Why You Ought to Go to this Revolutionary Metropolis in Japan

In the event you sense a little bit of magic within the air while you go to Hamamatsu (浜松市) in Shizuoka Prefecture, it isn’t simply your creativeness. The spirit of “Yaramaika” is woven into the material of Hamamatsu’s historical past and tradition, a catalyst for the leaps of innovation the businesses based on this metropolis have been impressed by.

Yaramaika (やらまいか) is a phrase within the native dialect that symbolizes the entrepreneurial spirit of the area: “Let’s do it anyway!” In distinction to the widely cautious strategy to alter and innovation that Japan is thought for, Hamamatsu firms usually tend to leap earlier than they appear in the event that they sense a chance is at hand. And maybe all of it goes again to the person who took momentous dangers and was rewarded by changing into the Shogun who lastly united the nation of Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu.

The Rise of Japan’s First Shogun & Hamamatsu’s Historical past of Innovation

Tokugawa Ieyasu spent a lot of his early grownup life at Hamamatsu Fort, inbuilt 1570 to defend towards the mighty military of legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. It was from this fort the place Tokugawa’s abilities as a warlord had been honed and examined by the power of Takeda’s forces, maybe paving the way in which for him to change into Shogun years later.

Tokugawa commanded a formidable military, however not one that would conquer all of Japan by power. For that, he wanted to make daring choices; the fallacious selections may price him his political profession, to say nothing of his life. However Tokugawa’s willingness to take dangers helped him strengthen his base till he was highly effective sufficient to defeat all his challengers and be named Shogun in 1603, the beginning of the Edo Interval.

As soon as peace was established in Japan underneath the Tokugawa clan, Hamamatsu grew to become an essential submit city alongside the Tokaido Highway, roughly mid-way between Kyoto and Edo (present-day Tokyo) and the most important within the area. With hundreds of vacationers passing by usually, commerce grew across the space to supply for his or her wants, and the inspiration for a big and productive metropolis was constructed.

Digital Devices, Grand Pianos, & Different Devices within the “Metropolis of Music”

But it wasn’t till the Edo Interval ended that Hamamatsu realized its full potential as a middle of trade and innovation. In 1887, Yamaha Torakusu constructed the primary domestically produced reed organ and, ten years later, established the corporate that will later change into often known as Yamaha Company. Quickly, Yamaha started producing quite a lot of musical devices and sports activities tools, main the way in which in applied sciences corresponding to digital synthesizers and creating new supplies and designs for tennis rackets and skis. At Yamaha Innovation Highway, guests can’t solely see and contact quite a lot of merchandise made by Yamaha by the many years, however musicians can play nearly any of Yamaha’s lineup of musical devices. You probably have ever needed to expertise taking part in a live performance corridor grand piano or the distinctive “silent violin,” you’ll have your probability at this location.

Hamamatsu is residence to numerous musical instrument producers together with Kawai, synonymous with live performance corridor grand pianos and different keyboard devices, and Roland, a number one producer of synthesizers and different digital musical devices.

The presence of those giants of the musical instrument trade has given Hamamatsu the well-earned nickname “Metropolis of Music,” which they’ve totally embraced. Look carefully across the metropolis, and also you’ll discover the musical theme operating by the decor, promoting, and, some even say, the town’s structure.

Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, and the Origins of Japan’s Bike and Vehicle Trade in Hamamatsu

However musical devices will not be the one merchandise wherein Hamamatsu has contributed to technological innovation. Suzuki, Honda, and Yamaha, world-class producers of bikes and cars, originated in Hamamatsu as effectively.

Since its basis in 1909, Suzuki has at all times been keen about manufacturing from the shopper’s perspective underneath the slogan “Merchandise with Worth”. It grew to become a longtime loom producer in 1920, and later in 1952, the corporate expanded into transportation tools, creating a motorbike with a small engine mounted on a bicycle. In 1955, it launched the extremely profitable Suzulight, a passenger automobile that pioneered the way in which for mild vehicles.

Since then, Suzuki has by no means appeared again, changing into one of many largest car producers on this planet with manufacturing services across the globe. As we speak, guests to Hamamatsu can go to Suzuki Plaza, with an unimaginable assortment of classic and trendy Suzuki bikes, vehicles, and different merchandise organized like a strolling timeline. On one other flooring, you possibly can see a re-creation of the Suzuki manufacturing flooring for automobile manufacturing and study the main points of every step of the manufacturing course of.

Honda Soichiro based Honda Technical Analysis Institute in 1946 to fabricate and promote motorized bicycles. This later grew to become Honda Motor Firm in 1948 and subsequently developed and offered quite a lot of bikes and cars, changing into one of many world’s largest motorbike and car producers. Soichiro Honda’s hometown of Futamata-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu Metropolis, is residence to the Honda Soichiro Craftsmanship Heart, a small museum devoted to the progressive achievements of this well-known Hamamatsu native. The museum shows a chronological report of Soichiro Honda’s life and the corporate’s manufacturing historical past, in addition to images and early bikes.

Yamaha entered the motorbike enterprise within the Nineteen Fifties when it established Yamaha Motor Co. in 1955 as an impartial entity from its mother or father firm. 1955 introduced nice consideration to the corporate when a Yamaha motorbike gained a home motorbike race. Since then, Yamaha Motor Co. has manufactured all kinds of bikes and has change into a world-class producer. As we speak, the corporate has greater than 20 subsidiaries worldwide.

How the Spirit of Innovation Thrives in Hamamatsu

The Yaramaika spirit of Hamamatsu isn’t solely restricted to its largest companies. You’ll discover that very same “can do” confidence within the folks of Hamamatsu, from historic figures to modern-day entrepreneurs.

Akino Fuku Museum: An Architecturally Distinctive Artwork Museum of Cedar Wooden and Plaster

The Akino Fuku Museum is an architecturally peculiar museum is perched on a hillside of Hamamatsu’s Tenryu Ward, the place the artist Akino Fuku was born in 1908. Akino’s love for artwork drew her to journey overseas extensively, even accepting a place as a visiting professor at Visva-Bharati College in India on the age of 54. Akino drew inspiration from her travels from areas corresponding to India, Afghanistan, Cambodia, and Africa and integrated them into her Japanese artwork. 

Akino continuously challenged the established order of conventional Japanese artwork, and her efforts had been acknowledged in 1999 when she acquired the distinguished Order of Cultural Benefit award. Guests can benefit from the distinctive structure and constructing supplies that make up the power itself, with wealthy textures of Tenryu cedar wooden and tough plaster that Akino herself would have cherished. The expertise of the pure textures is enhanced by the truth that you need to take away your sneakers while you enter the exhibition areas and stroll on the rattan and marble flooring. A rotation of many examples of Akino’s work is rotated by the museum usually.

Enami Farm: Makers of Award-Profitable Marmalade

With its many days of sunshine, Hamamatsu is thought for rising scrumptious citrus fruits. Enami Farm has taken full benefit of the blessings of nature to create an award-winning choice of marmalade acknowledged worldwide. Enami Farm cultivates and processes its personal herbicide-free citrus or purchases fruit immediately from farmers they know and belief, sustaining full management over the manufacturing course of and making certain no components to their product.

Whereas many marmalades are made utilizing citruses bred for sweetness, Enami Farm makes use of citrus fruit from their authentic species, giving them a taste that’s true to the kind of fruit from which the marmalade is derived. The outcomes converse for themselves, with numerous sorts of Enami Farm marmalade successful medals on the Marmalade World Competitors within the UK, together with at the very least one gold medal for the previous six consecutive years.

Nukumori Koubou: Tote Luggage, Slippers, Kimono, & Different Cotton Textiles

The manufacturing of cotton material started within the Hamamatsu space within the Edo Interval, however the manufacturing of the ability loom by Toyota and the native Suzuki firms made Hamamatsu a middle for cotton textile manufacturing within the early to the mid-Twentieth century. The Enshu area, which incorporates Hamamatsu, has an ideal local weather for rising cotton, so Hamamatsu was blessed with uncooked supplies and the expertise for producing cotton material.

Though international competitors has considerably impacted cotton textile manufacturing in Japan, Nukumori Koubou is likely one of the firms conserving this Japanese heritage alive and effectively in Hamamatsu. Often known as Enshu Males Tsumugi (遠州綿紬), cotton material with an irregular pure texture, Nukumori produces over 150 lovely striped and stable patterned materials that can be utilized to create enticing on a regular basis objects, from tote baggage to slippers to kimono. They use conventional and trendy manufacturing strategies perfected in Hamamatsu which are changing into rarer and extra valuable by the 12 months.

A go to to Nukumori’s headquarters is a deal with for craft and textile lovers, with many articles of clothes and home goods made out of their material. Even should you can’t make it to their headquarters, you’ll discover Nukumori merchandise on sale at luxurious motels like Hoshino Resorts Kai Enshu or “Fingers” (previously Tokyu Fingers) in Entetsu Division Retailer close to Hamamatsu Station.

Shunkado: Unagipie, Swanky Dessert Eating places, & Impressed Design

Whereas many individuals don’t know Shunkado by title, they actually understand it by its hottest product: Unagipie. Much less of a pie than an elongated baked pastry, this candy and addictive deal with is made with actual unagi eel powder blended into the dough, though you’d be forgiven should you didn’t acknowledge its very refined taste.

Unagi is a specialty of Hamamatsu’s Lake Hamana, so it’s only pure this stunning ingredient has discovered its approach into this native firm’s snack. However Shunkado’s dessert-making repertoire goes effectively past eel-flavored pastries, and their full line of merchandise could be found (and tasted) at two distinctive services: SWEETS BANK and nicoe.

Immediately recognizable by its form: a set of services beneath a set of big desks and chairs, SWEETS BANK is each a swanky dessert restaurant, store and a department of Hamamatsu’s Iwata Shinkin Financial institution. The trendy artwork aptitude of SWEETS BANK and the inventive takes on desserts utilizing Shinkado’s merchandise make it a well-liked vacation spot for locals and vacationers. Nicoe payments itself as a middle for neighborhood within the Hamakita neighborhood, punctuated by loads of area for youngsters and their adults to take pleasure in, each indoors and out. The ability is a collaboration of creators within the structure, design, and meals industries and the cheerful design evokes guests to benefit from the relaxed environment of Hamamatsu, together with some scrumptious meals, in fact! In contrast to SWEETS BANK, nicoe isn’t centered solely on sweets; the restaurant right here serve wholesome and scrumptious meals that assist resolve the guilt of following your meal with a Shunkado-inspired dessert.

Tenryu Hamanako Railroad: An Evangelion-Themed Practice & Beautiful Seasonal Views

Whereas a lot of Japan is serviced by one of many regional firms making up the community of Japan Railway, there are nonetheless personal rail firms offering distinctive manufacturers of service to coach passengers. Tenryu Hamanako Railroad line, also referred to as Tenhama, connecting a few of Hamamatsu’s most beloved vacationer locations with eye-popping views of the world’s pure magnificence alongside the route.

The Tenhama Line connects Kakegawa, with its picturesque picket fort tower, within the east to the Shinjyohara on the western aspect of Lake Hamana within the west. Alongside the way in which, the road passes rows of pink-blossomed cherry bushes within the spring, lush rice paddies and tea fields in the summertime, pink spider lilies and maple bushes within the autumn, and crystal clear views alongside the Lake Hamana lakefront within the winter.

You may get off the prepare at well-liked stations corresponding to Fruit Park, residence of the Hamamatsu Fruit Park the place guests can take pleasure in picnicking and fruit selecting, and Kiga, the situation of the Kiga checkpoint alongside the previous Tokaido Highway from Japan’s Edo Interval.

The Tenhama Line doesn’t simply depend on the scenic magnificence and attention-grabbing locations to maintain it well-liked with prepare lovers. The corporate is continually dreaming up new methods to collaborate with firms and media to make their trains extra enjoyable. Followers of the Evangelion anime collection will likely be delighted to experience the Evangelion-themed prepare and go to Tenryu-Futamata Station, which was featured not too long ago in an Evangelion animated movie. Followers will discover Evangelion-themed items on sale at numerous stations alongside the road.

Get to Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu is so near Tokyo and Kyoto by bullet prepare, it makes an amazing addition to your itinerary should you occur to be staying in both of these cities. To Hamamatsu Station, it takes roughly 1.5 hours from Tokyo and one hour from Kyoto. In the event you occur to be utilizing the Japan Rail Go, a cease in Hamamatsu between Tokyo and Kyoto actually prices you nothing. 

From its days as a house base for a future Shogun to its frenetic growth as a metropolis of music and motor autos to the present-day innovation of native companies and artists, the thread of innovation runs lengthy in Hamamatsu, woven by historical past and tradition. For guests to Japan, Hamamatsu is a chance to see innovation in motion and benefit from the lovely and attention-grabbing sights of Hamamatsu in mild of its distinctive historical past.

Sponsored by: Hamamatsu Metropolis