Oyabe City, Toyama Prefecture / Stamp Rally Connecting Folklore to the Future - Weekly Naruhodo! Nippon Editor's Note - Harunosuke Tatekawa #435
Broadcasting from our key station, Nippon Broadcasting System in Yurakucho, Tokyo, this is the radio program "Weekly Naruhodo! Harunosuke. There are over 1,700 municipalities across Japan, from one end of the country to the other. I, Harunosuke Tatekawa, personally investigate the unique charms of each town from my own perspective! I then condense those findings into 10 minutes to report back to you.
Editor's Note
This week's Weekly Naruhodo! Nippon featured the topic: "Exploring Oyabe City, Toyama Prefecture's 'Folklore Stamp Rally'!"
In the main episode, we introduced a digital stamp rally that takes you around the settings of folklore passed down in Oyabe City, as well as some unique local legends.
In this editor's note, I spoke with Rina Hata from the Oyabe City Tourism Association about how this project began and their desire to pass on the region's charm to the future—details we couldn't fit into the main episode.
Harunosuke: Is this the first year you've held this initiative?
Hata: "Actually, we started it last year, and because it was so well-received, we are holding it again this year with different folklore stories."
Harunosuke: To begin with, what was the inspiration behind starting this project?
Hata: "It started when I saw the 'Kappa Legend' of Tono City, Iwate Prefecture, on TV. I learned that Tono City has many folktales preserved there, and I remembered, 'Come to think of it, Oyabe City also had many books of folktales that I often read in the library when I was a child,' which led me to plan this digital stamp rally."
Harunosuke: I see. Perhaps it is precisely because it is a region with heavy snowfall that such folktales and legends are still cherished and passed down today.
Hata: "That's right. Tono City is also in a snowy region of the Tohoku area, with a climate similar to the Hokuriku region. I think that kind of geography is one of the reasons why these folktales and legends have been preserved."
Harunosuke: What kind of rewards do you get for collecting stamps?
Hata: "We have set up 10 spots, and if you visit 5 of them, we present you with a 500-yen voucher for food and shopping that can be used at participating shops in the city's tourism association. Furthermore, if you visit all 10 spots, as a completion prize, you receive another 500-yen food and shopping voucher, plus a cup or ballpoint pen featuring Oyabe City's mascot character, 'Mergyu-kun'."
Harunosuke: You can experience the charm of Oyabe City while touring the folklore, and enjoy local gourmet food and shopping. Plus, you even get commemorative goods—this makes one want to aim for conquering all the spots. How has the response been from the participants?
Hata: "Many people living in Oyabe City have said, 'I didn't know such folktales existed,' and I feel it has become an opportunity for them to rediscover the charm of their own region."
Harunosuke: Finally, what do you hope to convey through this initiative?
Hata: "I hope that not only the residents of Oyabe City but also people from outside the city will feel the charm of Oyabe, and that this event will lead them to visit and tour the city. I want to continue to share the appeal that 'there are still so many interesting places in Oyabe City' from here on out."
Harunosuke: How has the response been from the participants?
Hata: "Many people living in Oyabe City have said, 'I didn't know,' and I feel it is leading to a rediscovery of the region."
The story of how the 'Kappa Legend' of Tono City led to a new tourism project in Oyabe City was very impressive. Folklore passed down through a region is not just something to be told as old tales; by actually walking through the settings where they took place, they are reborn with new appeal. Local residents rediscover the treasures of their region, and share that charm with visitors from outside the city. I felt that this initiative is filled with such passion for the community.
This was the 'Naruhodo' (I see!) moment for this time.
What kind of 'Naruhodo' will we encounter next time? Weekly Naruhodo! Nippon will continue to bring you topics from all over Japan.
You can read the full version with plenty of photos here. You can also listen to it on
Radiko for one week after the broadcast.