Journeys in Japan

Hita City, Oita (1x26)

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Hita City in Oita Prefecture is a quiet town with a population of about 70-thousand, located in northern part of Kyushu in southwestern Japan. It is surrounded by many mountains, including the Aso-Kuju and the Hiko mountain systems. Abundant water resources flowing out from these mountains merge in the Hita basin. Thus many rivers flow through Hita City and are serving the local people in their daily lives. The Mikuma River crosses the center of the town east to west. The traveler in our program visits Yana or traditional Japanese fish trap site at the river. This is a fishing method existing from ancient times. Anglers wait for ayu sweetfish coming down the river to lay eggs. When ayu gets on the trap made by weaving bamboo, they catch the fish by hand. The sweetfish is salted and grilled on a skewer, and eaten. The traveler also visits a Geta-clog factory situated along the river. Hita is a major cedar growing area in Japan. Making Geta-clogs using cedar wood has been done on a large scale from the Edo Period. In addition to traditional "Hita Geta" making use of the wood's grain pattern, we get to see many new-style Geta-clogs that go well with not only traditional Japanese kimonos but also western-style dresses. The new designs are made to match recent fashion and tastes of young women. During the Edo Period, Hita City prospered under the direct control of the shogunate government. A district in the city called Mameda Town retains street sceneries from the old days. The traveler goes around the district riding on a rickshaw. He meets with a unique sweets vendor, and visits a local brewer making sake using good-quality underground water. At Onta village where pottery making has been done for 300 years, the traveler encounters a device called "Kara-usu" used for grinding clay used for pottery making. Its pestle is moved by the power of the river water.