Let's go on an adventure around the port town of Valley of the Wind. Part 1

Hello! I'm Michita, a citizen writer.
He is originally from the Karakuwa Peninsula, known as the Italy of Minami Sanriku. He runs a cram school called Horizon in the city. This time, he will be introducing the charm of Kesennuma's topography through a stroll around the city.

A "flat land" that appeared in the ria terrain

You are now standing in front of the Radio Kesennuma studio, on the inner bay of Kesennuma.

Directly in front of you is the sightseeing boat dock. In the background is Shinmeizaki, a cape at the tip of the hills that continue from Mount Anba. Facing Shinmeizaki on the opposite shore is Kashiwazaki, where a hotel that could be considered the town's landmark is located. During storms, the two capes envelop the inner bay of Kesennuma, protecting the ships anchored within the bay. Taking advantage of the ria topography, Kesennuma's inner bay is a beautiful natural harbor that is beautiful when the sea is calm.

"Rias" refers to a complex series of inlets and bays formed by seawater seeping into valleys.
It is also called a "drowned valley." The extremely small amount of flat land is a characteristic of the ria terrain.

The inner bay surrounded by Cape Shinmei and Cape Kashiwazaki, where the hills sink directly into the sea, is a typical ria landscape.

Hmm?

but please wait a moment.
Take a good look around where you are standing now. You will notice that the inner bay area, where commercial facilities and residential areas are spread, is flat land, which is unusual for a ria coast.

In fact, Kesennuma is a port town built in the Valley of the Wind, which has developed by making use of the ria terrain and being protected by two capes that act as natural breakwaters.

Hmm?

Another word that may be of interest is "Valley of the Wind."
The history, culture, and lifestyle that our ancestors have woven in this town are deeply connected to the winds that blow through the harbor and the terrain that creates those winds.

Today, let's embark on an adventurous journey to learn about the origins of this town, as we walk around the town, tracing the flow of wind and water, and the "traces of the sea" that remain within the town.

A curve that retains the image of the coastline

It seems that the wind is blowing from behind the port, towards Yokamachi.

Now, the adventure begins.
First,
We headed straight ahead with the harbor behind us and arrived near a cafe in Minamimachi that served delicious kimchi and ramen.
The cliff behind the shop is clearly a coastal terrace eroded by the waves. Minamimachi was once the sea. It is a relatively new area that was reclaimed after the Meiji period. The one-way road leading to Yokamachi City Hall was once the water's edge.

The streets of Minamimachi are filled with temptations, even though our adventure has only just begun: a delicious yakitori restaurant, a sushi shop where you can enjoy shark fin, a long-established Japanese restaurant, and an izakaya (Japanese pub) familiar to the locals. For now, let's head towards Yokamachi, imagining the former shoreline.
Oh dear, just after passing the izakaya, we came across something a little interesting.
Can you see that the road curves gently to the right?

The curve continues all the way to a long-established tea shop.

This curve is a vestige of the former coastline.
The inside of the curve is the last reclaimed land from the Edo period, formerly known as "Neseikaze Kama."
The place name "Kama" seems to refer to the curved, eroded terrain surrounded by mountains and hills.
This seems to be the origin of the name of Shiogama, Kamaishi, and Ogama on the Karakuwa Peninsula.
In other words, "Nishifugama" is located on two hills: Hamamiyama, where Murasaki Shrine is located, and Yokochoyama, where Kumano Shrine is located.
It was a cove (bay) surrounded from behind.

By the way, how do you think you read "Nishikazekama"?
"North Wind Kettle" is pronounced "Narai Gama."
"Narai" is a
It is a dialect used on the Pacific coast, and refers to the winter wind that blows alongside the mountains. The direction of the wind varies depending on the region, but in Kesennuma, it blows from the west (northwest).
The blowing wind is called "narenokaze," so it is written as "west wind."
So, Seifukama was the last reclaimed land during the Edo period, but what was it like before that? And where exactly do the westerly winds that blow into the harbor come from?
The adventure continues in search of the answer.

▼Continued in "Part 2"...!

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Person who wrote this article

Mitsuta Onodera

I'm originally from the Karakuwa Peninsula, known as the Italy of Minami Sanriku. I run Horizon, a cram school in the city. I'm a licensed guide-interpreter with a Grade 1 Eiken certificate, and a member of the Miyagi Suribachi Society, a group with a passion for topography and history. I also provide local tours as a guide and interpreter (the northernmost Miya Suribachi).

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• Recommendations from a local perspective
• Citizen Writer
• Port town
• Walking around the city
• Waiting for the Wind

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