Oshu Kinugawa History Fureai Museum

Oshu City Fire Memorial Museum

A memorial hall that exhibits the history of Mizusawa City's fire department, Gohei Sasaki, and the history of fire departments. The museum is filled with exhibits that tell the story of history, such as firefighting equipment, Hanten and Matet, and the automobile pump ``Benz'' that was active in the early Showa period. It is located on the grounds of Hidaka Shrine, which is associated with the Hidaka Fire Prevention Festival, which was held to pray for fire prevention.

Menkoi Art Museum

Many pastel paintings by Seijiro Sasaki, a local painter who was active from the Taisho era to the early Showa era, are on display. In addition, works by currently active artists are on display, allowing you to casually appreciate art. Specimens of swallowtail butterflies from around the world are displayed in the exhibition room on the second floor.

Honokizawa Nenbutsu Kembu

It is said to be the successor to the Takadate mokke, which was created to commemorate the soul of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the master and servant who died a tragic end in Hiraizumi, Oshu. The ghosts of Minamoto no Yoshitsune's master and servants appeared every night, and Yasuhiro, who was at a loss, asked him to pray for the ghosts to disappear, but then a monkey, an incarnation of the Buddha, appeared and mingled with the raging ghosts, dancing while chanting Nembutsu, and the ghosts disappeared. This dance is based on the idea that people's hearts were softened and they attained Buddhahood. It is dedicated at the annual festival held on September 16th at the Isedo Hall in Isawakoyama, Oshu City, and at Chusonji Temple and Motsuji Temple during the Fujiwara Festival in Hiraizumi in spring and autumn. As one of the "furyu dances", "Oni Kenbu", which includes Honokizawa Nenbutsu Kenbu, has been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. (2022.11.30) [ Oshu City Homepage ]