Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, is one of the largest watermelon producers in Japan, and the shipment of its specialty, Obanazawa Watermelon, is at its peak, and the response seems to be excellent. On July 22, 2022, at the JA Michinoku Murayama Eastern Watermelon Sorting Facility, watermelons were lined up on a huge belt conveyor, and the same JA inspector checked for scratches, etc., and packed them in boxes one after another with a machine. Start preparing for shipping to the market. “Obanazawa watermelon” is known for its crunchy texture and sweetness with a sugar content of 11 degrees or more, and is very popular. On a busy day, about 40,000 pieces are shipped, and I hear that the work will continue until mid-August.
It is a story from relatives, but since the culture and historical development are different along the eastern part and the western part of the Mogami River, the sense of incongruity cannot be wiped out even in modern times, and the conflict between the two districts is deep. It is said that it has a history of being called a political dispute, such as fighting fiercely. “Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture”, Boundary change with Kahoku Town, Nishimurayama District on February 9, 1990. At the time of the merger, the name of Tateoka, which was the economic center at that time, was nominated as a candidate. However, after discussions with other villages, it was named Murayama with the enthusiasm and anticipation of becoming a nucleated city in the Murayama district, making the most of the generic name of this region. Located in the center of the prefecture, it has a long shape from east to west, 22 km east to west and 15 km from north to south. Surrounded by the Ou Mountains to the east and the Dewa Hills to the west, the Mogami River flows north while meandering in the center, fertile land opens in the basin, the climate is typical inland, and the temperature difference between summer and winter is large. “Cultural property” : カモシカ : 国指定, 特別天然記念物, 地域を定めず指定, 昭和30年2月15日, 石鳥居, 県指定有形文化財（建造物）: 楯岡笛田, 昭和30年8月1日, 刀銘正秀 : 県指定有形文化財（工芸品）: 楯岡十日町, 昭和38年12月20日, 臥龍のマツ : 県指定天然記念物 : 大字大久保, 昭和30年8月1日, トガクシショウマ : 県指定天然記念物 : 経営区（葉山）, 昭和31年11月24日, 愛宕神社のケヤキ林 : 県指定天然記念物 : 楯岡晦日町, 昭和55年1月7日, 河島山遺跡 : 県指定史跡 : 大字河島, 昭和30年8月1日, 祥雲寺宝篋印塔 : 市指定有形文化財（建造物）, 楯岡湯沢, 昭和43年9月10日, 宮の下宝篋印塔 : 市指定有形文化財（建造物） : 大字白鳥, 昭和43年9月10日, 宮の下六面幢 : 市指定有形文化財（建造物） : 大字白鳥, 昭和43年9月10日, 富並の六面幢燈籠 : 市指定有形文化財（建造物） : 大字富並, 昭和43年9月10日, 殺生禁断碑 : 市指定有形文化財（建造物）, 大字岩野, 昭和56年1月19日, 葉山への道標, 市指定有形文化財（建造物） : 大字岩野, 昭和56年1月19日, 葉山への道標 : 市指定有形文化財（建造物） : 大字湯野沢, 平成10年10月28日, 葉山への道標 : 市指定有形文化財（建造物） : 大字湯野沢, 平成10年10月28日, 葉山への道標（しめ掛けブナ前の道標） : 市指定有形文化財（建造物） : 大字湯野沢, 平成13年1月25日, 湯殿 / 月山 / 葉山三山碑 : 市指定有形文化財（建造物） : 大字湯野沢, 昭和56年1月19日, 中沢不動尊堂 : 市指定有形文化財（建造物）, 大字たも山, 昭和63年11月18日, 幾代橋市指定有形文化財（建造物）: 大字岩野, 平成18年3月28日, 小松沢観音の絵馬 : 市指定有形文化財（絵画）: 大字楯岡字小松沢, 平成24年11月29日, 木造阿弥陀如来座像 : 市指定有形文化財（彫刻） : 楯岡笛田, 昭和48年12月10日, 木造地蔵菩薩立像 : 市指定有形文化財（彫刻） : 大字岩野, 昭和48年12月10日, 木造漆箔阿弥陀如来立像 : 市指定有形文化財（彫刻） : 大字富並, 昭和53年7月3日, 木造彩色地蔵菩薩立像 : 市指定有形文化財（彫刻） : 大字富並, 昭和53年7月3日, 木造漆箔聖観音立像 : 市指定有形文化財（彫刻） : 楯岡湯沢, 昭和53年7月3日, 銅造阿弥陀如来座像 : 市指定有形文化財（工芸品） : 楯岡笛田, 昭和34年11月5日, 銅造観世音菩薩立像 : 市指定有形文化財（工芸品） : 楯岡大沢川, 昭和48年12月10日, 羽黒堂写経 : 市指定有形文化財（典籍） : 大字大久保ほか, 昭和34年11月5日, 紺紙金泥経 : 市指定有形文化財（典籍） : 楯岡新町, 昭和54年2月9日, 最上楯岡元祖記 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡湯沢, 昭和41年7月25日, 楯岡甲斐守書翰 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡晦日町, 昭和43年9月10日, 高札 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 中央, 昭和48年12月10日, 宮林主膳正書状 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡十日町, 昭和51年7月20日, 楯岡甲斐守宛書状 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡新町, 昭和53年7月3日, 最上徳内伝記 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡新町, 昭和53年7月3日, 最上徳内書状 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 中央, 昭和53年7月3日, 最上徳内書状 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡新町, 昭和53年7月3日, 最上徳内筆 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡新町, 昭和53年7月3日, 最上徳内筆 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡新町, 昭和53年7月3日, 最上徳内著書 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡新町, 昭和53年7月3日, 最上徳内著書 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡新町, 昭和53年7月3日, 伝徳内所用遺品 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡新町, 昭和53年7月3日, 足利尊氏御教書 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 楯岡新町, 昭和54年2月9日, 「最上徳内書状」 : 市指定有形文化財（古文書） : 中央, 平成24年11月29日, 村山市並びにその周辺からの出土品 : 市指定有形文化財（考古資料） : 大字富並, 昭和34年11月5日, 稲下鹿子踊 : 市指定有形文化財（民俗文化財） : 大字稲下, 平成4年4月22日, 大槇松念寺の回向念佛 : 市指定有形文化財（民俗文化財）, 大字大槇, 平成8年2月22日, おくまん様の大スギ, 市指定天然記念物 : 大字湯野沢, 昭和34年11月5日, 頼義のスギ : 市指定天然記念物 : 大字富並, 昭和34年11月5日, 尾上のマツ, 市指定天然記念物 : 大字たも山, 昭和34年11月5日, 三吉山の三吉スギ : 市指定天然記念物 : 大字土生田, 昭和48年4月24日, 山の内のユキツバキ : 市指定天然記念物 : 大字山の内, 昭和51年7月20日, 楯岡馬場の大ケヤキ : 市指定天然記念物 : 楯岡馬場, 平成2年1月25日, 八幡様のイヌザクラ : 市指定天然記念物 : 楯岡馬場, 平成2年1月25日, 白山神社の大スギ : 市指定天然記念物 : 楯岡湯沢, 平成2年1月25日, 向陽寺のキャラボク : 市指定天然記念物 : 大字富並, 平成2年1月25日, 楯山のブナ : 市指定天然記念物 : 楯岡楯, 平成2年10月24日. Mt. Kawashima Ruins : Prefectural designated cultural property historic site designation April 1, 1952. 大字元塩川字前山. Details are unknown, and it is presumed to be the remains of a chasi（柵囲い）by ancient Emishi（蝦夷; エゾ）or a medieval castle.A hill lying on the east bank of the Mogami River, west of the city. The area is a ruin from the Paleolithic Period to the Middle Ages. At the top of the mountain, there are two ruins of a building drawn by a circular moat. A little south of the top of the mountain, there is an old burial mound with a diameter of 24 m around a 4 m-wide moat. The main body of the burial mound is a combination box-shaped sarcophagus, and no other relics have been detected. Near this is the sutra mound of the buried sutra and the gravel stone sutra. A copper-cast warp cylinder housed in a jar of Suzu ware has been discovered. From the southwestern slope of the hillside, stone tools from the late Paleolithic period such as Sugikubo-type knives, and burial tombs from the early and late Jomon period and the late Yayoi Period Tennoyama style have been excavated. Many small itabi monuments and stone pagoda fragments from the 15th century were excavated from this area. There is also a quarry site where stones were cut out. The summit of Mt. Marumori, which continues to the southwest, also has a circle with a diameter of 28 m, and a total of four burial mounds have been confirmed on Mt. Kawashima. Famous as a town that developed as a castle town of Tateoka Castle in the Middle Ages, especially Mr. Tateoka’s 7th generation Mitsushige was active as a powerful vassal of Yoshiaki MOGAMI, and worshiped Yuzawa Castle (Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture) in Sekigahara. After the battle, he entered Honjo Castle (Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture) and gained control of 55,000 koku of rice in Yuri District. When the Mogami clan was converted in 1622, Tateoka Castle was abandoned, and Murayama City was transformed from a castle town to a post town on the Ushu Highway. When Tateoka-inn was opened, the headquarters was set up around the current Murayama Post Office, and the city was opened on the 5th of every month. And there is a big rocky mountain in front of Atago Shrine so as to block the front of the post station, and cut-cutting work has been done many times since the Edo period, and it was the first Yamagata prefectural ordinance that became the current shape It is said that it was after the construction ordered by Michitsue MISIMA. In the current cityscape, there are many places where the atmosphere remains, such as the zelkova group around Atago Shrine and the approach to Mt. Gitoku Honkakuji Temple（牛魂供養 ; 1573, 安蓮社良穏上人龍淵前空大和尚; 浄土宗）, but along the highway, old townhouses are disappearing due to the widening of the road and the modernization of the shopping district. Seems to be. The Mogami River flows to the west, and Goten, Mikase, and Hayabusa（舟唄; A barcarolle song composed by NHK in 1936 based on a folk song from Yamagata prefecture. 渡辺国俊, 後藤岩太郎. According to one theory, it was composed with a strong awareness of the Russian folk song “Volga’s Boat Song” ; ヨーイサノマガショー エンヤコラマカセー. 酒田さ行ぐさげ 達者でろちゃ; 新内くずし, 酒田追分）, which were once called the three most difficult places for the Mogami River boat transport, are all in the city and are now tourists as river boat rides and are rooted in the area. Varieties shipped at JA Michinoku Murayama : 佐藤錦-Derived from the name of Eisuke SATO of Mikka Town, Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture. Tenkoen Co.,Ltd., The first Mr. OKADA saw the future and named it in 1928. Breeding from the fruit of “Napoleon cherry” as a mother and “Kidama” pollen. ナポレオンさくらんぼ – A variety that has been cultivated in Europe since the early 18th century. The sweetness stands out with a slight acidity. Ripe Napoleon is more delicious than ripe Sato Nishiki, and it is valuable as an indispensable variety for breeding. 高砂さくらんぼ – Originally, it is an American cherry called “Rockport Picaro”, and it tends to be the earliest among early-maturing varieties. “紅秀峰さくらんぼ” ; 寒河江市島島南-山形県立園芸試験場（現: 山形県農業総合研究センター園芸試験場）に於いて, 昭和54年（1979年）に “佐藤錦” × “天香錦”の, Developed by crossing varieties. 昭和35年（1960年）に, “長瀬運吉”の庭先より, “武田竹三郎”が発見された偶発実生で, 昭和40年（1965年）に命名）に交配して得られた実生から選抜育成し, 平成3年（1991年）に, 品種登録. From Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries variety registration. Application number 3680 Date of application 1990/01/08. Registration number 2893 Date of registration 1991/11/19. The fruit shape is short heart-shaped, the size is large, the color of the fruit is reddish yellow, and it is a sweet fruit that can be harvested from late June to early July in the growing area (Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture). The size and vigor of the tree are medium. The thickness of the branches and internodes is medium. Flower shape is normal, size is small, number of florets is small, petal shape is slightly oblong, size is medium, pollen is present, calyx. The peduncle is yellow-green, and the peduncle is of medium length. The fruit is large (about 9 g). The color of the peel is reddish-brown, and the coloration is a little rich. The color of the pulp is cream. The pulp is hard, the juice is high, the sweetness is high (about 20 degrees sugar content), and the acidity is low. Mid-season, late April in growing area, 55 days or more after full bloom, late June in growing area, high yield, no physiological fruit drop, medium cracking, long shelf life of fruit Yes, compared to “Sato Nishiki cherries”, the shape of the fruit apex is flat, the infarct is deep and wide, the size of the fruit is large, the hardness of the pulp is hard, and the physiological fruit dropping is less. Compared to “Tenkonishiki cherries”, the infarcts are deeper, the fruit size is larger, and the core and flesh are more sticky. It is said that they can be distinguished from each other by the flat shape of the apex, the sweetness and the lack of sourness. The duration of breeder’s rights is 18 years.The period expires on November 20, 2009, the date of extinction of breeders’ rights. 品種登録者の名称及び住所, 山形県山形市松波, 登録品種育成者, 石塚氏, 佐竹氏, 佐藤氏, 西村氏, 新野氏, 木戸氏, 矢野氏, 髙瀨氏, 安藤氏, 松田氏, 野口氏, 大沼氏, 鈴木氏, 渡部氏, 山口氏, 石黒氏. 紅さやかさくらんぼ – It is a new variety that was selected and cultivated from seedlings obtained by crossing “Sato Nishiki cherry” with “Seneca cherry” and was registered as a variety in 1991, like Beni-Shuho cherry. The color is vermilion, and the sweetness and acidity are well-balanced.
Murayama City is located at the northern limit of Yamagata Prefecture’s cherry production area. The conditions for growing delicious cherries are the temperature difference between day and night and hours of sunshine. This area is located at an altitude of 100 to 200 meters higher than other production areas, and is famous around the world as a production area that perfectly fits the conditions.
Murayama City seems to have a total of four cherry villages, including the “Okuyama Farm (section of village Tochiuda),” which boasts Japan’s largest sightseeing cherry orchard. Yamagata’s representative delicacy, cherries, boasts the highest production volume in Japan, accounting for 70% of the nationwide production. Murayama City, Higashine City, Tendo City, Sagae City, and other cities, with splendid mountains and cherry fields spreading out, bring a nostalgic atmosphere to our hearts. Yamagata began cultivating cherries in 1875. It seems that only Yamagata Prefecture and its surroundings succeeded in growing it while trying to grow it all over the country. A major factor was the climate, and it seems that Yamagata’s environment, which is surrounded by mountains and often has rainy seasons, was very suitable for cherries that are vulnerable to rain. At that time, it was difficult to distribute fresh berries, so I heard that cultivation for canning was the mainstream.