Cold horses graze at the feet of Shiriyazaki Lighthouse, the northernmost point of Honshu [Higashidori Village, Aomori Prefecture]

Kandachime is a horse that retains the pedigree of the native Japanese horse "Nanbuuma," raised on a pasture in Shiriyazaki, facing the Pacific Ocean and Tsugaru Straits at the eastern tip of the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture.

the Shiriyazaki Lighthouse at the northernmost tip of Honshu , which has been designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property , and its picturesque scenery has made it a popular tourist spot on the Shimokita Peninsula.

Although small, the ``Kandatema'' has a powerful appearance.

``Kandatema'' is descended from the ``Nanbuuma'', a native Japanese horse whose purebreds are now extinct, and although it is smaller, it has strong legs and runs fast. He has a sturdy physique that looks like he can handle heavy lifting.

The ancestors of these horses were originally native Japanese horses known as ``Nanbu horses,'' which had been grazed in this area since the Edo period.

The horses became well-known after Tsutomu Iwasa, the principal of the local Shiriya Elementary and Junior High School, composed a poem at the first writing session in 1970, saying, ``Shinonome neighs with courage, cold standing horses, perhaps the storm of Chikushigahara.'' is.

Since then, it has been called ``Kanriuma'' and has become known throughout the country. ``Kandateuma'' depicts horses standing in a snow-covered pasture while being exposed to strong cold winds.

Grazing was temporarily suspended due to trouble with tourists.

As of 2022, ``Kandateuma'' has 11 parent horses and 6 foals. Horses were originally bred for heavy labor such as farming or for military purposes, but in modern times they are no longer used for farming or other purposes other than for horse racing and meat.

Kantateuma is no exception, and by 1991 (Heisei 3), the number had decreased to nine. After that, conservation efforts by local governments and other organizations became active in order to prevent extinction, and by 2020 (Reiwa 2), the number had returned to over 30, but since then, unfortunately, tourists have been grazing them. Accidents of horses being kicked or bitten by horses were increasing, and the management association that ran the pastures had no choice but to move them to fenced pastures.

Yomiuri Shimbun article on May 15, 2022: https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20220515-OYT1T50003/

Since grazing fields are not as large as the plateau, it is not possible to keep horses in a good environment unless the number of horses is limited, so some of the grazing horses are entrusted to farmers or privately owned. is. It appears that the number of ``Kandatema'' is decreasing, but it's just that the number of horses that can be viewed is decreasing. Most of the accidents are caused by tourists, but if improvements are made to prevent accidents, the animals will be grazed as before.

Also, in winter, there is no grazing on the plateau where the lighthouse is located. They overwinter in a grazing area called Ataka, which is a little far away.

Yoshitsune Minamoto's favorite horse is the "Nanbu horse"

The existence of ``Nanbu Uma,'' the ancestor of ``Kandate Uma,'' has been recorded in ancient documents since the Nara period. At that time, the area north of the Tohoku region called Emishi

Therefore, the imperial court appointed Sakanoue no Tamuramaro as the Sei Taishogun, and sent troops to conquer Emishi many times, sending local horses to the capitals of Nara and Kyoto. I took it home. Kyushu , which were in the capital at the time. '' and was the object of admiration among the aristocrats.

horse of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Tayuuguro, which he rode in battles such as the Battle of Ichi-no-tani, is also said to be a piece of Obatsu.

The Nanbu domain improved the "Nanbu horse" as an excellent military horse.

After the Nanbu clan began to rule the present Iwate and eastern Aomori prefectures, they built the ranch of the domain and worked to improve the horses, creating excellent war horses.

Farmers also "collectors," and take care of war horses in place of farming horses, and raise them carefully to contribute to the improvement of the horses.

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT

Nanbu Bevelers are the unique residence of the Nanbu Domain, who was well aware of the importance of horses [Iwate Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/10445

``Magari-ya'' is a unique and humane residence built for people to live together with a stable inside the house. In the north of the Kanto region, especially in Iwate Prefecture, during the Edo period many unique curved houses called ``Nanbu Magariya'' were built. ``Old Kawamae Shime House'' Built in the late Edo period. "Tono Furusato Village" Image provided by: Iwate Prefectural Tourism Association Horses are kept in the main house, which stays warm all day long even in the cold and snowy winters.There are old folk houses with L-shaped thatched roofs remaining throughout the Tohoku region. It is called ``Magariya,'' and its name may change slightly depending on the region, such as Magariya, Magariya, Magariya, Magariya, Magariya, Magariya...

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The Edo shogunate also considered horses to be an important military force, and the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu and the eighth shogun Yoshimune entrusted Persian horses (Arab breeds) to the Nanbu domain, and the ``Nanbu horses'' were used as military horses. continued to be improved.

Even after the Meiji period, breeding of "Nanbu horses" with foreign horses for military purposes progressed, and some horses were born that were fast enough to be race horses, but instead, the pure blood of "Nanbu horses" died out. I did.

``Kandateuma'' is an agricultural horse that was improved from the military horse Tanabeuma.

In the Shimokita Peninsula, there was a relatively small military horse called the ``Tanabu horse'' that was The "Tanabe horse" is a horse whose ancestor is the "Nanbu horse" and was bred and improved with horses from Mongolia and Russia .

In the Shiriya area, this "Tanabe horse" was crossed with Breton, a large meat breed native to France, and improved as a breed for agriculture and meat. That is "Kandateuma".

Kantateuma is not a wild horse. As a valuable horse that descends from the Nanbu horse, it is carefully protected and raised by Higashitori Village and other communities. "Kandateuma" is designated as a natural monument of Aomori Prefecture.

Kantateuma winter pasture land Ataka <Information>

• Name: Kantateuma wintering pasture land Ataka
• Address: Shiriya District, Higashitori Village, Shimokita District, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0175-47-2115 (Higashidori Village Industrial Promotion Corporation)

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Shiriyazaki Lighthouse protects maritime traffic in the Tsugaru Strait

the tallest brick lighthouse in Japan , which began lighting in 1876 (Meiji 9) .

It was approximately 33 meters high and was Japan's first Western-style lighthouse in the Tohoku region. In addition, Shiriyazaki is a difficult place for marine transportation due to the complicated ocean currents where the Tsugaru Strait and the Pacific Ocean meet, and is an area where dense fog occurs, so it is the first place in Japan to have a foghorn installed.

Furthermore, in 1901 (Meiji 34), Japan's first electric arc lamp was installed , boasting unprecedented brightness for the Meiji era. It is also recorded as the only lighthouse in Japan where a meteorite fell

The Shiriyazaki Lighthouse a registered tangible cultural property of the country , and has been certified as a Heritage of Industrial Modernization and a Civil Engineering Heritage Recommended by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. You can tour the inside.

Shiriyazaki Lighthouse＜Information＞

• Name: Shiriyazaki Lighthouse
• Address: 1-1 Shiriyazaki, Shiriya, Higashitori Village, Shimokita District, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0175-47-288
• Closed: Early November to late April
• Visitation donation: 300 yen for junior high school students and above
• URL: Shiriyazaki Lighthouse (lighthouse homepage)

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Higashidori Village＜Information＞

• Contact: Higashidori Village Commerce and Tourism Group
• Phone number: 0175-27-2111
• URL: Higashidori Village Commerce and Tourism Group (Higashidori Village Homepage)