history

Arahagihaba Shrine in Iwadeyama | Has it been enshrined for 2,000 years? A mysterious ancient shrine whose name is even etched into the place name...

Iwadeyama, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Here lies a shrine dedicated to the mysterious ancient deity "Arahabaki," said to have resided there for 2,000 years. What's remarkable about this shrine is its address: Miyagi Prefecture...

Aoiwa2026.06.27

Arahagihaba Shrine in Tagajo | The guardian deity of the Tagajo government office, built to repel the Emishi (indigenous people of northern Japan)...

The mysterious ancient god "Arahabaki"... This enigmatic deity is said to have been worshipped mainly in the Tohoku and Kanto regions, but even today, the most famous shrine bearing its name is the "Arahabaki" located in Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture...

Aoiwa2026.06.20

Sasano Ittobori and Otaka Poppo | Wood carving techniques and local toys born in Yonezawa [Yamagata Prefecture, Yonezawa...].

What is Sasano Ittobori? Sasano Ittobori is a wood carving technique that has been traditionally passed down among farmers in the Sasano district of Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. According to local tradition, it dates back to 806 (Daido 1)...

Aoiwa2026.06.04

A pilgrimage to the family temples of the Tsugaru clan, lords of Hirosaki Domain: "Kakushu-ji Temple," "Chosho-ji Temple," and "Takateru Shrine" [Aomori Prefecture]

When I visit a city known as a castle town, in addition to the castle itself, I'm always drawn to visiting the burial grounds and family temples of the castle lord's family. While you might imagine that these family burial grounds are all concentrated in one place, there are actually several...

Aoiwa2026.05.18

[Paleolithic Sites in Aomori Prefecture: Part 2] At Shiriyazaki, a treasure trove of animal fossils, limestone...

Aomori Prefecture has only a little over 30 Paleolithic sites, which is extremely few compared to other municipalities. The reasons for this are detailed in "[Paleolithic Sites in Aomori Prefecture: Part 2]". Among those, I'd like to highlight...

NORIJUN2026.05.13

[Paleolithic Sites in Aomori Prefecture: Part 2] A new discovery that changed Japan's Paleolithic history...

I was surprised by the news report that "there were lions in Japan too" (announced by the Graduate University for Advanced Studies in January 2026). Originally, Paleolithic artifacts (approximately 125,000) have been unearthed in Aomori Prefecture...

NORIJUN2026.05.12

Were ancient lion species found in Aomori Prefecture? Shocking research findings were published in January 2026...

"Japanese fossil tigers were actually lions." In January 2026, a shocking research finding was announced. Furthermore, the research subject was a fossil discovered at Shiriyazaki (Higashidori Village) on the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture...

NORIJUN2026.04.27

[Part 2] What was the "Mogami Yatsudate," a confederation of local lords in Dewa Province? | The Yatsudate...

Other Forces that Allied with the Mogami Eight Shields: We've looked at an overview of the Mogami Eight Shields, a coalition of local lords from Dewa Province, but these weren't the only forces that allied with Mogami Yoshimori and Date Terumune. ...

Korok with a sword2026.04.24

[Part 2] What was the "Mogami Yatsudate," a coalition of local lords in Dewa Province? | Dewa Province...

Representative Local Leaders Who Made Up the Mogami Eight Shields Now, let's take a look at the members who made up the Mogami Eight Shields. During the Tensho Mogami Rebellion, they were Yoshimori, the father of Mogami Yoshiaki, and his...

Korok with a sword2026.04.23

[Part 1] What was the "Mogami Yatsudate," a coalition of local lords in Dewa Province? | Sengoku period...

To begin with, when you think of "warlords of the Tohoku region during the Sengoku period," who comes to mind? While there are countless stories of brave and fierce generals, perhaps the first lord of the Sendai domain, Date Masamune, known as the "One-Eyed Dragon," is the one who comes to mind...

Korok with a sword2026.04.22