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A view of the Ono River in the 1930s | ||||
| The town of Sawara originated from a small farming village@owned by Katori
Jingu (Katori Shrine), which is located in present Sawara City. Since ancient
times, Katori Jingu has been one of the largest shrines in eastern Japan.
The first mention of the name Sawara can be found in a letter dated 1218
describing a donation to the shrine. In the late Medieval Period, Sawara
gradually developed into a small commercial town for its favorable location.
Here, the highway to Katori Jingu crossed the Ono River, a branch of the
Tone River, allowing Sawara to become a port town. In those days numerous
small commercial towns were rapidly developing throughout Japan. In 1580,the residents in the area carted Shinjuku on the left bank of the Ono River submitted a petition to the local lord, Kokubu Daizen, for opening a new market. In the Edo period, Sawara was owned directly by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Four retainers of the Shogun divided and ruled Sawara. The market in Shinjuku is known to have been held regularly throughout the Edo period. The market was opened on the streets of Kamijuku, Nakajuku, and Shimojuku, on two fixed days of each month respectively. In addition to the shops in townhouses, many itinerant traders, craftsmen, and farmers opened their booths and stalls under the eaves of townhouses and on the streets. Trading on market days was banned except on th e street where the market was held. Trade with Edo flourished even more, after the completion of works for changing the flow of the Tone River in the 17th century. This made possible speedy water transportation between Sawara and Edo. Rice and other products from the vast areas along the Tone River and the Kasumigaura Lake were gathered to Sawara on small ships, to be sent to Edo on larger ships. Many sailors lived in the northern part of Sawara. |
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| Reflecting the thriving businesses, the population of Sawara reached 5,647
in 1838 and 6,411 (1,415 households) in 1874. In those days, many tourists
visiting Katori Shrine and Kashima Shrine passed through Sawara. Among them were famous haiku poets, such as Matsuo Basho (1644-94) and Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827). Sawara continued prospering even after the Meiji Restoration(1868). The start of steam ship service (1877) and faitroad service (1898)between Sawara and Tokyo reinforced Sawara's rote as a port town. More magnificent townhouses than those seen before were built around this time. However, after the 1920s, when transportation by trucks and buses became dominant in this area, Sawara ceased to develop as a commerciat town. Now the City of Sawara (pop. 50,117 in 1998) is a cultural and administrative center of northern Chiba Prefecture. |
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