Chestnut plantation in Obuse
In the Muromachi period (1392 - 1573), Ogino Jorin, who came to this area as the lord of Karida-yama Castle, planted young chestnuts trees, sent from Tamba (present day Kyoto). It is said that this is the origin of Obuse chestnuts. Most of the plantation area is situated on the fan delta of the Matsu-kawa River. A large percentage of iron sulfide contained in the river doesn't allow any fish to live. Moreover, this acid river often cause trouble by flooding. The lord Jorin noticed that the soil would be good for chestnut plantation even if it is unsuitable for rice, barley, and other crops. Later, this site, which grew to be a major producer of chestnuts, was designated as a land under the direct control of the government. The chestnuts, which grew to have an excellent quality, were especially selected to present to the Shogun family. When Sakurai Ikuemon of Shio-ya Store started to make chestnuts rakugan (a dried sweet snack), many followed his example to produce sweet snacks made of chestnuts. Some wealthy farmers and merchants, who prospered from the production and trade of rapeseed oil and cotton, invited cultured people such as Katushika Hokusai (an ukiyo-e painter) and Kobayashi Issa (a haiku poet) to entertain them with chestnut sweets. This also increased the demand. Since then, the chestnut industry has been a major local industry in Obuse.
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