Nishimera [village] - Nishimera

Japanese: 西米良[村] - にしめら

A village in Koyu County, western Miyazaki Prefecture. Population 1,543 (1995). It is located in the Kyushu Mountains upstream of the Hitotsuse River, with Mount Ichifusa (1,722m) towering on the border with Kumamoto Prefecture. It was called Mera-sho along with the Higashimera area of Saito City. During the Edo period, it was ruled by the Mera clan on commission from the Higo Hitoyoshi Domain. There is a small amount of cultivated land in the valley of the Hitotsuse River, and small settlements such as Murashiyo are scattered here and there, but the majority of the area is rugged mountain forest, where timber, shiitake mushrooms, yuzu, camellia, bamboo products, and other products are produced. Because it is an isolated area, unique performing arts and folk customs such as Mera Kagura have been passed down.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

宮崎県西部，児湯（こゆ）郡の村。人口1543(1995)。一ッ瀬川上流の九州山地にあり，熊本県境には市房山(1722m)がそびえる。西都市東米良地区とともに米良荘とよばれた。江戸時代には米良氏が肥後人吉藩の委嘱を受けて支配した。一ッ瀬川の河谷にわずかな耕地があり，村所（むらしよ）などの小集落が散在するが，大半は起伏の激しい山林で，木材のほかシイタケ，ユズ，山茶，竹製品などの生産が行われている。隔絶地であったため，米良神楽など固有の芸能や民俗が伝わる。

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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