Located on the Sea of Japan, the “golden island” Sado not only attracts tourists with its impressive historical journey from the Tokugawa Shogunate, but also leaves a deep impression in the minds of the people with its unique local culture.
 |
Located in the Sea of Japan, Sado Island has a total of 55 gold and silver mines and over the 400 years since the Edo period, it has produced 78 tons of gold and 2,330 tons of silver. (Source: sadotravel.wordpress) |
Sado Island is located in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. According to Kojiki (Ancient Records) - the earliest chronicle of the Land of the Rising Sun, this is the 7th island created by the two gods Izanagi and Izanami.
According to archaeological documents, Sado was inhabited about 10,000 years ago, during a prosperous period of history associated with the precious metal - gold.
In 1601, gold mines were discovered on Sado Island and Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu took it under his direct control. It became an important source of financial support for the Tokugawa Shogunate - by far the longest and most stable government in Japanese history with a reign of 260 years. The Tokugawa Shogunate, Edo Shogunate or Edo period are different names for the same period of Tokugawa rule, from 1603-1868.
By 1952, most of the gold mines were abandoned and only about 10% of the total mining workforce remained on the island. In 1989, the last gold mine was completely closed and Sado gradually shifted its focus to tourism. On January 28, 2022, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced plans to nominate the Sado Gold Mine as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“In the early 17th century, Japan accounted for one-fifth of the world’s gold supply, more than half of which is believed to have originated from Sado,” said Dr. Miles Oglethorpe, Chairman of the International Committee for the Preservation of Industrial Heritage (TICCIH).
 |
| Sodayu Tunnel - a metal mining tunnel in the early Edo period. (Source: city.sado.niigata.jp) |
Today, visitors can revisit Sado's heyday in the Aikawa district, which once boasted large gold and silver mines. Tokugawa shogunate There were only a dozen houses along the coast before the gold mine was discovered, but the population grew rapidly, reaching 50,000 people in the 1610s and 1620s. The mine is now open to visitors with a museum showcasing its activities.
Not only famous for its gold mines, Sado Island's culture was largely influenced by the customs of the Hokuriku region and Western Japan, with exiled nobles and intellectuals during the Kamakura (1185-1333) and Muromachi (1336-1573) periods bringing here courtly cultural forms such as poetry and musical instruments.
In addition, Onidaiko (or Ondeko - the mask dance of the gods) is a rare traditional performing art form that only appears on Sado Island. More than 120 villages here own Onidaiko groups and it is passed down from generation to generation.
During Onidaiko, performers wear Oni masks and dance to the rhythm of stirring drums. This is considered a Shinto ritual to ward off evil spirits and pray for a good harvest.
Source
Comment (0)