①　Kitamaebune and the Development of Niigata

 Since long ago, Niigata has prospered as a strategic point for transporation along the Sea of Japan.

 Midway through the Edo period, Niigata served as a port of call for the kitamaebune merchant ships; rice and various grains were shipped out and marine products, cotton, and lumber were brought in.

②　Ama no Teburi

 In 1843, Kawamura Nagataka, Niigata's first shogunate magistrate, commissioned this emaki picture scroll. It portrays the daily life and customs of the people of port town Niigata.(*Some of these paintings are on display at the Niigata City History Museum "Minatopia")

③　As a result of its success as a port of call for the kitamaebune merchant ships, the port town of Niigata prospered. The port town culture that flourished still lives on to this day in the streets of the city and in people's daily lives.

④　Gankake Komainu

 The Kagai (geisha district)　has prospered greatly alongside the port of Niigata.

 It is said that the courtesans would turn the heads of the komainu (stone carved lion-dogs) at Minato Inari Shrine* to the west and pray for the western winds to blow and make the sea waters rough, thus requiring the sailors to stay in the port for longer. 

 In modern times, it said that if you pray while turning the komainu, your prayers will come true.

*You can visit the Minato Inari Shrine and komainu! 

3482 Inari-cho, Chuo Ward, Niigata City

https://komainu-minatoinari.com/

Culture of KAGAI

Kagai (geisha district) developed alongside the prosperity of the Port of Niigata.

The Furumachi Geigi (Furumachi geisha) active in the Kagai perform the Ichiyama-ryu style of Nihon-buyo (Japanese dance), which is the first intangible cultural asset (performing art) registered in Niigata City, as well as sing songs, play the shamisen, and play games with guests at drinking parties.

Of course, you can also enjoy Niigata's traditional cuisine and sake in the Kagai.

①　The Countryside That Supported Niigata's Prosperity

The Niigata plain was a marsh terrain formed from the sand and soil sediments carried by the Shinano River, Agano River, and their branch rivers, and had numerous wetlands and lakes of various sizes.

The countryside that supported the prosperity of Niigata Port was struck with floods several times and the farmers worked in water up to their waists.

②　Our ancestors worked hard to supress flooding and properly irrigate the wetlands so they could be used as paddy fields. They did this by channelling paths for the rivers and wetlands to flow into the sea, creating an overpass for the Nishikawa River to run over the Shinkawa River, and building an enormous drainage pump station that was said to be the largest in the East at the time.

③　Niigata City has became a large agricultural city and boasts the largest square measure of paddy fields in Japan. Additionally, it produces a large amount of agricultural goods, such as fruits and vegetables.

Rich Nature

Niigata boasts the largest number of migratory tundra swans in Japan. The swans spend winter in the countryside near the Sakata, Toyanogata, and Fukushimagata wetlands, where they eat the fallen ears of Koshihikari rice.*

Bean geese also migrate and pass the winter in the Fukushimagata wetlands. Their numbers are also said to be the largest in the country.

*You can observe Fukushimagata Wetlands' scenery and wildlife at Water Station "View Fukukshimagata."

493 Maeshinden-otsu, Kita Ward, Niigata City

http://www.pavc.ne.jp/~hishikui/index-e.html

Festivals and Performing Arts

The Minato Festival (Sumiyoshi Festival), held to pray for safe sea voyages, was later merged with the Kawabiraki (river opening festival) and Shoko-sai (commerce and industry festival), and the Port Opening Commemorative Festival, eventually becoming what today is known as Niigata Matsuri, or the Niigata Festival. Every year in the beginning of August, there is a parade held on the water, a large fireworks show, and a mass folk dance procession. 

Additionally, Niigata City has unique cultural perfoming arts and several fesivals, including the Shirone Giant Kite Battle, which has a history of over 300 years, the Tsukigata Kakubeijishi (an acrobatic lion dance), and kagura dances from different areas of the city.

*You can visit the Shirone Kite Museum to see the kites used in the battles and make your own miniature kite!

1770-1 Joge suwanoki, Minami Ward, Niigata City 

https://www.shiteikanrisha.jp/ootako/index.html

Bandai Bridge & Niigata Station

Starting from the Meiji period (1868 - 1912), Bandai Bridge provided the framework for the city and Niigata Station served as the core of the city's transportation.

Both structures will continue to fulfill a very important role.