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Narration:Fukuoka
continues to flourish as the largest city in Kyushu. Because
of its surprisingly long history, Fukuoka has a number of
ruins and historic sites that are valuable to Japanese history.
Reporter:
In this episode and the next, we’re going to be retracing
the path of Fukuoka’s history.
Narration:This
is the Itazuke ruins near Fukuoka Airport. A moat-encircled
village dating back to the fourth century B.C. has been
excavated here..
Narration:What
are the special features of the Itazuke ruins?
Mr.
Sato: They’re famous for the remains
of the oldest rice paddies in Japan. The rice fields surrounded
the moat-encircled village.
Narration:In
1978, a rice paddy with furrows and a water gate was discovered
just outside the moat.
Narration:Wow...,
you can easily visualize the landscape back then!
Mr.
Sato: You're right. The people surrounded
their village with a moat that was six meters wide and three
meters deep in order to keep intruders out.
Mr.
Sato: Rice cultivation allowed them
to stock up on food, thus contributing to the shift from
a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to an agricultural society.
But it also created a gap between rich and poor. Those who
accumulated wealth started to integrate, and gradually formed
a toparchy.
Narration:A
number of interesting articles have been excavated at the
Itazuke ruins.
Mr.
Sato: This is an Ishi-bocho (stone
knife), which was used to harvest individual ears of rice.
This tool was used to cut wood and to create various articles.
Similar stone axes and chisels have been unearthed in Korea,
suggesting that these tools came together with rice growing
techniques from the continent.
Narration:
The next site we visited was the Kanenokuma ruins, approximately
2km from the Itazuke ruins.
Narration:
This site looks quite different from the previous one. What
kind of place is it?
Narration:
Kanenokuma features tomb ruins, rather than a village.
Narration:
About 450 Kamekanbo (Pottery) tombs and Mokkanbo (Wooden
) tombs dating back to the Yaoyoi Period have been unearthed
from the Kanenokuma ruins.
Reporter:
These are human remains. Are these from the Yayoi Period
as well?
Mr.
Sato: That's right.
Reporter:
Are these real?
Mr.
Sato: Yes. The characteristics of
the bones help us understand our roots.
Reporter:
What do you mean by roots?
Mr.
Sato: Compared to the Jomon people
(original inhabitants), these people were taller. Adults
were about 160cm, and their facial features were less defined.
Narration:
Since these characteristics are quite different from the
Jomon people, they're probably Yayoi people from the continent
who brought rice-farming culture.
Mr.
Sato: Can you guess what this is?
Reporter:
It's something that's been excavated, right?
Mr.
Sato: This is Kaiwa, a bracelet made
from seashell. It was probably worn by someone with power
as a status symbol.
Reporter:
What kind of shell is it?
Mr.
Sato: It's a Heavy Frog Conch (Strombus
latissimus) harvested around islands southwest of Tanegashima.
Tanegashima is an island lying off the southeast edge of
Kyushu.
Reporter:
So a seashell that is not found in Fukuoka has been unearthed?
Mr.
Sato: That's right. It was probably
brought here through trade with the Ryukyu Islands.
Reporter:
People were already engaged in commerce back then?
Mr.
Sato: Yes.
Reporter:
Hmmm....
Reporter:
Here I am at Kin-in Park at Shikanoshima. That's right,
this is where that famous gold seal was discovered.
Narration:
A local farmer found the gold seal in 1784. Measuring only
2.3-centimeter-square, its inscription suggests that it
was a gift presented by Emperor Guangwu of Han Dynasty to
the Japanese Na King in 57 A.D.
Reporter:
Since it was discovered here, does this mean that the area
around here was part of the Na state?
Mr.
Sato: Yes, you can say that. The
center of the state was where the present Kasuga City is,
but a number of toparchies scattered around Fukuoka city
comprised the Na state.
Reporter:
Fukuoka enjoyed exchange with the continent even before
the dawn of history. Due to its geographical proximity with
the continent, it served as a gateway to the rest of Asia.
Narration:
Now, if you hop onto a high-speed ferry it only takes 3
hours to reach Korea. People of both countries still cross
the border carrying on the long history of exchange.
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