{"id":1006,"date":"2024-02-21T00:35:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T15:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maplat.jp\/?p=1006"},"modified":"2026-05-14T14:42:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T05:42:39","slug":"%e5%b1%b1%e5%bd%a2%e5%b8%82-%e3%81%aa%e3%81%aa%e3%81%af%e3%81%8f%ef%bc%812024%e3%82%bd%e3%83%bc%e3%83%ac%e3%81%ab%e5%8f%82%e5%8a%a0%e3%81%97%e3%81%be%e3%81%97%e3%81%9f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maplat.jp\/en\/2024\/%e5%b1%b1%e5%bd%a2%e5%b8%82-%e3%81%aa%e3%81%aa%e3%81%af%e3%81%8f%ef%bc%812024%e3%82%bd%e3%83%bc%e3%83%ac%e3%81%ab%e5%8f%82%e5%8a%a0%e3%81%97%e3%81%be%e3%81%97%e3%81%9f\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting \u201cNanahaku! 2024 Sol\u00e9\u201d in Yamagata"},"content":{"rendered":"

As mentioned in our case studies<\/a>, Code for History collaborates with Yamagata University\u2019s Yamagata Archive<\/i><\/span> project<\/a> through our historical map application, Maplat.<\/p>\n

The people behind the Yamagata Archive are also part of a local group called Machi no Kioku o Nokoshitai<\/i><\/span><\/a> (\u201cThe Team Preserving the Town\u2019s Memories\u201d), which organizes an event called Nanahaku!<\/i><\/span> every February and September. The event explores the history of Nanokamachi, a historic district in Yamagata City.<\/p>\n

This February\u2019s edition, Nanahaku! 2024 Sol\u00e9<\/i><\/span><\/a>, was held over three days from February 16 to 18, and I went to visit.<\/p>\n

Last February, I was able to experience Yamagata as a true snowy northern city, but this year there was almost no snow at all, perhaps because of the unusually warm winter.<\/p>\n

At first, I was disappointed not to see the dramatic snow scenery that had amazed me the year before. But after spending three days there, I realized the lack of snow made a different kind of trip possible. Thanks to a very convenient bicycle rental system that allowed bikes to be returned at different ports around the city, I was able to travel several kilometers out into the suburbs \u2014 something that would have been difficult in heavy snow.<\/p>\n

Nanahaku Exhibitions<\/h3>\n

Central Community Center<\/h4>\n

Panels throughout the venue introduced the history of the city as researched and documented by university students, covering topics such as Yamagata\u2019s modern history, the history of its geisha districts, and oral histories about how local communities endured the COVID era.<\/p>\n

Apparently there had also been a concert or lecture nearby, which brought in many additional visitors. The exhibition space was lively and crowded throughout the event.<\/p>\n

One particularly striking improvement this year involved the historical maps. In previous years they had been displayed vertically on wall panels, but this time they were enlarged to nearly A0 size and laid out on the floor. Previously, visitors may only have glanced casually at the maps because the details were difficult to see. This year, however, many people sat down to study the fine details carefully, even walking between maps to compare them side by side. I found myself doing exactly the same.<\/p>\n

Each map also included QR codes so visitors could zoom in further on their smartphones, and one exhibit even used AR to display the grave of Brony-kun, a famous local seal. The combination of historical materials with modern digital technology made the exhibition especially engaging.<\/p>\n

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\"\u6700\u4e0a\u6642\u4ee3\u5c71\u5f62\u57ce\u4e0b\u7d75\u56f3\"<\/a>\n
Map of Yamagata Castle Town During the Mogami Period<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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\"\u7fbd\u5dde\u5c71\u5f62\u57ce\u4e0b\u7d75\u56f3\"<\/a><\/figure>\nIllustrated Map of Yamagata Castle Town in Dewa Province<\/div>\n
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\"\u30d6\u30ed\u30cb\u30fc\u541b\u306e\u5893AR\"<\/a><\/figure>\nAR Display of Brony-kun\u2019s Grave<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Juichiya Second Floor<\/h4>\n

On the second floor of Juichiya<\/a>, a long-established confectionery shop beloved in the area, there was a special exhibition focusing on the Yamagata Five Canals (Yamagata Goseki<\/i><\/span>).<\/p>\n

One highlight was an oral history interview with Mr. Yuki, who led the redevelopment of Gotenzeki Canal. Listening to him, I felt strongly that preserving history is important not only as an act of documenting the past, but also as something connected to the future we ourselves continue to create. Towns blessed with people who think this way \u2014 and with communities that support them \u2014 feel remarkably strong.<\/p>\n

There was also a \u201cYamagata Five Canals Highlights Map.\u201d Coincidentally, I had previously delivered a similar waterside heritage display system for a special exhibition at the National Museum of Japanese History<\/a> in Sakura City. (The system was later relocated to Rekishiina Historical Exchange Museum in Masuda City<\/a> and is scheduled for public web release soon.) Seeing this exhibit made me think it would be wonderful to create a similar system tailored for the Yamagata canals as well.<\/p>\n

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\"\u7d50\u57ce\u3055\u3093\u30aa\u30fc\u30e9\u30eb\u30d2\u30b9\u30c8\u30ea\u30fc\"<\/a><\/figure>\nOral History Interview with Mr. Yuki<\/div>\n
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\"\u5fa1\u6bbf\u5830\u518d\u958b\u767a\u306e\u6b74\u53f2\u5199\u771f\"<\/a><\/figure>\nHistorical Photos of the Gotenzeki Redevelopment<\/div>\n
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\"\u5c71\u5f62\u4e94\u5830\u898b\u3069\u3053\u308d\u30de\u30c3\u30d7\"<\/a><\/figure>\nYamagata Five Canals Highlights Map<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Presentations and Discussions<\/h3>\n

\u201cMachi no Kioku o Nokoshitai\u201d Presentations<\/h4>\n

On February 17, Yamagata University students presented their research activities as part of the Machi no Kioku o Nokoshitai<\/i><\/span> project. The morning session consisted of formal presentations, while the afternoon was held as an open discussion with audience participation.<\/p>\n