In the Japanese language `kaizoku` is the word for pirate but if you ask a Japanese what their image of kaizoku is, they will give an image of a European pirate, or Captain Jack Sparrow, hahaha. In Japan, Murakami pirates, who ruled the Japanese inland sea region in the 16th century are a different breed… Read More Japanese Pirates in the Late Medieval and Early Modern East Asia.
Hi, how is everyone? I have a bit of free time today at the shop so I had a look through some recent/old photos, and realised that I haven`t yet uploaded the Shimonoseki photos. It`s weird how quickly time seems to be passing by recently, which is probably not a bad thing this year as… Read More Shimonoseki and Mojiko.
A few years ago my wife and I went to Kokura for the day. It`s a big industrial city now and actually it has been since the industrial revolution back in the Meiji Period. Before that, it was a beautiful castle town right at the tip of northern Kyushu overlooking the very important Kanmon Straits.… Read More Kokura Castle, Kitakyushu, Kyushu
Well, spring has come and gone for 2020, here in Japan. Everyday passes by so quickly one often forgets how quickly life also passes us by. This year began as any other but we were soon reminded that human life is very susceptible to viral infections. This year Japan and the world suffered a terrible… Read More Spring in Fukuoka 2020
Firstly, I would like to say hello to the people who have recently followed me. I really appreciate your support and I hope you can learn many things about Japan from my blog. Before the coronavirus took hold my family and I went to Tokyo to visit family for a few days. We had an… Read More Toyota Automobile Museum
Originally posted on Japanese history and culture:
Heiji Monogatari Emaki (Tale of the Heiji Rebellion) Night Attack on the Sanjo Palace from the Illustrated Scrolls of the Events of the Heiji Era. Japanese, Kamakura period, second half of the 13th century A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HEIJI DISTURBANCE The Heiji disturbance, which occurred late in…
On a great stone monument near a flower-strewn grave in the verdant Yamaguchi countryside is a telltale description of the most radical samurai hero to hail from the most radical of samurai domains: “Once he got moving, he was like a bolt of lightening. Once he got started, he was like the wind and the… Read More Takasugi Shinsaku – Choshu Han revolutionary and swordsman
It has been a bit of a drought on my blog page sorry to say. Even though my junior high schools were shut down at the beginning of March due to the coronavirus, we have been very busy getting the business ready. Also, those of you who have children know how hard it is to… Read More History of Kirin Beer.
I can’t believe that February has gone by so quickly. I’ve been busy preparing for the opening of my new business. My wife and I are going to open a hairdressers and cafe together here in Fukuoka. We are so excited and can’t wait to open which should be at the beginning of May. Anyway,… Read More Yanagawa – City of Canals, Fukuoka
Originally posted on Japanese history and culture:
I love Kendo and the history of Kendo. I first learned about Kendo while reading Taiko and Musashi in Japan which spurred me to start Kendo training. I did Kendo for a few years and despite suffering a few injuries and being very scared on numerous occasions thoroughly…
I recently visited Yamaguchi Prefecture and found out that the first Christmas ever celebrated in Japan was right there. During the Christmas holidays I watched the movie ‘Silence’ so I decided to dig a little deeper. Searching for more information I came across this article. It’s well written, thus I would like to share it… Read More First Christmas in Japan, 1552
Originally posted on Japanese history and culture:
The indigenous people of northern Japan call themselves “Ainu,” meaning “people” or “humans” in their language. Recent DNA evidence suggests that the Ainu are the direct descendants of the ancient Jomon people who inhabited Japan as early as 12,000 years ago. Astonishingly, the Jomon culture existed in Japan…
Originally posted on Japanese history and culture:
Ruins of Chugoku Regional Military Headquarters Air Defense Room. The Hiroshima Castle complex in Motomachi was a concentration of Army facilities. At the Chugoku Regional Military Headquarters, which were located in the southern section of the Hiroshoma castle complex, third-year students from Hijiyama Girls High School were mobilized…
Hello everyone and Happy New Year! Just a quick post to say thank you to my followers. Last year was the best to date with the most number of people who visited my blog and read my stories. I have many more exciting places to visit and explore on my list this year. Over the… Read More Best Year To Date!
The end of this semester is nearly here. I have no lessons today but I still have to be here at school for the closing ceremony. So I have a few hours to spare. One of my friends came to Fukuoka recently and we went to Dazaifu and Onojo together.. I’d like to share with… Read More Ancient Dazaifu, Fukuoka
Originally posted on Japanese history and culture:
I had a day off today and it wasn’t raining so I decided to visit Lafcadio Hearn’s residence just down the road from where I live. The address is 2-6 Anseimachi, Kumamoto. It is right behind Tsuruya shopping center. I had come across Hearn’s name before while researching…
Originally posted on Japanese history and culture:
Miyamoto Musashi Died On June 13, 1645. Considered one of the greatest samurai of all time, Miyamoto Musashi’s reputation has grown to mythic proportions over the years, despite much of his life remaining a mystery. The undefeated swordsman, master of strategy, calligrapher, painter, writer and martial arts icon,…
Originally posted on Japanese history and culture:
Shikoku is host to the famous 88 temple pilgrimage. It is said to take up to 3 months to complete the 1200km. The pilgrimage dates way back to the time of famous Buddhist monk Kukai who lived from 774 to 835. There are several legends related to the…
The DR30 Skyline is one of the most iconic cars in the 1980s. This restored DR30 looks like it just came out of the factory, but even better as it has modern technology keeping it alive. Brake calipers have been thoroughly overhauled at the restore. The DR30 has been out of production for 30… Read More Nissan DR30 Skyline RS-Turbo
Iwaya castle ruins sits within Onojo fortress ruins. Onojo fortress dates back to the 7th century making it probably the oldest fortification in Japan. Iwaya castle dates back to the 16th century. Finding information about Iwaya castle has been virtually impossible. I searched both Japanese and English. However, I must say on thing that really… Read More Iwaya castle ruins-Shimazu and Toyotomi samurai battles. Fukuoka, Kyushu.
