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History of Okutsugaru

 

Introduction

As for the history of Tsugaru district, little knowledge is known. There is no description about Tsugaru district in textbook of school except “Tsugaru-Han”, which was established in Edo era (1603-1867). Before Edo era, Okutsugaru had been settled area of “Emishi” (race of Hokkaido ), and no influence of Japanese Emperor had reached to Okutsugaru until Edo government was established (1603).

The history of Okutugaru fascinates us strongly because there is little knowledge about it. Huge trading city and advanced civilization had been prospering in ancient age albeit recent Okutsugaru is merely rural region. It's like Egypt , Iraq , and so on.

In Kamegaoka district (Tsugaru city), very famous archaic artifact "Shakoudoki" which had been one of the most beautiful and sophisticated materials in B.C.4000 was discovered in Meiji Era(1868-1912).

The incredible lore had been rumored in Okutsugaru since medieval era until some ten years ago. The lore is that Juusan district had been a big city having more than 100,000 people. (Now Jusan district has a few hundreds population). Some pieces of old expensive earthenware have been being discovered in farm and beach of this district since medieval time.

As for the history of Okutsugaru before Edo era, it had been unclear until twenty years ago because of lack of ancient documents. Now that archeology has been developing, the history of Okutsugaru is being revealed.

It is because it has characteristic geographical condition that The Okutsugaru is preserving original culture strongly. Okutsugaru is northernmost peninsula of Honshu island, Japan . In addition, lack of industry has been making few interchanging of people among other prefecture.

 

1. 6000-3000 years ago (Jomon era)

 

6000-3000 years ago (Jomon era)…Very famous excavated material ‘Shakou doki' (the ceramics doll wearing shading sunglasses)

The earth was warm in Jomon era. Therefore, sea level was 4m higher than recent. Lake Jusan was so large as to cover Goshogawara.

In this time, some villages had been distributed at the coast sandwiched by mountain range and Lake Jusan .

In these villages, peoples had been getting abundant foods. They got animals from mountains at back of village, and got fish and shell from lake at front of village. Surprisingly, bones of whale and bones of seal have been being found in remains of these villages.

This geographic condition had been providing them a favorable situation (if unseasonable weather causes lack of foods from land or lake or sea then other products from land or lake or sea provides people food).

This favorable situation might have cultivated highly sophisticated culture.

 

The remains “Kamegaoka”

“Shakoudoki” is a ceramic doll wearing shading sunglasses of shading sun. It is such a famous artifact that almost Japanese have seen picture of it. It has been also famous that artistic archaic artifacts had been being unearthed in Kamegaoka district of Tsugaru City since Edo era (1603-1868). In this era, archaic artifacts were excavated by village's peoples, and these were exported to Edo(ancient name of Tokyo ) peoples who valued it high. Some remains of Kamegaoka were exported to foreign country.

 

2. from 8th century to 12th century

(Not Japanese people lived, but the tribe ‘Emishi' lived)

Japanese emperor had conquered the greater part of northeastern territory of Japan in Heian era (794-1192). But the influence of the emperor had not reached to Okutsugaru. The minority race “Emishi” had been living in Okutsugaru.

In Okutugaru, some remains of “defensive village” are being unearthed from grounds, which is located not in archaic coasts but in hills whose height is some tens of meters high. ‘Defensive village' was surrounded with deep moat and fences. It is presumed that wars between villages of Emishi had been occurring frequently and this circumstance might have made feature of the village ‘Defensive vilage'. But this hypothesis is not certified yet.

It is hypothesised that this “defensive village” perished in 12th century because of reaching influence of the clan “Oushuu Fujiwara-shi”, having strong military and clout. But this hypothesis is uncertified.

 

  3. from 13th to 15th century

(Phantom medieval huge city “Tosaminato”)

Medieval history of Okutsugaru remains still mysterious and veiled yet. Few medieval texts and Buddhist figures have been discovered. In this time, whole of plain of Tsugaru peninsula was damp plain and was covered with long reeds.

Jusan district is mere small village which has habitant of a few hundred of people. There had been a legend until some years ago. The legend was telling us that Jusan district had been huge city trading with foreign country, but one day, this huge city had perished suddenly because of the arrival of Tsunami.

This legend was mysterious because there were contradictory facts. Many fragments of ceramic and porcelain dish made in foreign country were being found in the field and beach, but on the other hand, none of remains of medieval structure was being found. Okutugaru's peoples could not judge whether it was truth or not. They felt it mysterious.

But, in 1990's, the investigation with excavating Jusan District revealed the truth that Jusan District had been huge city having more than 100,000 people in 13th to 15th century. By the way, Kanasawa city in Ishikawa Prefecture had about 100,000 citizens in third quarter of 19th century, which was the fourth biggest city in Japan . (1st Tokyo , 2nd Osaka , 3rd Kyoto , 5th Nagoya ). Thus it may safely be said that Jusan district had been quite huge city in medieval times.


Big trading city “Tosaminato”

Tosaminato is old name of Jusan district.

It was constructed by city planning, and it equipped with facilities of port, facility of religion, citizen's houses, moats, and so on. It was congested city. Many foreign high-quality and expensive ceramics and porcelain are being discovered in Jusan district. It indicates that Tosaminato traded with Korea and China lively.

It is estimated that the city had more than 100,000 people. This scale was extra huge in medieval time of Japan .

Eventually, evidence of tidal wave did not be discovered.

Recently, it is expected that it is because the clan Nanbu-Shi waged war on the clan Andou-Shi who had been ruler of the city and absconded from the city being defeatedthat huge city Tosaminato was abandoned.

4. from 16th century to middle of 19th century

(the history of reclaiming damp plain to rice field)

Large part of rice field and villages of Tsugaru plain is the consequence of reclaiming of damp plain operated since 17th century supervised by Hirosaki-Han (“Han” is like prefecture in Edo era) .

In early times of Edo era, Tsugaru district was integrated to Hirosaki-han. In this time, only few people lived in the plain of Tsugaru Peninsula . The plain was almost damp plain.

From late 17th century, the project reclaiming of damp plain to rice-field was started supervised by Tsugaru-han. Whole of rice-field of North Tsugaru were made after 18th century. And whole habitants of Tsugaru plain are descendants of colonists.

The amount of rice production in late 17th century soared five times of the amount of early 17th century.

In this time, Ajigasawa town was generated as transportation port, and Fukaura town prospered as shelter port. Abandoned Tosaminato city revived as transportation port though small village.

 

5. from Meiji-Era to WW2 ( from 1868 to 1945)

As for this era, Okutsugaru can be characterized by existence of extraordinary large landlords.

After Meiji revolution (1868), restriction of buying and selling of rice-field was abolished. The finance that made farmland security began, and accumulation of the farmland advanced. Many farmers could not return debts. On the other hand, some families got farmland as security of debt enormously. Those families became big landlord.

In late 19th century, the landlord ‘Kitarou Sasaki' who lived in Goshogawara became the richest person of Aomori prefecture. ‘Katarou Sasaki', who had lived in Goshogawara and been third richest person of Aomori prefecture, constructed huge mansion in 1896. He spent 10 years to construct his huge mansion. This mansion was called ‘Nunoka Goten' which was one of the three biggest mansion of northeastern territory of Japan .

It was in Honcho, Goshogawara city. It had 12,000 square meters plottage, and mansion was 3000 square meters. It contained the room ‘Golden room' ‘Silver Room' which was metalized with gold leaf and silver leaf entirely. Meanwhile, in Kanagi town, landlord ‘ Tsushima family' had constructed big mansion which was later renamed 'Shayoukan' after WW2. Eminent author ‘Osamu Dasai' was born in this mansion in 1909.

Meiji government recommended prospering of new type of production to people. As for Aomori prefecture, planting of occidental fruits had been recommended, eventually, production of apple was prospered. 'Hiba' (expensive wood) had been being planted before Meiji government was established. Forest railway had been inaugurated in 1909, and it stimulated forestry. Kanagi district, Nakasato district, and Shiura district prospered as site of lumbering.

Goshogawara city was small village until 1898. But opening of railroad ‘Gonousen' in 1918 made Goshogawara town prosper as distribution center. From mid 19th century to this time, 18m height lantern float ‘Neputa' was being moved in every summer festival. But this time electric wires were spread in town's sky and it made lantern floats shrink to 3.5m height.

 

6. from the end of WW2 to recent (1945- )

(Growing and declining of commerce, revival of Tachineputa )

29 Nov, 1944 saw conflagration of Goshogawara city. Almost of the city (over 700 houses, officials, station, and post office) was destroyed by fire. In this time, Nunoka mansion also disappeared. In chaotic circumstance of WW2, citizen devoted themselves to revive their town and life. But unfortunately, 23 Nov. 1946 saw conflagration of Goshogawara city again. Over 700 houses which had been being reconstructed since the disaster of 1944 were disappeared again.

Citizen of Goshogawara city were exhausted by twice disasters. But they revived their city with fortitude again. In October 1954, Goshogawara town developed to Goshogawara city.

Goshogawara city held the exposition of peace commemorating joining to United Nation in 1957. It also commemorated third anniversary of the city. It triggered prospering of the city, and stimulated the city.

After this event, Goshogawara city prospered as the biggest commercial city of Okutsugaru . Four shopping districts, Teramachi, Honchou, and Ohmachi were filled with shops. These streets were covered by arcade, and big three department stores opened.

1960 saw Japan starting burgeoning. Farmers living in Okutsugaru went to Tokyo to work to get temporary wage in every winter. There were few offer of job in Okutsugaru, and then about 90% of graduates went away to other prefecture to get their job.

Since 1992, because of heavy snow and popularization of personal car, shopping centers having immense parking lot has been appearing around the peripheral of the city one after another. This condition has made downtown of Goshogawara languish.

But recently, downtown has been reviving again by inducing travelers who comes to see the festival Tachineputa that has been operated since 1998.

In Okutsugaru, there are few industrial factories; hence few people born in other prefecture immigrates to Okutsugaru. This circumstance makes Okutsugaru keep original dialect, custom, and temperament.