Have you ever heard the term Toto Road?
The road that transported fresh fish (toto) from Kanihara in Kasaoka City to the copper mine in Fukiya (Takahashi City), which was flourishing at the time, is called the "Toto Road." It took about 12 hours to traverse the steep mountain paths over a distance of 60 km.
Since last year (2024), the author has been participating in the Yakage Oral History Group, engaging in activities to preserve the history, culture, lifestyle, and customs by listening to local residents.
Mr. Kaneko Haruhiko, the secretary-general of the Bichu Toto Road Trail Promotion Council, who agreed to an interview, is also a member of the Yakage Oral History Group. From Mr. Kaneko, who speaks about the Toto Road, the overflowing enthusiasm and passion were conveyed.
As I spoke with Mr. Kaneko, I began to think, "I want to know more about the Toto Road" and "I want many people to know about the Toto Road," so I listened to him again.
What is the Bichu Toto Road Trail Promotion Council?
The activities of the "Bichu Toto Road Trail Promotion Council" started in 2016 when local historians who were independently researching the Toto Road in various regions came together.
Later, in 2020, the "Bichu Toto Road Trail Promotion Council" was established for the maintenance and utilization of the Toto Road.
The main activities of the Bichu Toto Road Trail Promotion Council are as follows:
- Toto Road Walk Event (from December to around May of the following year)
- Creation and installation of signposts
- Introduction of the Toto Road at symposiums and other public relations activities
- Outreach classes to convey the Toto Road to elementary and junior high school students
- Grass cutting along the Toto Road (around November) due to overgrowth in summer
After four years of activities since the council's formation, the achievements were recognized, and the "Bichu Toto Road" was certified as a "Dream Road Renaissance" by the Chugoku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in February 2024, and registered as a "Project Future Heritage 2023" by the Japan UNESCO Association in March 2024.
What is the "Bichu Toto Road Trail"?
This article explains the "Bichu Toto Road Trail" introduced here.
From the Meiji to early Showa period, Fukiya (now Takahashi City) was bustling with the production of copper and bengara. The Toto Road was used to deliver fresh seafood from the Seto Inland Sea served at night banquets in Fukiya. It was called the Toto Road because it transported "toto," which means fish.
The route of the Toto Road goes almost straight north from Kanihara (now Kasaoka City) to Fukiya, covering about 60 km. Along the way, there were reportedly many places that passed through steep slopes and near cliffs.
At 9 PM, a group called Uonakase, which transported fish, would set out with fresh fish auctioned at Kanihara Fish Market in the evening, placed in bamboo baskets and suspended from both ends of a carrying pole. The weight was about 40 kg.
The fresh fish would arrive in Fukiya about 12 hours after departing from Kanihara, at 9 AM. Five to six Uonakase members would relay the transport like a marathon.
As time passed, the method of transportation changed from human power to vehicles and railways.
Since many parts of the Toto Road, which is a dirt path walked by people, were too narrow for vehicles, it gradually disappeared into the forest over time.
The Bichu Toto Road Trail Promotion Council is engaged in activities to excavate and restore this "Toto Road" that has disappeared, redeveloping it as the "Bichu Toto Road Trail" and widely promoting it.
Toto Road Walk Event
The "Toto Road Walk Event" started as a public relations activity to raise awareness of the Toto Road. It is held about four times from December to around May of the following year.
The distance walked in one Toto Road Walk Event is about 20 km, and the representative routes are as follows:
- Kasaoka to Ibara City Bisei Town Miyama
- Ibara City Bisei Town Miyama to Takahashi City Naruse
- Takahashi City Naruse to Takahashi City Fukiya
A major feature of the Toto Road Walk Event is that for 10 km of paved roads and areas densely overgrown with vegetation, participants take a bus to bypass them. Although it's a short time, riding the bus allows for a break, relieving fatigue, and enabling participants to continue walking energetically.
The Bichu Toto Road Trail Promotion Council refers to the method of walking while being accompanied by a bus as "Hybrid Walk." This is a perfect way of walking for seniors.
Participants often express positive feedback, saying things like, "My feet started moving on their own, and I thought I might still be able to walk more."
I spoke with Mr. Kaneko Haruhiko, the secretary-general of the "Bichu Toto Road Trail Promotion Council," about the Toto Road.
Data of the Bichu Toto Road Trail Promotion Council
| Name | Bichu Toto Road Trail Promotion Council |
|---|---|
| Address | 1208-1 Naka, Yakage Town, Okayama Prefecture (Secretary-General's residence) |
| Contact | 080-3390-6935 (Secretary-General's phone) |
| Website | Toto Road |
