Shingō (新郷村, Shingō-mura) is a village located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2020[update], the village has an estimated population of 2,408 in 922 households[1] and a population density of 16 persons per km² (42 people per square mile). The total area of the village is 150.77 square kilometres (58.21 sq mi).[2]
Shingō is in south-central Aomori Prefecture, east of Lake Towada. The western edge of the village borders Akita Prefecture. Much of the village is mountainous with the outer ring mountains of Lake Towada, including Mt. Okomagatake (1,144 metres (3,753 ft)) and Mt. Toraidake (1,159 m (3,802 ft)). The village area extends along National Route 454, which connects Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture and Lake Towada.
The village has a cold humid continental climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with very heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classificationDfa). The average annual temperature in Shingō is 8.7 °C (47.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,342 mm (52.8 in), with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.2 °C (72.0 °F), and lowest in January, at around −3.7 °C (25.3 °F).[3]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Shingō has declined steadily over the past 70 years.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1950
6,411
—
1960
6,409
−0.0%
1970
4,754
−25.8%
1980
4,332
−8.9%
1990
3,724
−14.0%
2000
3,343
−10.2%
2010
2,851
−14.7%
2020
2,197
−22.9%
History
The area around Shingō was controlled by the Nanbu clan of Morioka Domain during the Edo period. During the post-Meiji Restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889, Herai Village and neighboring Nozawa Village were formed. On July 29, 1955, the western portion of Nozawa Village merged into Herai, which was then renamed Shingō.
Shingō has one public elementary school, one public middle school, and a preschool operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.
Economy
The economy of Shingō is heavily dependent on agriculture. Notable crops include edible chrysanthemum, Japanese yam and tobacco. Traditionally a horse breeding area, Shingō is also known for its cattle ranches.
Shingō village is the location of what is purported to be the resting place of Jesus, the "Tomb of Christ" (Kirisuto no haka), and the residence of Jesus' last descendants, the family of Sajiro Sawaguchi.[5] According to these ahistorical claims, Jesus Christ did not die on the cross at Golgotha. Instead, a man alleged to be his brother, Isukiri,[6] took his place on the cross, while Jesus escaped across Siberia to Mutsu Province, in northern Japan. Once in Japan, Jesus changed his name to Torai Tora Daitenku and became a garlic farmer. In Japan, Jesus allegedly married a woman named Miyuko, with whom he fathered three children, all daughters. The eldest daughter married into the Sawaguchi family, which is claimed to hold a direct lineage to Jesus, evidenced by certain non-Japanese physical characteristics. After his death at an age exceeding 100, Jesus was said to have been interred into one of two grave mounds in the village. A remnant of the crucified Isukiri, typically thought to be a lock of hair, is allegedly buried in the other mound.[7]
Few people seem to believe in the legend at face value, especially as many of the details come from the controversial Takenouchi documents (竹内文書, Takenouchi no Sukune), which are believed by most scholars to be a hoax. These documents report that Jesus studied Buddhism in Japan in the time between his childhood and the start of his ministry, and that his teachings in the New Testament were rooted in ancient Buddhist wisdom. These documents were reportedly destroyed during World War II, making verification of their authenticity impossible. Some[who?] theorize that the legend originated from 17th century Jesuit missionaries. Following the outlawing of Christianity in Japan, these missionaries, as well as Japanese Catholic converts, were persecuted and driven into hiding.
A sign directing visitors to the Tomb of Christ site in Shingō, Aomori.
A Christian church, repurposed into a Legend of Christ Museum, currently sits at the Tomb of Christ site in Shingō and can be visited for a ¥100 entrance fee. This museum includes displays and artifacts detailing the different elements of the legend and daily life in Shingō over history. The museum claims that many of the unique customs of the village, like the now-lost custom of drawing a cross on the forehead of infants, come directly from the teachings and direction of Jesus. Each year, a festival (matsuri) is held at the site on the first Sunday of June.[8] Thousands of pilgrims and tourists travel to the site annually, making it the small village's primary source of tourism.[9]
^Ryōsuke, Okamoto (March 20, 2019). "Keeping the Faith: Christ's Tomb in Aomori and Japanese Religion". nippon.com. Retrieved November 9, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Magazine, Smithsonian; Lidz, Franz. "The Little-Known Legend of Jesus in Japan". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
External links
Media related to Shingō, Aomori at Wikimedia Commons
Official Website (in Japanese)
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Shingo.
February 23, 2023
shingō, aomori, shingō, 新郷村, shingō, mura, village, located, aomori, prefecture, japan, march, 2020, update, village, estimated, population, households, population, density, persons, people, square, mile, total, area, village, square, kilometres, shingō, 新郷村vi. Shingō 新郷村 Shingō mura is a village located in Aomori Prefecture Japan As of 31 March 2020 update the village has an estimated population of 2 408 in 922 households 1 and a population density of 16 persons per km 42 people per square mile The total area of the village is 150 77 square kilometres 58 21 sq mi 2 Shingō 新郷村VillageShingō Village OfficeFlagSealLocation of Shingō in Aomori PrefectureShingō Coordinates 40 27 49 19 N 141 10 27 53 E 40 4636639 N 141 1743139 E 40 4636639 141 1743139 Coordinates 40 27 49 19 N 141 10 27 53 E 40 4636639 N 141 1743139 E 40 4636639 141 1743139CountryJapanRegionTōhokuPrefectureAomoriDistrictSannoheArea Total150 77 km2 58 21 sq mi Population March 2020 Total2 408 Density16 km2 41 sq mi Time zoneUTC 9 Japan Standard Time TreeAesculus FlowerAsian skunk cabbagePhone number0178 78 2111Address039 0801WebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Neighboring municipalities 1 2 Climate 2 Demographics 3 History 4 Government 5 Education 6 Economy 7 Transportation 7 1 Railway 7 2 Highway 8 Alleged tomb of Jesus 9 References 10 External linksGeography EditShingō is in south central Aomori Prefecture east of Lake Towada The western edge of the village borders Akita Prefecture Much of the village is mountainous with the outer ring mountains of Lake Towada including Mt Okomagatake 1 144 metres 3 753 ft and Mt Toraidake 1 159 m 3 802 ft The village area extends along National Route 454 which connects Hachinohe Aomori Prefecture and Lake Towada Neighboring municipalities Edit Aomori Prefecture Towada Sannohe District Gonohe Nanbu Sannohe Akita Prefecture KazunoClimate Edit The village has a cold humid continental climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with very heavy snowfall Koppen climate classification Dfa The average annual temperature in Shingō is 8 7 C 47 7 F The average annual rainfall is 1 342 mm 52 8 in with September as the wettest month The temperatures are highest on average in August at around 22 2 C 72 0 F and lowest in January at around 3 7 C 25 3 F 3 Demographics EditPer Japanese census data 4 the population of Shingō has declined steadily over the past 70 years Historical populationYearPop 19506 411 19606 409 0 0 19704 754 25 8 19804 332 8 9 19903 724 14 0 20003 343 10 2 20102 851 14 7 20202 197 22 9 History EditThe area around Shingō was controlled by the Nanbu clan of Morioka Domain during the Edo period During the post Meiji Restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889 Herai Village and neighboring Nozawa Village were formed On July 29 1955 the western portion of Nozawa Village merged into Herai which was then renamed Shingō Government EditShingō has a mayor council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members Shingō is part of Sannohe District which contributes three members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly In terms of national politics the town is part of Aomori 2nd district of the House of Representatives of the National Diet Education EditShingō has one public elementary school one public middle school and a preschool operated by the village government The village does not have a high school Economy EditThe economy of Shingō is heavily dependent on agriculture Notable crops include edible chrysanthemum Japanese yam and tobacco Traditionally a horse breeding area Shingō is also known for its cattle ranches Transportation EditRailway Edit The village has no passenger railway service Highway Edit National Route 454Alleged tomb of Jesus Edit Alleged tomb of Jesus in Shingō village Shingō village is the location of what is purported to be the resting place of Jesus the Tomb of Christ Kirisuto no haka and the residence of Jesus last descendants the family of Sajiro Sawaguchi 5 According to these ahistorical claims Jesus Christ did not die on the cross at Golgotha Instead a man alleged to be his brother Isukiri 6 took his place on the cross while Jesus escaped across Siberia to Mutsu Province in northern Japan Once in Japan Jesus changed his name to Torai Tora Daitenku and became a garlic farmer In Japan Jesus allegedly married a woman named Miyuko with whom he fathered three children all daughters The eldest daughter married into the Sawaguchi family which is claimed to hold a direct lineage to Jesus evidenced by certain non Japanese physical characteristics After his death at an age exceeding 100 Jesus was said to have been interred into one of two grave mounds in the village A remnant of the crucified Isukiri typically thought to be a lock of hair is allegedly buried in the other mound 7 Few people seem to believe in the legend at face value especially as many of the details come from the controversial Takenouchi documents 竹内文書 Takenouchi no Sukune which are believed by most scholars to be a hoax These documents report that Jesus studied Buddhism in Japan in the time between his childhood and the start of his ministry and that his teachings in the New Testament were rooted in ancient Buddhist wisdom These documents were reportedly destroyed during World War II making verification of their authenticity impossible Some who theorize that the legend originated from 17th century Jesuit missionaries Following the outlawing of Christianity in Japan these missionaries as well as Japanese Catholic converts were persecuted and driven into hiding A sign directing visitors to the Tomb of Christ site in Shingō Aomori A Christian church repurposed into a Legend of Christ Museum currently sits at the Tomb of Christ site in Shingō and can be visited for a 100 entrance fee This museum includes displays and artifacts detailing the different elements of the legend and daily life in Shingō over history The museum claims that many of the unique customs of the village like the now lost custom of drawing a cross on the forehead of infants come directly from the teachings and direction of Jesus Each year a festival matsuri is held at the site on the first Sunday of June 8 Thousands of pilgrims and tourists travel to the site annually making it the small village s primary source of tourism 9 References Edit Shingō Village official statistics 詳細データ 青森県青森県新郷村 市町村の姿 グラフと統計でみる農林水産業 in Japanese Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries 2016 Retrieved 13 July 2017 Shingō climate data Shingō population statistics From Japanese text of the sign included in this article Archived from the original on December 11 2019 Japan Travel Jesus in Japan Metropolis Archived from the original on 2006 08 25 Retrieved 2006 12 13 Palmer Spencer April 1 1970 Did Christ Visit Japan BYU Studies Quarterly 10 via Scholars Archive Ryōsuke Okamoto March 20 2019 Keeping the Faith Christ s Tomb in Aomori and Japanese Religion nippon com Retrieved November 9 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Magazine Smithsonian Lidz Franz The Little Known Legend of Jesus in Japan Smithsonian Magazine Retrieved 2021 11 09 External links Edit Media related to Shingō Aomori at Wikimedia Commons Official Website in Japanese Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Shingo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shingō Aomori amp oldid 1128277885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
