History

History of Tono

Japan has been called "Land of gold" about 1000 years before.
Marco Polo introduced Japan to Europe as JIPANGU.
In Japan gold is not produced everywhere.
1000 years or more ago, Hiraizumi (southern part of Iwate
Prefecture) prospered by production of gold. Hiraizumi is
a subsequent samurai's birthplace.

It is thought that Tono was prosperous as a place of
production of horses in response to the influence of Hiraizumi.
Moreover, Tono was prosperous as an important place of traffic
of inland and the coast. Tono also had much traffic of people
and culture also progressed. Hundreds of people's priest had
gathered in the huge temple(Tozenji) .

In modern times Tono is the birthplace of folklore of Japan.

Important matter

1. Tono is a town older than Tokyo.
2. The Tohoku district has most golden production and Kyoto
does not much.Therefore, it is thought that, the Tohoku district
was progressing also economically and in culture by golden
production 1000 years ago.
3. The samurai culture which started in Hiraizumi was inherited
by the Kamakura culture, and it continued until the Edo period
finished.