Tara, Saga

Tara
太良町
Town

Location of Tara in Saga Prefecture
Tara

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 33°1′N 130°11′E / 33.017°N 130.183°E / 33.017; 130.183Coordinates: 33°1′N 130°11′E / 33.017°N 130.183°E / 33.017; 130.183
Country Japan
Region Kyushu
Prefecture Saga Prefecture
District Fujitsu
Government
 • Mayor Masaaki Iwashima
Area
 • Total 74.20 km2 (28.65 sq mi)
Population (February 1, 2009)
 • Total 10,075
 • Density 140/km2 (350/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Hinoki
 • Flower Mikan flower
 • Bird Uguisu (Japanese bush warbler)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address 1-6 Ōaza Tara, Tara-chō, Fujitsu-gun, Saga-ken
849-1698
Website www.town.tara.saga.jp

Tara (太良町 Tara-chō) is a town and peninsula located in Fujitsu District, Saga Prefecture, Japan.

Geography

Tara is bordered by Isahaya, Ōmura, Kashima and the Ariake Sea. On a clear day, it is possible to see the mountains across the sea. Tara includes Mount Tara and Mount Kyoga, which are two of the highest mountains in Kyūshū and part of the Tara Mountains. Tara is composed of two traditional — and to a lesser extent, linguistic — sections, which were once independent towns: Tara (多良) and Ōura (大浦). Tara is located quite close to the Kashima Gatalympics, which takes place near Hizen-Iida station.

Aerial view of Ōura bay

Ōura harbor is the main port of entry via sea.

Significant locations

Famous, tourist, and historic sites of note include:

Kinsenji (temple)
Once had influence on shrines throughout Kyūshū, though it is now literally a shell of its former glory (see legends below)
Takezaki Kanze Onji (temple)
Culturally one of the most influential areas in Tara (see festivals, below)
Tara Takezaki onsen
One of the few sources of tourism in modern times
Shirahama beach;
Small and littered with sharp shells, yet facilities exist and a sea-center is close by with recreational activities such as jet-skiing
Kenkou no Mori Park ("forest of health")
A fairly large park in the middle of the mountains
Camp Nakayama
Camping ground with cabins (open for a short period each year) and a trail to Mount Tara and other important areas in the Tara mountains
Mount Tara (多良岳 tara dake) and the Tara mountains
Mount Tara is one of the tallest mountains in Kyūshū.
Mount Kyōga (経ヶ岳 kyōga take)
Taller than mount Tara, making it the tallest in the prefecture. If one is traveling by car, it is more readily accessible from Kashima or Ōmura, though a ridgeline exists between it and mount Tara that hikers often use.
Takezaki Castle Ruins
Degraded into not much more than a wall; its purpose was once to be a lookout for invasions from Nagasaki
Takezaki Castle Observatory
Re-creation of the original Takezaki Castle, this tall structure is at the edge of the peninsula overlooking the sea
Lighthouse Ruins
Reduced to a memorial stone

History

History

Due to influence from Nagasaki, Christianity existed in the area, but after the results of the Shimabara Rebellion, most of the Christians were killed or went underground and became Kakure Kirishitans. The only evidence remaining is grave stones that are scattered throughout Tara.

Legends

Local legend has it that a force from the south once tried to invade Tara. The villagers wore demon masks to scare the intruders, and won the skirmish.

Another local legend originating in the 9th century is that of a handsome warrior-monk, Takeno Shintaro, whose looks so charmed the ladies that they sang a song whenever he came down from the mountains. The lyrics of the song ask for him to fall and break his leg so that he would have to stay among the women. Women could not go into the mountains at that time in history because of the mountains' sacred nature. The mountains themselves were worshiped as the realm of gods (at this time the local belief was that gods were another step along a buddha's progression), and the temple at Mount Tara, Kinsen-ji, had authority over more than 70 shrines in Kyūshū. However, under the Meiji restoration, the god-buddha connection became taboo and today Kinsen-ji lies in disrepair. During 1780, a song named "Zanza-bushi" spread through Japan. Saga people adapted the melody and used it to recreate the song "Takeno Shintaro-san". The first two stanzas:

“ When Shintaro comes down,

Let us light a thousand lanterns along the way.
He's so handsome and charming!

When Shintaro goes back,
Let us make his way slippery with water.
He's too handsome to be set free!

 ”

There is a legend about the origins of the Doro Mochi Tsuki festival (see festivals section below). In the legend, set about 200 years ago, the village was poor. On occasion of the village elder being away on a pilgrimage, the town's people all had the same dream. In the mysterious dream, an itinerant monk came to the village as they were discussing how to pray for rain and in hunger stole some mochi. The villagers blamed him and killed him. Out of regret, they buried him. Rain fell upon the place where he was buried. The villagers believed the rain was due to the monk, and offered mochi to him, thus starting the traditional festival.

Festivals and religious occasions

There are many festivals in Tara, some with history spanning back hundreds of years. These are listed below, in order of date.

Other Events

Discontinued Festivals and traditions

Some festivals have recently stopped being performed, or are rarely observed anymore. Among them are: the cucumber festival, in which cucumbers were piled in hopes of blessings such as safety and babies, and the demon fires events, in which large bonfires were made.

Industry

Seaweed-gathering nets in the Ariake Sea

Tara was once a thriving tourist destination, but as Japan's economy has slowed down, so has Tara's. Most young people relocate to the larger cities when they become adults. Tara is on a main railroad line and traversed by route 207 (see transportation below), and benefits somewhat from the tourism this brings. As a result, many people in Tara are opposed to new train lines that would make commerce through Tara all but obsolete. However planning has gone ahead, and Tara has received a payoff to compensate.

It is regionally famous for its crabs (of the wanigani variety), mikans, and oysters, the latter of which is in season during the winter. During oyster (or kaki) season, it is common for people to come from surrounding prefectures and enjoy grilled kaki. Many restaurants have special, bare-bones plastic and wood sections that are only open during this season. Most of such business happens on the weekends, and this is also a good business time for the local farmer's market.

Other industry in Tara includes animal husbandry, especially chicken farms, and forestry. But Tara's most profitable industry probably lies in the surrounding sea. Besides fishing and marine life, Tara boasts thousands of nori collecting poles and nets.

Education

Tara has one prefectural highschool, Tara High School (佐賀県立太良高等学校), and two junior high schools. There are also two elementary schools and scattered kindergartens.

Transportation

Most travelers come to Tara by National Route 207 or via the Nagasaki Main Line, operated by JR Kyushu.

Stations

Tara is serviced by the JR Kyushu railroad company. It has two stations and one switchbox.

Air

The closest airport is Saga Airport, followed by one in Nagasaki. Most travelers go to Fukuoka Airport for travel abroad.

Roads

National Route 207 runs through the length of the town, and is the only road to Nagasaki Prefecture. The mountains are seeded with small roads, many of them one lane and unpaved. A road leads from camp Nakayama towards Kashima and Ureshino.

Sea

While fishing is a huge industry, there is no known sea travel, nor are there ferries available.

Language

While standard Japanese is spoken and understood in the area, the locals also speak the local dialect, Saga-ben, which is further broken down into Tara-ben and Ōura-ben. Some examples of speech include:

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