Hidden within the familiar scenery are the green rice fields swaying in the wind and the memories of the Kiso River. Kyoto-ya Owari Honten, blessed by this beautiful natural environment, continues ...

Introduction: I stopped to admire the familiar "summer in Oguchi"

Under the scorching midsummer sun, the wind blowing through Oguchi town sways the vast expanse of green rice fields like waves. Turning off the main road, it quickly becomes quiet, the sound of clear water flowing through irrigation canals can be heard, and the vibrant green of the rice plants comes into view. This is the tranquil atmosphere of summer in this town where Kyoto-ya Owari Honten hangs its noren (traditional Japanese curtain), a scene that evokes the quintessential image of old Japan.

My own first impression of Oguchi when I first visited was probably the same as many others: "A quiet town with factories scattered here and there in the middle of rice fields as far as the eye can see." While I thought, "Surely this place must have some kind of long history...", to be honest, I felt that it was a town whose charm was a little hard to grasp just by looking at the surface scenery.

However, as I gradually investigated the town's origins, my impression changed dramatically. I began to discover layers of rich history flowing continuously beneath the seemingly flat and tranquil landscape. Every time I touch upon the presence of this history, which breathes quietly like an invisible stream, I now feel a deep, calm affection and fondness for this town.

Numerous water sources nourish the lush green rice fields. These are not merely a gift from nature, but also the source that has sustained the lives of the people who have lived in this region since ancient times, and the foundation that supports the beautiful culture of "kimono" and "textiles" that we cherish and pass on every day.

Why is this area of Oguchi, with its rice paddies and factories, so deeply connected to the world of kimono? What stories of our ancestors are hidden beyond the familiar scenery swaying in the wind? Let's unravel together the story of Oguchi, woven from water, history, and kimono culture.

The blessings of "water" nurture the kimono—the underground vein flow connected to the Kiso River.

Beneath Oguchi Town, an invisible network of water veins runs like a web. Tracing the source of this abundant groundwater, it all leads back to the mother river, the Kiso River. In fact, the existence of this "pure water" is the source of life that is absolutely indispensable for the kimonos and textiles we handle.

Before a beautiful kimono reaches our hands, countless artisans put in the work—from reeling the raw silk, to removing impurities from the finest silk, to dyeing it in vibrant colors, and finally to the "mizumoto" process of washing away excess dye and starch—all of these processes require a large amount of beautiful, clear water. It is said that even a slight difference in water quality will spoil the silk's natural supple texture and prevent the creation of those stunningly beautiful colors.

Furthermore, tracing the flow of the Kiso River, which nourishes Oguchi Town, along a map reveals just how deeply this entire region is steeped in the history of water and textiles.

The area around Ichinomiya, slightly upstream , is known as "Bishu," and thanks to the abundant waters of the Kiso River, it has long been a region where the textile industry has flourished. Today, it is a top-class textile production area, sought after by world-renowned fashion houses and high-end brands. If you go further upstream, you will find the Mino plain weave and traditional dyeing techniques passed down around Hashima and Sumimata, as well as the beautiful indigo dyeing of Gujo Hachiman, known for its clear waters. The culture of venerable fabric makers and dyers has beautifully blossomed along the water system of this region through which the Kiso and Nagara Rivers flow.

These are by no means coincidences. As I researched further, I was deeply moved to realize that these are evidence that the abundant water resources of the Kiso River have, over hundreds of years, created a beautiful "corridor of textile culture" in this region.

A young lady's furisode kimono for a once-in-a-lifetime special day. Or a kimono that is cherished and passed down from parent to child, and then to the next generation, on a special family occasion. In that single piece of fabric, not only are the skilled techniques of the artisans imbued, but also the abundant "gifts of nature" that have been continuously flowing from the Kiso River.

When you think about it that way, the moment when you are wrapped in a brand new kimono, carrying the love of your family on your shoulders, is not just about wearing beautiful clothing, but a truly precious moment when you are enveloped in the immense amount of time that this land has nurtured and the blessings of its abundant nature.

Beneath the familiar landscape of Oguchi town, a story of pure and powerful water, which continues to support Japan's aesthetic sensibilities, still flows quietly.

The history of Oguchi Town and the story of its shrines, connected by water.

The story of water in Oguchi Town is not merely about its rich natural environment, but is inextricably linked to the deep thoughts and prayers of the people who have lived in this land. When you visit the old shrines and historical sites scattered throughout this town, you can still vividly feel the presence of the ancestors who lived in harmony with water, even through the texture of the fabrics they create.

[Yatsurugi Shrine and Saidanbashi Bridge] The unchanging love between mother and child still lives on in their hometown river.

First, I'd like to introduce you to Hakkensha, located on the banks of the Gojo River, at the site of Horio's former residence . This place is known as the site of the residence of the Sengoku period warlord Horio Yoshiharu, but within its grounds, the memory of the "Saidanbashi story," one of Japan's most poignant tales of mother-child love, remains.

In 1590, Yoshiharu's son, Kinsuke, departed from his hometown of Oguchi to join the army in the Siege of Odawara. However, this proved to be his last farewell to his mother. Upon hearing the news of her son's death from illness during the war, his mother prayed for his soul in the afterlife and later had the Saidanbashi Bridge in Atsuta, Nagoya, where they had parted ways, rebuilt as a magnificent stone bridge and donated a beautiful stone lantern there. The inscription on the lantern, expressing a mother's overwhelming love for her son, still touches the hearts of those who read it hundreds of years later.

The actual Saidanbashi Bridge was located in Atsuta, but Oguchi-cho is where Kinsuke was born and raised. That's why a bronze statue of Kinsuke and his mother stands in the current Horio Ruins Park, and a bridge modeled after the Saidanbashi Bridge in Atsuta spans the Gojo River.

At important family milestones, parents lovingly select kimonos for their children, a scene that reflects their deep affection for their family. When we recall and reflect on the story of Saidanbashi Bridge, a bittersweet feeling and a sense of tenderness well up within us. Even as times change, the tranquil atmosphere of the Gojo River seems to gently remind us that a parent's heart, praying for their child's happiness and safety, remains unchanged.

[Memories of the Gojo River sleeping in the region] Overcoming floods and accepting its blessings

While the groundwater of the Kiso River provides abundant blessings, the Gojo River, which flows through Oguchi Town, has a history of threatening people's lives as a "raging river" that would flood every time there was heavy rain.

In the past, the Gojo River was a shallow river that meandered through the plains. As a result, when heavy rains fell, it couldn't withstand the large volume of water flowing in from the upstream Inuyama area, causing numerous major floods that devastated the surrounding rice fields and settlements.

The " Renovation Memorial Monument ," which still stands quietly on the banks of the Gojo River , tells the story of the struggles of our ancestors who used their ingenuity to protect lives and rice fields from such severe floods and carved out the river. It shows that the people of Oguchi did not simply fear nature, but fought against the water, went through trial and error, and at times even accepted the raging river, thus passing on the baton of life.

It is perhaps because they have overcome a history of floods that a sense of awe and gratitude towards water has been born, which has fostered the unique, tranquil atmosphere and culture of mindful living in Oguchi Town.

The light from the lanterns placed by the water's edge by people of the past, the prayers offered to the water—when I think about how these things, layered upon each other, have shaped the peaceful and rich landscape of Oguchi Town today, every step I take walking through this town feels incredibly precious and deeply meaningful.

The memories of the "lantern floating" ceremony, a tradition passed down through generations in this river basin, illuminate the summer nights.

The deep gratitude for water and the prayers of our ancestors for their loved ones, as we have described so far, are not just stories found in history textbooks. They are still very much alive in our lives today, and in this region as a beautiful symbol of summer.

While there isn't a large-scale lantern-floating event held in Oguchi town itself, if you broaden your perspective a bit to the Kiso River basin, which nourishes the town's water, you can encounter the beautiful spectacle of lantern-floating lanterns floating on the river's surface at the end of summer.

As twilight envelops the surroundings, tiny lights begin to appear one by one on the surface of the river. Handmade lanterns, assembled one by one by local residents and participating families, each inscribed with heartfelt wishes, sway gently as they float across the calm water, creating a breathtakingly magical sight. As you gaze upon the way the soft light reflects and shimmers on the water's surface, you are enveloped in a strange tranquility that somehow cleanses your soul.

Just as people in the past did, we in modern times also express our gratitude for the blessing of water that sustains our peaceful daily lives, and we entrust our wishes and feelings for loved ones to the light of our lamps, gently sending them out into the river.

The soft colors of the lanterns glowing in the darkness, and the fleeting sparkle created by the interplay of water and light, somehow seem to evoke the beauty of traditional Japanese kimonos. If you happen to see the lantern floating ceremony in this river basin at the end of summer, please take a moment to gaze at the flickering lights and reflect on the story of the "Oguchi Water" that flows beneath our feet.

The joy of continuing to weave stories in this Ooguchi land

Oguchi Town is a peaceful and quiet place, with factories scattered amidst rice paddies. While this simple first impression might be shared by anyone visiting for the first time, deep beneath it lies a rich and fascinating history that becomes more captivating the more you learn about it.

Deep within the familiar landscape that we casually gaze upon, lie the abundant blessings of nature that have flowed continuously from the Kiso River, the struggles of our ancestors who carved out this land while battling floods, and the unchanging love of a mother praying for the safety of her child. These countless stories, layered upon each other like beautiful geological strata, create the tranquil and prosperous atmosphere of Oguchi Town today.

On top of the pure layers of earth woven from water and history, we realize that Japan's "kimono culture," which is carefully passed down day after day, is also quietly breathing.

The sight of a young woman, looking a little shy as she chooses her kimono for her once-in-a-lifetime special day, and her family watching over her with warm eyes, fills me with a deep and solemn joy, as if I am here to share in the continuation of the centuries-long history of "prayers for family" that this town has woven.

It is a great source of pride and immense gratitude to be able to hang our shop in Oguchi, a town rich in water and history, and to welcome the local community and our valued customers who travel from afar.

The verdant rice fields swaying in the wind, and the Gojo River flowing gently. In this beautiful land of Oguchi, we sincerely hope to continue weaving together the stories of your important milestones. All of us at Kyotoya Owari Main Store look forward to forming warm connections with you through kimono.