Talking about Azumino

Why the boat in a mountanious country?

    September is the season of autumn festivals in thanksgiving for the harvest. In Azumino, there some shrine festivals called "Ofunematuri" in which people parade with a float shaped boat. The most famous "Ofunematsuri" is held at the Hotaka shrine in Azumino city on September 26-27. Why the festivals of boats in a mountanious country like Shinshu ( Nagano ) ? People might question this phenomenon.

    According to a legend, the Hotaka shrine was founded by the Azumi-tribe. The Azumi-tribe, as I mentioned before, originally lived in the vicinity of Shikanoshima Island of Northern Kyushu. They were seafaring people who fished for a living. They had a highly developed system for voyaging out in the waters and fishing.

    It is natural that the shrine which enshrined the Azumi-tribe's god preserved the festival of boats. There are some festivals in which people parade with Floats shaped like a boat in the Azumino area.

    According to the Japanese old book titled "Engishiki ( 延喜式・AD967 ), there were two shrines in Shinano-no-kuni ( the old name of Nagano ), Azumi-gun. Both of them were the Hotaka shrine and the Kawai shrine.

    The Kawai shrine has been located in Aisome district which is a part of Ikeda Machi, Kita-Azumi-gun, Nagano Prefecture now.  The Kawai shrine enshrined a god named "Sokozuwatatsumi-no-kami" as well as the Shikanoshima shrine in Northern Kyushu. Therefore, the Kawai shrine also has a big possibility of being connected with the Azumi-tribe.

    Unfortunately, the Kawai shrine has not been preserved "Ofunematsuri ( a festival of the boat )", but the festival has been continued at another shrine in Ikeda Machi. The festival of Hachiman shrine is held on September 23-24 every year.

    On the first day, people parade with ordinary traditonal floats on which children playing "ohayashi ( the traditonal festival music )" ride on the street, and gather in the precincts of Hachiman shrine for paying respect at the shrine.

    On the second day, the gruop of young men called "wakai-shu" pull boat shaped floats called "fune" around the street. On these floats children sit astride and play "ohayashi" too.

    It is a nice contrast between the grave and quiet parade on the first day and the brave and speedy pulling around on the second day.   

The Azumi-tribe and the Yamataikoku

Until“Kojiki(古事記・AD620)”, we had no historical record in Japan. Only through Chinese and Korean chronicles, we can envisage the image of the ancient time of our country.

According to the Chinese chronicle titled “Sanguo Zhi(三国志 Records of Three Kingdoms・AD297)”, the inhabitants of the Japanese islands, who were called “Wa(倭）”, were a fragmented political structure of more than a hundred or more separate tribes. The head of the allied country was called Yamataikoku(邪馬台国) and the country was ruled by a female shaman, Queen Himiko(卑弥呼).

Where was Yamataikoku? Who was Himiko? These questions have been the most controversial and emotional debates on the ancient Japanese history.

Mr.Jugo Kuroiwa, a famous writer about the history of ancient Japan, supported the opinion that Yamataikoku was located in Northern Kyushu. If it were located there, there could be a possibility that Na(奴) which was formed by the Azumi-tribe was included in the allied countries.

Mr.Kuroiwa also pointed out that the descendents of Himiko moved to Kinki from Northern Kyushu and participated in establishing the Reign of Yamato.

The Azumi-tribe and The gold seal

Shikanoshima Island, the home base of the Azumi-tribe, is very famous as a place where a gold seal was discoverd. In the gold seal, there were five Chinese characters carved. “ 漢委奴國王 ”( Kan no Wa no Na no Kokuou, i.e. king of the Na state of the Wa 〔vassal〕 of Han Dynasty ).

漢( Kan ) was representing the Han Dynasty. 委(倭）奴( Wa no Na ) mentioned the Na tribe among Wa ( Japanese ) race. The last two-letter word 國王 ( Kokuou ) was the highest of the 5 ranks that were used to grade external tributary rulers of the Han Dynasty.  However, the seal system was one of the diplomatic policies of the Han Dynasty in China ( 206BC - 220AD ). It didn't neccessarily mean the Na state was directly governed by the dynasty.

The Chinese chronicle titled “ Hou Han Shu ( 後漢書 History of the Later Han Dynasty ) ” says, “ The Na state of the Eastern tribe in Wa ( Japan ) sent a messenger with tribute to the emperor  in 57AD. The messenger introduced himself as a high official. The state lies in the south of Wa. The emperor Guanwu ( 光武帝 ) conferred a seal with a tassel. ” Also, there was a record the messenger of the Na state said the people of his state were “ descendants of Taibo ( 太伯 )”.

This Taibo was a legendary person who was said to be the Father of Wu ( 呉 ) state at the Spring and Autumn Period in Chinese history. There would be a big possibility that we could imagine the Azumi-tribe, who had a deep connection with mainland China and had power around Shikanoshima Island, founded the Na state in the area of Kita-Kyushu ( Northern Kyushu ). And they sent messenger to the Han Dynasty afterwards.

Azumi-tribe with thier highly developed skill for voyaging enlarged thier influential territory to all parts of Japan and left place names associated with Azumi-tribe in each place. Azumino in Shinshu is one of them.

Who is the Azumi-tribe?

It is said that the name of Azumino came from the Azumi-tribe. Then, can we really say who the Azumi-tribe is?

                                                            

Originally the Azumi-tribe lived in the vicinity of Shikanoshima Island of Kita-Kyushu ( Northern Kyushu ). They were seafaring people who fished for a living, They had a highly developed system for voyaging out in the waters and fishing.

                                                                                                          

At around 300 BC, during the Yayoi period in the Japanese history, it was believed that the rice-paddy cultivation was introduced into Japan from mainland China.

According to historians of Chinese chronicles, in 473 BC year of the Chinese history( Spring and Autumn Period ), many people of the Wu nation which has been defeated by the Yue nation fled to the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese Islands. And they brought with them such agricultural skills.

It is quite possible that the Azumi-tribe could be part of those people who came from China. The reason for this, speculation is that the Azumi-tribe made a great contribution in the introduction of farming techniques.

Where is Azumino?

Where is Azumino?

A part of Nagano Pref. in Japan is called "Azumino". Nagano is a mountainous country which is located in the central region of Japan. Beyond the north of Matsumoto City and at the eastern foot of the Japan Alps, there is an extension of the most lush and fertile rice fields in Japan. This area is the site of Azumino.

Nagano is also called as "Shinshu". I was born in the Shinshu-Azumino . I'm very proud of my birthplace. Then, I would like to introduce you to this splendid area of Azumino.

In spring, green rice paddy fields are beautifully contrasted with the remaining snow of high mountains. Oh! it's just like a lovely wide picturesque landscape on a grand scale. In summer, many climbers ascend the mountains to take in beautiful views and enjoy dynamic and thrilling moutainous treks. In Autumn, people who visit here enjoy fine sceneries of mountains with leaves that have beautifully been transformed into an array of tints of yellow, red, or orange and auburn. In winter, northern Azumino turns to a ski paradise. Skiers and snowboarders enjoy the fine texture of the abundant snow and the extended range of numerous ski slopes of excellent quality.

Every year and every season, many tourists visit here in Azumino for its comfortable environment and good hospitality.