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History of Okurayama Park Bairin

Last update date February 15, 2021

The Okurayama Kanbaikai, which began in 1989, has become an annual event for Kohoku Ward.
About the history of Okurayama Park Bairin, which has become famous as a famous spot for viewing plums both inside and outside the prefecture, as well as Yokohama citizens, "Okurayama Bairin" in the book "My town Kohoku" by Seiji Hirai, research director of the Okura Institute of Mental and Cultural Studies. Will be quoted from the chapter of "Bairin" and will be introduced along with photos provided by Tokyu Corporation.

Plums can withstand the cold of winter, open beautiful flowers ahead of peaches and cherry blossoms, and entertain them with a good scent.
Kanmei has a long history, and it has already been performed since the Nara era. `` Manyoshu '' has 118 songs, which is more than three times that of a song about cherry blossoms, which is so popular .

Nodot
[Notty at Okurayama Kanbaikai]

Exit the ticket gate at Okurayama Station, go up the slope `` Memorial Hall Slope '' near the track on the right track, pass through the side of the designated tangible cultural property `` Okurayama Memorial Hall '' and go down a little, and Bairin is in front of Ryushoin. You.

Okurayama Park
The entrance to Bairin

Description of the origin of Bairin

The Umebayashi was opened in 1931 after purchasing land from Ryushoin Temple. According to Kaichi Komori (former researcher at the Okura Institute for Spiritual and Cultural Studies), Umebayashi was opened in 1931 (Toukyu Toyoko Line).
According to the description of the origin of Okurayama Park Bairin at the entrance of Bairin states, `` Around 1937 (1937), there were more than 1,000 large Bairin in 14 species, mainly white plums, During World War II, it was devastated, such as being cut down to pick up potatoes for fuel and turned into fields due to food shortages. "
When Kunihiko Okura, the founder of the Okura Institute for Spiritual Culture, tried to open an old high school in Okurayama around 1943 (1943), there was a plan to transfer it as a school site, but it was not realized.
Even after the war, hundreds of plums were in full bloom in Bairin, and it was thriving as a tourist destination along the Toyoko Line. In the past, during the Kanmei period, the temporary express "Kanmei-go" stopped at Okurayama Station during the Kanmei period.

1951 Umebayashi Corporation
1951 (1951) Umebayashi

1951 Umebayashi Corporation
1951 (1951) Also in kimono

1951 Umebayashi Corporation
1951 (1951) Umebayashi

1952 Umebayashi Corporation
1952 (1952) State of Umebayashi

1953 Umebayashi
1953 (1953) Cherry Blossom of Okurayama Park and Okurayama
Memorial Hall

1960 Umebayashi Corporation
1960 (1960) State of Umebayashi (I've been drinking for cherry blossom viewing)

1969 Umebayashi
1969 (1969) Photography Session at Umebayashi

[All photos from 1951 (1951) to 1969 (1969) are provided by the Public Relations Department of Tokyo Electric Railway Co., Ltd.]

Umebayashi was sold from Tokyu Corporation to Yokohama City from 1983 (1983) to 1986 (1986), and was reopened as part of Okurayama Park in 1989 (1989).
Currently, 32 types, about 200 plums are planted. The largest number is "white Kaga", which has large fruits, but "green calyx plum", which has a green calyx and has a light red, red, white flowers are added to a single tree. There are also rare varieties such as "as you wish" to attach. It was named because it was not known what color flowers bloom on which branches every year, and it was never controlled by human hands.

Green calyx "green calyx plum"

As you wish
"Nobody wants"

In 1989, when Umezono opened, the Okurayama Kanbaikai Executive Committee was established in the local shopping district and Neighborhood Associations Neighborhood Association.
In 1991 (1991), as a commemorative project to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the opening of Bairin, the Kohoku Tourism Association manufactures and sells "Okurayama Umeshu Ume no Kaoru (outside site)", which is harvested and pickled in Okurayama Bairin by hand. Started sales. Since the opening of the port, Yokohama has continued to be certified as Yokohama 001, a regional brand that aims to become a unique one-of-a-kind product from Yokohama in 1995 (1995) to the present day, valuing the "advanced breath" and "individual manufacturing" that has continued since its opening.
The alcohol content is 13 degrees (almost the same as wine), which is slightly sweet and rich. On the rocks, please. Soda splitting is also recommended.
Every year, at the Okurayama Kanbaikai venue, new sake produced using plums from the previous year is pre-sale.

Okurayama plum wine scent