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34-495: After returning from banishment to the island of Sado , Nichiren returned for a period to Kamakura , the seat of the Kamakura shogunate which ruled Japan at the time. He was invited by the magistrate Nambu Sanenaga, one of his converts, to relocate to Kai province , where the Nanbu clan had its ancestral estates, in 1274. Soon after his arrival Nichiren set up a hermitage that became

68-404: A humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ) with potentially hot, humid summers and cold winters. Precipitation is quite heavy throughout the year. Per Japanese census data, the population of Sado peaked around 1950 and has declined by roughly 60 percent in the decades since. As of May 1, 2017, the island has an estimated population of 55,474. The island of Sado has seen

102-583: A captive program in a facility in Niibo area, and have been released since 2008. The first hatchings in the wild were observed in April 2012. The ibis is a major symbol of the Island and can be found on several tourist items. As of June 2022, approximately 480 crested ibis have been observed making a radical comeback for their species, thanks to conservation efforts. There are many small local traditional festivals, and since 1988

136-501: A central plain. The Ōsado ( 大佐渡 ) range, in the north, is slightly higher, with peaks of Mount Kinpoku ( 金北山 ) , the highest point of the island at 1,172 metres (3,845 ft), Mount Kongō , Mount Myōken, and Mount Donden. Kosado ( 小佐渡 ) range in the south faces the Honshu coast. The highest point in Kosado is Ōjiyama ( 大地山 ) at 645 m. The plain in between is called Kuninaka ( 国中 ) and

170-540: A centre of learning for his disciples and adherents. The original dwelling became too small and in 1281 Nichiren founded a temple nearby, which he named Minobu-san Hokke-in Kuon-ji. More than half of the extant letters of Nichiren were written during his years at Minobu. Some consisted of moving letters to followers expressing appreciation for their assistance, counseling on personal matters, and explaining his teachings in more understandable terms. Two of his works from this period,

204-523: A hot spring. En route, he stopped at the home of a disciple in Ikegami , outside of present-day Tokyo, and died in 1282. Following Nichiren's wishes his ashes were brought to the temple and are enshrined in a mausoleum on the temple grounds. The temple grew in popularity as a place of pilgrimage through the Sengoku and Edo periods , and in 1712 boasted of 133 chapels within its extensive grounds. However, many of

238-498: A joint performance with Kodo and guests. The Sado tourism industry suffered direct (though limited) as well as indirect damage from the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake , as access routes inside Niigata Prefecture were cut. Sado has a large variety of sights to offer. Sado Steam Ship operates two routes connecting to the mainland. Transit bus network all over the island is operated by Niigata Kotsu Kanko Bus. Kyokushin Airways, operating

272-620: A major yearly arts festival, called the Earth Celebration, has been run by the taiko group Kodo . The group lives on the island, touring eight months a year, and in August they invite international artists to collaborate with them at their festival on Sado. Tickets are limited for the three-day weekend event. In recent years, Kodo has made a solo performance on the Friday evening; the festival's invited act plays Saturday night; and Sunday concludes with

306-529: A modern Nichiren Buddhist order, established a Peace Pagoda in the city to help in inspiring people toward world peace . The Noh dramatist Zeami Motokiyo was exiled on unspecified charges in 1434. The last banishment in Sado took place in 1700, almost a millennium after the first. Sado experienced a sudden economic boom during the Edo period when gold was found in 1601 at Aikawa ( 相川 ) . A major source of revenue for

340-614: A short life expectancy. The Sado mine at its peak in the Edo era produced around 400 kilograms (1,100 troy pounds) of gold a year (as well as some silver). The small settlement of Aikawa quickly reached a population of around 100,000. The mine closed in 1989. In feudal Japan , when the Nishimawari naval route was opened in 1672, Ogi (in the South of the Island) became a main stop on this major naval route in

374-401: A steady decline in population since 1950 when the population was 125,597. Similar trends have been common in other remote locations of Japan since World War II as younger generations have moved to more urban areas. As of October 1, 2008, 36.3% of the island population is over 65 years old, which is a larger ratio than the national average. Over 65 is the only increasing age demographic. The island

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408-488: Is mainly based in Ryotsu and Aikawa. Tourism boomed in the beginning of the 1990s and peaked at over 1.2 million yearly visitors, but visitor numbers decreased over the 1990s. In the mid-2000s, the number of visitors was closer to 650,000 per year. Sado is known for a number of Japanese bamboo weaving artists and artisans who are renowned throughout the country. Its rich history and relaxed rural atmosphere make Sado one of

442-423: Is now less populated than it was in the 18th and 19th century. There is no university, and the options for post high school studies, short of leaving and going to the mainland, are limited to a few specialty schools. Agriculture and fishing are major sources of income for Sado. According to the 2000 national census, 22.3% of the workforce was employed in the primary sector and 25% in the secondary sector . Fishing

476-403: Is the most populated area. The Kuninaka plain opens on its eastern side onto Ryōtsu Bay ( 両津湾 ) , and on its western side onto Mano Bay ( 真野湾 ) , where the longest river, Kokufugawa ( 国府川 , also read Konogawa) reaches the sea. The island has a symmetrical shape. Lake Kamo ( 加茂湖 ) , on the eastern side of Kuninaka, is filled with salt water , and is a growing place for oysters . Sado has

510-559: The Mano Goryo mausoleum on the west coast. The Buddhist monk Nichiren lived on Sado close to the present village Niibo in Kuninaka Plain from 1271 to 1274. In the 17th century, Konpon Ji Temple was built at the place where he lived. At the end of his exile, Nichiren lived at the place where Myosho Ji temple was built later. He used to meditate at the place where Jisso Ji Temple can be visited today. In addition, Nipponzan Myohoji ,

544-599: The Sea of Japan between the Kansai area and northern areas of the archipelago. Exiles and shipping in old times both had a major influence on Sado's cultural background. The island is for instance dotted with Noh theaters, and the local Japanese dialect and accent are different from those of Niigata. A few months after World War II, on 18 January 1946, a Douglas Dakota (C-47) Sister Ann in British RAF service made an emergency landing on

578-875: The Senji Shō (撰時抄: "The Selection of the Time") and the Hōon Shō (報恩抄: "On Repaying Debts of Gratitude") constitute, along with his Risshō Ankoku Ron (立正安国論: "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"), Kaimoku Shō ("The Opening of the Eyes"), and Kanjin no Honzon Shō ("The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind"), what is commonly regarded as his five major writings. In 1282, Nichiren fell ill and his followers encouraged him to travel to

612-638: The Tokugawa shogunate , the mines were worked in very severe conditions. A manpower shortage led to a second wave of "exiles" coming to Sado, although this time it was not imposed as a sentence for a committed crime. By sending homeless people (the number of whom was growing in Japanese cities at the time) to Sado from the 18th century, the Shogunate hoped to kill two birds with one stone. The homeless were sent as water collectors and worked in extremely hard conditions, with

646-414: The shogun to oversee one or more of the provinces of Japan . The position gave way to the emergence of the daimyo (military feudal lords) in the late 15th century, as shugo began to claim power over lands themselves, rather than serving simply as governors on behalf of the shogunate. The post is said to have been created in 1185 by shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo to aid the capture of Yoshitsune , with

680-494: The shugodai , while others strengthened their grip on their territories. As a result, at the end of the 15th century, the beginning of the Sengoku period , the power in the country was divided amongst military lords of various kinds ( shugo , shugodai , and others), who came to be called daimyōs . Below is a list of some of the major clans that produced shugos and daimyōs during the Muromachi era and Sengoku period, as well as

714-498: The 20th century, a series of mergers steadily reduced the number of political local authorities, following the recent trend in Japan to cut the costs of having separately run local administrations. The current city ( 市 ) covering the whole island was established on March 1, 2004 from a merger of all remaining municipalities on the island: the city of Ryōtsu : the towns of Aikawa , Kanai , Sawata , Hatano , Mano , Hamochi and Ogi ; and

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748-560: The South of the island demonstrate that Sado was populated as early as the Jōmon period . The Nihon Shoki mentions that Mishihase people visited the island in 544 (although it is unknown whether Tungusic people effectively came). The island formed a distinct province , the Sado Province , separate from the Echigo province on Honshū, at the beginning of the 8th century. At first, the province

782-556: The additional motivation of extending the rule of the Minamoto shogunate government throughout Japan. The shugo (military governors) progressively supplanted the existing kokushi (civil governors), who were appointed by the Imperial Court in Kyoto . Officially, the gokenin in each province were supposed to serve the shugo , but in practice, the relationship between them was fragile, as

816-526: The discovery of gold on the island, the shogunate took direct control of the island. The island was for a short time an independent prefecture , called the Aikawa prefecture, between 1871 and 1876, during the Meiji era . It then became a part of Niigata Prefecture , which it is still as of today. At the end of the 19th century, there were three districts ( 郡 ), seven towns ( 町 ), and 51 villages ( 村 ). During

850-556: The entire island, although not all of its total area is urbanized. Sado is the sixth largest island of Japan in area following the four main islands and Okinawa Island (excluding the Northern Territories ). As of June 1, 2023, the city has an estimated population of 48,195 and a population density of 56.3 inhabitants per square kilometre (146/sq mi). The total area is 855.69 square kilometres (330.38 sq mi). The large number of pottery artifacts found near Ogi in

884-527: The gokenin were vassals of the shōgun as well. Shugo often stayed for long periods in the capital, far from their province, and were sometimes appointed shugo for several provinces at the same time. In such cases, a deputy shugo , or shugodai (守護代), was appointed. Over time, the powers of some shugo grew considerably. Around the time of the Ōnin War (1467–1477), conflicts between shugo became common. Some shugo lost their powers to subordinates such as

918-480: The hundred-year-old weeping cherry tree in the garden, also makes this temple a popular tourist destination On May 10, 2018, 19 buildings of Kuon-ji were designated as Registered tangible cultural properties . Sado, Niigata Sado ( 佐渡市 , Sado-shi ) is a city located on Sado Island ( 佐渡島 , Sado-shima/Sado-ga-shima ) in Niigata Prefecture , Japan . Since 2004, the city has comprised

952-433: The island. The locals helped in the recovery and building a runway for it to depart, the story of which was made into a film named Tobe! Dakota ( Fly, Dakota, Fly! ) with the film's Dakota made into an island exhibit. The story of the events leading up to the crash were also made into a film, The Night My Number Came Up . The island consists of two parallel mountain ranges running roughly southwest–northeast, enclosing

986-406: The major tourist destinations in Niigata Prefecture . The island has several temples and historical ruins, and offers possibilities for various outdoor activities, as well as fresh local food. Sado is famous as the major breeding area for the Japanese crested ibis . The last known Japan-born Japanese crested ibis died in captivity in 2003 on the island. Currently, birds from China are being bred in

1020-459: The route to Niigata, ceased its operations in September 2008. New Japan Aviation operated three or four flights daily to Sado Airport , but service to the airport was suspended indefinitely in April 2014. Shugo Shugo ( 守護 ) , commonly translated as '[military] governor', 'protector', or 'constable', was a title given to certain officials in feudal Japan . They were each appointed by

1054-446: The temple's buildings were destroyed in fires which occurred in 1744, 1776, 1821, 1824, 1829, 1865, and 1875. The present-day temple remains a very large establishment. Over 1.5 million people visit the temple annually. It is reached by bus or car and then climbing the 287 steps known locally as "the steps of enlightenment", which are climbed by chanting pilgrims regularly each year. The blossoming of thousands of cherry trees , including

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1088-477: The villages of Niibo , and Akadomari (all from Sado District ). When direct control from mainland Japan started around the 8th century, the island's remoteness meant that it soon became a place of banishment for difficult or inconvenient Japanese figures. Exile to remote locations such as Sado was a very serious punishment, second only to the death penalty, and people were not expected to return. The earliest known dissident to be condemned to exile on Sadogashima

1122-451: Was a poet, Hozumi no Asomi Oyu ( 穂積朝臣老 ) . He was sent to the island in 722, reportedly for having criticized the emperor. The former Emperor Juntoku was sent to Sado after his role in the Jōkyū War of 1221. The disgraced emperor survived twenty years on the island before his death; and because he was sent to Sado, this emperor is known posthumously as Sado-no-in ( 佐渡院 ) . He is buried in

1156-495: Was a single gun (district), but was later divided into three gun : Sawata, Hamochi and Kamo. In 1185, the designated representative Shugo for Sado, Osaragi , appointed Honma Yoshihisa as his shugodai (delegate) for the province. The rule of the Honma clan on Sado lasted until Uesugi Kagekatsu took control of the island in 1589. After the defeat of the Uesugi at Sekigahara , and

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