上山田の力石:田舎の江戸? Kamiyamada's Chikara-Ishi Neighborhood: Edo-in-the-Countryside?

September 2, 2009: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

格好いい蔵 Some of the 'Cool' Storehouses

市役所の農林可の鹿田さんに誘っていただいて、上山田の「力石」地区を「力石語る会」の望月会長に案内して頂きました。「田舎の江戸と言われている」と聞いた時に、最初は大げさだと思いました。しかし、力石の歴史と今までの動きを聞けば、なるほどなとなりました。
例えば、明治時代は他の地区と一緒にお蚕の生産が盛んだけど、他の地区と違って、絹より、お蚕の卵専門で成功したそうです。そのころからの立派な蔵がまだ残っています。見事です。
現在はハウスの花、特にトルコギキョウの生産がメインです。他の地区もトルコギキョウを育っているが、他の地区と違って、新しい品種、花の色などの研究で色々な発展をしている。その中で、「コサージュグリーン」というのは2007年の「日本フラワー・オブ・ザ・イヤー」優勝しました。

他には文化財、神仏物、力石の「力石さん」、7不思議など、望月さんが親切に、面白くて案内してくれました。これからは観光客もこのツアーを楽しんで頂けるように定期的に行う計画もしているのでまたお知らせします。

Kamiyamada's "Chikara-Ishi" neighborhood was supposedly known as Edo-in-the-Countryside back in the days. I found that out when I participated in a tour today organized by the city's Agriculture Department's Shikada-san and led by Mochizuki-san, the leader of the Chikara-Ishi Talking Group ("Kataru Kai").
At first I thought comparing to quiet little Chikara-Ishi to Tokyo was a bit outrageous. However, after hearing the area's enterprising background, I started to understand the comparison.
For example, like other areas in Nagano, during the Meiji Era many families in Chikara-Ishi raised silkworms. However, instead of raising them for silk, many successfully specialized in producing eggs to sell to other areas to raise for silk. There are a handful of massive 'kura' storehouses still around today that are remnants of that prosperity.
Even today, the residents work harder to specialize. The main industry now is raising lisianthus flowers in greenhouses. Rather than just growing the flowers, much research and development has been going on to produce new colors and bigger sizes. In 2007, the "Corsage Green" variety that was developed here won the "Japan Flower of the Year" award.

Mochizuki-san also showed us many religious, historical and "amazing" sites. We are working on making his tour available to the public -- will keep you posted!



ハウスのトルコギキョウ


如法時


力石の力石さん The "Strength Rocks" of Chikara-Ishi


Shrine dedicated to the prevention of strokes


笄渡しの説明看板


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