Houki-cho: Preserving the Past for the Future

The Houki-cho district lies in the west of Tottori Prefecture close to the foot of volcanic Mt. Daisen. It has a population of around 11,000, most of whom live from farming and rearing cattle. The town lies on an ancient trail once used by the pilgrims who made their way to Izumo Shrine, one of the most venerated Shinto sites in Japan. Because of this proximity, ancient legends of the gods have been kept alive in Houki-cho. Once a year, in October, the local people gather to conduct a traditional ritual that has been passed down through countless generations. The ritual has its roots in an ancient legend that the deity worshipped at the shrine was saved from a shipwreck by octopuses. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, John Daub from the US visits Houki-cho, samples the local specialties and meets the local people who are keeping the old ways alive.