Azuchi

Azuchi-cho was formerly a town in Gamo-gun, central Shiga Prefecture. It now occupies the eastern part of Omihachiman City. In 1954 (Showa 29), Azuchi Village and Oiso Village merged to form a town. In 2010 (Heisei 22), it was merged into Omihachiman City. The old town name comes from Azuchi Castle Town. The long and narrow town area stretches south from the reclaimed land of Lake Dainakanoko, which was an inner lake of Lake Biwa, and is separated from Higashi-Omi City by the mountain ridge of Kinugasayama (Kanonjiyama). Mt. Azuchi is a hilly area that continues northwest from this mountain, and this hill, which divides the Koto Plain in two, also serves as the border between north and south in terms of climate. Azuchi Station on the JR Tokaido Main Line (Biwako Line) is located almost in the center of the region, and National Route 8 runs through the southern part of the region. The region is rich in nationally designated historic sites, including the Konan ruins in Onaka, the remains of a large settlement from the Jomon to Kamakura periods, the ruins of Azuchi Castle (a special historic site), the Hyotanyama burial mound, Oisomori, and the ruins of Kannonji Castle. In 1971, the historical park "Omi Fudoki no Oka" was opened, and within it, the Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum opened in 1992 (Heisei 4). There are also many ancient shrines and temples, such as Kannonshoji Temple, the 32nd temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, Kuwano-dera Temple, which is said to have planted mulberry seeds and started sericulture, Soken-ji Temple, which was built by Oda Nobunaga, and Jogon-in Temple, which is said to have been built by Prince Shotoku. It is an agricultural region centered on rice cultivation, and beef cattle (Omi Onaka beef) are also produced. In the past, sericulture and fishing were also thriving. The Prefectural Agricultural College is located in Onaka. Distinctive industries include reed cultivation on the lake shore and freshwater pearl farming. The area around Nishinoko Lake in the northwest is one of Japan's leading waterside towns. The electrification of the Tokaido Main Line in 1956 significantly reduced the travel time to Kyoto, and the area is now part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area, and is actively developing into a residential area.

[Seiichi Takahashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

滋賀県中央部、蒲生郡(がもうぐん)にあった旧町名（安土町(ちょう)）。現在は近江八幡(おうみはちまん)市の東部を占める地域。1954年（昭和29）安土村と老蘇(おいそ)村が合併して町制施行。2010年（平成22）近江八幡市に合併した。旧町名は安土城下町に由来する。琵琶(びわ)湖の内湖であった大中之湖(だいなかのこ)干拓地から南へ延びる細長い町域で、繖(きぬがさ)山（観音寺山）の山稜(さんりょう)線によって東近江(おうみ)市と分けられる。この山から北西に続く丘陵地が安土山で、湖東平野を二分するこの丘陵は、気候面でも南北の境界線となっている。JR東海道本線（琵琶湖線）安土駅が地域のほぼ中心部にあり、南部を国道8号が走る。縄文時代から鎌倉時代にかけての大集落遺跡である大中の湖南遺跡をはじめとして、安土城跡（特別史跡）、瓢箪山(ひょうたんやま)古墳、老蘇森、観音寺城跡などの国指定史跡に富み、1971年には歴史公園である「近江風土記(ふどき)の丘」が開設され、そのなかに1992年（平成4）県立安土城考古博物館が開館した。西国三十三所32番札所の観音正寺(かんのんしょうじ)、クワの実を植え養蚕を始めたと伝える桑実寺(くわのみでら)、織田信長建立の摠見(そうけん)寺、聖徳太子建立と伝えられる浄厳院(じょうごんいん)などの古社寺も多い。米作中心の農業地帯で、肉用牛（近江大中牛）の生産も行われている。かつては養蚕や漁業も盛んであった。大中に、県立農業大学校がある。特色的な産業では湖岸のヨシ栽培と淡水真珠養殖がある。北西部に残る西の湖一帯は、日本でも有数の水郷地帯。1956年の東海道本線の電化で京都への所要時間が大幅に短縮、京阪神大都市圏内に含まれ、住宅地化が活発である。

［高橋誠一］

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