[Hinoedagi Village, Fukushima Prefecture] What is Hinoedagi Village, a secret village where Kabuki is handed down by villagers?

Hinoemata Villageis a mountain village located in the southwesternmost part of Fukushima Prefecture, bordering Gunma, Tochigi, and Niigata prefectures. The area is approximately 340 square kilometers, with 98% covered by forest. It has a population of approximately 550 people (as of January 2020), making it the least densely populated village in Japan. The altitude of Hinoedagi Village Office is approximately 939m, and the area is in a heavy snowfall area where up to 3m of snow accumulates in winter. Fukushima prefecture's most unexplored regionIt is said that

Hinoemata is the northern gateway to Oze

Hinoedagi Village is visited by many climbers and tourists as it is the starting point for climbing into Oze National Park from the north. Oze is the highest peak in the Tohoku region Hiuchigatake (elevation 2,356m)It spreads over an area of ​​1,400m to 1,600m, centered on Ozenuma, Ozegahara, and Oe Wetland.Japan's largest high-rise wetland areais.

Hiking course from Hinoemata Village to Oze

Ozenuma course

[Hinoedagi Village - Nanari (Private car is here, parking available) → (There is a bus connection from Hinoedagi Village/Oike to Numayama Pass) → Numayama Pass → Ozenuma] From Numayama Pass to Ozenuma , Oe Wetland, approximately 6.5km long, takes about 2 hours and is a course that even beginners can walk.

Ozegahara course

[Hinoedagi Village → Oike (Private car ends here, parking available) → Urahito Forest Road (Oike Tashiro, Himedashiro, Uetashiro, Tenjin Tashiro, Usatashiro) → Hot Spring Hut] Approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes walk to Sanjo Falls 4 hours and 20 minutes if you stop at

[Hot spring hut → Miharashi → Ryugu/Ushikubi (crossing Ozegahara) → Yamanohana] Approximately 40 minutes walk

There are several courses such asTrekking course of 2 days or moreis. Wear clothes and equipment that can withstand bad weather, and stay overnight in a mountain hut.

In addition, Hinoedagi Village has many 2,000m-class mountains such as Mt. Hiushigatake and the surrounding Mt. Aizukomagatake (2,133m), Mt. Hiragatake (2,141m), and Mt. Shibutsu (2,228m). It has become a mountain climbing base.

INFORMATION

• Name: Oze Hinoemata Onsen Tourism Association
• Address: 1155-1 Mimitori, Hinoemadagi Village, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture
• Phone number: 0241-75-2432
• URL: Oze Hinoemata Onsen Tourism Association

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Hinoedagi Village's wealth is its natural beauty, represented by Oze, but this small village also has a folk performing art called ``Hinoeda Kabuki'' that has been performed by the villagers since the Edo period, and is still popular today. However, it is carefully protected.

Hinoemaki, where the noble family who lost the battle settled.

In Hinoedagi VillageMany Jomon pottery discoveredIt is assumed that people have been living there for quite some time. There is a record that a man named Fujiwara Kaneharu (pronunciation unknown) moved to the village from Kinokuni (Wakayama Prefecture) in 794 in the early Heian period. Kaneharu took the surname "Hoshi" because he was from Hoshi no Sato (an ancient place name) in Muro District in the southern part of the Kii Peninsula. Even now, “Hoshi-san” ranks first in the surname rankings in Hinoemada Village, accounting for about 40% of the surnames.

It is said that the village of Hinoedagi is said to have been home to the "Heike stragglers" and that the Tachibana family, which was destroyed by Oda Nobunaga, took refuge there, and as if to prove this legend, the Taira surname was There are also a large number of surnames that have been changed, such as "Hirano" (just under 40%) and "Tachibana" (over 10%), and when "hoshi" (star) is included, a whopping 90% of surnames have these three surnames.

It is said that out of the four surnames Fujiwara, Taira, Minamoto, and Tachibana that were considered prestigious for court nobles during the Heian period, it is extremely rare that there are as many as three surnames related to Fujiwara, Taira, and Tachibana.

During the Edo period, it developed as a distribution center on the old Numata Kaido.

Hinoemata is deep in the mountains as it was a place where refugees lived in hiding, but from the Edo period to the early Meiji period,Old Numata Kaido (Aizu Kaido)It was the base of The Old Numata Highway is a road that crosses the Numayama Pass from the Aizu side and passes from Ozenuma to Numata in Joshu Ueno Province (Gunma Prefecture). It is called Aizu Kaido and overlaps with the current walking route to Lake Ozenuma.

The old Numata Highway mainly carried rice and alcohol from the Aizu side, and salt and oil from the Numata side.As it was a mountain road, trading huts were set up on the banks of Lake Ozenuma to exchange goods. Hinoedagi, located at the foot of Oze, served as a gathering place on the Aizu side.

Edo Kabuki told by villagers visiting Ise

During the Edo period, Hinoemata was a fairly wealthy town, and pilgrims to Ise were popular there. In the late Edo period, villagers who went on a pilgrimage to Ise visited a Kabuki performance in Edo on the way and were so moved that they returned to their village and told the story to the villagers. that is" Hinoedagi Kabuki” was the beginning.

Although ``Hiedagi Kabuki'' began with people watching and imitating it, its charm spread to the villages of Aizu, and it became so successful that it is said that each village had its own troupe. As each troupe competed against each other, the performance evolved into a form that closely resembled the real Edo Kabuki.

“Hinoemada Kabuki” is performed three times a year on the “Hinoemada Stage”

``Hiedagi Kabuki'' is performed on the ``Hiedagi Stage'' on May 12th, August 18th, and the first Saturday of September every year.

Currently, there is only one troupe in Hinoedagi Village, but the current ``Hiedagi Kabuki'' is carried out by villagers who have other jobs, from the performers to those behind the scenes, while continuing to carry on the tradition. Although there are no professional actors, their skillful acting goes far beyond the realm of a "country play."

The person who performs “Hiedagi Kabuki” is “Chiba no Ie Hanakomaza”, and there are about 30 members, led by the 11th chairman, Shoji Hoshi. Performances are held three times a year. Hinoemata stage” is carried out.

The venue is a sacred forest with no roof other than the stage.

"Hinoedagi's stage" isA stage built in the precincts of Hinoemata's guardian shrineThe stage, which had burned down in 1893 (Meiji 26), was rebuilt in its original form around 1898. The stage has a roof, but the audience seats do not.

``Hinoemata Stage'' is designated as an important tangible folk cultural property of the country, and ``Hinoemada Kabuki'' is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of Fukushima Prefecture.

``Hiedagi Kabuki'' will be performed even in rainy weather if it is possible. All seats are free on a first-come, first-served basis. The venue can accommodate approximately 1,200 people.

INFORMATION

• Hinoedagi Kabuki
• Facility name: Hinoemata stage
• Address: 679 Ihira, Hinoedagi Village, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture
• Phone number: 0241-75-2342 (Hinoemada Village Board of Education)
• Event date:
  • May 12th / Atago God Festival Dedicated Kabuki
  • August 18th / Kabuki dedicated to the guardian deity festival
  • First Saturday of September/Kabuki Evening
• Opening hours: Doors open at 18:00, performance starts at 19:00 respectively
• Admission fee:
  • Free on May 12th and August 18th
  • 1000 yen on the first Saturday of September (free for Muranaka guests)
  • *The number of performances may change depending on the year.

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Kabuki tradition museum “Chiba-no-ie” exhibits materials from “Hiedagi Kabuki”

Kabuki Tradition Museum “Chiba no Ie”is a museum of ``Hinoemada Kabuki'', where various materials related to ``Hinoemada Kabuki'', which has been passed down for 270 years, are on display.

INFORMATION

• Facility name: Kabuki tradition center “Chiba no Ie”
• Address: 664 Ihira, Hinoedagi Village, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture
• Phone number: 0241-75-2342 (Hinoemada Village Board of Education)
• Opening period: Early May to early November
• Opening hours:
  • Weekdays/Saturday/9:00-16:00
  • Sundays and holidays/8:00-17:00
• Admission fee: Free
• Guide: Basically unmanned on weekdays. A manager is always on site on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and on days when Kabuki is performed on stage.

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