Acknowledgements
The JET Programme has over 20 ALTs stationed in Seino. There is an ALT in nearly every township, and several located in Ogaki. There are a fair number of “has been’s” floating around the area as well. The following information profiling Seino townships and the city of Ogaki has been graciously volunteered unto the Seino RPAs by ALTs new and old. Past authors of the Seino guide include:
2004-2005 Rachel Victor Shane Moore
2005-2006 Adele Phillips PJ Standlee
2006-2007 Josh Brunotte Kelly Madland
2007-2008 Josh Brunotte Matt Stoner
2008-2009 Matt Stoner Erin Plant
As much as we would like this work to be the definitive guide to Seino, we realize that it would be impossible and unreasonable to create such a guide. Please make considerable use of this compilation, but know that there is so much more out there than what is represented here.
Do not be afraid of asking fellow JETs, coworkers, neighbors, or even random strangers for help or information. Despite what language barriers there may or may not be, whomever you ask is likely to help you as much as possible. If they are unable to help, they’ll probably direct you to someone who can.
Of course don’t forget, your friendly RPAs are here to help, too.
Matt Stoner and Erin Plant
Where We Are
You’re not in Kansas anymore. You are in the Seino area of Gifu Prefecture in the Tokai region of Japan’s Honshu Island. Still have no clue where you are? Have a look below!
Note: Only a few of the regions townships and cities are represented in this map.
Gifu Prefecture is comprised of five regions: Hida, Tono, Chuno, Gifu, and Seino. The southern half of Gifu was once called Mino, while the northern half has been called Hida since time immemorial, or so we are led to believe. The name Mino (美濃) accounts for the “no” in the names Seino (西濃), Chuno (中濃) and Tono (東濃), while sei means west, chu means middle, and to means east.
As its name implies, Seino is the most western edge of Gifu Prefecture. It contains the site of a historically significant battle, was traversed by the famous Nakasendo trade route, and is known to this day for water: high water tables, flooding, and tasty potable water.
Seino is comprised of 21 smaller regions. From northern-most to southern-most they are:
藤橋村 ふじはしむら Fujihashi-mura
坂内村 さかうちむら Sakauchi-mura
久瀬村 くぜむら Kuze-mura
谷汲村 たにぐみむら Tanigumi-mura
揖斐川町 いびがわちょう Ibigawa-cho
春日村 かすがむら Kasuga-mura
大野町 おおのちょう Ono-cho
池田町 いけだちょう Ikeda-cho
神戸町 ごうどちょう Godo-cho
垂井町 たるいちょう Tarui-cho
赤坂町 あかさかちょう Akasaka-cho
関ヶ原町 せきがはらちょう Sekigahara-cho
大垣市 おおがきし Ogaki-shi
墨俣町 すのまたちょう Sunomata-cho
安八町 あんぱちちょう Anpachi-cho
上石津町 かみいしづちょう Kamiishizu-cho
養老町 ようろうちょう Yoro-cho
輪之内町 わのうちちょう Wanouchi-cho
平田町 ひらたちょう Hirata-cho
南濃町 なんのうちょう Nanno-cho
海津町 かいづちょう Kaizu-cho
Note: Many of these townships have consolidated and so are technically under under a different city name (市-shi), but still use the same town names (町-cho)
