Index > The origin of Sawara City
Sawara City has a long history; its name is believed to have
derived from the earthen ware called 'sawara' which was offered
in the oracle ceremony at Katori Jingû(Katori Shrine). Some ancient documents
show in them that the character 'Sawara' was spelled '
(shallow flat land)', '
(side or left flat land)', '
(sand flat land)', or '
(desert flat land)'. Finally, '
(the present
character)' appeared in a document in 1218 (the 6th year of
Kenpo).
The northern part of Sawara in ancient times was, over a long period, washed by the full current of the sea, even deeply inland from the Pacific Ocean. Afterwards, in the Tokugawa Period, the Tone River, which had flowed directly into Edo (Tokyo now), was made to flow into the Pacific Ocean and then the soil and sand from upriver were piled up and formed this area into a large delta.
Sawara City is made up of this delta area called 'Suigo (water land)' and part of 'Shimofusa' Plateau.
In the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) and the Muromachi Period (1333-1568), Sawara was ruled over by the Kokubu-shi, the family of Chiba, who settled in Yahagi region and built their fortress. In 1590 (the 18th year of Tensho), they abandoned Yahagi fortress to the enemy. Survived vassals, the Inos, returned to the farming and began to develop this area. In the early Edo Period, 16 islands north of the area were used as the rice fields and the delta around the Tone River was more and more cultivated over Genroku Period (1688-1704).
Sawara flourished as the distribution center of annual tributes
to the Shogunate, such as rice and commodities, with the
advances of the water transportation of the Tone River. Sawara
continued to develop as the center of the transportation, the
economy and the culture along the Tone River Basin. So people
claimed, When you want to see Edo, come to Sawara. Sawara
outdoes Edo
.
In 1875 (the 8th year of Meiji), Sawara was incorporated into the Chiba Prefecture, and in 1951 (the 26th year of Showa) The Town of Sawara and some of its adjoining villages were merged into the City of Sawara.
Index > The origin of Sawara City