[Fukumitsu Village] (Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, former province name: Etchu)

"Dotoku" is a word that describes the climate and spirituality of the southwestern Ecchu region (present-day Toyama Prefecture). This term was proposed by Yanagi Muneyoshi (1889-1961), known as the founder of the Mingei movement, and although it cannot be interpreted in a general way, it can be summarized as "the harsh yet pure climate and the warm life and spirit of the people of Ecchu, rooted in the religious culture inherited from ancient times, and living with gratitude to this day." In 1948, Muneyoshi stayed at the Shinshu temple Zentoku-ji in what is now Nanto City for over 60 days, where he recognized the essence of folk art in the scenery of the Pure Land faith that has been passed down by the Shinshu sect, and wrote "The Law of Beauty," and the Nanto region was a place that he had a special connection with throughout his life. Another place where he is believed to have discovered "earth virtue" is Fukumitsu, also located in Nanto City. Fukumitsu is located at the gateway where the Oyabe River, which originates from Mt. Daimon, first flows into the plains, and the name is said to have come from the fact that the area is filled with pure water. Industries that make use of forest resources have long developed here, and the area is also known for its woodcraft techniques and products, such as bats, which are still one of Japan's leading producers of these today. One artist who was attracted to this material was the world-renowned printmaker Munakata Shiko (1903-1975). In May 1945, at the end of the Pacific War, Shiko evacuated with his family, relying on his old acquaintance, Kosaka Kansho (1905-1992), the head priest of Kotoku-ji Temple, and lived in Fukumitsu for the next six years. When Shiko evacuated to Fukumitsu, all he could do was take the necessities with him, and he managed to carry only a few precious woodblocks, disguised as a chair splint. Eventually, most of the woodblocks were lost in an air raid on Tokyo, which dealt a major blow to Shiko both materially and emotionally, but it was the people of Fukumitsu who warmly supported his lifestyle and creative activities. Kotoku-ji is a Shinshu temple founded in the Muromachi period, and its chief priest, Kansho, had long sympathized with the folk art movement advocated by Muneyoshi in the magazine Shirakaba, and had formed relationships with those involved in the movement. As a result, he showed a deep understanding of Shiko's art, which was linked to folk art, and not only did he provide him with a second home, but he also allowed Shiko to do as he pleased, even if he painted freely throughout the temple. This former home, "Riu-gasai" (photos 1-4), has been relocated to the center of the city and preserved, and together with the adjacent "Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum Aizenen" (photos 5-6), it conveys Shiko's artistic works and his spirit to the present day. When you thoroughly examine the house, you can see that Shiko's sketches remain even on the pillars in the hallways and the toilet, which makes it clear that his creative desire was soaring. On the other hand, the lives of Shiko's children, who spent their childhood in this house, are also introduced in detail, and it is clear that Fukumitsu was undoubtedly their "hometown" and that they were raised in the virtuous environment. During the six years Shiko lived in Fukumitsu, he was very active in his creative endeavors, and at Kotoku-ji Temple (photos 7-10), which was the catalyst for this, some of his most outstanding works remain. If you visit Kotokuji Temple today, you will see the clear intention to embody the Mingei movement, with numerous vases arranged on the white sand of the temple grounds and folk implements hung at various heights inside the hall. Furthermore, on the sliding doors and hanging scrolls, you can see Shiko's calligraphy and paintings in his signature bold brushstrokes, and you will be struck by the power of his works, which seem to freely dominate the entire space. At the back of the main hall, a group of Shiko's works, including the masterpiece "Kegon Pine," are on display, and you can clearly feel Shiko's ingenuity and proud spirit that are packed into the crowded space. Shiko left Fukumitsu for Tokyo in 1951, but since then he has won a series of international art awards, making him known as "the world's Munakata." However, even in later years, Shiko would look back on his time at Fukumitsu and yearn for the unique environment in which he was able to focus wholeheartedly on his creation, the many supporters such as Kansho who created it, and above all, the spiritual richness, backed by the local culture and faith, that naturally endowed the people who lived in Fukumitsu. It was at the time when Shiko was reaching the height of his physical and mental fulfillment in Fukumitsu that Muneyoshi wrote The Law of Beauty, and to describe how the unique relationship between local culture and talent was opening up a new era of "beauty," he used the two characters "Toku" (soil virtue) to imprint the charm of the era and the land. Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★ (There are people, but not many. You can enjoy sightseeing in peace!) Visit date: Around 2pm on the second Sunday of April Access: About 15 minutes by car from Fukumitsu IC (to Kotoku-ji Temple) #Kotoku-ji Temple #Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum #Fukumitsu #Toyama Trip #Toyama Tourism #Nanto City #Hokuriku Trip #Hokuriku Tourism #toyama_next #Toyama Tourism Navigator #Toyama's Seriousness #Domestic Travel Lover #Connect with Domestic Travel Lovers #Temple Tour #Temple Lover #Temples and Shrines #Temple and Shrine Tour #Shrine and Temple Tour #Jodo Shinshu #Printmaking