Is the origin of the legendary "The Crane's Return"? "Uruyama, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture" and "Tsurufuyama Jinzoji Temple"

"The Crane's Return," begins with a place once in a while , is probably a story that many people have heard at least once.

This is a famous folk tale with similar stories all over the country, but the legend of "The Crane's Return" that relate to the Urushiyama district, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture, is said to be an area with particularly old records among the similar stories that spread across the country.になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do.

The legend of this area is written in the ancient Edo period document, "Tsurushiro Place Name Selection" (1804), and has its own unique characteristics compared to stories from other regions.

This time we will introduce the legend of the "returning cranes" that is related to this region.

The legend of "The Crane's Return" that is passed down in the Urushiyama area

A long time ago, a man named Kinzo lived on the banks of the Orihatagawa River that flowed through this area.

One day, Kinzo saves a crane that was being bullied by the children.になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do.

That night, a beautiful woman visits the house and Kinzo welcomes the woman as his wife.になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do.

She is good at weaving, and she weaves beautiful fabrics and sells them to support Kinzo's life.になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do.

One day, she devotes herself to weaving, saying, "Please don't look into my room for seven days," but Kinzo peers into the room out of curiosity.

Then there was a crane woven with its own wings. Knowing his true identity, Tsuru gives the woven cloth to Kinzo and flies away into the sky.になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do.

It is said that Kinzo became a monk and built a temple and named it "Tsurufuzan Jinzoji."

What is Kakufuzan Chinzoji?

It is an ancient temple that is said to have been founded in 1460 by the lord of Gokudo Sosan, a temple of Kongosan, and is based on the "returning the favor of the vines" that is the place.

If it were legendary, the Honest Kinzo is the person named Gokudo Sosan, who is said to have opened the mountain, but that is not certain. there is also a legend that during the time of the silence, woven fabrics woven with crane feathers

Legends hinted at by place names

The legendary place names exist, and the river that flows near Tsurubuyama Jinzoji Temple the Orihata River , and it is believed that Kinzo lived somewhere on the banks of this river.

Other place names in the neighborhood that are associated with the repaying of the crane, such as "Hanetsuki" and "Tsurumakita."

With so many traces of place names remaining, it makes me think that the legend may have been an actual event.

Jinzo-ji Temple <Information>

• Name: Tsurubuyama Jinzoji Temple
• Address: 1747-1 Urushiyama, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture 992-0474
• Phone number: 0238-47-2264
• Official URL: -

Google Map

A crane returns the favor to the station building

Orihata Station on the Flower Nagai Line, the nearest station to Tsurubuyama Jinzoji Temple, is an unmanned, small station building, but it is an indispensable means of transportation for students and elderly people in the area.

This station building has been renovated in light of the legend of "The Vine's Return." The shadow-like illustrations are reminiscent of the story and blend in with the surrounding countryside scenery.

Orihata Station <Information>

• Name: Orihata Station
• Route: Flower Nagai Line
• Location: Urushiyama, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture 992-0474

Google Map

Old tales at the “Tsuru no Ongaeshi” museum

In the Urushiyama area, there is the Yuzuru no Sato Museum, a facility that allows you to pass on the legend of the crane's favor to future generations.になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do.

Here, you can experience the world of stories through weaving experiences, performances by folk tale storytellers, and exhibitions about the return of cranes.

It is said that during the Meiji period, the Urushiyama area was prosperous enough to engage in overseas trade due to its silk industry.

Yuzuru no Sato <Information>

• Name: Yuzuru no Sato
• Location: 2025-2 Urushiyama, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Closed: Every Monday (open if Monday is a public holiday) Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)
• Admission fee: Adults/330 yen Elementary/junior high school students/110 yen
• Official URL: Yuzuru no Sato Homepage

Google Map

summary

The famous folk tale "The Crane's Return" has similar stories all over the country.

Among them, the Urushiyama district, which has particularly old records, has some place names related to the repaying of the vines, including Tsurufuyama Jinzo-ji Temple. Perhaps this is where this legend really originated.

It might be a good idea to visit the old-fashioned countryside scenery and feel like you're traveling back in time to the world of folk tales.