囲炉裏) or the traditional sunken hearth of the former Hirano's (旧平野家; the L-shaped house) in the exhibition of Doshin-yashiki (the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi, south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River
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(Monday 17 September) "Ima" (居間) or the living room of the former Hirano's (旧平野家; the L-shaped house) in the exhibition of Doshin-yashiki (the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi, south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River
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(Monday 17 September) "Tenjo" (天井) or the ceiling over the verandah of the former Hirano's (旧平野家; the L-shaped house) in the exhibition of Doshin-yashiki (the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi, south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River
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(Monday 17 September) The former Imagawa's (旧今川家; the U-shaped house) in the exhibition of Doshin-yashiki (the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi, south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River
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(Monday 17 September) The former Imagawa's (旧今川家; the U-shaped house) in the exhibition of Doshin-yashiki (the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi, south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River
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(Monday 17 September) The former Imagawa's (旧今川家; the U-shaped house) in the exhibition of Doshin-yashiki (the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi, south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River
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(Monday 17 September) "Kami-dana" (神棚; the household altar) and "byobu" (屏風; the folding screen) of "Omote-zashiki" (表座敷; the main reception room) in the former Imagawa's (旧今川家; the U-shaped house) in the exhibition of Doshin-yashiki (the houses of the police constable under the Tokugawa regime), Sakura-machi, south of Hanamaki-jo remains along the Kitakami River
  
     
Yasuke-bashi Site
     Yasuke-bashi site (弥助橋跡) is located in Sakura-machi (桜町) on the way to Rasu-chijin Kyokai (羅須地人協会; Rasu Earth Men Association) from the town center in Kenji Miyazawa's time.  The site is near the stone monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "Ame nimo Makezu" (「雨ニモ負ケズ」; "Unruffled by the Rain"), or his Rasu-chijin Kyokai site (羅須地人協会跡) near the west bank of the Kitakami River.
  In Miyazawa's time, it was called Kappa-zawa (カッパ沢; Kappa [lit. river child: mischievous river creatures]'s Swamp).  The bridge had been very frequently broken down because of flood damage and reconstructed with the aid of the local people.  Miyazawa also offered timbers from his rich house and his labor.
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(Monday 17 September) A scarecrow shaped like Kenji Miyazawa near Yasuke-bashi site in Sakura-machi (桜町)
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(Monday 17 September) Yasuke-bashi site (弥助橋跡) in Sakura-machi (桜町) is located on the way to Rasu-chijin Kyokai (羅須地人協会; Rasu Earth Men Association) from the town center in Kenji Miyazawa's time.  The site is near the stone monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "Ame nimo Makezu" (「雨ニモ負ケズ」; "Unruffled by the Rain"), or his Rasu-chijin Kyokai site (羅須地人協会跡) near the west bank of the Kitakami River.
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(Monday 17 September) Yasuke-bashi site (弥助橋跡) in Sakura-machi (桜町) is located on the way to Rasu-chijin Kyokai (羅須地人協会; Rasu Earth Men Association) from the town center in Kenji Miyazawa's time.  The site is near the stone monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "Ame nimo Makezu" (「雨ニモ負ケズ」; "Unruffled by the Rain"), or his Rasu-chijin Kyokai site (羅須地人協会跡) near the west bank of the Kitakami River.
  
     
"Unruffled in the Rain" /Rasu-chijin Kyokai/ "Shita-no-Hatake"
     The stone monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "Ame nimo Makezu" (「雨ニモ負ケズ」; "Unruffled by the Rain") was built at the site of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (羅須地人協会; Rasu Earth Men Association) in Sakura-machi (桜町) near the west bank of the Kitakami River with the help of Kotaro Takamura (高村 光太郎) on November 23, 1936.  It is the first monument of Kenji Miyazawa: His bones and one set of his first complete works published by Bumbo-do-shoten (文圃堂書店) were also buried beneath the monument.
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(Monday 17 September) Information Board of the site of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association): "Shita-no-Hatake ni Orimasu.  Kenji" (「下ノ畑ニ居リマス 賢治」; "I am in the plowed field below.  Kenji").
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(Monday 17 September) The site of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association) or the stone monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "Ame nimo Makezu" (「雨ニモ負ケズ」; "Unruffled by the Rain").
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(Monday 17 September) The signpost indicating the stone monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "Ame nimo Makezu" (「雨ニモ負ケズ」; "Unruffled by the Rain")
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(Monday 17 September) The stone monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "Ame nimo Makezu" (「雨ニモ負ケズ」; "Unruffled by the Rain"):
  
  雨ニモマケズ
  風ニモマケズ
  雪ニモ夏ノ暑サニモマケヌ
  丈夫ナカラダヲモチ
  慾ハナク
  決シテ瞋ラズ
  イツモシヅカニワラッテイル
  一日ニ玄米四合ト
  味噌ト少シノ野菜ヲタベ
  アラユルコトヲ
  ジブンヲカンジョウニ入レズニ
  ヨクミキキシワカリ
  ソシテワスレズ
  野原ノ松ノ林ノ蔭ノ
  小サナ萱ブキノ小屋ニイテ
  東ニ病気ノコドモアレバ
  行ッテ看病シテヤリ
  西ニツカレタ母アレバ
  行ッテソノ稲ノ束ヲ負ヒ
  南ニ死ニソウナ人アレバ
  行ッテコハガラナクテモイイトイヒ
  北ニケンクワヤソショウガアレバ
  ツマラナイカラヤメロトイヒ
  ヒデリノトキハナミダヲナガシ
  サムサノナツハオロオロアルキ
  ミンナニデクノボートヨバレ
  ホメラレモセズ
  クニモサレズ
  サウイフモノニ
  ワタシハナリタイ
    (昭和6年11月3日)
  
  Unruffled by the rain.
  Unruffled by the wind.
  Unruffled by snow and the summer heat.
  He is stout and sturdy,
  Not greedy.
  He never flares up in anger.
  He has a smile playing about his lips.
  He eats four go [0.78 liter] of unmilled rice
  With miso [bean paste] and a few vegetables a day.
  Whatever happens,
  He does not lose self-control.  His understanding
  Always comes from observation and experience.
  And he never forgets.
  He lives in a little thatched cottage
  In a green field over a pine forest.
  If there is a sick child in the east,
  He goes there to attend on the child.
  If there's a weary mother in the west,
  He goes there and carries her sheaves of rice-plants.
  If someone is dying in the south,
  He goes there and says, "You have nothing to fear."
  If there's a quarrel or a lawsuit in the north,
  He goes there and says,"It is a trifle.  Break it up!"
  He only weeps at the time of drought.
  He only walks up and down losing his head in the cold summer.
  People abuse him behind his back, "That good-for-nothing."
  No one praises him
  Or fight shy of him.
  That is the sort of man
  I just want to be.
    (dated November 3, 1931)
  
      (trans. Eishiro Ito)
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(Monday 17 September) The stone monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "Ame nimo Makezu" (「雨ニモ負ケズ」; "Unruffled by the Rain")
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(Monday 17 September) Signpost indicating "About 600 m to Miyazawa's cultivated field (Kenji's plowed field below)."
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(Monday 17 September) Miyazawa's cultivated field (Kenji's plowed field below) 600 m east of the stone monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "Ame nimo Makezu"/ the site of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association)
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(Monday 17 September) Miyazawa's cultivated field (Kenji's plowed field below) 600 m east of the stone monument for Kenji Miyazawa's poem "Ame nimo Makezu"/ the site of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association)
  
     
Kenji Miyazawa Museum
     Kenji Miyazawa Museum (宮沢賢治記念館), 1-1-36 Yazawa, Hanamaki City (花巻市矢沢1-1-36) was built in 1982, the 50th anniversary of Miyazawa's death.
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(Monday 17 September) The main gate to Kenji Miyazawa Museum, 1-1-36 Yazawa, Hanamaki City
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(Monday 17 September) Kenji Miyazawa Museum, 1-1-36 Yazawa, Hanamaki City
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(Monday 17 September) The engraved monument titled "Yodaka no Hoshi" (「よだかの星」; "The Nighthawk Star") completed by Toshiaki Kurihara (栗原 俊明) on April 13, 1983.  Courtesy of Kenji Miyazawa Museum.
  
     
Hanamaki Agricultural High School
     Hanamaki Agricultural High School (花巻農学校; now 花巻農業高校) was first built at 3 Wakaba-cho, Hanamaki in April 1923 (12th year of Taisho) where Kenji Miayazawa taught for three years out of his four-year teaching career.  Then the school moved here at 1-68 Kuzu (葛1−68) near Hanamaki Airport in 1969.  It keeps the original building of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (羅須地人協会; Rasu Earth Men Association).
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(Monday 17 September) Hanamaki Agricultural High School, 1-68 Kuzu
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(Monday 17 September) The gate to the original building of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association), Hanamaki Agricultural High School
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(Monday 17 September) Statue of Kenji Miyazawa with the original building of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association) in the back ground
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(Monday 17 September) Statue of Kenji Miyazawa with the original building of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association) in the back ground
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(Monday 17 September) Statue of Kenji Miyazawa, Hanamaki Agricultural High School
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(Monday 17 September) The original building of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association) in Hanamaki Agricultural High School
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(Monday 17 September) Inscription stone of Kenji Miyazawa's word from "Nomin Geijyutsu Gairon Koyo"(「農民芸術概論綱要」; "The Institutes of the Introduction to Farmers' Arts") in front of the original building of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association) in Hanamaki Agricultural High School:
  
  われらに要るものは (Warera ni Iru mono wa)
  銀河を包む (Ginga wo Tsutsumu)
  透明な意志 (Tomei-na Ishi)
  巨きな力と (Okina Chikara to)
  熱である (Netsu de aru)
      宮澤 賢治 (Kenji Miyazawa)
  
  What we need are
  A pellucid will to wrap
  The Galaxy,
  A galactic power and
  A passion.
      (trans. Eishiro Ito)
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(Monday 17 September) The original building of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association) in Hanamaki Agricultural High School
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(Monday 17 September) The original building of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association) in Hanamaki Agricultural High School
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(Monday 17 September) The original building of Rasu-chijin Kyokai (Rasu Earth Men Association) in Hanamaki Agricultural High School



        


Copyright (c) 2005-2007 Eishiro Ito.  All rights reserved.