[Hinoedagi Village, Fukushima Prefecture] What is “Hinoedagi Village”, an unexplored village where Kabuki is handed down by the villagers?

Hinoei Village is located in the westernmost southernmost part of Fukushima Prefecture, and is a mountain village in Gunma, Tochigi and Niigata prefectures. The area is about 340 square kilometers, 98 % of the forest. The population is about 550 (as of January 2020) and the village with the smallest population density in Japan. The Hinobai Village Office is about 939m, and in winter it is a heavy snowfall area with 3m snow, and is said to be the best in Fukushima Prefecture

Hinoemata is the northern gateway to Oze

Hinoemachi Village is visited by many climbers and tourists as a mountain climbing entrance from the north side of Oze National Park Japan's largest high -rise wetland that spreads in 1,400m to 1,600m, such as Ozuma, Ozegahara, and Oe Marsh, centered on Hiuchigatake in the Tohoku region .

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, but all trekking courses for more than 2 days . Stayed in a mountain hut with clothes and equipment that can withstand bad weather.

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.

Oze Hinochi Onsen Tourism Association <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.

It is estimated that people have lived for a long time because many Jomon pottery has been found in Hinoemachi Village In the village, there is a record in the early Heian period that a person named Kinharu Fujiwara (unknown) moved from Kii Country (Kinokuni / Wakayama Prefecture) in 794. Kimharu was born in the southern part of Kii Peninsula, Muro -gun (ancient place name), and gave his name "star". Even now, "Hoshi -san" accounts for the first place and 40 % in the last name ranking of Hinoemata Village.

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.

was the base of the former Numata Kaido (Aizu Kaido) from the Edo period to the early Meiji era The former Numata Kaido is a highway from the Aizu side to the Numayama Pass and from the Oze Numa shores to the Numata from the Joshu Ueno Country (Kozukinokuni / Gunma Prefecture). It is called the Aizu Kaido, and overlaps with the current walking path to 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

In Hinoemata, which was wealthy during the Edo period, Ise -Isei was doing it. In the late Edo period, the villagers who went to Ise were impressed to see Kabuki in Edo on the way, returned to the village and talk to the villagers. That was the beginning of "Hinodai Kabuki

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."

"Hinoki Ichi Kabuki" plays "Chiba no Hanakomaga" , and there are about 30 members mainly by 11th chair, Shoji Hoshi. The performance will be held three times a year on the stage of Hinoedai

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

The stage of Hinodai a stage located on the grounds of the shrine in Hinodai , and was rebuilt in 1893 (Meiji 26) as the same as the old days of the Meiji era. It is a thing. The stage is covered, but the audience has no roof.

``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.

Hinodai Kabuki <INFORMATION>

• 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”

The Kabuki Denkan "Chiba no family" is a museum of "Hinodai Kabuki", which exhibits various materials of "Hinochi Kabuki", which has been handed down for 270 years.

Kabuki Traditional Museum "Chiba no Family" <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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