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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the many people of Chichibu who offered their invaluable expertise and cooperation during my research and field work. Hidden in the mountains and preserved in many imangible forms, the cultural heritage of Chichibu is not easy for the outsider to discover; without the assistance of these kind and knowledgeable people, this book would not have been possible. I have the greatest admiration for their diligent efforts to preserve local folkways and traditions.

My deepest gratitude is owed to Yoshikazu Minami and Mitsuo Kosuge, both outstanding artists of Chichibu, for their generosity in making available the fine photographs and charming woodblock prints included in this book, finishing touches that only natives and lovers of Chichibu could add. Thanks also go to Masami Yamamoto, director of cultural research and preservation of the Ogano-machi Board of Education, for his much appreciated suggestions and guidance, especially concerning folk Kabuki and festivals.

Among friends who have been helpful, I am especially indebted to Amy Katoh and Judith H. Forrest for their consistent and warm support; to Jennie Hutchings and Peggy Stauffer for their help in preparing the manuscript; to Nasreen Askari for her editing assistance; and to Joanne Madden, Gloria Russel, Lois Meredith, Teresa Lam, Margaret LaRue, Judy Doherty, Mary Sharp, Sue O’Flynn, and Carol Thurston, all of whom gave of their time and energy, in rain or shine, to test the walking directions.

Special thanks also go to the city of Chichibu and its mayor, Zenichi Uchida, for underwriting part of the publication costs of this book; to Mamoru Arai and Susumu Konishi of Kokusai Bunken Insatsu Company for their assistance in producing the maps; and to the staff of the Charles E. Tuttle Company for their expert editing, design, and production work.

And, finally, I would like to express my indebtedness to the unheralded authors of the several Japanese books on Chichibu that I made use of in my research.

—Sumiko Enbutsu