5:15 PM - 6:30 PM
[O04-P21] “ARUKORA Taiji Townscape version” Let’s enjoy! Attempt of disaster prevention Geo-Tour
Keywords:disaster prevention, walk through the town, geopark
The above title “ARUKORA” means “Let’s walk” in the local language or a dialect. Taiji is a small town. It is known as the town of whale. Its population is about 3300. In those days, people used to live in a small area facing the bay because there was no big river and a few plain fields though there was a coastal terrace. We organized a Geo-Tour in an area which remains attractive to have participants feel our predecessors’ wisdom and the current disaster prevention such as how settlement was made based on geological factors, how to prepare for natural disasters (tsunami, typhoons, etc.)
This tour was co-hosted by TAI-GEO and Center for Research and Education of Disaster Reduction, Wakayama University.
Date June 13, 2015 (Saturday)
Required time about 2 hours and 30 minutes
Course Taiji fishing port -- Rock Gate of Wada (geosite) -- the streetscape where people who were involved in the Whale fishing -- Taiji elementary school (in case of emergency, this is designated as a disaster shelter, observed the local disaster prevention map created by elementary school students) -- Taiji fisheries cooperative office (registered tangible cultural property) -- Ebisu Shrine (torii of whalebones) -- Kosukeya (community space of the vacant house use)
Participants 27 people (male 15, female 12) Age: less than 10 years old - 70’s Living place: Taiji town 7, neighboring cities and towns 6, other cities 9, from other prefectures 5
According to Kiizokufudoki, a topography Kishu clan compiled in the late Edo Period (around 1780 -1867), it says “The entrance of the village at the seashore made a gate by boring the mountain. After going through the entrance, we encountered a place that was suitable for living. Wada clan, who began the ancient whale fishing, governed this place. Once we get into Rock Gate of Wada (geosite), there is a streetscape influenced from Edo era (1603 – 1868) Its features are paint coating wooden houses and intricate narrow alleys. Many of these houses were built from 1910s to 1950s. In the southern part of Kii peninsula, typhoons often come here causing heavy rain and strong winds in autumn. Rock Gate of Wada also plays a role in blocking the strong wind from the sea. The terrain of this village is a hinterland that is slightly higher towards the sea.
We can see the situation in which people evacuated the ship there during the typhoon in old pictures. In addition, most of the drainages to minimize the flooding of the village have now become culverts.
During the tour, what we paid attention to was that we did not want participants to think a geo tour was equal to the study of geology or geo was very difficult. In this course, in addition to being able to enjoy walking on a narrow alley, we could see a lot of things such as a house which looked one-story building but actually it was a two-story building, use of painting color, the housing foundation, called “Herishi", grates and eaves back people were particular about, Western-style houses that former immigrants and migrants had built. Also, we kept in mind that participants could feel the environment and the culture of the town which lived with whale fishing from several information. For example, there are a lot of unique nameplates that are related to whale fishing, Seko(deliver a final blow), Tomi (scout), Ryono (fishing) and seeing the origin of fisheries cooperatives and whalebones torii (a shrine gate) in Ebisu Shrine.
Nanki Kumano Geopark was certified as a Japanese Geopark just in 2014. Unfortunately, local people’s awareness about it is not high. We hear comments from them like “What is a Geopark?” “What do you do for a Geopark “It seems difficult”
We as TAI-GEO would like to promote casual Geo, familiar Geo, attractive local things through Geo-tour planning, participation in events, and the like.
This tour was co-hosted by TAI-GEO and Center for Research and Education of Disaster Reduction, Wakayama University.
Date June 13, 2015 (Saturday)
Required time about 2 hours and 30 minutes
Course Taiji fishing port -- Rock Gate of Wada (geosite) -- the streetscape where people who were involved in the Whale fishing -- Taiji elementary school (in case of emergency, this is designated as a disaster shelter, observed the local disaster prevention map created by elementary school students) -- Taiji fisheries cooperative office (registered tangible cultural property) -- Ebisu Shrine (torii of whalebones) -- Kosukeya (community space of the vacant house use)
Participants 27 people (male 15, female 12) Age: less than 10 years old - 70’s Living place: Taiji town 7, neighboring cities and towns 6, other cities 9, from other prefectures 5
According to Kiizokufudoki, a topography Kishu clan compiled in the late Edo Period (around 1780 -1867), it says “The entrance of the village at the seashore made a gate by boring the mountain. After going through the entrance, we encountered a place that was suitable for living. Wada clan, who began the ancient whale fishing, governed this place. Once we get into Rock Gate of Wada (geosite), there is a streetscape influenced from Edo era (1603 – 1868) Its features are paint coating wooden houses and intricate narrow alleys. Many of these houses were built from 1910s to 1950s. In the southern part of Kii peninsula, typhoons often come here causing heavy rain and strong winds in autumn. Rock Gate of Wada also plays a role in blocking the strong wind from the sea. The terrain of this village is a hinterland that is slightly higher towards the sea.
We can see the situation in which people evacuated the ship there during the typhoon in old pictures. In addition, most of the drainages to minimize the flooding of the village have now become culverts.
During the tour, what we paid attention to was that we did not want participants to think a geo tour was equal to the study of geology or geo was very difficult. In this course, in addition to being able to enjoy walking on a narrow alley, we could see a lot of things such as a house which looked one-story building but actually it was a two-story building, use of painting color, the housing foundation, called “Herishi", grates and eaves back people were particular about, Western-style houses that former immigrants and migrants had built. Also, we kept in mind that participants could feel the environment and the culture of the town which lived with whale fishing from several information. For example, there are a lot of unique nameplates that are related to whale fishing, Seko(deliver a final blow), Tomi (scout), Ryono (fishing) and seeing the origin of fisheries cooperatives and whalebones torii (a shrine gate) in Ebisu Shrine.
Nanki Kumano Geopark was certified as a Japanese Geopark just in 2014. Unfortunately, local people’s awareness about it is not high. We hear comments from them like “What is a Geopark?” “What do you do for a Geopark “It seems difficult”
We as TAI-GEO would like to promote casual Geo, familiar Geo, attractive local things through Geo-tour planning, participation in events, and the like.