Station Ride’s Historical Tour Successfully Completed

We completed a bicycle tour around the Awa region on Saturday despite the cold weather. We were grateful for the warmth of the participants. According to history, in ancient times, the people of Awa from Shikoku took the Kuroshio sea route and landed in Mera, where they built the Awa Shrine to worship their ancestors. Over time, the Awa area developed a unique maritime culture, and during the Meiji period, Mera became renowned for tuna longline fishing. Shigeru Aoki's paintings, which depict the vibrant scenery of the fishing village, were the first Western paintings to be designated as important cultural properties in Japan. The "Monterey Maiwai," a fisherman's Kimono given to abalone fishermen who celebrated their big catch in Monterey, America, was recently restored. Chikura and Monterey have a long history of exchange, and the Awa region's maritime culture is fascinating and diverse. The locals find the bicycle tour highly interesting, and we look forward to doing it again.