Suttsu, Shiribeshi region, Hokkaidō
浜中
はまなか HamanakaThe wind that the shrine was asked to soften, the dashi, now turns the turbines standing along the same shore.
Ainu spellings: Ota-noske
Analyses
ota-noske
オタノシケ
the middle of the beach
- ota sand, sandy beach
- noske the middle of
Proponent: zenibako_trek（小樽銭函地名歴史研究会） (zenibako_trek (Otaru Zenibako Place-Name and History Society))
Hamanaka is a Japanese name; the Ainu name was ota-noske. Names of this shape across Hokkaidō are commonly rendered 浜中 in Japanese. The position of this one is fixed exactly: the Suttsu and Otasutsu Ainu had a boundary dispute and settled it on the sightline where Cape Benkei and Yaoi-zaki overlap.
Evidence
- topography
The point is defined by a sightline: standing on the beach, Cape Benkei and Yaoi-zaki come into alignment there.
Related names
- 寿都 すっつ — The western end of the same beach. zenibako_trek2024
- 歌棄 うたすつ — The eastern end of the same beach. zenibako_trek2024
Sources
- 弁慶岬と義経弁慶伝説・寿都西部の地名由来
zenibako_trek·2024-12-28
- アイヌ語沙流方言辞典
田村, すず子·1996