[Akita] What is Danburi Choja? Detailed explanation of the folklore that gave the name of potato shochu

In May 2021, the potato shochu “Danburi Choja” manufactured and sold by Akita Prefecture Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. won the bronze medal at the “Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition (TWSC) 2021”, a distilled spirits competition.

We will explain in detail what kind of folk tale ``Danburi Choja'' is, which is so popular that it has become the name of potato shochu, and which is also asked in the Akita Furusato Examination as a basic knowledge of Akita.

Reference: Nihon Shokuryo Shimbun “Akita Prefecture Fermentation Industry, ``Yonezo'' wins TWSC Gold Award, ``Danburi Choja'' receives Bronze Award.''

Reference: Akita Furusato Certification “Basic knowledge of Akita: The legend of the wealthy man”

Danburichoja synopsis

Danburi Choja, a story told in Akita, is an old tale about a dragonfly named Danburi that brings happiness to a married couple.Let's review the plot.

When a daughter living in Tokko, Hinai (present-day Odate City) was grieving over the death of her parents, she had a dream in which she was told by a white-haired old man to climb upstream and marry a young man she met there. received.

As the prophecy had told her, her daughter married a young man she met in Azuzawa (present-day Kazuno City) and they became husband and wife, and although they worked diligently, they were so poor that they could not afford to buy alcoholic beverages to offer to the gods on New Year's Day.

Then, Dainichi, a gray-haired old man, appeared in the couple's dream and told them that they could become wealthy if they moved upstream, so the couple opened a farm in Tayama (present-day Tayama, Ashiro Town, Iwate Prefecture).

One day, while the husband was sleeping in between working in the field, a danburi came flying at him and repeatedly touched his lips with its tail, which made the wife wonder.

When my husband woke up, he felt like he had drunk some delicious sake in his dream, so he went to the side where the dumplings had flown and found a spring from which the sake gushed out.

The couple became the richest people in the country because alcohol had the effect of curing any illness and prolonging life.

Many people gathered at the large mansion, and the rice water started to flow, flowing into the river and turning the water white, so people came to call the river Yoneshiro (Yoshiro) River.

However, the couple could not conceive a child even after the age of 40, so they prayed to Dainichijin, and a daughter was born to them.

To call themselves choja requires permission from the emperor, so when the couple brought their daughter to the capital, she caught the attention of Emperor Keitai and was assigned to serve in the imperial court.

The daughter took the name Kisshohime and married Emperor Keitai, but the wealthy couple eventually died and the fountain of sake turned to water.

Princess Kissho was saddened by this and asked to build a Dainichi Reiki Shrine in her hometown, and was granted permission.

For this reason, Dainichi Reiki Shrine in present-day Azukizawa was built in 523 (Emperor Keitai's 17th year).

Also, when Princess Kissho passed away, she was buried next to Dainichi Reiki Shrine according to her will, so ginkgo trees were planted nearby and a temple called Kissho-in was built.

Masumi Sugae and “Danburi Choja”

The folk tale of the Danburi Choja was originally told in the Edo period as Oku Joruri, which was told in the Ou region, but a story similar to the story is written in Masumi Sugae's book ``Kefu no Sebanono.'' It is recorded as a story.

In Danbiru Choja Monogatari, it is said that what flew to the husband was an akitsu insect (dragonfly), and the villagers called it danbi, so the couple were called Danbiru Choja. This can be said to be different from the folk tales that are passed down in Akita today.

Another big difference is that after the couple died, a temple called Yorosan Kitokuji was built by imperial order, rather than Dainichi Reiki Shrine.

``Kefu no Sebanono'' is included in the second separate volume of the Akita Series, so if you are interested, please read and compare.

Reference: National Diet Library Digital Collection “Akita Series Special Collection 2 “Kefu no Sebanono””

summary

Danburi Choja is an old tale about a dragonfly, which means Danburi, which brings happiness to a couple, but I also learned that it is also connected to the origin of the name of the Yoneshiro River and the story of the founding of Dainichi Reiki Shrine.

The ``Akita Folktales, Legends, and Small Stories Oral Literature Search System'' allows you to read and compare the various folktales of Danburicho people that have been passed down in Akita Prefecture, so if you are interested, please take a look.

Reference: Akita's folk tales, legends, and small talk oral literature search system "Danburi Choja"

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