In preparation for tomorrow’s new article let’s play a rousing game of Name That Castle! The first person to correctly guess the castle wins a genuine Original Marvel No-Prize! Ganbatte ne! The answer will be revealed in tomorrow’s story.
Nara: Ancient Japan at its Finest
When people think of ancient Japan, many first think of the former capital city, Kyoto. Even many of the Japanese I meet, when I mention that I enjoy visiting historic places, one of the first questions I’m asked…
A Corsair Comes Home
Near the end of World War II most carrier aircraft that flew missions over Japan would strike their targets and return. Generally those that didn’t come back after a mission never would, but for one Corsair coming back just took…
Two Warbirds in One Little Museum
The first flying Zero to call Japan home in 70 years has come to Kanoya, in the far south of Kyushu. Flying or not, Japanese warbirds are a rare breed. They were never produced in the same numbers as…
Hamamatsu Castle: A Missed Opportunity
In my last post, I wrote about the charming castle they rebuilt in Kakegawa. As it turns out, the next city down the line towards Nagoya, Hamamatsu, also has a rebuilt castle. Hamamatsu castle, however, is on the opposite…
Take Flight Into the Past
Kanoya, in the far south of Japan’s southernmost main island, is a rather inconvenient location for an air museum. It’s more than 500 miles from Tokyo and getting there via public transport requires taking a Shinkansen bullet train to the…
Kakegawa – A Charming Castle Town
If you take the Shinkansen toward Nagoya, somewhere in Shizuoka you will pass through a small city called Kakegawa. For most people, the Japanese included, it is just a minor stop on the way to bigger and better things.…
Away from Home – Wandering Around Sasebo
Sorry for the lack of updates lately. As my friend and co-blogger mentioned, we’ve been on the road traveling for Christmas and I’ve spent the New Years holiday down in Kyushu visiting David. Once I get home later this…
Fire!
Ashigaru, under the command of a samurai, give a Tanegashima (matchlock) firing demonstration at Hikone-jo (Hikone Castle), a Japanese National Treasure. Last year we saw a similar, but larger, demonstration at Matsumoto-jo (Matsumoto Castle), another National Treasure. Both Hikone and…
Matsushiro Daihonei: Preparing to Fight the Final Battle of World War II
In early August 1945 World War II was far from over. Months and even years of fighting were still in the future of Japan and the United States as the Americans and their allies made amphibious assaults on the Japanese…