To get to the village, one first takes an electric commuter train to Ena station on a JR line, located about one hour from Nagoya City, and then transfers to a one-car diesel locomotive on the Akechi Line for a 50-minute trip. According to Sukezo Hirabayashi, the city manager of Taisho Mura (village), this out-of-the-way area “Was once prosperous for paper-making and silk thread production.”
In 1981, the former Japan National Railways decided to shut down the decrepit Akechi Line; but the locals along the line rose up in opposition, and through funding by local governments, businesses and residents, the rail service was restored as a joint venture company of local government and private enterprise in 1985. Afterwards, the townspeople began serious discussions on what to do to prevent their locality from deteriorating. It was then that they came up with the idea of renaming it “Taisho Mura (village).” Initially many skeptics opposed it, saying “In the space age now, what’s the point of promoting ‘Taisho?’” But surprisingly, the notion of promoting a Taisho-era atmosphere succeeded in attracting tourists. In the town can be found the remains of an old-style café, a hospital, vault of a bank, the old city office and others, which appear like the set for period films on a movie studio lot. In addition to the buildings, items typical of the Taisho Era, such as articles of clothing, an old gramophone, and various articles of daily use and children’s toys are displayed.
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