Shrine of the Floating Log and the Derivation of its Name

Have you visited the golden statue of Tatsuko? The statue has now become internationally known for its appearance in Korean drama IRIS. The statue is standing next to a shrine called Ukiki Shrine （浮木神社）, also known as Kansagu（漢槎宮）.

Lake Tazawa is known for a number of intricate legends. The name of this small shrine also derives from a local legend about a floating log. It is said that one side of the log was showing above the water about 2-meters long but the other side was heavily sinking in the water. According to a book, Furusato Hakubutsushi by Jihei Chiba, the floating upside-down log with its branches sinking deeply was said to have resembled a dragon, which plays an important role in the legend of Tatsuko. It is why the people believed built a shrine where the log has finally settled on the shore.



Derivation of the name.


The book also says that a floating log first appeared in a book around 1770 written by Soshu Masuto, a scholar who visited Lake Tazawa and saw the floating log and unusually shaped clouds over Mt. Akita Komagatake. His associates alarmed that it was a sign of changing weather, so they quickly returned to the shore. The story was written in his book, Monsa Kikou, which introduced the lake that was formerly known as Tazawa-no-Kata and Tatsuko Kata, as a lake of floating log, “Ukiki-no-Mizuumi”.

Chiba, in his book published in 1998, also suggests that in the ancient time the people believed that a big tree carried a divine spirit so that the floating log was also seen as a divine object. Furthermore, another literature mentions that in the ancient time, the logs were transported from Tazawa Village on the other side of the lake to Kakunodate Town by running them on the lakewater. That is why the “floating log” was significant in the villager’s life and worshipped at nearby shrines.

Knowing the legends and these background stories would take you to an imaginary journey back in time. The scenery from this site, Katajiri　（潟尻）, is probably the most featured to represent Akita Prefecture!

A panel with a picture of Statue of Tatsuko and Lake Tazawa
 from a scene of IRIS welcome you at Akita Airport.

In the summer, you can feed fish (mostly Japanese dace) near the shrine. In winter, you can see the snow-covered Akita Komagatake Mountains mirrored on the lake water from here.

New Year is approaching! As we have mentioned, Goza no Ishi Shrine is a popular shrine for a new year’s visit, Hatsumode. Perhaps it’s a good idea to drive around and make another stop at this beautiful place!

A Musical Ritual at Gozanoishi Shrine

Red Torii facing the lake at Gozanoishi

Gozanoishi Shrine is one of the most picturesque and popular sites at Lake Tazawa. The name, Gozanoishi, is said to derive from a historical fact that Lord Yoshitaka of the Satake Clan that ruled Akita area around 17th century had rested and enjoyed the magnificent view upon his visit to Tazawako Area.

Staricase connecting between the torii and the precinct.

Original amulets for sale (left). The offering goes to maintain the shrine.

The main shrine at Gozanoishi.

Tatsuko's Statue for the eternal beauty stands on your right from the entrance to the precinct.

Even the fountain for washing hands is dragon-shaped.

As some summer travelers might know, August is when many festivals are held in all over Japan, regardless of its religious, customary or touristic meanings for the people.

Reitaisai is an annual ritual which signifies the most important ceremonies for the shrine. Some reitaisais are elaborated and touristic: others are more humble and kept --yet practicing the unique customs of the tradition.

Gozanoishi Shrine’s Reitaisai (例大祭) is an example of the latter— hosting no more than 15 guests—performed with a religious music and dance with traditional instruments. Quite interesting!

A ritual dance with bells.

Ritual dance using the swords!

Some say Gozanoishi Shrine emits a strong spiritual powerwho knows—but just the magnificent view through the red torii gate would leave you an enduring impression in your mind. You might feel somehow spiritual.

Note there are a few other spots nearby you couldn’t miss: The mirror rock which Tatsuko had reflected herself in (Kagami-Ishi: 鏡石), the holy tree naturally grafted with seven species (Nanairogi:七色木), and a reconstructed site of the holy spring where Tatsuko took a sip from (Katagashira-no-reisen: 潟頭の霊泉).

Gozanoishi's Torii Gate

Naturally-grafted, Nanairo-gi, or A Tree of Seven Colors

Amagai-ishi, or The Rock of Call for Rain

The rock

A cafe is next to the shrine.

Asari-Shoten, or Asari Market, is a souvenir shop with some snacks and noodles.

Access: Take a local bus line called Isshu-Sen (一周線), which departs from JR Tazawako Station, loops around the lake, and takes you back to the station. A few of them (check the time) even allow you to take off, enjoy your sightseeing, and hop on the next available bus—not all of the buses on the line, though, so plan ahead!

downloadable from the side bar.

Tazawako Festival 2010

Tazawako Festival is an annual event held late July each year with highlights including fireworks and a dragon festival that represents Tatsuko's reunion with Hachiro Taro, her lover in Legend of Three Lakes.

This year's Tazawako Festival was held last Saturday, bringing more than 8,000 people to our small town.

Each year, two people are  chosen to take the role of Tatsuko and Hachiro Taro. Past few years the roles were played by persons from neighboring cities. This year the candidates happened to be the natives to Tazawako-- It brought so much joy to the local people!

A hiking tour was scheduled to follow the route of Tatsuko— starting off from her birthplace in Innai area, pay a visit to historical landmarks, hiking up through the mountains all the way to Lake Tazawa.

Innnai Area, Tatsuko's birthplace.

Tatsuko for this year 2010 was Miss Shinobu Kanaya.

A shinto ceremony in front of Tatsuko's grave.

Tatsuko's Grave

Unfortunately, the tour was called off due to the unpredictable weather and route condition, for it is meant to be Tatsuko's pilgrimage that greatly concerns her safety.

Instead, the group  visited ruins of Okura shrine. It is a shrine, according to the legend, to which Tatsuko is said to paid 100 night visits to wish for the eternal beauty.

A monument at the ruins of Okura Shirine.

At the site now remains a few kannon statues.

The ruins are embedded deep in forest.

Many food stalls welcomed guests at the event site, among which was a produce market by Omagari Nogyo High School. Another group from the same high school performed traditional dance on stage.  

Omagari Nogyo High School specializes in agriculture courses.

Omagari Nogyo High School's Traditional Dance Club

Other food stalls included Keitora Ichi, a market of light-weight ("kei" class) trucks loading different products.

The biggest attractions of Tazawako Festival are held in the evening: Ryujin-Sai (Dragon Festiva) and fireworks on the lake!

Last year Dragon Festival was cancelled due to the shortage of hands. It was a disappointment to many people, so that this year a great effort was made to to spread the words, bringing more than 100 participants-- more than we expected!  

Tatsuko and Hachiro for this year: Miss Shinobu Kanaya and Mr. Shunsuke Sasaki

The participants getting ready for the festivity!

The floats led by Tatsuko and Taro proceeded to the ceremony.

Ceremony for the eternal unity of a couple

Two dragon floats representing Tatsuko and Hachiro Taro are carried to the beach.

Tazawako Ryujin ("Guardian Dragon")  Daiko

The food stalls can not be missed!

Tazawako Festival takes place in late July. We will be looking forward to seeing you next year!

The Legend of Three Lakes: Why Lake Tazawa Never Freeses!

Legend of Tatsuko is the most famous one among all the others associated with Lake Tazawa. It is a story about a girl who became a guardian dragon after following a message of a god after wishing for her eternal beauty. 

Legend of Three Lakes, which is sequential of Legend of Tatsuko evolved around Tatsuko, a guardian dragon of Lake Tazawa and two other dragons of different lakes in Akita Prefecture. When people think of Legends about Tatsuko, they often think of the sad romance with Taro dragon from Lake Hachirogata and his rival Nansobo. Here is the common version of the story.

_____________________________________________________

Legend of Three Lakes:

There was a monk whose name was Nansobo and he was on a journey. One day, he passed a lake called Lake Tazawa and saw a beautiful girl, Tatsuko. He was instantly captivated by her beauty. So he decided to approach her so he could have her as his own.

However, Tatsuko intuitively saw a destructive nature in this man. So she despised him so badly that he didn't stand seeing his waraji (traditional straw sandals) nor his iron cane. She rejected Nansobo and turned him away.

In despair, Nansobo was madly thrust his iron cane into the ground!  This cane is said to have become a cedar tree now known as "Chitose-Sugi", Cedar of a Thousand Years. It is still standing in Katajiri Area.

Later, Nansobo found out about Tatsuko's lover, Hachiro-Taro. He was so enraged that attacked the guardian dragon of Lake Towada. Nansobo in his extremely violent manner chased the caring man away  from home! That's how Nansobo ended up taking over Lake Towada.

Now Hachiro-Taro was in need of a new home, so that he decided to stop the Yoneshirogawa River and to create a large lake -- that is how Lake Hachirogata is said to have formed.

Hachiro-Taro was in love with Tatsuko. During the freezing winter, he would take a long trip across the rolling mountains just to meet with his beautiful woman. Because of his gentle and unassuming nature, Tatsuko gradually became fond of him and sheltered him in her home, Lake Tazawa.

Hachiro would visit Tatsuko in Lake Tazawa every winter! Because of their love is so deep and warm, despite the most freezing temperature of Tazawako area, the lake never freezes!

On the other hand, Lake Hachirogata on the absence of the guardian dragon during the winter, remains cold, frosty, and covered with  a thick layer of ice!

Knowing the couple's affair, Nansobo was overwhelming jealou! He attacked Hachiro-Taro again by bringing catastrophic storms to Lake Tazawa. Hachiro-Taro attacked back to protect Tatsuko. The two male dragons fought to the limit of their strength!

Nansobo turned his iron cane into a thousand of needles and blew to Hachiro-Taro’s body! Hachiro-Taro fought back by gathering schools of monstrous fish to raid against Nansobo! Tatsuko joined Hachiro-Taro by throwing firing torches! It burned Nansobo’s skin and finally chased him away to Lake Towada.

Nansobo has gone away and never came back. Finally, the peace has brought back to Lake Tazawa.

_________________________________________________________

Best Reference Book on Tazawako's Folk Culture:

The story above is a most common version, which is also introduced in a book called “Furusato Hakubutsushi” by Jihei Chiba.

Chiba suggests that the Legend of Three Lakes probably derived from stories told by fishermen migrated in between those lakes back in the ancient period.

Another interesting thing that Chiba introduces is that: Traditionally, Fishermen at Lake Tazawa believed that iron would trigger disasterous storms if used in Lake Tazawa. It is because they believed that such material would remind our guardian dragon of the destructive Nansobo and upset her!

This belief remained common until the Meiji Era (early 1920). It is said that it is why the fishermen back then  have carefully excluded any fishing tools that were made of iron — even a single nail to assemble a boat!

That is how Marukibune was invented! In recent years, local volunteers, some of who are desendants of the fishermen, gathered to recreate the wooden boat, in order to commemorate the forefathers and preserve the fading tradition.

There are many more mind-blowing stories about Tazawako area! The stories are truly unique and mysterious! Knowing stories like these can make your visit more meaningful and enjoyable! Let your mind wander in the beautiful scenery and the legends of Lake Tazawa!

Legend of Tatsuko

Statue of Tatsuko. Picture Courtesy of Semboku City

Lake Tazawa is known for its mysterious Legend of Tatsuko. Among many folklores in Tazawako, Legend of Tatsuko, or ‘Tatsuko Densetsu’ (辰子伝説) is the best known and, without a doubt, the most important story to start with.

There are a few versions of this mysterious legend - perhaps no one knows the ‘original’ or ‘authentic’ version of it, because it has been orally passed down through generations.

Legend of Tatsuko (The Most Common Version):

Tatsuko, a girl from in In-nai area, was known for her beautiful appearance. Knowing her beauty would not last forever, she started to visit a nearby shrine at the foot of Okurasan (a mountain in Jindai area). She would visit there to make a wish night after night. On the 100th night, she finally received a message from the god of mercy —“Go north. Find the holy spring. Take a sip from there.”

Over the mountains, she passed. Finaly, she found the holy spring that she was told about. Delighted, she took a sip as told in the message. Next moment, she realized that she was now in a appearance of a dragon. This is how the poor girl, Tatsuko, became the protective dragon of Lake Tazawa.

When Tatsuko was drinking the water from the holy spring with her delicate hands, she  felt more and more thirsty. She was drinking so breathlessly and mindlessly that she started to have her face to the water. Next moment, heavy clouds appeared over the mountains, bringing a thunder storm. Soon, the pouring rain washed out everything and caused a landslide down to the lake. The lightenings were so blinding that Tatsuko couldn't even see herself. When it finally calmed down, she mirrored herself and found herself now as a dragon.
Tatsuko had been absent for way too long, her mother was unbearably anxious.  She wandered into the mountains to search for her precious daughter. The mother entered deeper and deeper into the mountains. Finally, she found the holy spring.  She desperately called her daughter's name. The calling was heard by Tatsuko, who has now become a dragon.

“Forgive me, Mother” she said. “Because I wished for the eternal beauty, now I became a dragon as a guadian of Lake Tazawa. I could not return home with you. Instead, I will keep this lake abundant of fish, so you could have it every day  to remember me. They are my offerings to you."

Soon Tatsuko disappeared into the water. The poor mother was so agonized. She screamed for the misery and threw the burning torch into the lake. As the fire was instantly put out, the torch became black and soon  turned into a school of fish - which  is what we call today as kunimasu .

Other Variations of Legend of Tatsuko:

Although the story line above is the most common variation, other variation tells that Tatsuko had gone to the lake for fishing. She caught a few and ate them. The fish were so tasty but made her very thirsty.

And the rest of the story is the same.

Statue of Tatsuko is now internationally recognized!

The After-Story with Tatsuko and Her Lover:

Legend of Tatsuko  does not end when kunimasu were born. The legends has a sequence in which involves Tatsuko and another dragon from Lake Hachirogata, Hachiro-Taro, and a monk of Lake Towada. The story is called Legend of Three Lakes (Sanko Densetsu; 三湖伝説）.

Legend of Tatsuko Told in a Movie:

In IRIS, this romantic but sad legend has been briefly mentioned. Truth or not, the original script didn’t include the legend; however, quality of storyline somewhat coincided with the drama plot as well, so that some lines were added to include a part in which the legend is told by a character. That is a behind-a-scene story on how Legend of Tatsuko made it into an international drama!