Why are there so many unusual names? Station names on the Ou Main Line [Fukushima, Yamagata, Akita]

The Ou Main Line is a JR East line that runs from Fukushima Station to Aomori Station , passing through stations such as Yamagata Station and Akita Station . It is one of the main lines that runs north-south through the Tohoku region, and in the past, express trains ran the entire length of the line. Even now, parts of the line are part of the routes of trains such as the Yamagata Shinkansen's "Tsubasa ," the Akita Shinkansen's "Komachi ," and the express train "Tsugaru ." For some reason, there are many stations with unusual names along the Ou Main Line , so this time we will introduce some of these uniquely named stations.

The Ou Main Line is a major trunk line in the Tohoku region

The Ou Main Line is a JR East line that stretches 484.5 km from Fukushima Station in Fukushima Prefecture, through Yamagata Station in Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Station in Akita Prefecture, to Aomori Station in Aomori Prefecture . When thinking of main lines in the Tohoku region, the Tohoku Main Line may come to mind, but the distinguishing feature of the Ou Main Line is that it is a main line that is completed entirely within the Tohoku region. The fact that it passes through the prefectural capitals of four of the six Tohoku prefectures demonstrates its importance within the Tohoku region. In addition to the prefectural capitals, it also passes through cities such as Yonezawa, Shinjo, Yuzawa, Yokote, Omagari, Noshiro, Odate, and Hirosaki.

In the past, express and limited express trains ran the entire length of the Ou Main Line.
Even now, the Yamagata Shinkansen's "Tsubasa" runs from Fukushima Station through Yamagata Station to Shinjo Station, and the Akita Shinkansen's "Komachi" runs from Omagari Station to Akita Station.
Many people have probably used the Ou Main Line, even if they don't know of its existence or name.

Now, let's introduce some unusually named stations on the Ou Main Line

Toge Station (Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture)

The first station I'd like to introduce is "Toge Station," located in Toge, Oaza Oaza, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture . It's called Toge Station . In Japan, where approximately 75% of the land area is mountainous, it's called "Toge Station." The name conveys nothing beyond the fact that the station is located in a mountainous area.

This mountain pass refers to the Itaya Pass , which straddles Fukushima and Yamagata prefectures . The station, Toge Station, is located at an altitude of 626 meters, the highest point on the Ou Main Line, and beyond this station, the tracks descend in both directions towards Fukushima and Aomori. Crossing Toge Station truly means "crossing a mountain pass," as the station name suggests.

Crossing the Itaya Pass by rail was difficult with the technology of the past, and it was known as one of the most challenging sections of railway history. However, today, the Yamagata Shinkansen's "Tsubasa" train climbs it with ease. However, the "Tsubasa" does not stop at Toge Station; it passes right through. To get off at Toge Station , you need to take a local train, also known as the Yamagata Line .

Because Toge Station is located in the mountains, it is quite difficult to reach by any means other than train, and it is known as a remote, secluded station. There are no station staff, but this station is home to a rare street vendor selling food. The " Toge no Chikara Mochi " sold by the street vendor is a specialty of Toge Station. *Please check the latest information before visiting the station.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Street vendors still selling these at train stations today | What is Yonezawa City's hidden specialty, "Toge no Chikara Mochi"? [Yamagata Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/6959

Have you heard of train station vendors? As the name suggests, they are vendors who sell boxed lunches and other items on train platforms with binju (small containers) hanging from their necks. You've probably seen them in old movies. There's a place where these vendors still operate today: Toge Station on the Ou Main Line in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. The Toge no Chikara Mochi (rice cakes with chikara rice cakes) sold there are a hidden specialty of Yonezawa City, and one of the joys of train travel. In this article, we'll introduce you to Toge no Chikara Mochi. Daily Life at Toge Station: Fukushima Station in Fukushima Prefecture, from the Ou Main Line to Yamagata...

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Takatama Station (Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture)

Next up is Takatama Station, located in Nagaoka, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture . The character "擶" is very unusual and most people probably wouldn't be able to read it.

The station name is derived from "Takadama Village," the name of the local government at the time the station opened in 1952.
Although the local government name is pronounced "Takadama" with a voiced consonant, the station name is pronounced "Takatama" without a voiced consonant. This kind of discrepancy is seen throughout Japan, especially at JR stations.

The character "擶," which is difficult to read unless you know it, is said to originate from the elm tree.
Perhaps in keeping with this origin, the station's waiting room is constructed primarily of wood.

Takatsuma Station is alsobypassedby the Yamagata Shinkansen's "Tsubasa" train, so you need to take a local train on the Yamagata Line to get there.

Oigi Station (Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture)

Next up is Nozoki Station, located in Nozoki, Mamurogawa-cho, Mogami-gun, Yamagata Prefecture. Even before considering its unusual name, it's a station name that's practically impossible to read unless you already know it, making it known as one of Japan's most unusual and difficult-to-pronounce stations

There are several theories about the origin of the place name "Nozoki," which is written as "及位," but the most widely accepted theory is as follows: In the past, ascetic monks in the mountains near this area performed a practice called "Nozoki no Gyo," in which they would hang from a steep cliff and peer into a cave in the side of the cliff. It is said that the place name "Ozoki" originated from the fact that one of these monks achieved a high "rank" through Nozoki no Gyo . Contrary to the first impression one might get from the name, it has a very noble origin.

There are no express trains between Shinjo Station and Omagari Station, where Oigi Station is located, so if you want to get there by train you will have to take a local train

Daigo Station (Yokote City, Akita Prefecture)

Next up is Daigo Station, located in Tamoden, Daigo, Hiraka-cho, Yokote City, Akita Prefecture . The name Daigo is thought to originate from a dairy product called Daigo, which is made by boiling down milk . Perhaps this area was once a pasture for cows.

It's unclear exactly what kind of dairy product Daigo was, and there are various theories suggesting it was something like butter, Calpis (a Japanese milk-based beverage), or yogurt.
However,the word "Daigo-mi" (醍醐味), which is derived from Daigo,is quite well-known.

Alice's 1976 single"Tooku de Kiteki o Kikinagara" (Listening to a Train Whistle in the Distance)features a photograph of the platform at Daigo Station.

There are no express trains at Daigo Station, and the morning rapid trains do not stop there either, so we visited by local trains that stop at every station

Gosannen Station (Senboku District, Akita Prefecture)

Next up is "Gosannen Station," located in Higashiyamamoto, Iizume, Misato-cho, Senboku-gun, Akita Prefecture . The origin of the station's name will be immediately obvious to anyone familiar with Japanese history. It comes from the fact that the surrounding area was the site of the " Gosannen War ." Incidentally, current textbooks and other materials tend to use the term "Gosannen Kassen" (Gosannen Battle) rather than "Gosannen no Eki " (Gosannen War ). To prevent the mistranslation of "Yaku" (war) as "eki" (station), we will follow that convention from now on.

The Later Three Years' War was a conflict fought in the Oshu region from 1083 to 1087.
As one might easily imagine from the existence of a "Later" war, there was also a "Previous" war, known as the
"Former Nine Years' War." The Later Three Years' War was a conflict in which
Minamoto no Yoshiie, the governor of Mutsu Province, intervened in an internal dispute of the Kiyohara clan, a powerful family in Dewa Province, and emerged victorious.
With the help of Minamoto no Yoshiie, Kiyohara no Kiyohira achieved victory and reverted to his father's surname, Fujiwara, becoming the first head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan.

There are no express trains or rapid trains stopping at Gosannen Station

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

The bitter family feud "Gosannen War" unfolded in the Yokote Basin [Akita Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/24309

Yokote City, located in the Yokote Basin, is located in southeastern Akita Prefecture, bordering Iwate Prefecture to the east. During the Heian period, it was under the control of the Kiyohara clan and is known as the site of the Gosannen War. During the Edo period, it was part of the territory of the Kubota Domain (Akita Domain). As it was at the crossroads of roads such as the Ushu Kaido, which branched off from the Oshu Kaido and connected Akita and Aomori, Yokote Castle was home to the Kubota Domain's senior vassals, and it flourished as the political and economic center of the southern part of the domain. Geographically located in the Yokote Basin's center, Asamai and Masuda also flourished as distribution hubs. The Shogun of Mutsu Province defeated the Abe clan, who ruled the Oku-Rokugo region...

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Marker pillar at the battlefield of the Gosannen War<Information>

• Name: Battlefield of the Gosannen War
• Location: Iizume Tozaihoji Temple, Misato Town, Senboku District, Akita Prefecture

Google Maps

Ikawa Sakura Station (Minamiakita District, Akita Prefecture)

Next up is Ikawa SakuraStation,. The station's name comes from the nearby "Nihon Kokukaen," a famous cherry blossom viewing spot.a combination of Ikawa-machi and "Sakura" (cherry blossom).

However, it's undeniable that some people feel the station name sounds like a person's name.
held by goo Ranking in 2008 and 2018to vote for station names that sound like people's names, it came in first place, beating out names like "Taketoyo (not Takeyutaka)", "Nakayamaga", "Omi-Maiko", "Hasama", "Chiba-Minato", and "Yoshikawa-Minami".

- Top 29 Real Station Names You Might Mistake for Stage Names or Personal Names - goo Ranking - Station Names That Make You Want to Say, "Isn't That a Personal Name?!" - goo Ranking

When Ikawa Sakura Station opened in 1996, the town of Ikawa invited "Ikawa Sakura," who had just started elementary school at the time, to visit the town

Please note that the limited express trains "Tsugaru" and "Super Tsugaru," as well as the rapid train "Resort Shirakami," do not stop at Igawa Sakura Station. Therefore, when visiting, youneed to use local trains or unnamed rapid trains.

As an aside, one example of a station actually named after a person is Miyamoto Musashi Station on the Chizu Express Chizu Line in Imaoka, Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture . It was named because there is a theory that the area is the birthplace of the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Also, Asano Station on the JR Tsurumi Line in Suehirocho 2-chome, Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, was named after Soichiro Asano, the founder of the Tsurumi Rinko Railway (the predecessor of the Tsurumi Line) and the founder of the Asano zaibatsu, so this can also be considered a station named after a person.

Japan National Flower Garden<Information>

• Name: Japanese National Flower Garden
• Address: 102-1 Hamaikawa Nikai, Ikawa-cho, Minamiakita-gun, Akita Prefecture
• Entry time: 24 hours
• URL　Japan National Flower Garden | Ikawa Town, Akita Prefecture Homepage

Google Maps

Owani Onsen Station (Minamitsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture)

Next up is Owani Onsen Station, located in Maeda, Owani, Owani-machi, Minamitsugaru-gun, Aomori Prefecture . Owani is the name of the area where the station is located. The fact that there is a place name called Owani in Japan, where there are no crocodiles, makes it an unusual name.

There are several theories about the origin of the place name, and the following is one of them. This area was called "Ōamida" (大阿弥田) because there was a large seated statue of Amida Buddha here. It is said that this gradually changed to "Ōami" → "Ōane" → "Ōani" → "Ōane" and eventually became associated with the fact that crocodiles are guardian deities of Buddhism , and came to be called "Ōwani" (大和亐). Alternatively, it is said that the "wani" does not refer to a crocodile, but rather to a large salamander . In any case, the connection between Ōwani Town and Buddhism remains deep even today, and a seated statue of Amida Buddha, which has been designated as a national important cultural property, is enshrined at Daienji Temple , which is close to Ōwani Onsen Station

In addition to local trains stopping at Owani Onsen Station,the limited express trains "Tsugaru" and "Super Tsugaru," which connect Akita Station and Aomori Station, also stop there.

Daienji Temple<Information>

• Name: Daienji Temple
• Address: 12 Kuradate Muraoka, Owani-machi, Minamitsugaru-gun, Aomori Prefecture
• Inquiry number: 0172-48-2017
• URL　Daienji Temple – Owani Town Homepage

Google Maps

Nadeushiko Station (Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture)

Next up is Naijōshi Station, located in Naijōshi 1-chome, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture . After the crocodile, now it's a cow. It's a difficult station name to read, and even if you can read it, you might think, "Stroking a cow... so what?"

Regarding the origin of the place name Nadeshiko, there are several theories, including that it comes from "Nande-ushi" or "Nande-ushi-kko," which are variations of "Nade-ushi" (stroking cow) in the Tsugaru dialect, and that it comes from the Ainu words "Nai" (river or stream) and "Chashi" (fort or fence) (in this case, it has nothing to do with cows). There does not seem to be a definitive explanation.

Only local trains stop at Nadeshiko Station.
Limited express trains such as "Tsugaru" and "Super Tsugaru," as well as rapid trains, do not stop there.

Extra: Ushizaka Railroad Crossing

Although it's not a train station, I couldn't help but introduce the "Bekosaka Crossing," a level crossing on the Ou Main Line (between Oiwake Station and Okubo Station) located in Tenno-Oiwake, Katagami City, Akita Prefecture. As you might expect from the Ou Main Line, even the name of the level crossing is difficult to read. Incidentally, there is also a bus stop with the same name near the crossing.

The name "Ushizaka" (牛坂) is apparently well-known locally; if you can't pronounce it correctly, it's obvious you're from out of town. However, even the locals don't seem to know its origin. It's probably
something like a slope where oxen or oxcarts often passed.

Google Maps

summary

The Ou Main Line has 101 stations, and the stations introduced here represent less than 10% of them.
Nevertheless, it's probably rare to find a railway line with so many stations where nearly 10% have unusual names.

As explained in the article,station names and place names hold a part of the history that the land has experienced.
The Ou Main Line not only transports people and goods, but it can also be said to play a role in conveying a part of the history of various parts of the Tohoku region to the present day.
And when you travel, paying attention to the history of the place you visit will make your trip much more interesting.

Yuto Ono

A former railway engineer and current freelance writer who has loved trains since childhood, his dream is to make train travel his career