Walk around the mountain village, Kyushu Mountains, Mimi River (Miyazaki Prefecture)／Rice terrace village that ran high from the bottom of the valley
Shiiba is a region that refers to the Kyushu Mountains, which is located in the upper reaches of the Mimi River in the northwestern part of Miyazaki Prefecture. In the early modern period, it was under the control of Mr. Sagara of the Hitoyoshi domain along with Yonera-so in the south, but it was a typical isolated mountain village with almost no contact with the outside. The cultivated area of ​​Shiiba Village is less than 1% of the village, and there are many farmers who work part-time in agriculture and forestry. In 1960 (Showa 35), Kyushu Electric Power built Japan's first arch-type Kamishiiba Dam upstream of the Mimi River, creating Hyugashiiba Lake. The west side of the village is the main ridgeline of the Kyushu Mountains, and when you cross the pass called Shiibakoshi, you will reach Gokaso in Izumi Town (former Izumi Village), Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
In Shiiba Village, the legend of the Heike, which is especially unique among the isolated mountain villages, is handed down. About 800 years ago, the samurai of the Heike, who lost the battle of Dannoura, escaped from the pursuit and escaped to the deep mountains in various places. The ancient document "Shiibayama Origin" reports as follows.
It was Shiiba in the mountains that the remnants of the Heike finally arrived after escaping the pathless road. However, this Hidden Village is also known to Minamoto no Yoritomo, and Nasu no Yoichi Munetaka is ordered to go for a follow-up. However, due to illness, his younger brother, Daihachiro Nasu, was ordered to revenge. Daihachiro heads for Shiiba, crosses a steep road, and finally discovers a deceased person who has lived in hiding. However, despite his former glory, he saw the appearance of the Heike Ichimon, who lived quietly while farming, and pitifully abandoned the revenge and reported to the shogunate that he had subdued. Normally, I would return to Kamakura here, but Daihachiro set up a mansion in Shiiba and stayed here. Not only that, he helped them by building the Itsukushima Shrine, the guardian deity of the Heike clan, and teaching them how to farm, and lived in cooperation with each other. It is said that he fell in love with Taira no Kiyomori's descendant, Tsurutomihime. Although it is not very credible as a legend, it is unique, but it is also interesting that Shiiba Village has only two, "Shiiba surname", which is said to be the descendant of the Heike family, and "Nasu surname", which is Genji.
Speaking of the surrounding villages, it is a typical "village of the heavens", and the villages are scattered on the ridge. The characteristic is the rice terraces that have been carefully created, and the hardships of the ancestors who built the rice fields by sprinkling water well on the mountain can be seen.