Letters suggest Shikoku warlord’s link to 16th-century Honnoji Incident
Why did Akechi Mitsuhide turn against his lord? There are many theories, but no-one really knows for sure. New information
Tag: infocus tours
6th Century Japan and the Emergence of Buddhism.
I have a few friends who also have a passion for Japanese history. Here is a great article about the
Japanese home architecture
I’ve been interested in Japanese style architecture for a long time but recently I’ve taken an interest in traditional home
Rare account of feudal warrior’s daily life.
HIKONE, Shiga Prefecture–Fascinating tidbits from the daily lives of samurai warriors have been gleaned from a diary found four years
Hikone Castle – Shiga Prefecture. My photos and Meiji Period photos.
I visited Hikone castle in January 2015 with my friend Ohara san. It was a cold and snowy winters morning
Identifying the age of Japanese postcards
A great article about how to identify the age of Japanese postcards. How to Ascertain the Date (or Time Period)
Japanese Castles in Korea
I am aware of the Toyotomi campaign in Korea but I was pleasantly unaware to the extent of the construction
The Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Details of the museum in English as follows: http://www.ryoma-kinenkan.jp/en/ Copied from the museum’s introduction of Ryoma. Sakamoto Ryoma, born in
A quick history of Yamagata Prefecture
The origins of the name “Yamagata” can be traced back to the early Heian Period (794-1192) of Japan. A dictionary
Kunisaki: Into a World of Moss and Stone
Wow, so busy teaching at the moment so I haven’t had time to do any more research into my next
The Ainu and Early Commerce in the Sea of Okhotsk
The Sea of Okhotsk to the north and northeast of Hokkaidō plays no significant role in recorded Japanese history until
A firsthand account of vice and profit in Edo – Book review.
Riding the circular Yamanote Line on a Sunday in Tokyo, it is easy to daydream. Those who have found themselves
Sapporo Beer Factory
Last year my family and I visited the Sapporo Beer Factory. I have been there a few times but the
Mt Hiei
I never get tired of going to Mt Hiei and taking photos. The three Enryakuji temple complexes are fabulous and
Meiji Period Kiyomizu Temple
Great photo of Kiyomizu Temple from the 1880s.
Travel books
Two of my favourite Japanese travel books were written by Alan Booth. The Roads to Sata (1986) and Looking for
Tokyo Ginza revisited.
Browsing my photos over the weekend I realised one of the photos I posted last week has a connection with
Trove of documents found from the Samurai era
Tokyo – A trove of ancient documents unearthed at the Vatican could shed light on the brutal crackdown on Christianity
Osaka Castle rebuild
Just a short post. I found this photo of Osaka Castle from the 50s when it was being rebuilt after
Ukiyo-e, comparison of quality and authenticity.
While in Japan in September 2013 I visited Asakusa, Sensoji. While walking down the Nakamise I found a shop specialising
Japanese History and Culture 