Japan tuna town deepens Taiwan ties with sea goddess, eyes tourism boost
AOMORI, Japan (Kyodo) -- The fishing town of Oma in northeastern Japan, famous for its branded tuna, has been deepening its ties with a Taiwanese temp
Aomori, a fishing town in northeastern Japan, is forging stronger connections with a Taiwanese temple through their shared devotion to the Taoist sea goddess Mazu, with the aim of attracting more overseas tourists. The goddess, known as Matsu in Taiwan and Maso or Tempi in Japan, has been revered in Aomori for over three centuries as the guardian of fishermen and sailors. Enshrined jointly in a local Shinto shrine since the Meiji era, the town's unique faith blends Japanese culture with an overseas deity.
Legend has it that Mazu was brought to Aomori in 1696 by Ito Gozaemon, a local leader in marine transportation, from a coastal stronghold in eastern Japan. The fishing town, renowned for its premium Pacific Bluefin tuna, has experienced fluctuations in catch sizes. Annual catches dwindled to a few hundred kilograms for several decades starting in 1986, but they rebounded after the introduction of a Taiwan-style procession for the goddess in 1996, following a donation of a new statue and festival equipment from Beigang Chao-Tian Temple in Taiwan's Yunlin County.
The annual parade and sea festival, held on July 20 this year, was organized to invoke a plentiful catch. Throngs of people, including about 20 representatives from Beigang Chao-Tian Temple, gathered to pray for a bountiful catch amidst fireworks and gongs. A Mazu statue was carried through the town on a float alongside participants in colorful, foreign-style costumes inspired by Mazu-related folk deities.
Yoshinori Omi, head of the Aomori Tourism Association, expressed hope that the goddess would help visitors from abroad and contribute to reviving the town's economy.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
