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| The people of the Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Morioka Branch |
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Morioka is situated on the plains skirting 2,039-meter Mt. Iwate, an almost perfect, though smaller, replica of Japan’s famous Mt. Fuji. Three rivers flow through the city: the Kitakami, northeastern Japan’s largest; the Shizukuishi, source of waters for local fields and rice paddies; and the Nakatsu, which flows through the city’s center. In spring, when the rivers are swollen with meltwater, pedestrians stroll along their green banks; in summer, a kind of sweetfish called ayu leap above their waters’ surface. “So clean are these rivers, that we can watch the salmon coming up to spawn. And the mountains in the distance have a depth and richness of color that you won’t find elsewhere in Japan,” says Tamagawa.
Iwate Park, on the banks of the Nakatsu, marks the site where a local lord built Morioka Castle some 400 years ago. The past symbol of a proud dominion is now just a ruin, but the area where it once stood has been transformed into a refreshing green oasis. In this season of bright, sunny days, the park is inhabited by youths dressed in the white, short-sleeved shirts and dark slacks that mark them as students. They gather in small groups intent on conversation as young mothers stroll by with their children under the cool, green shade of great trees. It is a peaceful, relaxing park.
Walk along the city’s riverbanks, and whatever road you may take, you’ll encounter remnants of Morioka’s flourishing castle-town past—a kimono wholesaler here, an old wooden bridge there, the former with dignified earthen walls bespeaking a prosperous history, the latter with a plaque dating it back to 1609. Follow the rivers and you’ll come across many more such old structures, all speaking silently of Morioka’s ancient history and rich heritage.
But Morioka is at the same time a vibrant, modern city. Morioka Station’s south side is undergoing major redevelopment, and the numerous streets that crisscross the downtown area are dotted with early twentieth-century Western-style buildings, tangible signs that Morioka’s development spans the continuum of its long history. Here people work in sturdy, contemporary buildings standing side-by-side with historical landmarks. Everyone is busy at their daily tasks, but they move at a calm and steady pace.
Go for a stroll along the riverbanks; stop to look up at the mountains in the distance—and soon you will see why. |
