The Real Shimane : A detailed guidebook to Shimane Prefecture in Japan
Lab 鎌倉奥乃院
My parents' hometown is in Shimane Prefecture, so I spent my childhood there, especially during summer vacation. Shimane Prefecture is not well known in Tokyo elementary schools, and it's much easier to confuse it with Tottori Prefecture. Some kids would ask with a funny look on their face, wondering if they were serious or joking, "Do you need a passport to go there?" Every time I encountered such a scene, I would curse my parents and Shimane. I felt extremely uncool for having a connection to Shimane.
After I became an adult, I had the opportunity to live in Shimane Prefecture for exactly five years. Now, I am very proud of my ties to the prefecture. Why do you think that is?
Because I realized that Shimane is a prefecture that should not be underestimated.
In other words, Shimane Prefecture is a prefecture formed by the merger of the former provinces of Izumo, Iwami, and Oki, and I learned that in ancient times, Izumo Province was home to the Izumo Kingdom, which played a very important role in the formation of the country of Japan.
The Izumo Kingdom rivaled the Yamato court. However, this was not similar to the Go-Hojo clan's resistance against the Toyotomi government. Rather, it was a clash between two great powers that were probably on an even footing, similar to the Giants versus the Hanshin Tigers in baseball.
If the Yamato court is the sun, then the land of Izumo is the moon; the relationship between the two can be likened to this.
Iwami Province is strongly connected to the poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro and the painter Sesshu. The province has also produced many notable individuals, including Mori Ogai and Nishi Amane. I am especially pleased that Mori Ogai, who died leaving behind the words "I wish to die as a man from Iwami, Mori Rintaro," was born in Iwami Province. Learning these facts has made me proud of my connection to Shimane Prefecture.
Shimane Prefecture stretches from east to west. As a result, the languages and cultures spoken in the former Izumo and Iwami provinces are completely different. This is another unique aspect of Shimane Prefecture.
Based on the author's own experiences, we have created a detailed tourist guidebook for Shimane Prefecture. Check it out below!
Lab Deep in Kamakura Juei Masuda
"The Real Shimane" Author: Juei Masuda
The following is an excerpt from the introduction to the book:
This is a compelling travel guide to the "real Shimane in Japan," written by a Tokyo native based on his five-year experience living in Shimane Prefecture.
Shimane Prefecture was formed by merging the former Izumo, Iwami, and Oki provinces. Yet, it remains a unique prefecture where these three distinct regions still coexist.
Izumo Province was home to the Izumo Kingdom, which played a significant role in the formation of Japan as a nation. Iwami Province is connected to the revered poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro and the revered painter Sesshu. The region has also produced many important figures in modern Japan, including Ogai Mori. Since ancient times, Oki Province has been a place of exile. Notably, Emperor Go-Toba, who was exiled to the region, became an unparalleled master of poetry.
This book not only covers Shimane's history, but also its literature, performing arts, cinema, wildlife, and gourmet cuisine. Its scope is wide-ranging.
Photographs taken by the author are featured throughout.
Table of Contents: Foreword：
まえがき
1 Shuichiro Tabata, “Fudoki: Izumo and Iwami”
2 Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, Sesshu, and the Masuda clan town
3 The tragic story of the Takahashi clan and Tora-san
4 The Kojiki, the Amago clan, and movies
5 Matsue, City of Water
6 The Island Where Emperor Go-Toba Met His End
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