Should the Meiji Restoration be considered a revolution? What were its consequences?
Research Essay by Stuart Iles. The Meiji Restoration is a very important period in Japan’s history as it reestablished Imperial
Tag: Edo
Ryoma Sakamoto escapes to fight again. Teradaya Inn – Fushimi – Kyoto.
Teradaya Inn. The simple, old inn with a lot of history. Most people would simple bypass this place without having
Tokugawa Shogun Exhibition, Fukuoka City Museum.
Went to the Tokugawa Shogun exhibition today, 3rd August. Very nice! I sometimes get disappointed visiting these `special exhibitions`. I
Dutch trade port of Dejima, Nagasaki.
During the ‘isolation period’ of Japan also known as the Edo Period a few nations were still allowed to trade
Keisai Eisen – Kisokaido Narai Station, Print #35.
I haven’t done a post for a while about one of my favourite Ukiyo-e print series. So lets have a
Escaped convicts first ever Australian ship to Japanese waters.
An amateur historian has unearthed compelling evidence that the first Australian maritime foray into Japanese waters was by convict pirates
Hannya – (A Japanese She-Demon)
In Japanese folklore the female demon (oni) Hannya figures prominently. Often depicted in traditional Noh and Bunraku plays using a
Okayama Castle
(Tenshu-kaku from the south) (Tenshu-kaku from the north. You can see the irregular shape of the base floor from this
Shukkeien, historical gardens in Hiroshima.
Shukkeien gardens date back to 1620, a year after feudal lord Asano Nagaakira was made lord of Hiroshima. Asano’s principal
Onomichi – Tennei-ji and Senko-ji
I went to Onomichi today hoping for clear skies and cherry blossoms. One came true, the cherry blossoms are in
Mihara Castle Ruins – Hiroshima.
I finally got an afternoon off, so I did a bit of exploring around Mihara. I visited the castle ruins
KAMI, Japan’s Native Gods
God (Kami) When the English word God is translated into Japanese, it is generally represented by the kanji (Chinese character)
Keisai Eisen – 69 Stations of the Kisokaido – Plate 8.
Title: Konosu Station, View of Mt Fuji from Fukiage. This scene is dominated by Mt Fuji in the distance and
Keisai Eisen – 69 Stations of the Kisokaido – Plate 1.
Title: Snow at Nihonbashi on New Year’s Morning. The Nihonbashi (Japan Bridge), was at the heart of Edo and the
16th & 17th Century Japanese Christianity
University essay case study: 16th & 17th Century Japanese Christianity By Stuart Iles 14th October 2011 In this essay I
鷺娘の精 (The Spirit of the Heron Maiden)
鷺娘の精 (The Spirit of the Heron Maiden) woodblock print by Taniguchi Kokyo (1864-1915), dated 1925; from my collection. Oban tate-e
360 year old inn closes its doors.
Sad news I found today about the closing of a famous and traditional Japanese inn. It dates way back to
The Throw Away Temple – Dumping Ground of the Yoshiwara Prostitutes.
Not far from Minowa station on the Hibiya line is a nondescript temple called 浄閑寺—Jokanji. From the street, it looks
Kyoto, Meiji Period print.
I have had this print on file for a while but was never able to find the details of it
Nishi Honganji
Nishi Honganji is the mother temple for the Jodo Shinshu sect of Japanese Buddhism established by Shinran Shonan who lived
Japanese History and Culture 