Local Products Replace Lumber
With the restriction on mountain logging, the people of Kiso were encouraged to develop and produce local products rooted in the natural surroundings.
Takatoyo Yamamura, the 4th local magistrate in Kiso, bought popular Nanbu-uma (Nanbu horses) from Mutsu Province and bred Kisouma (Kiso horses), which are suited to the local climate and strong mountain climbers. He encouraged farmers to raise the horses.
An effort was made to promote industries of woodcrafts like magemono (items made from bent wood), lacquerware, and Orokugushi (wooden combs), all made from the gomenshiraki (semi-finished wood products made from split timber that the domain allowed people to use as a way to make up for the logging restriction); silk cultivation; and Hyakuso (medicines and herbs made by Mt. Ontake holy men).
Industry promotion was conducted through the local products and development of the Nakasendo Way.
 Kisouma and Mt. Ontake (Kiso Town)
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Kisouma, Woodcrafts, and Lacquerware
The Kisouma is small in size with a gentle personality, making it easy for women to take care of, which resulted in several thousand horses in the late Edo Period. They were sold on the horse market and used for agricultural purposes and transportation.
Woodcrafts are less breakable than earthenware. Lacquerware is made more durable by coating lacquer. The products became popular nationwide via Kisoji.
| |  Orokugushi combs (Kiso Village)
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