Saigo Takamori was a samurai who helped bring about the modern Japanese state in 1868 with the Meiji Restoration. He led its government for a time but retired after falling out over what he perceived as corrupt politics. A few…
Take Me Home, Kyushu Roads: Seeing Japan’s Coal Country
In 1469 a Kyushu farmer made a bonfire in the wilderness which to his surprise set a black rock on fire. Centuries later, what started as a happy accident would go on to play a starring role in a critical…
Keibin: Remembering Okinawa’s Light Railway at Yonabaru
One of Okinawa’s distinct features that sets it apart from mainland Japan is its lack of a railway system, not counting the tourist-centric monorail between the airport and Kokusai-dori. But that wasn’t always the case and for three decades railways,…
Touring Old Japan
This article was originally published in Stripes Japan; ideally I’ll do full blown pieces on each of these locations. Plus Meiji-mura, again. Nagoya is an easy access point into Japan’s cultural heartland. It is also one which samurai armies fought…
Rikkunland: The Most Accessible Display of Modern Japanese Armor and Fighting Vehicles!
I briefly wrote about Rikkunland as part of a 2017 article on bigger vacation, here I’m sharing slightly more information and a lot more photographs of the rare to see Japanese armor and fighting vehicles. In countries that are not…
The Zero Hunter: Let’s Visit All of Japan’s Restored, Replica and Wreck Zero Fighters!
This year marks the 82nd anniversary of the Zero’s first flight on Apr. 1, 1939. Like battleship Yamato, the Zero is an instantly recognized symbol of Japan despite its current pacifistic leanings. The design is still aesthetically pleasing making it…
Himeyuri Peace Museum Completes Renovation
The Himeyuri Peace Museum in Itoman reopened after a renovation on Apr. 12, 2021. The renovation gave the exhibits a facelift and tweaked their presentation in order to better reach a modern, younger audience growing more distant from the war.…
Eight Minutes Over Nagoya: The Nagoya Garrison and the Doolittle Raid
Meiji-mura is an open air architectural park with dozens of architectural and still functional technological wonders from turn-of-the-century Japan. I came ready to see the era and even dressed in a yukata with fedora, like all the old Japanese men…
Castle Air Museum: Cold War and World War II Aviation Treasure Trove in the California Desert
Throughout the Cold War the scream of jet engines could be heard over the California desert at Atwater, California. It was here Strategic Air Command bombers, from the World War-veteran B-29 to the massive aluminum overcast that was the B-36,…
David’s Top Five Museum Ships
I did a Top Five Tanks a few years back so decided now would be a good time to do another one but with my top five favorite museum ships. I’m a guy and I love history, so my favorite…