Hello, I am Yoshi, from NILS Japanese language school. Today’s topic is the “World Heritage of Japan.” This is the second time and we introduce you “Historic Villages in Shirakawa-go and Gokayama.”



In Shirakawa-go, there remain 114 thatched houses with steep raftered roofs which look like a pair of hands held together in prayer. The steep roofs, inclined at 60 degrees from the horizontal, are constructed of timber bound with neso, a kind of rope made from hammered saplings of young mansaku trees. The wide attics have two levels and were used to rear silk worms to make silk, which was the main income source of this region. It was the smoke which came out from the fireplace on the first floor and was absorbed by the pillars and beams that protected the building from humidity and insect damage.

The replacing the thatched roof is usually done every 30 to 40 years. When it is done, over 100 villagers come to help the work and finish it in two days. This work-sharing system is called yui, which was used for sharing other farm work, too.

Mar. 1 News, from NILS Japanese language school.