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[Part 2] A stone monument related to Suishinshi Masahide in Akayu! | Akayu Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture

  • ikoke ikoke
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Let's go to Akayu Onsen! In Part 1, we mainly introduced the hot springs. This time, while visiting Akayu Onsen, we found a stone monument of Suishinshi Masahide, who is famous for being the spark that started the sword boom in the popular content "Touken Ranbu."

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
[Part 1] Three public baths in a small hot spring town that opened over 920 years ago! | Akayu Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/17291
Akayu Onsen, located in southern Yamagata Prefecture, known as the hot spring kingdom, has a hot spring town just a five-minute drive or 30-minute walk from the station, where the JR Yamagata Shinkansen also stops. This compact hot spring town is home to 14 unique accommodations, each with its own unique style, including pet-friendly inns and museum-like inns. This small hot spring town is dotted with renovated public baths that are a part of the daily lives of local residents, and day-trip baths beloved by tourists as drop-in baths. We'll be focusing on the renovated public baths, as well as introducing the history and health benefits of Akayu Onsen. Please enjoy until the very end. Akayu...
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I have researched the attractions of Akayu other than the hot springs, the relationship between Akayu and Suishinshi Masahide, whom I came across during my walk, and his great achievements, and would like to introduce them to you

Please enjoy until the end

What is Akayu in Nanyo City?

Photo by ikoke

is home to the flagship store of Akayu Ramen Ryu Shanghai , an extremely famous and popular ramen shop in Yamagata It's a popular ramen shop that sees queues even on weekdays, and even longer lines on weekends.

The niboshi-based soup is rich and flavorful, and the handmade curly noodles are super chewy. The spicy miso mixed into the soup mixes well with the noodles, making it truly delicious! The spicy miso uses locally grown chili peppers

It was featured on the popular TV show "Secret XX Show" and received rave reviews from the guests, making it a popular restaurant with many people coming from far outside the prefecture just to eat there

The photo above shows the most popular spicy miso ramen and the soy sauce flavored Akayu ramen

Akayu Ramen Ryu Shanghai ＜Information＞

  • Name: Akayu Ramen Ryu Shanghai Main Branch
  • Address: 6-18 Nishikine, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Business hours: 11:30-19:00
  • Closed: Every Wednesday
  • Phone number: 0238-43-2952
  • URL: Akayu Ramen Ryu Shanghai official website

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Eboshiyama Park, which spreads out on the mountain behind Akayu Onsen, is home to Senbonzakura, a thousand cherry blossom trees, and has been selected as one of Japan's top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots . The cherry blossom season is a spectacular sight!

Photo by ikoke

With the Eboshiyama Shrine behind it and overlooking Akayu Onsen town, stands the largest torii gate in Japan . The seamless stone torii gate is astonishing in size even when viewed from above.

Eboshiyama Hachiman Shrine <Information>

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First of all, who is Suishinshi Masahide? What is his relationship with Akayu?

hpoto by ikoke

The monument to Suishinshi Masahide was erected in the gardens of Eboshiyama Hachimangu Shrine in Akayu . Eboshiyama Hachimangu Shrine is located just behind the Akayu hot spring town and is a popular walking spot for hotel guests. It also has a wedding hall, so many people visit the shrine as a god of matchmaking.

A monument has been erected on the walking course just down the street from the front of the shrine garden, commemorating the great achievements of Suishinshi Masahide. In addition , Suishinshi Masahide's wakizashi is kept at Eboshiyama Hachimangu Shrine .

Photo by ikoke

Who is Suishinshi Masahide?

Suishinshi Masahide was a swordsmith active from 1781 (late Edo period) to 1876 (Meiji 9). Along with Daikei Naotane and Minamoto Kiyomaro, he is known as one of the "Three Great Masters of Edo .

Following the sword ban of 1876, emphasis began to be placed on the artistic qualities of swords, but Suishinshi Masahide, who had doubts about this, sought to revive the strength of old swords by using the traditional high-quality tamahagane steel, and is remembered as the "founder of the new new swords."

This was called the "Revival of Swords Theory," and disciples gathered around Suishinshi Masahide from all over the country. Suishinshi Masahide also published other works such as "Practical Use of Swords" and "Buddhist Use of Swords."

What is the relationship with Akayu?

Suishinko Masahide was born in Motonakayama, Nanyo City in 1750, and his real name was Suzuki Sanjiro. His father died early, so he grew up in Akayu, where his mother's family lived. In order to become a blacksmith, he studied under a blacksmith in the neighboring town (Nagai City), where he mastered the basics

He was a local blacksmith who made farm tools and hoes, but decided to become a swordsmith and moved to Tokyo, where he honed his skills under a swordsmith in Hachioji.He then returned to Yamagata and was employed by the lord of Yamagata, where he took the name "Kawabe Gihachiro Masahide" and adopted the swordsmith name "Suishinshi."

It is said that he forged 369 swords in his lifetime Katsu Kaishu loved this sword .

There are other famous Akayu products too!

Akayu is known as the birthplace of grapes in Yamagata Prefecture, and is a thriving wine-growing town with six wineries, four of which have been in business for over 70 years, and two up-and-coming wineries

Said to be the oldest winery in Tohoku, "Ari" Sakai Winery is a long-established winery that specializes in grapes grown using natural farming methods and was awarded five stars in 2018

There are also wineries with their own unique characteristics, such as those with attached farms where you can also pick grapes, and those that make wine using fruits other than grapes, making this a town that is irresistible for wine lovers

The birthplace of Suishinshi Masahide, creator of the famous sword, is full of charm!

We learned that Suishinshi Masahide, a swordsmith who has attracted attention from young people through the hugely popular content "Touken Ranbu," had a deep connection with Akayu Onsen, which has been in operation for over 920 years

As I walked around further, I found it to be a very attractive town, with a ramen restaurant called Ryu Shanghai, which is regularly ranked number one in the nation for ramen, and the oldest winery in Tohoku

Why not go to Akayu Onsen, where you can enjoy a day trip as well as an overnight stay!

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