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Matsue

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Matsue (松江市, Matsue-shi) is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan. As of August, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 207,000, following its most recent merging with Higashi-Izumo. Prior to this, it had a total household number of 78,965, and a population density of 361.84 persons per km².

2011 marks the great milestone that is the city's 60th year as an International City of Culture. Located at the heart of the ancient Izumo Province, Matsue is said to be "The Birthplace of Japan".

Matsue sits between Lake Shinji and Nakaumi, along the banks of the Ohashi river connecting the two. The overall population of the Lake Shinji-Nakaumi area is approx 600,000, marking Matsue as the second major city on the sea of Japan coast after Niigata. Due to the prominence of the lakes, the river and canals in the city-scape and scenery it is sometimes called the "water city"(水の都). Nearby Izumo Taisha is recognized as one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan and is ranked second in importance only to Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture.

History

City view from Matsue Castle
  • The castle town of Matsue as we know it today, was originally established by Horio Yoshiharu, lord of the Matsue clan, when he built Matsue castle and planned the surrounding Castle town over a five year period from 1607 to 1611. Matsue continued to be the seat of power in the Sanin Region for many years.

Matsue was first ruled by the Horio family. Horio Yoshiharu's son Tadauji died before his father, thus the province was inherited by his grandson Tadaharu. However, Tadaharu died childless so the province was passed on to the Kyogoku. The Kyogoku were daimyo from Omi and Wakasa. Kyogoku Takatsugu served Nobunaga and Hideyoshi. Takatsugu's son Tadataka married the 4th daughter of Hidetada, Hatsu. He served in the Battle of Osaka and reportedly took 300 heads. In 1634 he received the province of Izumo, suceeding the childless Horio Tadaharu. During his rule he was instrumental in engineering projects that helped control the flow of the Hiikawa river. In 1637 Tadataka also died childless and the domain passed to the Matsudaira. Naomasa was the third son of Hideyasu. Hideyasu, daimyo of Echizen, himself was the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, making Naomasa the grandson of the first Tokugawa Shogun Ieyasu. Naomasa made a name for himself fighting in the Battle of Osaka at the age of 14. He was daimyo of Ono in Echizen and later Matsumoto in Shinano before becoming the ruler of Izumo 1638. Unlike the previous rulers Naomasa had children and his heirs managed to keep Izumo for ten generations until the end of the Edo Bakufu. Overall, ten Matsudaira Daimyo ruled from Matsue. The most famous after the first (Matsudaira Naomasa) was the seventh, Harusato. He revolutionized the administrative system of the Matsue clan which was in financial difficulties and put it back on its feet. He invested in Mulberry bushes and promoted special foods like clams that were a delicacy in Matsue. Harusato was a great enthusiast of Tea Ceremony. His Tea Ceremony name was Fumai. He founded his own school, Unshyu. He has left the Meimei-An a famous tea house still operating in Matsue. Because his influence on wagashi, Japanese sweets for Tea Ceremony from Matsue are famous, especially one called 'wakakusa'.

The city boasts Matsue Castle, the "black castle" or "plover castle". It is one of the 12 remaining original castles in Japan. It is the second largest, the third tallest and the sixth oldest. The castle grounds include a winding path through mixed forests of bamboo, shrubs and trees, many of which are very old and identified by species. Surrounding the grounds and the castle park is the old moat, "horikawa".

Author Lafcadio Hearn taught in Matsue from 1890-1891. His house is now a museum about his life, and a popular tourist attraction in Matsue. Throughout the city there are monuments and landmarks honouring Hearn.

Sada Shrine in Matsue is the home to Sada Shin Noh, a sacred dance comprising a series of purification rituals related to the changging of the rush mats within the shrine. The mats are held by dancers who then offer them to deities to sit upon. Diverse dance forms are performed on a stage in the shrine accompanied by singing, flute and drums. The performance art is transmitted from generation to generation by the community. In November 2011, Sada Shin Noh was recognised on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Culture

Tea Ceremony- Matsue is noted as one of the top three locations in Japan for its Tea Ceremony and Wagashi, a.k.a. Japanese confectionary; notably developed and preserved by the 7th Matsudaira feudal lord, Matsudaira Harusato, or more commonly known by his nickname Matsudaira Fumaiko.

Traditional festivals are still pursued, for example, the Matsue Dou-parade (どう行列). This is currently held annually on the third Sunday of October. It was originally a New Year's festival but has changed purpose down over the years.

Universities in Matsue

  • Shimane University [1]
  • Shimane Prefectural Women's College (junior college) [2]

Municipal timeline

Friendship cities

Sister Cities

Street of Matsue
Matsue with Lake Shinji on the left

References

  1. ^ 松江市が人口「最下位」を返上 Sanin-Chūō Shimbun Template:Ja icon
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