Invited by the Cobalt Blue Princess [Semboku City, Akita Prefecture: Lake Tazawa Ryujin Festival Part 1]

This weekend, the weather forecast for eastern Japan is dominated by large umbrella icons.

Here in the northern Tohoku region, the summer sky has been in a foul mood since this morning.

The cloudy sky looks like it might collapse if you poked it just a little... so, what to do?

Actually, there is an event today that I missed out on last year.

I want to get my revenge, but it's such a hassle... but if it doesn't rain, maybe.

I spent the morning lounging around like that, but then I settled it with the 'go halfway and if it's a hassle, just come back home theory'.

With that in mind, I finally got moving in the early afternoon.

What is Lake Tazawa?

Lake Tazawa, a circular lake with a circumference of about 20 kilometers located in Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, boasting a depth of 423.4 meters, the deepest in Japan.

The beautiful cobalt blue lake surface and the "Princess Tatsuko Legend" make it a popular tourist destination. Furthermore, the entire area is designated as the Tazawako Dakigaeri Prefectural Natural Park and is a scenic spot selected as one of the

100 Landscapes of Japan.

What is the Princess Tatsuko Legend?

Long ago, a very beautiful girl named "Tatsuko" lived in Innai on the shores of Lake Tazawa.

She wished to keep her beauty and youth forever and prayed at the village's Kannon Hall for 100 days and 100 nights.

On the final night, she received a divine message saying, "If you drink the water from the spring in the northern mountains, your wish will be granted," and Tatsuko headed to the spring deep in the mountains.

When she scooped up the spring water and drank it, for some reason her thirst became even more intense, and unable to resist, she drank all the water in the spring.

Then, before she knew it, Tatsuko's body transformed into a large dragon, and she sank deep to the bottom of the lake as the master of Lake Tazawa (Dragon God).

The Sorrowful Mother and the Fish

Her mother, worried that Tatsuko had disappeared, searched all around the lake, but upon learning that her daughter had become a dragon, she was so overcome with grief that she threw a torch (a piece of wood) into the lake.

Legend has it that the torch then transformed into a fish and began to swim, becoming the "Kunimasu" (black kokanee), a species endemic to Lake Tazawa.

The Story of Her Lover, Hachiro Taro

Tatsuko had a lover named Hachiro Taro, a Dragon God who lived in Hachirogata on the Oga Peninsula, known for the "Three Lakes Legend."

It is said that because Hachiro Taro comes to Lake Tazawa in the winter to spend time with Tatsuko, Lake Tazawa, where the two dragons reside, never freezes even in the depths of winter.

*As an aside, this 'Legend of the Three Lakes' (a story that adds Lake Towada to the two mentioned above) is also a very interesting tale, but it's too long so I'll omit it this time.

Be that as it may, Tatsuko-san, you shouldn't be swayed by lookism.

Eternal youth, you say? ...First, you should read AYUKO-sama's article 100 times.

So, I'm heading towards Akita on a whim.

Sengan Pass Teahouse

First, I'll head west on National Route 46.

The border between Shizukuishi Town in Iwate Prefecture and Semboku City in Akita Prefecture is called the 'Sengan Pass' and is a place with many mountains and continuous curves.

...or so it says on the internet, but the road is wide and surprisingly easy to drive on.

And there is a famous spot at this pass.

I wanted to eat the famous oden here too, but I guess that can wait for next time.

Arrived at Lake Tazawa

As I wrote before in my report on the Yokote City Manga Museum... when it comes to Akita souvenirs, the Akita dog, Namahage, Hinai Jidori chicken, Inaniwa udon, and iburigakko (smoked pickled radish) are famous.

This mochi is said to have been used mainly in the northern part of Akita Prefecture as a preserved food for the Matagi hunters.

It is the Akita specialty 'kiritanpo' skewered, coated with sweet miso, and grilled.

Well, now that I've had my fill, I'll take a leisurely drive along the lakeshore.

After all, I have to pay my respects to the guardian of the lake.

Even while grumbling, I somehow ended up here, so please treat me well, mushroom.

Well, there is still time until the main event of the festival, the Prayer Ceremony, and the Meeting of the Twin Dragons, where two giant dragon god portable shrines are taken out onto the lake.

I also want to pay my respects to the local deity, so I think I will head to the shrine next.

And so, my long day began. (To be continued)