In the Tohoku region, there is a history of people called "Emishi" by the central government living there and developing their own unique culture and technology
The power dynamics of Oshu underwent significant changes after the 38-year war with the Yamato court, the resistance of the hero Aterui, and the Former Nine Years' War and Later Three Years' War. Meanwhile, Tagajo and Akita Castle flourished as centers of politics, military affairs, and diplomacy, and the techniques of the warabite swords and Maikusa blacksmiths used by the Emishi are thought to have influenced the later development of Japanese swords
Furthermore, shrines and legends dedicated to Arahabaki, a god of unknown origin, remain in various regions. In this special feature, we will explore the little-known aspects of ancient Tohoku and the mysteries of the culture that has been passed down to the present day, tracing the history of archaeological sites, swords, shrines, and wars
The missing link in the birth of the Japanese sword... What was the "Warabite-to" wielded by the Emishi?
The "Warabite-to" sword, used by the Emishi people in ancient Tohoku, is a unique iron sword with a pommel that swirls like a young bracken fern
Over time, the sword acquired features like openwork patterns and curves to soften the impact, and it is believed to have become the "missing link" in the birth of the Japanese sword, transitioning from straight swords to curved swords
This development was supported by the abundant iron resources of the Tohoku region, such as iron sand and iron gluten, and the combat techniques of the Emishi. Furthermore, examples unearthed and passed down through generations in western Japan reveal a connection to the relocation of the Emishi "Fushu" who were subordinate to the imperial court
Throughout these three episodes, we will trace the shape, materials, manufacturing methods, strength, and distribution of the Warabite sword, exploring the origins of Japanese swords and the little-known technological capabilities of ancient Tohoku
Who are the Oshu "Maigusa Blacksmiths," one of the oldest groups of swordsmiths in Japan?
The "Maigusa Blacksmiths," based in the area around Ichinoseki and Hiraizumi in present-day Iwate Prefecture, are considered one of the oldest groups of swordsmiths in Japan
It is believed that the Tohoku region inherited abundant iron resources and the techniques of making warabite swords, giving rise to the Maikusa sword, which possessed both sharp cutting ability and the toughness to withstand actual combat. Its reputation is preserved in the legends of the Minamoto clan's treasured swords and the "Yoshitsune Chronicle," and the fact that the swordsmiths moved to various regions may have influenced the Five Schools of Japanese swordsmithing that later represented the art of sword making
Throughout these three episodes, we will explore the true nature and mysteries of the Oshu swordsmiths who supported the establishment and development of Japanese swords, tracing the stories of master craftsmen and lost sword-making techniques described in ancient documents, as well as the Hagusa Shrine, considered to be the birthplace of Japanese swords
What was the story of Aterui, the ancient Emishi hero, and the Thirty-Eight Years' War in Tohoku?
The Emishi, who resisted the rule of the Yamato court in ancient Tohoku, and Aterui, known as their hero
Aterui, who was based in the area around present-day Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture, along with More and others, troubled the imperial army, and it is said that he overcame an overwhelming numerical disadvantage in the Battle of Subushi in 789
However, after fighting against the Shogun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, he surrendered in 802, and despite pleas for clemency, he was executed in Kawachi Province
Across three episodes, we will trace the background of the conflict between the Yamato and Emishi, the course of the Thirty-Eight Years' War, the Emishi's fighting capabilities, the personalities of Aterui and More, and the legends of the place where they met their end that still remain in present-day Osaka Prefecture
The "Three Checkpoints of Oshu" were established to prevent the Emishi from invading Yamato Province
During the Asuka and Heian periods, there are checkpoints that are believed to have been established to prevent invasions from the Emishi people of the Tohoku region, which the Yamato court did not yet control, into the areas under its control (west of the Kanto and Hokuriku regions)
These include Nezugaseki, located near the border between Yamagata and Niigata prefectures; Shirakawaseki, located near the border between Fukushima and Tochigi prefectures; and Nakososeki, said to have been located near the border between Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures. Collectively, these are known as the "Three Great Barriers of Oshu."
Tagajo, the northern capital where the provincial capital and the garrison of the ancient Tohoku region were located
During the Nara period, Tagajo Castle was built as a base for controlling the Emishi people, and it housed the provincial capital of Mutsu Province and the Chinjufu (military headquarters)
In the surrounding area, there are numerous archaeological sites that tell the story of its history as a thriving "northern capital," including the ruins of Tagajo Temple, the Tatemae ruins which are thought to be the residence of a provincial governor, and the Kashiwagi ruins where the remains of an ironworks were discovered
Furthermore, the area around Tagajo, a place longed for by people from the capital, became the setting for famous poetic places such as Tsubohi, Noda no Tamagawa, Okii, and Sue no Matsuyama, and Matsuo Basho later followed in its footsteps
This article explores the history of Tagajo, which supported the politics and military of ancient Tohoku, and the famous places mentioned in waka poetry and the novel "Oku no Hosomichi" (The Narrow Road to the Deep North)
The discovery of "flush toilet" remains reveals trade with the "Balhai Kingdom"... The history of ancient Akita Castle
Built during the Nara period as the front line of control over the Emishi people on the Sea of Japan side, the ancient Akita Castle served not only as a base for administration and military affairs, but also as a center for diplomacy and trade with foreign countries
The excavation uncovered the remains of a flush toilet, which was rare in Japan at the time, as well as parasite eggs that were not found in the country. These findings are attracting attention as clues suggesting the possibility that an envoy from Balhae stayed at the site
This article explores the true nature of the "northern gateway" through the restored East Gate, government offices, and exhibits at the Akita Castle Ruins Historical Museum, while also tracing the history of Akita City, from Minato Castle, built by the later Ando clan (Akita clan), to Kubota Castle, built by the Satake clan
The "Former Nine Years' War" and the "Later Three Years' War" were two conflicts in the Oshu region at the end of the Heian period
The "Former Nine Years' War" and the "Later Three Years' War" took place in Mutsu and Dewa provinces during the late Heian period
The conflict, which began with a dispute between the Abe clan, who ruled the six northern districts, and the imperial court, involved Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son Yoshiie, as well as the Kiyohara clan of Dewa Province, and drastically altered the balance of power in the Tohoku region
After the fall of the Abe clan, the Kiyohara clan, who had acquired the six counties of Oku, also fell into internal conflict due to complex family ties and succession disputes, and the Oshu region once again entered an era of war
Across all seven episodes, we will trace the events from the beginning of the two campaigns, through the resistance of Abe Sadatō and others, the participation of the Kiyohara clan and their internal conflicts, to the decisive battle at Kanazawa Fort, unraveling the turning points in history that led to the birth of the Ōshū Fujiwara clan, the alliance between the Minamoto clan and the warriors of eastern Japan, and ultimately to the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate
