Oyama-shi is city located in the southern area of Tochigi prefecture in Honshu (main island) of Japan.
Oyama has a rich and storied history dating back to 300 BC. Oyama’s history reads like a living fairytale, complete with powerful families, great feudal lords, castles, fraught princesses, victorious battles and grandeur in all its glory. Present day Oyama proudly exhibits history of yesteryear and beyond, and has declared much of its treasures national and cultural heritage.
The historical background of Oyama spans many eras, and each notably different to the next. Basically, Japan’s historical timeline to the present spans fourteen eras. The naming of eras was carried out in accordance with the reign of the Emperor of that time, from the moment he ascended the throne and continued until his death. Today the government decides era names. Oyama’s historical heritage is derived principally from seven eras: Jomon (10 000 - 300 B.C.), Kofun
(300 - 645), Heian (794 - 1185), Kamakura (185 - 1333), Warring States (1467-1600), Edo (Tokugawa Shogunate) (1600 - 1868) and Meiji (1868 - 1912 to the present).
Change has occured throughout the history of Oyama, and the city has undergone a vast array of transformations. From the humble beginnings of hunters and gatherers, decades of civil war and peace, powerful clan leaders with rigid social hierarchies, to the modern Japanese city Oyama we now know today.
To begin, uncertainty surrounds the name of the city, however in Japanese Oyama means ‘small mountain’, and Oyama as the name suggests is bordered by mountains. A legend the ‘Origin of Oyama’ states that Ota Shiro Masamitsu traveled to this area, sighted a hill and proclaimed the name Oyama (see legend ‘Origin of Oyama (Oyama-no-Okori’).
Masamitsu later changed his family name to Oyama, and his wife Nun Samukawani (Samukawa-nun) bore three sons, Oyama-Tomomasa, Naganuma-Munemasa and Yuki Tomomitsu.
Samukawani also cared for the infant Minamoto-no-Yoritomo. Minamoto in his adult years, established the Kamakura Shogunate in the Kamakura era.
The Oyama brothers fought bravely along side Minamoto in many battles, and he held them in high esteem.
Nun Samukawani reached high status as the first woman to be appointed Estate Steward, and one of the first advocates for a Gender Equal Society.
The Oyama family became a powerful clan of this region near the end of the Heian era, and generations of Oyamas resided in the family castle the ‘Gion-jo’. The Gion-jo was the stage of many battles and was eventually conquered by Honda Masazumi early in the Edo era. The demise of the castle occurred during its final confrontation with rivals. The bridges that crossed the moats leading to the castle is what remains of the Gion-jo today (see legend concerning a famous tree at the Gion-jo site ‘The Seedless Gingko Tree’). Two other castle ruins which remain in the city today are the‘Washi-jo and the‘Nakakuki-jo’.
The Omoigawa River reigns supreme in Oyama, and flows north to south through the city. Name origins are vague, however a legend called ‘The River of Yearning’ depicts a desperate love ending in a fit of jealous rage was the source (see legend ‘River of Yearning). A second legend states ‘Omoi’ is a combination of the word ‘Tagori’ and denotes the development of rice fields in the basin of the river (see legend ‘Princess Tagori’). The Omoigawa River undeniably underpins Oyamas past and present prosperity.
An area located in the northern region of Oyama, displays a historical site significant to the Jomon Era, the ‘Terrano Higashi’. Excavation of this area produced the remains of ancient villages, providing valuable insight of life at that time. This area is now a park, and the venue for the Jomon Festival.
North of Oyama is 'Shimotsuke' an old Japanese province where two famous gigantic monuments of ancient Japan lie, two keyhole shaped tomb mounds. These tombs are symbolic of the Kofun era.
The tombs are known as 'Terano-higashi' and 'Biwatsuka'.
Hundreds, or perhaps even thousands of these tombs mark central Japan. These tombs are indistinguishable from large hills, but their distinctive shape can easily be recognised from the air. The identities of the deceased are often unspecified, however the grandeur of these tombs suggest the probability of extremely important people, such as clan leaders. The tombs may never be excavated because they are deemed sacred, however the few that have, revealed important information of material culture, and social and political organization of that time.
Near the end of the Warring States era when almost all of Japan was embroiled in war, Oyama played host to probably Japan’s greatest decisive battle, which marked the end of decades of civil war, and the emergence of a new Shogun with absolute power throughout Japan. The famed ‘Battle of Sekigahara’ was fought between the two most powerful contenders of that time, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542 - 1616) and Ishida Mitsunari (1560 - 1600). Ieyasu established headquarters in Oyama, and held a strategic conference to plan his army's attack. The conference was known as the ‘Oyama Hyo-jo’(a public conference). After heading north to Aizu-Wakamatsu, Tokugawa made a stragetic decision (in consulatation with his commanders) that would change the course of history. He turned back and marched west to where the Battle of Sekigahara was fought. After securing power reign of Japan and receiving the rank of Shogun, the Tokugawa Dynasty emerged. Mitsunari was later captured then executed. The Tokugawa Family became undisputed rulers of Japan (Tokugawa Shogunate and the Edo era), and Japan experienced relative peace for two centuries. In the west of Tochigi is an internationally renowned World Heritage area named ’Nikko', home to 'Toshogu' Japan's most lavish shrine complex and mausoleum of Ieyasu Tokugawa. Tokugawa was buried here after his death, however, the shrine complex was constructed in 1634 by his Grandson Imetsu. The shrine took 15 000 workers two years to complete. Imetsu is also buried at Toshogu. Nikko is also endowed with an abundance of unsurpassable scenic beauty.
In the Meiji era, Japan commenced establishing itself as a world power through industry. With the successful development of the Tohoku, Ryomo and Mito rail lines, major distribution of industrial products was possible. This time saw the emergence of ten towns and villages: Oyama, Mamada, Namai, Oya, Hodumi, Samukawa, Naka, Toyoda, Kuwa and Kinu. With the eventual merging of Oyama and Oya, Oyama was formed.
Oyama received city status in 1954, and today is governed by a Mayor and 13 councillors. As at 2006, the city had an estimated population of 160,000, including 5,000 foreign workers.
Oyama boasts principal road (Route Four, New Route Four and Route 50) and rail systems (JR Tohoku, Tohoku-shinkansen, Ryomo and Mito lines).
One of the major employers is KOMATSU an industry that manufactures iron castings, diesel engines and hydraulic equipment. Currently, Oyama shares sister city relations with cities in Australia and China.
In 2006 Oyama continues to be a remarkable, progressive and proud city.
The Origin of Oyama (Oyama-no-Okori)
Ota Shiro Masamitsu left Ota (present day Saitama Prefecture) for south Shimotsuke to govern the area around the Omoi River. Together with six hundred vassals, he traveled north east and rested at Hachimangu Shrine in Ikoma. When Masamitsu looked to the east, he saw a hill and proclaimed “Ah, I will call that area Oyama”. In Japanese Oyama means ‘small mountain’.
Later Masamitsu changed his family name to Oyama, and his family had 3 sons. The Oyama Family became a powerful clan in the Kanto region.
The Seedless Ginkgo (Minashi Icho)
When the Oyama castle was besieged, the Princess of Oyama was so fraught that she committed suicide by jumping into the castle’s well. She realized her absence would deeply concern the people of Oyama, so she planted a gingko branch in the ground near the well, so her body would be found. When her nanny, an old woman discovered her body at the bottom of the well, she grieved profoundly for the loss of the princess. She knew her tears would never bring her beautiful princess back, so she decided to share her fate and jumped into the well.
The ginkgo branch took root and grew into a grand old tree, but it never bored any seeds. They say the spirit of the Princess dwells in the tree, and the fact that she died so miserably, caused the gingko to produce no seeds. It is also believed that the nanny’s black teeth (Ohaguro) dwelt in small black stones that appeared in a nearby cliff.
Princess Tagori (Tagori Hime)
‘Susano-ono-mikoto’ was a violent and evil god, and he was certain he would be driven away to the Deep Rooted Country (Hell), so he couldn’t disturb the peace on earth. Before being driven away, he decided to say farewell to his sister ‘Amaterasu-omikami’ who lived in Takamaga-hara (country over Heaven). With the speed and strength of a god he left for Takamaga-hara, causing typhoons, ocean surges and trembling mountains in his path.
His arrival in Takamaga-hara surprised and alarmed his sister god, as his presence meant he had conquered Takamaga-hara. In spite of being a woman, she armoured gallantly, and stood fast to ask his business. When she asked Susano why he was in Takamaga-hara, he stated it was merely to say farewell. Amaterasu didn’t trust Susano, so to prove the sincerity of his intentions, they both decided to take an oath.
Susano and Amaterasu stood at a pure fountain named Ame-no-manai. Susano reached for his sword ten fists (four metres) long hanging from his waist, and presented it to Amaterasu. She placed the sword in the water, blew on it and three Goddesses appeared, Ichi-kishima-Hime, Tagori-Hime and Tagitsu-Hime.
Next, Amaterasu gave Susano her Holy Beads. Susano placed the beads in the water, blew on them and five Pillars of God appeared, Ame-no-oshihomimi-no-mikoto, Ame-no-hohi-no-mikoto, Amatsu-hikone-no-mikoto, Ikutsu-hikone-no-mikoto and Kuma-no-kusuhi-no-mikoto. The Goddesses and the Pillars of God were manifestations of Susano and Amatersu sincerities.
Amaterasu believed to see Tagori-Hime and the other goddesses, who are as clean as fountain water, was certain evidence that Susano was telling the truth, and was not intending to harm her.
The above is just one story from Japanese Mythology
Afterwards, the three pillars of the Tagori-Hime sisters were worshipped at Munakata Shrine in Kyushu, as Goddesses of safe sailing. Tagori-Hime was originally a goddess related to water, and her father god Susano a god of agriculture. Therefore, Tagori-Hime became a god of prayer for farmers wishing a successful harvest.
The written form of Tagori-Hime means: rice field, mind and princess. People called the river running through Oyama ‘Omoigawa’, when the rice fields were developed in the basin of the Omoi River. The name ‘Omoi’ is a combination of ‘Tagori’.
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