amatenango (amatenango)
Example Translations
Travel [Japanese ≫ English]
Original text
<肘折三十六人衆>
肘折温泉には、古くからの『契約講』が大切に継承されています。その昔は集落の相互扶助を目的とするたくさんの〈講〉があったそうですが、ひとたび契約を破ってしまうと村八分になるという、厳しい側面もありました。雪深い肘折で湯治文化を守っていくためには、村全体でルールを決めていく必要があったのでしょう。
『契約講』のいくつかは、今でも肘折での暮らしで重要な役割を担っていますが、その代表的なものが『三十六人衆』です。温泉の使用権を持つ温泉組合と同じ組織です。年に1回、12月の第2日曜日に大きな契約講の集まりが行われ、温泉の維持・管理に関する会議を執り行います。その後、念仏を唱えながら直径3mもある数珠を回す神事をおこない、肘折三十六人衆『男地蔵（湯の神）』の前で湯守の結束を確認しています。
Translated text
<Society of 36 men in Hijiori>
In Hijiori Onsen, "Keiyaku-Ko", or communal societies have been succeeded from the ancient era. In the old days, Mutual assistance groups were playing an important role in the community. These groups were so respected that breaking their rules led to harsh ostracism. In order to maintain the culture of "Toji"(hot spring recuperation), the community was in need of making strict rules as a whole.
"Keiyaku-Ko" still plays an important role in the life of Hijiori. The most significant one is the "Society of 36 men". It is the group equivalent to a union, of those who possess the use rights of the hot spring. Once a year, on the second Sunday of December, a major conference is held in order to discuss issues such as control and maintenance of the hot spring. At the end of the meeting, 36 men sit in a circle and pass around a huge rosary of 3m in diameter in front of a Male Jizo statue, the hot spring god. By doing so, they reassure their bond as guardians of hot spring.