Obuse

Obuse is located in northern Nagano Prefecture to the east of Nagano city.

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Obuse has remained fairly stable over the past 40 years.

The area of present-day Obuse was part of ancient Shinano Province, and can be found as a place name in late Heian period records associated with a shōen associated with Emperor Go-Shirakawa. In 1843, at the age of 83, the Japanese painter Hokusai traveled to Obuse at the invitation of a wealthy farmer, Takai Kozan where he stayed for several years.[4] During his time in Obuse, Hokusai created several masterpieces, included the Masculine Wave and the Feminine Wave.[4]

The modern village of Obuse was created with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was elevated to town status on February 1, 1954. Obuse annexed the neighboring village of Tsusumi on November 1, 1954.

The largest hospital in Obuse, Shinsei Hospital, (New Life Hospital) was established by J. G. Waller, an Anglican Church of Canada missionary, in 1932 as a tuberculosis sanatorium with funds raised in Canada.[5]

Obuse has one public elementary school and one public middle school. The town does not have a high school.

Manhole cover in Obuse with Hokusai's Masculine Wave

Masculine Wave

Although small, the quaint town of Obuse is known for its chestnut industry, which brings a unique flair to the work of local artisans, inspiring different dishes such as the chestnut ice cream and other desserts. The abundance of chestnuts in the area have made Obuse an attractive stop for tourists and art collectors in the heart of Nagano, creating a market for local woodworkers and artists.

• Gansho-in, Buddhist temple with ceiling painted by Katsushika Hokusai
• Hokusai Museum[6] This museum is a national treasure, exhibiting the works and history of the great Japanese artist Hokusai who created several of his renowned masterpieces in Obuse.

• Media related to Obuse, Nagano at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Website (in Japanese)