Tara, Saga
Encyclopedia
is a town
and peninsula located in Fujitsu District
, Saga
, Japan
.
, Ōmura
, Kashima
and the Ariake Sea
. On a clear day, it is possible to see the mountains across the sea. Tara includes Mount Tara and Mount Kyoga, which are two of the highest mountains in Kyūshū
and part of the Tara Mountains. Tara is composed of two traditional — and to a lesser extent, linguistic — sections, which were once independent towns: Tara (多良) and Ōura (大浦). Tara is located quite close to the Kashima Gatalympics
, which takes place near Hizen-Iida
station.
Ōura harbor is the main port of entry via sea.
Kinsenji (temple)
Takezaki Kanze Onji (temple)
Tara Takezaki onsen
Shirahama beach;
Kenkou no Mori Park ("forest of health")
Camp Nakayama
and the Tara mountains
Takezaki Castle Ruins
Takezaki Castle Observatory
Lighthouse Ruins
, most of the Christians were killed or went underground and became Kakure Kirishitan
s. The only evidence remaining is grave stones that are scattered throughout Tara.
Another local legend originating in the 9th century is that of a handsome warrior-monk, Takeno Shintaro, whose looks so charmed the ladies that they sang a song whenever he came down from the mountains. The lyrics of the song ask for him to fall and break his leg so that he would have to stay among the women. Women could not go into the mountains at that time in history because of the mountains' sacred nature. The mountains themselves were worshiped as the realm of gods (at this time the local belief was that gods were another step along a buddha
's progression), and the temple at Mount Tara, Kinsen-ji, had authority over more than 70 shrines in Kyūshū
. However, under the Meiji restoration
, the god-buddha connection became taboo and today Kinsen-ji lies in disrepair. During 1780, a song named "Zanza-bushi" spread through Japan. Saga people adapted the melody and used it to recreate the song "Takeno Shintaro-san". The first two stanzas:
There is a legend about the origins of the Doro Mochi
Tsuki festival (see festivals section below). In the legend, set about 200 years ago, the village was poor. On occasion of the village elder being away on a pilgrimage, the town's people all had the same dream. In the mysterious dream, an itinerant monk came to the village as they were discussing how to pray for rain and in hunger stole some mochi. The villagers blamed him and killed him. Out of regret, they buried him. Rain fell upon the place where he was buried. The villagers believed the rain was due to the monk, and offered mochi to him, thus starting the traditional festival.
Tara was once a thriving tourist destination, but as Japan's economy has slowed down, so has Tara's. Most young people relocate to the larger cities when they become adults. Tara is on a main railroad line and traversed by route 207 (see transportation below), and benefits somewhat from the tourism this brings. As a result, many people in Tara are opposed to new train lines that would make commerce through Tara all but obsolete. However planning has gone ahead, and Tara has received a payoff to compensate.
It is regionally famous for its crab
s (of the wanigani variety), mikan
s, and oyster
s, the latter of which is in season during the winter. During oyster (or kaki) season, it is common for people to come from surrounding prefectures and enjoy grilled kaki. Many restaurants have special, bare-bones plastic and wood sections that are only open during this season. Most of such business happens on the weekends, and this is also a good business time for the local farmer's market.
Other industry in Tara includes animal husbandry, especially chicken farms, and forestry. But Tara's most profitable industry probably lies in the surrounding sea. Besides fishing and marine life, Tara boasts thousands of nori
collecting poles and nets.
, followed by one in Nagasaki. Most travelers go to Fukuoka Airport
for travel abroad.
. The mountains are seeded with small roads, many of them one lane and unpaved. A road leads from camp Nakayama towards Kashima
and Ureshino
.
is a huge industry, there is no known sea travel, nor are there ferries available.
is spoken and understood in the area, the locals also speak the local dialect, Saga-ben, which is further broken down into Tara-ben and Ōura-ben. Some examples of speech include:
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
and peninsula located in Fujitsu District
Fujitsu District, Saga
is a district located in Saga Prefecture, Japan.As of February 1, 2009, the district has an estimated population of 10,075 and a density of 136 persons per km²...
, Saga
Saga Prefecture
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Geography
Tara is bordered by IsahayaIsahaya, Nagasaki
is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on September 1, 1940. On March 1, 2005, the city expanded through a merger with the surrounding towns of Tarami, Moriyama, Iimori, Takaki and Konagai merged to form the new city of Isahaya...
, Ōmura
Omura, Nagasaki
is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of January 1, 2009, the city has an estimated population of 89,891. The total area is 126.33 km², and includes Nagasaki Airport.-History:...
, Kashima
Kashima, Saga
is a city located in the southern part of Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan.-Geography:Kashima is located about 60 kilometers southwest of Saga City. It borders the Ariake Sea to the east and Nagasaki Prefecture to the southwest...
and the Ariake Sea
Ariake Sea
The is a body of salt water surrounded by Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto Prefectures, all of which lie on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. It is the largest bay in Kyūshū. Its deepest point is only about 50 m deep, and extreme tides exceed 4 m. It is used for aquaculture, with nori...
. On a clear day, it is possible to see the mountains across the sea. Tara includes Mount Tara and Mount Kyoga, which are two of the highest mountains in Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
and part of the Tara Mountains. Tara is composed of two traditional — and to a lesser extent, linguistic — sections, which were once independent towns: Tara (多良) and Ōura (大浦). Tara is located quite close to the Kashima Gatalympics
Kashima Gatalympics
The Kashima Gatalympics is an event held in the mudflats of the Ariake Sea off Kashima city in Saga Prefecture, Japan. The event takes place every year at the end of May....
, which takes place near Hizen-Iida
Hizen-Iida Station
is a train station in Kashima City, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Nagasaki Main Line.-Layout:It is an above ground station with two tracks and one platform. There is no station building and is as such an unstaffed station....
station.
Ōura harbor is the main port of entry via sea.
Significant locations
Famous, tourist, and historic sites of note include:Kinsenji (temple)
- Once had influence on shrines throughout KyūshūKyushuis the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, though it is now literally a shell of its former glory (see legends below)
Takezaki Kanze Onji (temple)
- Culturally one of the most influential areas in Tara (see festivals, below)
Tara Takezaki onsen
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
- One of the few sources of tourism in modern times
Shirahama beach;
- Small and littered with sharp shells, yet facilities exist and a sea-center is close by with recreational activities such as jet-skiing
Kenkou no Mori Park ("forest of health")
- A fairly large park in the middle of the mountains
Camp Nakayama
- Camping ground with cabins (open for a short period each year) and a trail to Mount Tara and other important areas in the Tara mountains
and the Tara mountains
- Mount Tara is one of the tallest mountains in Kyūshū.
- Taller than mount Tara, making it the tallest in the prefecture. If one is traveling by car, it is more readily accessible from Kashima or Ōmura, though a ridgeline exists between it and mount Tara that hikers often use.
Takezaki Castle Ruins
- Degraded into not much more than a wall; its purpose was once to be a lookout for invasions from Nagasaki
Takezaki Castle Observatory
- Re-creation of the original Takezaki Castle, this tall structure is at the edge of the peninsula overlooking the sea
Lighthouse Ruins
- Reduced to a memorial stone
History
- May 1, 1889 — the boundaries of the villages known as Tara, Ōura, and Nanaura were established.
- February 11, 1955 — Tara and Ōura became one town, Tara-chō.
- March 1, 1955 — a section of Nanaura was absorbed into Tara-chō.
History
Due to influence from Nagasaki, Christianity existed in the area, but after the results of the Shimabara RebellionShimabara Rebellion
The was an uprising largely involving Japanese peasants, most of them Catholic Christians, in 1637–1638 during the Edo period.It was one of only a handful of instances of serious unrest during the relatively peaceful period of the Tokugawa shogunate's rule...
, most of the Christians were killed or went underground and became Kakure Kirishitan
Kakure Kirishitan
is a modern term for a member of the Japanese Catholic Church that went underground after the Shimabara Rebellion in the 1630s.-History:Kakure Kirishitans are called the "hidden" Christians because they continued to practice Christianity in secret. They worshipped in secret rooms in private homes...
s. The only evidence remaining is grave stones that are scattered throughout Tara.
Legends
Local legend has it that a force from the south once tried to invade Tara. The villagers wore demon masks to scare the intruders, and won the skirmish.Another local legend originating in the 9th century is that of a handsome warrior-monk, Takeno Shintaro, whose looks so charmed the ladies that they sang a song whenever he came down from the mountains. The lyrics of the song ask for him to fall and break his leg so that he would have to stay among the women. Women could not go into the mountains at that time in history because of the mountains' sacred nature. The mountains themselves were worshiped as the realm of gods (at this time the local belief was that gods were another step along a buddha
Buddhahood
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
's progression), and the temple at Mount Tara, Kinsen-ji, had authority over more than 70 shrines in Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. However, under the Meiji restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, the god-buddha connection became taboo and today Kinsen-ji lies in disrepair. During 1780, a song named "Zanza-bushi" spread through Japan. Saga people adapted the melody and used it to recreate the song "Takeno Shintaro-san". The first two stanzas:
There is a legend about the origins of the Doro Mochi
Mochi
Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. While also eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time...
Tsuki festival (see festivals section below). In the legend, set about 200 years ago, the village was poor. On occasion of the village elder being away on a pilgrimage, the town's people all had the same dream. In the mysterious dream, an itinerant monk came to the village as they were discussing how to pray for rain and in hunger stole some mochi. The villagers blamed him and killed him. Out of regret, they buried him. Rain fell upon the place where he was buried. The villagers believed the rain was due to the monk, and offered mochi to him, thus starting the traditional festival.
Festivals and religious occasions
There are many festivals in Tara, some with history spanning back hundreds of years. These are listed below, in order of date.- January 2 - January 3, : A hadaka matsuriHadaka MatsuriA is a type of Japanese festival, or matsuri, in which participants wear a minimum amount of clothing; usually just a Japanese loincloth , sometimes with a short happi coat, and rarely completely naked. Whatever the clothing, it is considered to be above vulgar, or everyday, undergarments, and on...
at Takezaki Kanzeon temple wherein men dressed in loincloths try to stop a man dressed as an oni, who carries a box. The men then pull at the oni and shred the red kimono the oni wears. There is also a dance by boys in costumes.
- January 8, : This matsuri is an archery event in the Ochiyōzu district in which the participants wield bows and arrows made out of green bamboo. Words like "east", "west", "south", "north" and "oni" are written on the targets. 33,333 arrows are said to be shot metaphorically, though the actual number is much less. 3 is a number that carries connotations of innocent omens in the festival, therefore the figure.
- Mid January, : A children's festival at Takezaki Kanzeon temple in which they take round straw mats and pierce them with long spears. Then they take the luck of the new yearJapanese New YearThe is one of the most important annual festivals, with its own unique customs, and has been celebrated for centuries. Due to the importance of the holiday and the preparations required, the preceding days are quite busy, particularly the day before, known as Ōmisoka.The Japanese New Year has been...
upon themselves and make wishes.
- January 14, : A children’s festival in which they go around carrying sticks with straw wrapped around the end. They chant, "!", a ritual saying, as they strike the ground in unison. This drives away bad luck and invites fortune. This type of festival happens in other places in Japan.
- April 1, : To honor their ancestors, people dress as white foxes and perform a synchronized dance.
- Mid May, : A Buddhist ceremony in Takezaki Kanzeon temple and around the coast that appeases the force in charge of the catch and prays for a safe fishing season. During the ceremony a monk travels along the coast, ringing gongs and beating drums, while chanting a sutraSutraSūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
in honor of a bodhiBodhiBodhi is both a Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English with the word "enlightenment", but which means awakened. In Buddhism it is the knowledge possessed by a Buddha into the nature of things...
ancestor that is interred at Takezaki Kanzeon temple. This ceremony is more than 400 years old.
- End of July, beginning of August : At night the town gathers on Michikoshi beach and dances, O-bon-style, in a giant ring. Many people wear yukataYukataA is a Japanese garment, a casual summer kimono usually made of cotton. People wearing yukata are a common sight in Japan at fireworks displays, bon-odori festivals, and other summer events. The yukata is also frequently worn after bathing at traditional Japanese inns...
. There are also fireworks. This is a relatively new festival, but arguably the biggest in Tara. Many events happen at the same time, and traditional matsuri stands are set up, allowing access to festival foods and games.
- 2nd Saturday and Sunday of September, : At Tara-dake Shrine and throughout Tara for a few weeks, people give thanks for (and for ensuring for the prosperity of another) a big harvest. People excitedly dance around in black outfits and wear oni masks. They also carry drums and cymbals and beat taikoTaikomeans "drum" in Japanese . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming...
drums. This is said to be the oldest of Tara's festivals and traditions.
- September 22, : A muddy, mochi-pounding festival at Itoki Kabuta, in which men wearing fundoshiFundoshiis the traditional Japanese undergarment for adult males, made from a length of cotton. Before World War II, the fundoshi was the main form of underwear for Japanese adult males...
battle each other on a slippery mud field of red-clay while pounding mochi (see above for origins of this matsuri). The muddy mochi made in the event is then offered on a plate to a statue of Yakushi Nyorai.
Other Events
- January 4, : To celebrate the return of spring, runners from Tara and other places gather in front of Tara elementary school and run a marathon.
- July 10: Shirahama beach officially opens
- July 21: Camp Nakayama opens to the public.
- End of July through the beginning of August, . Held in Tagori, kids come from all over Japan to have their pet beetles fight in little rings on the tops of logs. The beetle that falls of the log loses.
Discontinued Festivals and traditions
Some festivals have recently stopped being performed, or are rarely observed anymore. Among them are: the cucumber festival, in which cucumbers were piled in hopes of blessings such as safety and babies, and the demon fires events, in which large bonfires were made.Industry
It is regionally famous for its crab
Crab
True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax...
s (of the wanigani variety), mikan
Mikan
The satsuma is a seedless and easy-peeling citrus mutant of Japanese origin introduced to the West.In Japan, it is known as mikan or formally unshu mikan . In China, it is known as Wenzhou migan . The Japanese name is a result of the local reading of the same characters used in the Chinese...
s, and oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
s, the latter of which is in season during the winter. During oyster (or kaki) season, it is common for people to come from surrounding prefectures and enjoy grilled kaki. Many restaurants have special, bare-bones plastic and wood sections that are only open during this season. Most of such business happens on the weekends, and this is also a good business time for the local farmer's market.
Other industry in Tara includes animal husbandry, especially chicken farms, and forestry. But Tara's most profitable industry probably lies in the surrounding sea. Besides fishing and marine life, Tara boasts thousands of nori
Nori
is the Japanese name for various edible seaweed species of the red alga Porphyra including most notably P. yezoensis and P. tenera, sometimes called laver. Finished products are made by a shredding and rack-drying process that resembles papermaking...
collecting poles and nets.
Education
Tara has one prefectural highschool, Tara High School (佐賀県立太良高等学校), and two junior high schools. There are also two elementary schools and scattered kindergartens.Transportation
Most travelers come to Tara by National Route 207 or via the Nagasaki Main Line, operated by JR Kyushu.Stations
Tara is serviced by the JR Kyushu railroad company. It has two stations and one switchbox.- Nagasaki Main Line
- Tara StationTara Stationis a train station in Tara, Fujitsu District, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Nagasaki Main Line. The limited express Kamome makes occasional special stops here during the Gatalympics. According to a 2005 estimate, the daily usage average is 297 people per...
- Hizen-Ōura StationHizen-Oura Stationis a train station in Tara, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Nagasaki Main Line.-History:*1934-12-01 - Opening by the Japanese Government Railways*1976-06-06 - The track from Tosu to Nagasaki is electrified...
- Tara Station
Air
The closest airport is Saga AirportSaga Airport
is an airport in the Kawasoe area of Saga, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:*...
, followed by one in Nagasaki. Most travelers go to Fukuoka Airport
Fukuoka Airport
, formerly known as Itazuke Air Base, is an international and domestic airport located east of Hakata Station in Fukuoka, Japan. It is officially designated a second class airport. It is operating at full capacity, and cannot be further expanded. Flights stop at 10 p.m...
for travel abroad.
Roads
National Route 207 runs through the length of the town, and is the only road to Nagasaki PrefectureNagasaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...
. The mountains are seeded with small roads, many of them one lane and unpaved. A road leads from camp Nakayama towards Kashima
Kashima, Saga
is a city located in the southern part of Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan.-Geography:Kashima is located about 60 kilometers southwest of Saga City. It borders the Ariake Sea to the east and Nagasaki Prefecture to the southwest...
and Ureshino
Ureshino, Saga
is a city located in the western part of Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. The city was formed on January 1, 2006 by the merger of the towns of Ureshino and Shiota...
.
Sea
While fishingFishing industry
The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products....
is a huge industry, there is no known sea travel, nor are there ferries available.
Language
While standard JapaneseJapanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
is spoken and understood in the area, the locals also speak the local dialect, Saga-ben, which is further broken down into Tara-ben and Ōura-ben. Some examples of speech include:
- "dōgan", or the even older and more rustic "dōgyan"; approximately equivalent to standard Japanese's "dō" (how).
- Extremely common words that end in "re" have "re" replaced by "i". For instance, "kore" = "koi", "ore" = "oi" etc.
- "Kyu kyan ba" means "I have to eat it today"
- "Soigi ne" (in the Tara quarter) and "Aigi ne" (in Ōura) are the local equivalent to "ja ne", or in English "see you later". "Soigi" is generally substituted where standard Japanese's "ja" or "de wa" would be.
External links
- Tara official website
- Exploring the Tara mountains A guide to various hiking and rock-climing routes in the area.
- Guide to Tara Festivals
- Tara Event info