[Mononofu Tsubaki 🌺 Roots Journey Retrospective ⑦] Arriving by chance at a village where descendants of the clan live

Hello, this is Mononofu Tsubaki😊🌺
I have two weeks left until the manuscript deadline, and I've finally written about 60-70% of it.

All that's left is theKochi chapter and the family home mystery-solving chapter, so I feel like I canfinally see the finish line.

The Kochi chapter will be a long and dramatic story, so I've decided to summarize it in two parts.

▼ While on a business trip, I somehow ended up in a village where descendants of the Tsutsui clan live

Five years ago, having just changed jobs, Iwas sent to Kochi for a week for training. It was my first time living in a hotel for a week in my life. At night, I bought seafood at the market and enjoyed drinking alone in my room (it was just the best😆♪).

Suddenly, I remembered,come to think of it, there was a place in Kochi where many descendants of the Tsutsui clan lived, and when I asked someone from the clan association, they said it wasZ Village. It was quite far and a place you could only reach by car, so I thought I wouldn't be able to go this time, but...

To my surprise, on the second day of training, I was taken by a vendor to a town next to Z Village😲

And then, thanks to the vendor's arrangements,I arrived at Z Village in a flash (Wait, what??💦).

▼ To a shrine festival that only clan members can attend

There, I searched fordescendants of the Sengoku daimyo Tsutsui Sadatsugu, who is said to have fled to this village long ago, and asked the villagers about it.

"Hmm, I'm not really sure."

Is that so (disappointed).

On my way back, I stopped by the village office to ask,

"Come to think of it, there is a festival next month that only the Tsutsui family can attend."

What, there's something like that!?👀 I'm going!✨

When I asked more about it, I learned it was a private festival not open to outsiders, and that I could attend if I got permission from the shrine representative.

So, I asked someone from the clan association for permission, andthe following month I went to the trouble of flying from Tokyo again to visit Z Village (← I'm quite the eccentric myself😅).

▼ A festival that has continued for 400 years and the secret traditions passed down in the village

A solemn festival that has continued for 400 years, held at a shrine deep in the mountains. I attended with Mr. Tsutsui X from the clan association.

And, in search of Tsutsui clan ruins, I walked around the mountains for three hours,was allowed to wear precious armor and helmets passed down through the clan, and was shown Japanese swords worth millions of yen up close, having various precious experiences.

The festivals are held in summer and autumn, and as I participated a few times, I became friends with Mr. K-taro Tsutsui (in his 80s), and he taught me various legends passed down in the village.

A Japanese sword and a precious scroll stolen from the shrine 60 years ago.
That scroll should contain the secret of the Sengoku daimyo who fled to this village.

And then, the graves of the seven retainers left behind after the Sengoku daimyo disappeared.
Guided there, I was told an unexpected story by Mr. K-taro.


It was, believe it or not, a legend that treasure hidden by the Sengoku daimyo is buried nearby.
Sixty years ago, Mr. K-taro tried looking for the treasure, but he said he couldn't find it.

Now, will the treasure really be found?
The continuation of this is in the second part of the Kochi chapter!

[6] Roots Journey: Kochi Chapter (Part 1)

First Visit ① The circumstances leading up to my arrival at Z Village
First Visit ② Things progressed so smoothly it became scary...
First Visit ③ The legend of the village submerged by a dragon-shaped dam
First Visit ④ The Kasuga Shrine festival that only descendants of the clan can attend
First Visit ⑤ Mr. X: "You are being called by your ancestors, let's go together"

Autumn Festival ① Village in the Sky ⛰ To the legendary village surrounded by mountains
Autumn Festival ② The secret festival of the local deity deep in the mountains ✨
Autumn Festival ③ Where on earth is the bell of Enmeiji Temple?

Summer Festival 🎐① Aiming for a hidden shrine with my elementary school daughter
Summer Festival 🎐② Wearing 400-year-old armor and a helmet
Summer Festival 🎐③ The world of Princess Mononoke and the bell of Enmei-ji Temple
Summer Festival 🎐④ Z Village legends: The whereabouts of the Sengoku warlord and his 7 retainers
Summer Festival 🎐⑤ Z Village legends: Who were the real migrants revealed by the family tree?
Summer Festival 🎐⑥ Where on earth is the treasure stolen from the shrine 60 years ago?
Summer Festival 🎐⑦ The graves of the 7 retainers and the thing dug up from the ground 👻♰

Autumn Festival Again 🍂① Holding a real 'sword'
Autumn Festival Again 🍂② The mysterious thing I saw during the Shinto ritual
Autumn Festival Again 🍂③ The graves of the 7 retainers and a new mission

▼ Kochi is a great place, you should visit at least once♪

When I counted, I have been to Kochi six times
to search for my roots. Moreover, to a hidden place in the mountains that takes over half a day by bus from Kochi Airport.
I must say, I really go to great lengths😅

Besides this, I have been there 3 or 4 times for family trips and solo trips, so Kochi is already like my second home.

Transportation is inconvenient, but it is rich in nature and scenic. The food is delicious and the people are warm so if you have never been there, please try visiting Kochi at least once💖

Well then, I look forward to your continued support😊

Mononofu Tsubaki 🌺 Regards

▼ Previous story

▼ Background of publication

▼ Self-introduction

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★ The image at the beginning was provided by this source. https://pixabay.com/ja/photos/