【探訪】地駄引き馬 　伝統守る絆

"They're not friends, partners, or tools. Horses are horses. I always feel a sense of respect for the way they powerfully pull heavy logs." Okamoto Tadao, a timber transporter, skillfully controls the reins to guide his massive horse with ease while shouting out commands, smiles and wipes sweat from his brow. A traditional forestry scene using "jidahikiuma" (horse pulling loads), a tradition passed down in Miyagi Prefecture. Until the 1960s, there were several dozen horses in operation in the prefecture, but with the advancement of mechanization, their numbers have drastically decreased, and now only a few remain. Okamoto, who lives in Kami Town, Miyagi Prefecture, inherited this tradition from his father at the age of 18. His current horse is the 20th generation (5 years old, male), weighing in at 800 kg. They live under the same roof as a family. He has never given the horse a name out of respect for it. (Photo and News Bureau: Oida Yutaka)