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WELCOME TO AN IDYLLIC VILLAGE
The Didpersed Settlement on the Tonami Plain
From this observation tower, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the
Tonami plain on which houses are scattered like"go"stones. shese houses face
the east and are surrounded by groves of "kainyo" trees. These trees protect the
houses from strong winds in both winter and spring.
In Japan this kind of arrangement is called a "Dispersed
Settlement" . While these kinds of settlements can also be found on the Hikawa
plain in Izumo (Shimane prefecture) and along the Kurobe and the Joganji rivers. But the
settlemment on the Tonami plain is the most representative in terms of size and form. It
measures about 220 square meters in area and includes as many as 10,000 houses.
The Tonami plain is an alluvial basin formed by the Sho River. The
plain was not cultivated until the end of the middle ages because of flooding caused by
frequent changes in the course of the Sho River. By the beginning of the early modern age,
irrigation channels had been constructed and the Tonami plain was rapidly developed
The farmers built their houses on high ground and cultivated the
fields around them. This arrangement proved to be very effective and survives to this day,
thus allowing us to enjoy the view of "Dispersed Settlement"here on the Tonami
plain.
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A stand of trees around a farm house is called a kainyo. Why people originally
planted them is not clear, though their history dates back to the time when farmland was
being reclaimed from the wilderness. It could be that parts of a virgin forest were simply
left as stands of trees around homes.
The Tonami plain is a basin-like plain surrounded by mountains on three sides. The winter
months are cold, with lots of snow, and the summer is hot, with temperatures reaching over
30 C. Throughout the year a west wind blows, so trees around houses serve as a barrier
from wind as well as from snow during the winter and heat during the summer.
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 Regarding the types of trees planted and their arrangement, our
predecessors showed great wisdom in selecting mainly Japanese cedar. These trees not only
serve as a barrier from the wind, but their dead leaves and small branches can be used for
fuel, and their lumber as a sturdy building material. As the people of the Tonami plain
branched out, they also planted chestnut, persimmon and Japanese apricot trees. They
admired the flowers, ate the fruit, and sometimes sold the lumber. If a family had a baby
girl, they also planted paulownia trees to prepare for her wedding, as a paulownia chest
was often part of a bride's dowry.
People used to say, "If you have to sell something, sell your land, but never your
kainyo." and to this day kainyo are raised with great care from generation to
generation. |
BENEFITS OF THE TREE STAND
| A good rapport between parent and child |
In the past, children worked together with parents and grandparents in cleaning the
garden and clearing dead leaves, thus strengthening a family's bonds.
Today, children are spending less and less time in nature or with their families. Caring
for a stand of trees is definitely hard work, but can show your children the pleasure of
working together as a family.
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| Contact with wild birds and small animals |
| A stand of trees creates a forest-like environment where many kinds of insects, wild
birds, and small animals can thrive. Because of this contact, a stand of trees serves to
cultivate an appreciation of nature and create an awareness of each separate and distinct
season. It goes without saying that a stand of trees also serves to protect the
environment. |
| Health and relaxation |
| When you go into a forest, you often feel calm and refreshed. This is because trees
and grass emit a characteristic aroma caused by the substance "phytoncide." This
substance kills micro-organisms and has a positive effect on human health. You can benefit
from this therapeutic effect simply by living hear a stand of trees. |
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