Who is Matagi?

Matagi is a group of hunters mainly live in Northern Japan. They are farmers in the mountainous area and also hunters who hunt different animals and look for mountain herbs, but most well known as bear hunters. Bears were a precious animal for the community in old days that people used everything from meat to leather. Meat becomes a protein resource during winter, leather become a craft to earn cash, and even internal organs were used as medicines. Magagi is not just a group of hunters but respected people in Akita who appreciate nature and build relationships between the natural world and human society.

Shrine of Matagi

There is a shine nearby each road that Matagi use to enter mountains They always go to their shrine, pray to god and purify themselves before going into mountains.

Path of Matagi

Path that Matagi use is very clean and organized. They take stones and tree branches on their way to sides while walking there. Roads in the mountains sometimes look untouched and wild, but well maintained to walk because of them.
*Matagi go to more untouched trails when they are chasing animals like bears.

A Sign of Bears

Bears leave their sings on their way. This was a scare of bear's nail when a mother bear took a child to climb down the tree. Matagi looks at and analyzes a small sign that bears, or other animals left to figure out where they are.

In Akita, you can experience trekking guided by Matagi. People can learn so much about mountain such as how to trek, how to understand animal's sign, and how to collect edible things in mountains while hiking with a master of the hill.