Wooden boats of Kii-no-kuni, Taiji 太地

Ki-no-kuni is the original name of Wakayama that dates back to 7c. Ki was 木（forest, wood）because of its high rainfall and dense forests, but was later changed to 紀 and then kii　紀伊 (713) when two-character names were recommended for all regions. Kii is often associated with timber and mandarin (mikan), and today, Kii Peninsula where Wakayama is situated is still the most forested region and the largest producer of mandarin in Japan. An Edo entrepreneur Kinokuniya Bunzaemon (born in Yuasa, 1669-1734) is well-known for the lucrative trade of timber, mandarin and various other goods, for which boats made with kii timber were used.Wooden boats were also used for the peninsula's another major industry: fishing and whaling, especially around the southern coastal regions – Katsuura, Kushimoto, Koza and Taiji.

Taiji is known as the birthplace of the traditional coastal whaling in Japan (this blog, 12/12/08). When the organized and systematic hunt was established early 17c, boats assigned with specific functions were developed. The five kinds of boats used either 8 or 6 oars with 10-15 crews. About 460 crews worked at one operation, but there were others on stand-by boats, on watch at the hill-top observatory and those on-land who worked in the processing factory, workshops, kitchen. The saying “with one whale, seven villages would prosper” implies the large amount of foods and products but also the number of jobs whaling generated.

The timber used for these boats are sugi (cedar), hinoki (cypress) and kashi (oak). Each kind of boats was painted with distinct patterns and colours, as recorded in The History of Kumano-Taiji-ura Whaling, and replicated as model by the late boat carpenter, Murono Nishitaro (室野西太郎1903-1998).

Born in Taiji, Murono worked for Taiji Shipyard, where he built mainly tuna fishing boats but also the pearl-shell boats that took divers to Thursday Island, Australia. After retirement, Murono started making replicas of traditional whaling boats, drawing plans based on historic documents, paintings and his own experience in building various kinds of boats. His boats, 1/10 and 1/20 in size, are believed to be the most accurate representation of Taiji's traditional whaling boats, none of which remains today. Currently Taiji Town Council owns four boats to use at their summer festival (14 Aug). Two of them are wooden boats built for the Osaka Expo (1979). Two more boats are kept at the Whale Museum for display only (photo).

Traditional whaling boats of Taijhi


*Seko-bune (勢子船) 18 boats (15 crews, 8 oars)
Chaser or Harpooner’s boat. 15 crews are Hazashi (Harpooner,　羽刺), Sashikako (head rower, 指水主), Kako (12, rower, 水主), Kashiki (1 cook, 炊夫). Speed and maneuverability were important for Seko-bune. Each boat was distinguished by distinct pattern: No. 1 (paulownia, phoenix), No. 2 (half chrysanthemum), No. 3 (pine, bamboo, plum trees), No. 4 (chrysanthemum), No. 5 (ivy). The other boats (below) are marked with numbers.

*Mosso-bune (持左右船) 4 boats (10crews, 6 oars): carry the whale harpooned by Seko-bune by tieing to a board attached in between the two boats. Two boats stay stand-by in case of accident

*Ami-bune (網船) 9 boats (13 crews on No.1 and 2; 12 crews on others, 6 oars): place the net by communicating with Yamami (watcher, observatory on the hill)

*Taru-bune (樽船) 1 boat (8 crews, 6 oars): collect buoys (barrel, taru) that float away from nets. Crews were older fishers and young boys.

*Dogu-bune (also Naya-bune) (道具、納屋船) 1 boat (10 crews, 6 oars): travel in between store and boats carrying tools, food etc from

*Kae-bune (替船): spare boats for Seko-bune No. 1, 2 and 3