Kitakami City (北上市) is located in the southern part of Iwate Prefecture: it is along River Kitakami and River Waga, surrounding the Ou Mountains (奥羽山脈) and Kitakami Highland (北上山地).  This area has been blessed with rich farm produce since ancient times.  During the Jomon Period, there were large communities in Kabayama (樺山) and Hatten (八天): In Kabayama ruins, a stone circle remains.  More than one hundred burial mounds were built in the seventh century, the mountain Buddhism [kind of esoteric Buddhism] flourished at Gokuraku-ji Temple (極楽寺) on Mt. Kinumi (国見山) during the Heian Period (794-1192).  Kitakimi is also known as the birthplace of "Oni-Kembai" (鬼剣舞; Sword Dance for Exorcising Evil Spirits).   The central area of Kitakami was called "Kurosawajiri" (黒沢尻): the present Kitakami City was formed after merging old Kitakami City, Waga Town (和賀町) and Ezuriko Village (江釣子村) in 1991.  Currently Kitakami City is the most developed industrial area of Iwate.  The population is 93, 239 (May 2006).

IMAGE	IMAGE NO.	DATA
Suwa-jinjya Shrine		Suwa-jinjya Shrine (諏訪神社) was founded in early Edo Period, but it enshrines "Takemina-katano-kami" (建御名方命; Guardian Angel of Development) which was reportedly invited to worship by Tamuramaro Sakanoue (坂上田村麻呂, 758-811).  It was moved from Motomiya (now Saiwai-cho, Kitakami) to this place in 1734, and became the head shrine of the district.  This shrine is also famous for "Kashi-Kenbai" (川岸剣舞; Rivage Sword Dance), the Shinto ritual performing art for exorcising evil spirits.
	ktk2005-002	(Monday 3 January) "Torii" (Shinto Shrine Archway) of Suwa-jinjya Shrine, Kitakami City.
	ktk2005-004	(Monday 3 January) Gate of Kitakami Suwa-jinjya Shrine
	ktk2005-007	(Monday 3 January) "Hon-do" (Main Hall) of Kitakami Suwa-jinjya Shrine
	ktk2005-013	(Monday 3 January) Branch halls of some famous shrines over Japan, Kitakami Suwa-jinjya Shrine
	ktk2005-015	(Monday 3 January) A monument of Matsuo Basho, Kitakami Suwa-jinjya Shrine:   初時雨 (Hatsu-shigure)   猿も小蓑を (Saru mo Ko-mino wo)   ほしけ也 (Hoshike nari)   (Under the first shower in late autumn   It also appears that   This monkey wants a small straw raincoat.)     (trans. Eishiro Ito)   Basho Matsuo, the great master of haiku, who was born in Ueno Village, Iga (now part of Mie), went through his famous journey to "Michinoku" (みちのく; the Tohoku District) in September 1689.   After visiting Ise-jinjya Shrines during "Sengu" (遷宮; removal of a shrine), he was on the way to his native soil, and was passing by Kamiawa of Oyamada Village, when he composed the haiku, which is the first one of Sarumino Anthology (『猿蓑』).   This monument was built by the local followers of Matsuo in 1781.
	ktk2005-016	(Monday 3 January) A monument of Matsuo Basho, Kitakami Suwa-jinjya Shrine
	ktk2005-017	(Monday 3 January) A monument of Matsuo Basho, Kitakami Suwa-jinjya Shrine

        

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