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Traditional Industries and Local Industries
Rooted in the Local Society |
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Industries based
on local resources and historical background are regarded
as "traditional industries" or "local industries".
Various such industries havesupported Oita's local economy,
such as the brewing or distilling industries passed down
from prewar days as traditional industries, or the cement
industry and shipbuilding industry which are part of the
local industries. Even though current trends are changing
the industrial structure rapidly, these local industries
and traditional industries are still rooted in the local
society.
Hita City has an excellent cedar plantation in the mountains
and has prospered with the production of cedar products
since the day of the Shogunal demesne in the Edo era.
However, it is still considered a newcomer in the field
of furniture manufacturing when it comes to the furniture
producing history. Furniture with wooden legs, including
sofa and coffee table sets, dining tables and chairs have
been manufactured in Hita, and the area has grown as a
furniture-producing center since 1955. 44% of the total
furniture products shipmentfrom Oita Prefecture is made
up of Hita City products.
Oita is proud to have Japan's largest output of bamboo.
It is said that the production of bamboo crafts in Beppu
City and its outskirts began in the Muromachi period (1338-1573),
and this industry has created delicate bamboo crafts with
fine local bamboo and are in high demand as souvenirs
for tourists. "Beppu Bamboo Craft" was appointed
as the national "Traditional Craft" in 1979.
Also this bamboo craft is one of Beppu's One Village One
Product items whose annual sales is over one billion yen.
There is a wide range of products including more than
3,000 items such as tableware, accessories, folk toys,
and traditional flower vases and baskets weaved using
traditional techniques. |
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Local Industries Enrich the Local Society |
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Based on the rich natural pure water available here, brewing or distilling industries are flourishing in every part of Oita Prefecture, and it is almost impossible to count the number of breweries. In particular, "mugi shochu" or barley distilled spirits produced in Usa and Hiji enjoys much popularity because of its soft taste, and the "Shochu boom" began around 1985 with it. "Mugi shochu" brought about an improved image of "shochu" as something that is fresh and cool. Oita's "mugi shochu" is one of the national brands, like the sweet potato shochu of Kagoshima, buckwheat shochu of Miyazaki, and rice shochu of Kumamoto. The shipment amount of "mugi shochu" is the largest in Japan, surpassing even Kagoshima's, and is one of the most popular products in the One Village One Product Movement. Usuki City, which has been known as a town of brewing since olden days, has factories producing soy source, fermented soy bean paste, sake, and shochu. Some of the companies of soy sauce and fermented soy bean paste take pride in producing the best production in Kyushu. In spite of the fact that the products of fermented soy bean paste and soy sauce of Usuki are heavily dependent on locality, they have expanded their markets to all ofKyushu. Therefore, Usuki City has the second largest output in food production after Oita City.
Cement-related industries are flourishing in Tsukumi City,
thanks to a larg e vein of limestone with an estimated
deposit of 4.5 billion tons, as well as an excellent natural
pier designated as a Major Port. Cement and other lime-stone
products are exported overseas, in particular to South
East Asia and Middle East as well as within Japan, and
have an excellent reputation. In addition to these products,
traditional crafts such as Onta pottery and the shipbuilding
industry in Southern prefecture have also contributed
to enriching the local economy as local industries by
providing employment opportunities to the local people. |
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Hita Cedar
Geta (wooden clogs)
Bamboo Crafts
Sake and "Mugi Shochu"
Warehouse of Fermented Soy Bean Paste in Usuki
Shipbuilding Industry in Southern Prefecture (Launching Ceremony
of Container Ship in Saiki City)
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