Shimagahara [Village] - Shimagahara

Japanese: 島ヶ原[村] - しまがはら

A village in Ayama District, northwest of Mie Prefecture. Population 2934 (1995). Bordering Shiga Prefecture to the north, Kyoto Prefecture to the west, and Nara Prefecture to the south. The Kizu River flows west through the center of the village, with the northern part being mountainous and the southern part being hilly with little lowland. It has long been developed as a key transportation and military point between Iga and Yamato, and was the base of the Shimagahara Party, which allied with the Southern Court during the Nanboku-cho period. During the Edo period, it was a post station on the Nara Road, and also flourished as a river port for shipping along the Kizu River. Currently, it is an agricultural village where rice, cucumbers, and shiitake mushrooms are cultivated, and forestry is also practiced. The mountainous areas produce clay, which is used to make Iga ware and firebricks.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

三重県北西端，阿山郡の村。人口2934(1995)。北は滋賀県，西は京都府，南は奈良県に接する。村のほぼ中央を木津川が西流し，北部は山地，南部は丘陵地で低地に乏しい。伊賀～大和間の交通･軍事の要衝として古くから発展，南北朝期に南朝にくみした島ヶ原党の根拠地となっていた。江戸時代は奈良道の宿駅が置かれ，また木津川舟運の河港としても栄えた。現在は米作とキュウリ，シイタケの栽培を主とする農山村で，林業も行われ，山間部では伊賀焼や耐火煉瓦の原料となる粘土を産出する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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