News in Tendo (3rd week in Aug, 1999)

Aug.22 (Sun.) Restoration of the lion dance at the Yamadera (the highest 32.2C /the lowest 22.5C /weather - cloudy)

The Shishi Odori(the lion dance) preservation meeting at Takadama in Tendo city, they offered the Yamadera which is famous as the tourist spot of Tendo city and Yamagata Prefecture. That lion dance at Takadama is farmaly said as "Takadama Seirei Bosatsu Shishi Odori". Though a preservation meeting stopped activitiews for many years, it was restored around the young man last year.

As for the lion dance at Takadama, it is said that the begging is connected with the inhabitant of Dobashi, Nakayama town in Yamagata Prefecture next to Tendo city. They leaned at the temple Eihei-ji in Fukui Prefecture 330 years ago and introduced the habitant of Takadama in Tendo city.

Both the lion dance at Takadama and the Yamadera is the same Buddhism, too. But the Yamadera is the sect of Tendaisyu, the lion dance at Takadama is the sect of Soutousyu. From this thing, the origin of the dedication of the lion dance seems that old lion dancer was very rough and arrived to dance at the Yamadera which was other sects. The dedication was restored after 50 years because last dedication was in 1949.

Aug.21 (Sat.) Negotiation with the Minister of Transport (the highest 32.9C /the lowest 23.0C /weather - cloudy)

Yamagata prefectural governor and the mayor of yamagata city, they nagotiated with the Minister of Transport at a hotel in Yamagata City. They spoke about the flight between Yamagata and Tokyo which became only 1 flight per a day, they really appealed to him for returning to 2 flight per a day. The Minister of Transport answered that he want to examine it in a positive light with the airlines. I think that even if a country can't force management policy on the enterprise because it is only a private enterprise. But we want to realize returning 2 flights per a day.

Aug.20 (Fri.) More foreign sightseers (the highest 33.1C /the lowest 23.2C /weather - cloudy)

In 4 prefectures of Yamagata, Miyagi Fukushima and Tochigi, they made a plan of an international tourist route widely. And of course Tendo City is contained in that route. Yamagata Prefecture settled on the route from Fukushima Prefecture into Yonezawa City, visiting Takahata town, Yamagata City and Tendo City. From now on, they enriches the tourist pamphlet of the foreign language and video. And I think it is nesessary to maintain the reception system as Tendo City as well.

I think that it is very convenient that there are interpretation volunteer staffs and a person who can speak English in each tourist facilities. For the first step, they should post the staff who can speak English on the tourist infomation desk and city office as a sightseer's window

However, I cannot say about other people because our site of English edition "Tourist guide in Tendo" is very delayed. There is demand for English edition very much at present. So I have to make an effort to prepare English edition earlier pace than now.

Aug.19 (Thu.) Next December new crematory (the highest 33.0C /the lowest 23.4C /weather - fine)

At present, a crematory is located in the east side of Mt.Maizuru quietly.
It was severe decaying, and a new construction plan had been brought up for several year. Tendo City office looked for a place of the new crematory along with the new construction in Tendo city. However, there were many many trouble, and the mayor decided to rebuild in the same place as the present after all. They have a plan to prepare 11,400 square meter field, and build new funeral hall(1,700 square meter). Furthermore, for removal the dark image of the crematory they also build the Japanese garden, green field, etc. They will break up the present waiting room, and they will begin to built this December.

Aug.18 (Wed.) (the highest 34.6C /the lowest 22.9C /weather - cloudy)

Aug.17 (Tue.) Destructed Autumn colors spot (the highest 33.9C /the lowest 23.0C /weather - fine)

There is a "Momiji River valley" known as a beauty spot of the autumn colors as a tourist spot between the famous Yamadera and the Mt.Omoshiro which becomes a skiing ground in winter. This Momiji River suffered a fatal blow because the suspension bridge of the middle and so on was washed away by a heaby rain at the end of last week.

At the Mt.Omoshiro, it will be the best season of cosmos field from now. A cosmos field is located in the slope fullness of the skiing ground. We usually go from Tendo highland when we go to the cosmos field by car. But a road collapses in the same way as the Momiji River valley. There was no damage in the cosmos field itself. But they canceled a opening ceremony of the cosmos field scheduled on 21(Saturday) to avoid a sightseer's damage on the way to go to the Mt.Omoshiro. A Momiji River valley neighborhood area has been prohibition of admittance from 15(Monday). There is no prospects for the restoration at all.

About the "Tendo highland festival" which I think they may cancel, they will hold as schedule. They will set a guidance at the place where a road collapses.

Aug.16 (Mon.) Recovered JR Senzan Line (the highest 32.4C /the lowest 22.1C /weather - fine)

The JR Senzan Line was full-scale suspension because of the influence of a heavy rain at the end of last week. And today they recover the Senzan Line in 3 days. However, a train breaks next time, insted of the rail. Maximum 1 hour 30-minute delay appeared in the descent train which faced Yamagata direction.

At present, JR Senzan Line is a necessary thing to go to work and go to school in Sendai City. We see many figures of the salaried worker and the cramming school student at JR Yamadera station which Tendo citizen uses well.

On the other hand, at the road to Tendo highland(prefectural road Tendo highland, Yamaguchi line), there are several damage place. Large car can't proceed to the Tendo highland. We hold the "Tendo highland festival" on weekend. I think they may change the event place or cancele the event.

"News in Tendo"