In 1533 the local magistrate received an order to build an irrigation pond in Ikeya district. Irrigation water was necessary for local farmer's rice fields. Everybody worked together with a great strength of purpose although it was difficult work. A village headmaster Bunzaemon Nishimura, worked at the center of this group and united nine villages. But in this area there were few people and few machines. It took three years to complete this project. Two years later there was a long spell of rain that hit Ikeya. The dam collapsed in June and the second construction attempt failed. The feudal lord ordered the this dam attempt repaired again. Keiemon a local farmer said a human sacrifice was needed to appease the Gods so this work could be completed. Everybody sad. The local villagers decided to select someone by using their pleated skirts. Everyone threw their pleated skirts into the water. Unfortunately Keiemon's pleated skirt sank the first. The Keiemon family were at a loss, they cried all night. Next morning his daughter Kura, who was working at village headmaster's house, said to her family, it is not proper for father to be sacrificed. Without a man's force his family can't survive. I will go on his behalf. Keiemon accepted her plea after many tears and much discussion. On the departing day most of the farmers clasped their hands in deep emotion and love. They were so sad that they continued sitting on the ground long after she had left. Kura wore a white cloth and rode on a white-eyed horse. This sight was awe-inspiring. She rode her horse into the pond and drowned. After that the construction was completed with unthinkable speed. At early autumn a splendid dam was standing. After that Okura became a special name, nobody used this name in deference to her memory although Okura had been a popular name in the village before them. The villagers were moved to such a sacrificial spirit. They erected a pavilion named Magura(a compound word recognizing both Kura and her horse). The pavilion was by the pond and locals worshipped her spirit. (Other story puts the date of this legend between 1751-64 and 1573-92).
It is said that some vapors can be seen here and there. A dragon came down from Mt.Myoken and made a noise and then let hot water come up from underground. The dragon came here to drink water. Everyone held their breath. At the time one foolish man was scared of the dragon. The furious dragon roared and blew red fire from his mouth and devastated fields and killed grass and flowers. The dragon changed the water into boiling hot water and painted this valley with different colors. Here and there a sculpture born flow grew and still the white vapors continued. The village people wanted their lifestyle to remain unchanged and were surprised with the heated water and thought everything was over. They didn't know how to use hot water in their daily life. All they could do was pray with despair. The devastated fields meant the death of the village people. How can we suppress this dragon to recover our green mountains and meadows. Let's keep our fingers crossed and pray to the God of the Mountain. Please go back to the mountain. Their prayer went on for 108 nights. Their faces were filled with peaceful exposure. Their prayers changed the hot water into clear cold water and the village turned into green fields one more. Their rice fields could survive. They shed tears. The river meandered down the valley flowing along close to Kawachi Elementary School. There was no sand on the river bed. In the village when it came to digging a well people exchanged conversation, "Did the hot spring come up?". Someday Yunosako may have a hot spring again.
Hie is written Hiyoshi in Japanese character's and read as Hie. One day a monkey was basking in the sun. A passing hunter found it and thought that it was his lucky day. It was a big game catch for him. But the monkey had sad eyes. It pointed to her stomach as if she wanted to say something. The hunter thought her behavior was strange but he understood that the monkey wanted to shoot here in the stomach. That's why-she monkey rubbed her stomach many times. So the hunter shot her in the stomach. The bullet went through her body and she died instantly. A few years later his wife gave birth to a baby boy. But this baby's eyes were closed. After that the hunter gradually changed his character and degraded himself by alcohol and quarreling. His fields were sold. Nowadays local people seldom see a monkey.
>From 1000 years ago until the end of the Samurai era, Mt.Kubote flourished in the culture of mountain ascetics. There are some stone steps running from the middle to the top of Mt.Kubote. They number around 850. The story as to why the steps are there, goes as follows; Once, many goblins lived in Mt.Inugatake. They came down to steal crops, kidnap young ladies and kids, and generally annoyed the village people. So the villagers asked Gongen(Shinto deity) of Kubote to get rid of the goblins. He made a plan to get the goblins to build 1000 steps. He proposed to them that if they could build the steps by dawn, then they could do anything they wanted, but if they were unable to finish the steps, then they must leave the area. For the goblins, this was an easy task, and in a short time they had completed over 900 steps. This angered Gongen. He made the sound of a cock's crow, whilst banging a hat made of straw. In line with this sound, all the cocks in the area thought it was dawn, and began to crow too. The goblins were astonished that dawn had arrived so quickly, and they hurried away from the village.
There is a small mountain named Chausu at Kushikariya in Yamada. Once the Yamada castle of the Utsunomiyas was situated on this mountain. Taizen Yamada was a commander in the castle. He had a daughter who grew up to be a beautiful lady. One day the Kuroda clan invaded Yamada castle. The castle burnt down and retainers cried and ran about trying to escape. Nobody noticed Princess Jora in this chaos. She realized there was no use in running away and trying to escape. She narrowly escaped from the castle herself. But she couldn't find any allies. Her choice is whether death or captured by enemy. Because she was alone she decided to jump into a depth to commit suicide. The depths now has her name Jora. On the way to the castle there is a valley named Akashibatani(Red Turf Valley). Even since the invasion of the castle is it said that every sprout in this valley is red. In another story the Princess threw a golden teakettle into the well so that the enemy wouldn't get it. Local people say half in jest that if you have no money go up Mt.Chausu and dig the well. There is a winding small path to Mt.Chausu. Once there was a tomb of a five storied pagoda. It is said that in this place defeated soldiers injured in battle gasped their last breaths here. At that place tomb was erected named Munen(regret) pavilion. Neighboring people call it Munendo or Muendo(neglect) and hold a service for the departed souls. Some of the pavilions were destroyed to widen a road. Strangely enough it is said that there are many traffic accidents at this corner of the road. |