「うだつが上がらない」とは、いつまでも出世しない、暮らしが良くならないという意味ですが、美馬市脇町にはずらっと「うだつが上がった」町並みがあります。
江戸時代、藩が推奨した藍づくりは、阿波の代表的な産業として広がり、吉野川の水運に恵まれた脇町は、藍の集積地として栄えました。その豪奢な商家には、立派な「うだつ」といわれる防火壁が造られたのです。「うだつ」には家紋や細工が施され、鬼瓦などと共に見応えのある町並みが残されました。ボランティアガイドの案内で「うだつが上がる」町並み散策は、いかがでしょうか。
Udatsu Historical District
In Japanese, when someone isn’t getting ahead in life, they describe him as “not putting up his udatsu.” That’s not a good situation to be in. Fortunately, the neighborhood of Wakimachi in Mima has a historical district with udatsu all built, nice and neat.
During the Edo period, the production of indigo promoted by the provincial government grew to become one of Awa province’s top industries. The town of Wakimachi, which benefited from water transportation on the Yoshino River, flourished as a central hub for indigo. The extravagant merchant houses in this town were built with stylish fire-prevention walls called udatsu. A historical neighborhood with udatsu decorated with family crests and other ornamentation as well as ornate roof tiles remains in the town today, and it is a sight worth seeing. Come and let a volunteer tour guide take you for a walk around the town that “put up its udatsu”.
