Editing Matagi (section)

{{Short description|Traditional winter hunters in Japan}}
{{Other uses}}
[[File:八木沢マタギ「集落最後のマタギ 佐藤良蔵 」山の主 巨熊射止める.jpg|thumb|Matagi with a killed [[Asian black bear]], in 1966 at [[Kamikoani, Akita]]]]

The {{nihongo|'''Matagi'''|マタギ||or less often {{lang|ja|又鬼}}}} are traditional winter hunters of the [[Tōhoku region]] of northern [[Japan]], most famously today in the [[Ani, Akita|Ani]] area in [[Akita Prefecture]], which is known for the [[Akita dog]]s. Afterwards, they spread to the [[Shirakami-Sanchi]] forest between [[Akita, Akita|Akita]] and [[Aomori, Aomori|Aomori]], and other areas of Japan. Documented as a specialised group from the medieval period onwards, the Matagi continue to hunt [[deer]] and [[bear]] in the present day, and their culture has much in common with the [[bear worship]] of the [[Ainu people]].

With the introduction of modern firearms in the 19th century, and mass-production of [[handloading|reloadable]] [[Cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]]s beginning with the [[Murata rifle]], the need for group hunting for bear has diminished, leading to a decline in Matagi culture.

Matagi hamlets are found in the districts of [[Nishitsugaru District, Aomori|Nishitsugaru]] and [[Nakatsugaru District, Aomori|Nakatsugaru]] ([[Aomori Prefecture]]), [[Kitaakita District, Akita|Kitaakita]] and [[Senboku District, Akita|Senboku]] ([[Akita Prefecture]]), [[Waga District, Iwate|Waga]] ([[Iwate Prefecture]]), [[Nishiokitama District, Yamagata|Nishiokitama]] and [[Tsuruoka, Yamagata|Tsuruoka]] ([[Yamagata Prefecture]]), [[Murakami, Niigata|Murakami]] and [[Nakauonuma District, Niigata|Nakauonuma]] ([[Niigata Prefecture]] and [[Nagano Prefecture]]). Well-known Matagi villages frequented by tourists can be found in [[Ani, Akita|Ani]] on the western slopes of [[Mount Moriyoshi]] in [[Akita Prefecture]], and a few hamlets on the eastern slopes of [[Mount Chōkai]] in [[Akita Prefecture|Akita]] and [[Yamagata Prefecture|Yamagata]] prefectures.