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Kokura Castle faced the biggest crisis on the wold history!

Kokura town of Kitakyushu city is the gateway of Kyushu. Tadaoki Hosokawa who achieved good results in Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 obtained territory of Kokura as reward. The town has developed greatly after that. ↑Current Kokura town of Kitakyushu city. Kokura Castle stand in the city centre was built by Tadaoki with 7years from 1602. Currently, inside of the castle is exhibition room which is introducing the history of Kokura Castle. There are Kokura Castle Garden and Matsumoto Seicho Memorial Museum around the castle which delights the eye of visitors. Kokura Castle Garden is area which is restored mansion of Ogasawara family who was the lord of Kokura Castle … Read More

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It is not conspicuous by behind the image of an atomic bomb, but “Shukkei-en” has fully loaded with many good points

An atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Accordingly, Hiroshima is famous for Hiroshima Peace Memorial. However there is an unknown beautiful Japanese garden close to Hiroshima station where is gateway of Hiroshima. How about visiting here at firtst when you arrive at Hiroshima station? It is Shukkei-en! Shukkei-en was built in 1620 by instruction of Asano Nagaakira who is feudal lord of Hiroshima domain. It became the current scale by large renovation of 1781-1788. It was a catastrophic state by the atomic bomb in 1945, but it has reached the current by the maintenance of reconstruction. The name of Sukkei is including meaning of “Shrink Scenery”. Due to … Read More

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Tomioka Silk Mill has expanded relationship between human and silkworm

The silk which has soft feel and peculiar luster has fascinated people. The origin of production for silk is very old, and it is said to have started in China in 3000 BC. According to one theory it is also said 6000 BC. The discovery of things is often born by chance. It seems that the silk is also one of them. The legend remains in China that ancient empress Lei Zu who is wife of the Yellow Emperor found that the silk is wound around the chopsticks when she tried to pick up a cocoon which was dropped into the hot water. As you know, the raw silk that … Read More

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Murakami citizens value the fish ”IYOBOYA”

 The salmon is normally called “Sake or Shake” in Japanese, but Murakami citizens call “Iyoboya”. Iyoboya imply “Except salmon is not fish. Salmon is only fish.” Murakami citizens love salmon as gift from heaven. Why do they value salmon so much? Mr Buheiji Aoto(A.D.1713~1788)  is man who deepen the relation between Murakami citizens and salmon. What did he do? Miomote River which runs through Murakami area has known as river of salmon and the processed foods of salmon was already paid to the capital as tax in Heian era (A.D.794~1185). However the salmon which was important resource as supporting administration resulted poor catch by excessive fishing in Edo era(A.D.1603~1865), it … Read More

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Japan’s high technology which support the Heijo Palace from beneath

There is a ruins of Heijo Palace in Nara where was the former capital city in Japan about 1300 years ago. It was the big palace which length was 1.3km for east and west, 1.0km for north and south, and the area was 120 hectare. One of the etymology of Nara comes from “It was made by leveling the ground”. When translate “level the ground” in Japanese, it is “Nara-su”. The ruin of Heijo Palace is one of the representative historic site which suit closely the etymology of Nara. Nara is said that the east end of the Silk Road. Due to that, many people who came from China, Korea … Read More

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Gujo-Hachiman surrounded by the clear stream and fake food

Sushi, Tempura, Yakitori。。。。。 These are the Japanese typical foods. Japanese food has been registered as World Intangible Cultural Heritage in Dec-2013. Well, what is the definition of Japanese food? According to president Isao Kumakura of Shizuoka University of Art and Culture, 4 items of “Boiled Rice” “Miso Soup” “Side dish” and “Pickles” are basic element of Japanese food, and he say that is the Japanese food if they are completed. And we do not know exactly, but it is said the meals consisting of these elements began about 1000 years ago. These elements have evolved individually in contemporary Japan, and then It have built up a unique food culture which … Read More

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The animal who decided consequence of war in Dannoura

 There were wars which became major chage points of the Japanese history in this Kanmon Strait where giant bridge across. Japan had been a federal state that gather the countries which are ruled by feudal lords until the mid-1800s. Choshu-han which is the one country of them had waged Bakan War to the Union fleet of England, France, Holland and America on the satage of Kanmon Strait. The replica of the cannon that Choshu-han used at that time has been aligned toward the sea. ↑Cannon Furthermore 680 years ago in 1800 it is traced back from the Bakan War, Genji and Heishi who were two large force of Japan at … Read More

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Can Takaoka Big Buddha win the bronze medal?

 Please ask Japanese people “Do you know 3 large statues of Buddha in Japan?” Almost all Japanese people will be able to answer to 2 of the 3, but shouldn’t be able to answer for another 1. The 2 statues are “Nara Big Buddha” and “Kamakura Big Buddha”. Who is the third of the Big Buddha? There are several theories, it means vacant virtually. So this time I would like to focus on the Takaoka Big Buddha which is one of the third candidate. Takaoka is a town of copper, and it has accounted for 90% of the yield of copperware in Japan! Takaoka copperware is also famous nationwide. And … Read More

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What is hidden in Usuki Castle?

“Country Destruction”……  What’s this? Do you know? Japan is made up by four islands which are called Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Sorin Otomo is a warlord who spread his territory around Oita of Kyushu. Shimazu is also warlord who spread his territory around Kagoshima of Kyushu. Sorin was besieged to Usuki Castle during the fight against Shimazu. At that time, Sorin protected the castle by using the “Country Destruction” ! The answer of “Country Destruction” is the cannon! It is downright amazing name “Country Destruction”! But certainly, cannon has the power to destroy the country, so it is not so wrong name. Do you think so? Sorin is the … Read More

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The drama of returnee who was draft form Katsurahama-beach

The white wave cause complement the boundary line between the blue sea and the sandy beach, and it is built up to even more beautiful landscape of sandy beach spread arcuately. This sandy beach called Katsurahama-beach lies in Kochi. Katsurahama-beach is sung in verse of Japanese traditional folk song “Yosakoi” that remains in Kochi, and it is also known as a showplace of the moon since ancient times. Tosa Bay spread in front of Katsurahama-beach inhabits various whales. The bay is one of the popular spots where we can make a whale watching. About 150 years before, there was the changing point of history called the Meiji Restoration in Japan. … Read More

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