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19 — BOOKS
Further Reading
Books for getting to know Hida's history and people more deeply: a record of the mill girls who crossed the pass, a fantasy novel set on a Hida mountain road, an epic novel in which a Hida shrine appears, a book exploring Enku's Buddhas, a coming-of-age mystery modelled on Takayama, and a book on observing the universe underground. For before your trip, and after it.
Tales of passes and mountain roads
Ah, Nomugi Pass: A Sad History of the Silk-Mill Girls (Aa Nomugi Toge: Aru Seishi Kojo Aishi)
The girls of Hida who crossed Nomugi Pass to work in the silk mills of Shinshu. A work of non-fiction, based on interviews with former mill girls, that portrays both their hardship and their pride (the Pass room).
The Holy Man of Mount Koya (Koya Hijiri)
A fantasy novel in which a travelling monk meets a mysterious woman on a mountain road leading from Hida to Shinshu. It conveys the atmosphere of Hida's deep mountains as portrayed by a Meiji-era writer.
Before the Dawn (Yoake Mae)
An epic novel set in Kiso from the end of the shogunate into the Meiji era. Toson's father, the model for its hero, served as chief priest of Hida Ichinomiya Minashi Shrine in the early Meiji years, and his days in Hida also appear in the novel (the Legends room).
Faith and prayer
Enku Rejoicing (Kanki suru Enku)
A philosopher traces Enku's life and his many Buddhist statues, exploring the secrets of his prayer and his art. Enku statues that remain in Hida are also covered (the Faith room).
Youth in Takayama, and the universe underground
Hyouka
The first volume of the "Classic Literature Club" series, coming-of-age mysteries set in a high-school classics club. "Kamiyama City", where the story takes place, is said to be modelled on Takayama, and scenes recalling its festivals and townscape appear in the series.
Dream of Neutrinos (Neutrino no Yume)
The physicist who captured supernova neutrinos with Kamiokande and won the Nobel Prize talks to young readers about his research and his life (the Kamioka room).
* Publishers and editions listed are representative. Availability may change if titles go out of print or new editions are released.