About
In a corner of Ohashi-cho, Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture, stands a building that quietly watches over the passage of time. The Sano City Local History Museum is like a treasure chest that weaves together the region’s history and culture.
Upon entering the museum, the first thing that catches the eye is the exhibition room dedicated to Shozo Tanaka. He was a pioneer who confronted Japan’s first pollution problem, the Ashio Copper Mine Poisoning Incident, during the Meiji era, and throughout his life devoted himself to the common people. On display here are his handwritten letters and petitions, through which his passionate spirit is still conveyed today.
Proceeding further, visitors encounter exhibitions that bring to life the history of Sano City from prehistoric times to the modern era. Artifacts excavated from the Hachimanyama and Totokochiyama burial mounds tell the story of ancient people’s lives and beliefs. The Tenmyo cast metalwork display allows visitors to experience the skill and beauty of a traditional craft with over a thousand years of history. This metalwork is said to have begun when Fujiwara no Hidesato invited metalworkers from Osaka during the Heian period to make weapons, and by the Muromachi period, it had become famous nationwide for tea ceremony kettles.
In the modern exhibition room, the development of Sano’s industries and transportation from the Meiji period onward is introduced. The displays include weaving looms and the production processes of Sano’s folk crafts, such as warrior banners and hina dolls, allowing visitors to sense the essence of the people’s lives and skills of the time.
This museum is not merely an exhibition space, but a bridge that conveys the history and culture of Sano City to the future. Visitors will experience moments where past and present intersect, and will surely rediscover the pride and charm of the region.