Motoyama, Kochi
Encyclopedia
is a town
located in Nagaoka District
, Kōchi
, Japan
.
, what is now called Motoyama town has gone through several territorial changes. In 1889, 12 villages combined to become what was called Nishimotoyama Village, which was renamed as Motoyama Village a year later. In 1910 the village was reclassified as a "town." Also in 1889, 13 other villages neighboring Motoyama combined to become Yoshino Village. It was in 1955 when Motoyama and Yoshino villages combined, but soon after that 5 western wards were separated and were incorporated into the neighboring Tosa
.
The population in Motoyama was 7,343 in 1965, but as of 2008 it has gone down to 4,110 and continues to decrease.
The following statistics were gathered in a 2005 census:
The percentage of seniors in Motoyama is 38% compared to the prefectural average of 26%.
There are 1,835 households with on average 2.32 people per household. The number of people per household continues to decrease as households with seniors continue to increase. It is assumed that this trend will continue for the foreseen future.
Motoyama is renowned for its canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting.
On the border between Motoyama and its neighboring town to the west, Tosa, is the Sameura Dam
, the largest dam in Shikoku
.
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Nagaoka District
Nagaoka District, Kochi
is a district located in Kochi, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 10,393 and a density of 23.14 persons per km². The total area is 449.15 km².-Towns and villages:*Motoyama*Ōtoyo...
, Kōchi
Kochi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
History
Since the Meiji RestorationMeiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, what is now called Motoyama town has gone through several territorial changes. In 1889, 12 villages combined to become what was called Nishimotoyama Village, which was renamed as Motoyama Village a year later. In 1910 the village was reclassified as a "town." Also in 1889, 13 other villages neighboring Motoyama combined to become Yoshino Village. It was in 1955 when Motoyama and Yoshino villages combined, but soon after that 5 western wards were separated and were incorporated into the neighboring Tosa
Tosa, Kochi
is a city in Kōchi, Japan. It is located on the southern coast of the island of Shikoku.As of October 31, 2007, the city has an estimated population of 29,782 and the density of 325 persons per km²...
.
Population and Demographics
(All statistics are provided in the official town website http://www.town.motoyama.kochi.jp)The population in Motoyama was 7,343 in 1965, but as of 2008 it has gone down to 4,110 and continues to decrease.
The following statistics were gathered in a 2005 census:
- Population of people 15 years old and under: 417.
- Population of those 65 years and over: 1,657.
The percentage of seniors in Motoyama is 38% compared to the prefectural average of 26%.
There are 1,835 households with on average 2.32 people per household. The number of people per household continues to decrease as households with seniors continue to increase. It is assumed that this trend will continue for the foreseen future.
Events
- Flower Festival (Hana-matsuri) March 25 – May 6
- A festival which welcomes the coming of spring along with the blooming of various flowers. Cherry blossoms and Tsutsuji (AzaleaAzaleaAzaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...
) can be seen in the central area of Motoyama, while the highlight of the festival can be seen at the nearby Kizenzan Park (帰全山公園) where over 30,000 Shakunage (rhododendronRhododendronRhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
) are displayed.
- Asemi River Marathon late July
- An annual marathon first held in 1986, where roughly 500 participants run along the Asemi river.
- Yoshino River Rafting Festival middle of August
- This raft racing festival has origins from when lumber traders shipped Hinoki (CypressCypressCypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs...
) wood from Shiraga Mountain in rafts down the river. Participants can race in either traditional style raft racing or the free style division. The traditional style race involves teams with 6 participants racing on rafts made of wooden logs over 5m in length. The free style class involves participating teams bringing their own self made rafts. These teams compete over not just the visual attractiveness of the raft but the also the `style` in which they raft down the river.
- Town Festival middle of August
- The annual town festival features a traditional TaikoTaikomeans "drum" in Japanese . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming...
performance, Bon odoriBon Festivalor just is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist-Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed...
(Japanese folk dance), and fireworks. There is also a parade leading up to the festival where Yosakoi style dancing can be seen.
- Athletic Festival early October
- This 50 year old festival features teams from various businesses and professions participating in athletic competitions. Hundreds of locals participate in various athletic games in hopes of promoting the benefits of team work and healthy competition.
- Autumn Culture Festival middle of November
- Held during the time of harvestHarvestHarvest is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper...
in Motoyama. There are also shops set up from Motoyama's sister town, Urausu. The local community center hosts stageTheatreTheatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
performancePerformanceA performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
s and also exhibits local art. At the closing of the festival, a MochiMochiMochi is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. While also eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time...
scattering ceremony is held where hundreds of people fill the assembly grounds.
Tourist sites
- In spring time the park is full of cherry blossoms and Shakunage flowers (Rhododendron), a sight that is famous within Kochi prefecture. In fact, the park is also called "Shakunage Park." At the entrance is a statue of Kenzan Nonaka (野中 兼山), a local politician during the Edo periodEdo periodThe , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
.
- At 1470m Shiraga is Motoyama's most prominent mountain. When ascending the mountain, one can see Hinoki (Cypress) trees from 150 to 200 years old by the road side.
- There are two approach sites where mountaineers can begin their ascent, which should take no more than 90 minutes.
- A location with thousands of years of history with beautiful flowers in the spring but is also a great place to go camping in the summer.
- Deep inside the mountains one can see a waterfall that sews its way through the greenery and foliage.
Local products
Motoyama Products- Organic Rice
- ShiitakeShiitakeThe Shiitake is an edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed in many Asian countries, as well as being dried and exported to many countries around the world. It is a feature of many Asian cuisines including Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai...
Mushrooms - Reihoku Beef
- Shiso (Perilla frutescens) Juice
- YuzuYuzuThe yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...
Orange Juice - Yuzu Orange Vinegar
- Miso
- Green tea and Senna tea
Athletics
- Yoshino Climbing Centre
- Canoeing
Motoyama is renowned for its canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting.
Sameura Dam
Sameura Dam
is a dam on the Yoshino River in the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the largest dam on Shikoku. Sameura Dam created a reservoir behind the dam, named .The dam is used for hydropower, flood control, tap water, and irrigation...
, the largest dam in Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
.