初夏に響く感謝の鈴音
三陸の空を舞うウミネコに見送られ、内陸の滝沢市へ。初夏の風物詩「チャグチャグ馬コ」は、農耕馬に感謝を捧げる伝統行事です。色鮮やかな装束を纏った100頭以上の馬が、鈴の音を響かせながら農村から盛岡市へと行進します。人と馬が家族のように暮らしてきた歴史と、素朴で温かい岩手の原風景がここにあります。「日本の音風景100選」にも選ばれた癒やしの音色を、ぜひ体感してください。
Ringing Bells of Gratitude
Leave the coastal seagulls of Sanriku behind and head inland to Takizawa City for the legendary “Chagu Chagu Umako” festival—a vibrant early summer tradition dedicated to expressing profound gratitude to the farm horses that have long been the backbone of Iwate’s agriculture. This spectacular parade features over 100 horses adorned in brilliant, colorful regalia, processing from the rural shrines of Takizawa toward the center of Morioka City. As they walk, the rhythmic, clear jingling of their bells—a sound so iconic it was designated as one of the “100 Soundscapes of Japan”—fills the air with a sense of healing and tranquility. This event is a living testament to a unique cultural heritage where humans and horses have coexisted as family for centuries, capturing the rustic, warm, and resilient essence of the Iwate landscape.