[Akita Prefecture] Matagi, which is attracting attention due to its popular game cuisine, originated from Kitaakita City

Kamikoani Village, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture) is home to Isedotai Ruins, known for its stone circles, which are registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site. It is said to be the birthplace

The Matagi are people who strictly abide by the laws of the mountains and live by hunting while preserving old traditions and manners.

Matagi "matagi" , and its etymology is uncertain. Also, these days most of the words are written in matagi and katakana. The word "matagi" first appeared in books in the early Edo period, in the late 1600s, in the diaries of the Nanbu Domain (Iwate Prefecture) and the Tsugaru Domain (Aomori Prefecture). Katakana is said to have been used since the Meiji period, but we don't know for sure. the people of Ani have been writing it as "Ani Matagi"

Forests in the Tohoku region suitable for hunting life

``Matagi = making a living by hunting animals'' is an act that has always been practiced since the beginning of humankind. Before the cultivation of rice and other crops was introduced from the continent during the Yayoi period, until the Jomon period, the staple food was fruits such as acorns and chestnuts, and men's work was hunting. It is said that the reason why so many Jomon ruins have been discovered in the Tohoku region is because this region is a forest of deciduous evergreen trees that bear fruit in the fall, and when the leaves fall, the visibility is good and the conditions are perfect for hunting. Masu.

After the Yayoi period, farming became popular in the flatlands, and hunting began to be practiced by people living in the mountains. As a result, the number of people living as hunters decreased, but the Matagi tradition continued.

Neko Village, said to be the birthplace of Matagi

is called Nekko Matagi, Utto Matagi, Hitachinai Matagi, Yagisawa Matagi, Haginari Matagi, depending on the village where they lived The number of Ani Matagi is 37 (2023). It has become a valuable asset.

Ani Neko (formerly Ani Town) in Kitaakita City is said to be the earliest place in the Ani area where Matagi lived. Neko is a village in the mountains along the Ani River in the southern part of Kitaakita City, and the Matagi of this area are called Neko Matagi.

Neko began to be inhabited after the Genpei War, and there are two theories, one is that refugees from the Genji clan settled there, and the other is that it was descendants of the Heike clan who lived there, but it is unclear. Although there is land within the village that can be farmed, many Matagi lived in the mountainous areas. The Matagi traveled in the mountains, living a hunting life based on traditional discipline, and sold ``bear bile,'' It is said that they became established in the regions they visited and became the Matagi of those regions.

Neko Bangaku is a national important intangible folk cultural property.

Neko Bangaku from the Genpei period, and includes a brave samurai dance and a quiet classical dance. Neko Banraku has been designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property, and will be danced at the Neko Banraku Folklore Museum (formerly the Neko Elementary School gymnasium)

Neko Bangaku Tradition Museum＜Information＞

• Facility name: Neko Banraku Tradition Hall (formerly Neko Elementary School Gymnasium)
• Location: 44 Aninekodate Lower Dan, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0186-82-2220 (Ani Community Center)
• URL: Neko Banraku
• access:
  • Railway: Approximately 30 minutes walk from Okinai Station on the Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway
  • Car: Approximately 2 hours from Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway via Ani Kaido (National Route 105)

Google Map

Uchito Matagi no Sato where Matagi-related facilities gather

Uchito Village (Ani Uchito, Kitaakita City) depicts the life of Tomiji Matsuhashi, a legendary Matagi who lived a turbulent life from the Taisho era to the early Showa period, and was awarded the 2004 Naoki Prize and Shu Yamamoto. ``Kaiko no Mori'' (published by Bungeishunjusha) by Tatsuya Kumagai, who won the Goro Prize twice , and half of the households at the time had matagi as their family business. This is the village of Matagi that was said above. There are Matagi-related facilities such as the Matagi Museum and Matagi no Sato Kuma Farm Kumakumaen, Uchito Onsen Matagi no Yu , making it the central area of ​​Ani Matagi. The Yasu Falls, located in the forest that the Matagi have divided, is so beautiful that it has been selected as one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls You can also taste specially permitted doburoku. The nearest station Ani Matagi Station on the Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway .

Matagi Museum

the ``Unexplored Inn Uchito Onsen Matagi no Yu,'' and many of the costumes and hunting tools of the Matagi, which are designated as nationally important tangible cultural properties, are on display.

Doburoku

The Ani district of Kitaakita City (formerly Ani Town) by the Cabinet Office "Ani Matagi Special Zone" and is licensed to manufacture small quantities of Doburoku, a type of Japanese sake, even without a sake brewing license (production and sales). ``Unexplored Inn Uchito Onsen Matagi no Yu,'' you can enjoy rare doburoku brewed from home-grown rice that can only be tasted here.

Matagi no Yu/Matagi Museum <Information>

• Facility name: Unexplored Yado Uchito Onsen Matagi no Yu/Matagi Museum
• Location: 67, Aniuchi, Senbokuto Michigami, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0186-84-2612
• Hot spring: Sodium calcium chloride spring
• Source temperature: 56.6℃
• Day trip bathing available
• For details on accommodation fees, etc., please visit the official website of the unexplored inn, Uchito Onsen Matagi no Yu.
• URL: Uchito Onsen Matagi no Yu

• Facility name: Matagi Museum
• Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
• Admission fee: 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for children (free for hotel guests)
• URL: Matagi Museum
• access:
  • Railway/Transfer from Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway Ani Matagi Station
  • Car: Approximately 2 hours from Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway via Ani Kaido (National Route 105)

Google Map

Matagi no Satokuma Farm “Kumakumaen”

Bears were an important source of food and funding for Matagi. "Kumakumaen" is a facility where you can observe Asian black bears living in Honshu and brown bears living in Hokkaido. You can feed food on sale to Asiatic black bears, and for a limited time, you can even experience interacting with cubs.

Kumakumaen <Information>

• Facility name: Kumakumaen
• Location: 1-39 Chinba, Aniuchi, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0186-84-2626
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:00 (last entry 15:30)
• Opening period: Late April to early November
• Closed days: Open every day during the opening period
• Admission fee: 700 yen for adults, 200 yen for children (elementary and junior high school students), free for preschoolers
  • *Children will receive Asiatic black bear snacks.
• URL: Kumakumaen
• access:
  • Railway/Transfer from Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway Ani Matagi Station
  • Car: Approximately 2 hours from Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway via Ani Kaido (National Route 105)

Google Map

``Roadside Station Ani Matagi no Sato'' is convenient for those using private cars.

Anihi Tachinai is a village located between Neko and Uchito, and is known as the village of Hitateuchi Matagi The village is home to Hitachinai Station on the Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway. Roadside Station Anino Matagi no Sato, located along Ani Kaido Road, about 500m away from Hitachinai Station , you can enjoy dishes made with special products from the Ani region.

Roadside Station Ani＜Information＞

• Facility name: Roadside station Ani Matagi no Sato
• Location: Outside 8-1 Ienogo, Anihi Tateuchi, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0186-69-2575
• business hours:
• Restaurant "Aoshishi" / 11:00-14:00
• Product sales facility “Matatabi-kan” / 9:00-17:00
• *Toilet is open 24 hours.
• closing day:
• April to November / Open every day
• December to March/Tuesdays, New Year holidays (December 31st, January 1st)
• URL: Roadside Station Ani Matagi no Sato
• access:
  • Railway/About 7 minutes from Hitachiuchi Station on the Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway
  • Car: Approximately 2 hours from Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway via Ani Kaido (National Route 105)

Google Map

The extinct Yagisawa Matagi and Hagigata Matagi

Yagisawa and Hagigata are located in Kamikoani Village, adjacent to Kitaakita City, where Neko Village is located Matagi moved from Neko Village to these two villages, and many Matagi used to live there. However, in 1966 (Showa 41), Hagigata Dam was built in Hagigata, and the village sank to the bottom of the lake and its residents moved elsewhere.

In Yagisawa, the last remaining Matagi surrendered his hunting license in 2009, and there are no more Yagisawa Matagi. Maybe it's just a sign of the times.