Nishiiyayama [village] - Nishiiyayama

Japanese: 西祖谷山[村] - にしいややま

A village in Miyoshi County, western Tokushima Prefecture. Population 2,197 (1995). Occupying the middle and lower reaches of the Iya River, a tributary of the Yoshino River, and together with Higashi-Iyayama Village in the upper reaches, it is collectively known as Iyasan and Iya Valley. Most of the village area is mountainous, and until a road was built along the Iya River in 1920, it was an isolated mountain village connected to the lowlands of the Yoshino River by ridges and over mountain passes. Agriculture has replaced the former slash-and-burn cultivation of barnyard millet and foxtail millet. The Iya Valley Toll Road has been opened, connecting National Route 32, which passes through Yamashiro Town to the west, and Oinouchi within the village.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

徳島県西部，三好郡の村。人口2197(1995)。吉野川の支流祖谷川の中･下流域を占め，上流域の東祖谷山村とともに祖谷山，祖谷渓（いやだに）と総称される。村域の大部分が山地で，祖谷川沿いに1920年車道が通じるまでは尾根伝いや峠越えで吉野川の低地と結ばれる隔絶山村であった。かつての焼畑によるヒエ，アワ作に代わり木材，茶，ソバ中心の農業が営まれる。西隣の山城町を通る国道32号線と村内の尾井ノ内を結ぶ祖谷渓有料道路が開通した。

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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