Author: Benkei

A walking tour on Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine and the Shimoyoshida Nishiura district (Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture) was conducted on August 11, 2023. The guests were a family of five from Los Angels, CA, USA. This is a very popular tour (Refer to the articles on August 3 and 4, 2023).

The road to Arakur Sengen Shrine and the Five-Storied Pagoda, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 8/11/2023

Tsukinoe bookstore and M2 restaurant, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 8/11/2023

Inden means India-derived and implies products came from India. Inden products are deerskin handicrafts dyed with Japanese lacquer. Some leather products were brought into the country by Portuguese ships in the 17th century. The Kofu Basin has been known for its use of deerskin and Japanese lacquer. The high temperatures and high humidity of the basin is suited for drying Japanese lacquer. It is said that Yushichi Uehara devised the unique methods of putting lacquer designs on deerskin about 400 years ago and the history of Koshu Inden started. Inden was designated as one of the Traditional Crafts by the country and also as one of the Traditional Crafts of Yamanashi by the Yamanashi Prefectural Office. (Refer to the articles on August 2, 2023)

The exhibition of “The Patterns Of Inden, Plant Patterns On Deerskin” has been held at the Inden Museum in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture during June 24 to September 10, 2023. (https://www.inden-ya.co.jp/, https://www.inden-museum.jp/)

A flower arrangement, Inden patterns, Inden products, an example of the “fusube” dyeing method, a lunch box and a wounded trunk of a lacquer tree

The Inden Museum, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 8/08/2023

FYI

Another Inden manufacturer, INDEN YAMAMOTO (https://www.yamamoto-inden.com/)

Here are some more interesting backstreets and signboards. There are some changes in the shops from the pictures in April, 2018 (https://ymmt.yamanashietsuo.net/2018/04/).

Nishiura District, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 8/07/2023

Views from Katsunuma Grape Hill, Koshu, Yamanashi, 8/06/2023

Haramo Winery, Koshu, Yamanashi, 8/06/2023

A walking tour on Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine and the Shimoyoshida Nishiura district in the city of Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture was conducted on July 31, 2023. The guests were two women from New Zealand. This is a very popular tour (Refer to the articles on April 26, 2018 and August 3, 2023). Shimo means down or south, so Shimoyoshida is the south region of Yoshida (or Fujiyoshida) town. Fujiyoshida is the current name of the municipality.

Two-chome (block) and three-chome areas of Honcho Street in the Shimoyoshida region are popular picture-taking spots where you can see Mount Fuji towering over a narrow shopping street with colorful signboards and cluttered overhead-power lines. The Shimoyoshida area in Fujiyoshida town is also home to a number of weaving shops. Although it is rather quiet now; however, it is used to be a bustling textile production region that dates back to the Heian Period, more than 1,000 years ago, until the post-war era.

The clear water that runs from Mount Fuji is exceptionally suitable for dying and production of high-quality textile. Fujiyoshida has been known for its high technology and its quality textile production. Because of Mount Fuji, an active volcanic mountain, the soils in the fujiyoshida region are andosols formed in volcanic tephra and unsuitable for farming. Therefore, the locals engaged in raising silkworm and weaving from early on. The weaving industry of Fujiyoshida suffered a blow when imported textiles starting pouring into the country in the 1960s, and the size of the industry kept shrinking during the 1970s and 1980s. Despite the setbacks, the weavers of Fujiyoshida have transmitted their skills and preserved the local craft. A lot of local weaving businesses have specialized in niche products unsuited for mass production and branched out in new directions, and they have kept producing outstanding elegance. That is why they are still here now.

Honcho Street is located in the middle of the Shimoyoshida region, and the east side of Honcho Street is called Higashiura and the west side is called Nishiura. Ura means back. In the peak days of the weaving industry, it is said that the sound of the weaving machines from the Higashiura district and the sound of the drunk people from the Nishiura district were heard. Today, you can observe the remains of the Showa Era structures in the Nishiura district. The nostalgic backstreets, shops and houses have been maintained in the Nishiura district. In a way, Higashiura used be the wholesale district and Nishiura used to be the entertainment district.

The south region of the city of Fujiyoshida is called Shimoyoshida. Shimo means down or south.

The Nishiura District of the Shimoyoshida area in the city of Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture is well-known for its nostalgic scenery of the Showa era. Here, you can see Mount Fuji and old shopping streets with power poles, overhead signs, cables and wires. And, you can enjoy coffee and meals at renovated cafes and restaurants, imagining a town that is stuck in time.

Gekkouji Station and Nishiura Street, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7/30/2023

Mount Fuji was still hidden behind the thick clouds; therefore, I couldn’t see it from one of the popular picture-taking spots in the street.

Honcho Street, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7/30-31/2023

(https://fujiyoshida.net/en/see-and-do/410; Article by Shunta: https://fujiyoshida-kanko.net/photo-honchoustreet)

A cool mascot and street signs, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7/30-31/2023

(Article by Shunta: https://fujiyoshida-kanko.net/photo-nishiura/)

Omuro Sengen Shrine, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7/30-31/2023

A Coffee Shop and Maps, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7-30-31/2023

It took about 20 minutes from Shimoyoshida station to Chureito (Five-Storied Pagoda) in Mount Arakura. The top of Mount Fuji was hidden behind the clouds.

Shimoyoshida Station, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7/30-31/2023

Arakura Sengen Shrine (the message says that “Pets are not allowed to enter the ground of the shrine”), Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7/30-31/2023

Mount Arakura Sengen Park, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7/30-31/2023

FYI

・Article by Shunta: Japanese or English (https://fujiyoshida-kanko.net/photo-chureito/, https://fujiyoshida-kanko.net/photo-sakurapagoda/)

There are a lot of traditional handicrafts in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Thirteen of them have been designated as “Traditional Crafts of Yamanashi.” These are Koshu Crystal and precious stone carving, Koshu Inden (lacquered deer leather), Koshu hand-carved seals, Amehata Koshu ink-stone, Koshu Oishi Tsumugi (silk) woven fabric, Nishijima Handmade Washi (Japanese paper), Koshu warrior/carp streamers, Koshu Oni (demon) tile, Parent and child daruma doll, Ichikawa Daimon Handmade Washi, Jewelry of Yamanashi (Yamanashi gem cutting), Fuji-Katsuyama suzutake bamboo crafts and Koshu Fireworks. (https://www.porta-y.jp/en/leisure_culture/20591)

House of Yamanashi Traditional Crafts, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 7/31/2023

Traditional crafts in Japan have a long tradition and history. These are handicrafts produced by an individual or a group, as well as work produced by independent studio artists working with traditional craft materials and/or processes (Wikipedia). The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry has designated handicrafts that meet the conditions under the “Law Concerning the Promotion of the Traditional Crafts Industry” as “Traditional Crafts” (https://www.japan-kogei.com/dento-about-eng.html, https://www.japan-kogei.com/index-eng.html).

In Yamanashi Prefecture, three items are designated as “Traditional Crafts”: Koshu Crystal and precious stone carving, Koshu Inden (lacquered deer leather) and Koshu hand-carved seals. And also, the Government Office of Yamanashi Prefecture has designated 13 items as “Traditional Crafts of Yamanashi,” including the three nationally-designated Traditional Crafts. The 10 items are Amehata Koshu ink-stone, Koshu Oishi Tsumugi (silk) woven fabric, Nishijima Handmade Washi (Japanese paper), Koshu warrior/carp streamers, Koshu Oni (demon) tile, Parent and child daruma doll, Ichikawa Daimon Handmade Washi, Jewelry of Yamanashi (Yamanashi gem cutting), Fuji-Katsuyama suzutake bamboo crafts and Koshu Fireworks.

KOSHU PRIDE

(https://kogeijapan.com/locale/en_US/list/?pref=19),

(https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp.e.aao.hp.transer.com/shouko/kogyo/jibasanpin/index.html),

(https://hq-yamanashi.jp/article/a00182/)

FYI

(https://kogeijapan.com/locale/en_US/), (https://www.galleryjapan.com/locale/en_US/)

An exhibition titled “Mishiranu Mori (unknown woods) II” by Takahiro Yoshino has been held at The Yatsugatake Kogen (highland) Lodge in the village of Minamimaki in Nagano Prefecture from July 18 to 31, 2023.

Some of the Displaying Artworks of Takahiro Yoshino, Yatsugatake Highland Lodge, Minamimaki-village, Nagano, 7/24/2023

FYI: https://masutomiart.wixsite.com/masutomi-yama-art/blank-34