英訳（summary）

Modern times and local customs

Chapter 1 : Post-war reconstruction and finding stability

In August 1945, Japan ceased war efforts. Some people objected to ending the war and refused to accept it. However,the Opposing Forces began to occupy Japan and reorganize Japan’s policies.The 21^st navy and air depot and other military facilities were used as temporary relief areas for schools damaged by the atomic bomb. Omura also invited repatriates to return to Japan and live in the former base housing.Because there was a lack of food and goods rations, the military grounds were converted into farm lands and food production areas. To further help the advancement of Omura, various national and prefecture facilities were welcomed to develop here. In the period of rapid economic growth after WWII, Omura began to building large public facilities,for example a new city hall. And also advanced public services.

Chapter 2 : Becoming present day Omura

After WWII, two characteristics of Omura were created; the Omura Motorboat Race Track and the land and maritime Japan Self-Defense Force. In the bubble economic period, Omura’s industrial areas began and they invited various corporations. From then on, Omura has been able to solve any problems that have come with the times and has continued to develop gradually without decline.

In recent years, there have been some large-scale natural disasters,so Omura must become more prepared for the possible dangers of typhoons and earthquakes.

Omura fell into some financial problems in the Heisei period,but was resourceful and was able to regain control.Unlike the rest of Japan,Omura’s population continues to grow which makes it possible for Omura to further develope.

Compilation of Folk Customs

Chapter 1 : The lifestyle of Omura

During the Edo Period,Omura did not have much rice.The people’s main food supply was sweet potatoes and sardines.Nevertheless,Omura’s population increased to the point where it became necessary to create laws to control population size.For many years, Omura had its own unique manners and customs; unfortunately, by the social restructuring after WWII, many of these ways were lost. However, the remaining stone fences and other structures, as well as the local natural features, and the lives of the people still give us a sense of the local culture and life.

Chapter 2 : Religion and the Arts

In early Meiji period, Shinto, Buddhist and Christian faith has evolved and are still in practice.

Compared to other places, Omura has a large distribution of Batou Kannon.Batou Kannnon is the Buddhist god with an angry face to scare away bad luck. We are able to understand the culture and history of the past by the shrine’s ema (votive pictures, usually of a horse), sangaku (votive tablets depicting a math puzzle given in devotion to a shrine or temple), stone torii (a Shito shrine archway), komainu (stone guardian lion-dogs at Shinto shrines)

In the realm of folk performing arts, Omura’s “Three dances of Koori” became an important intangible cultural asset in 2014.

Chapter 3 : Language and Traditions

Records of 1915 contain the local dialect of Omura. This dialect can still be understood by present-day people; however, as nuclear families progress, this original Omura dialect is fading away. And from now on, it may be difficult to pass this language to later generations. There are some dialects that have been lost,like the extreme formal Kouji Kotoba which was only used by all women who lived in Samurai residences and castle.Each region of Omura has its own and similar sayings and proverbs. A group of local residents helped create a list of these local phrases and they have been documented.

Supplements

A genealogy of the Omura Domain Samurai families.

An name index of all residents of Omura during the late Edo period.

A chronological table of Omura history.