tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49777363635621440152024-03-05T06:30:10.892-08:00Dwelling In Dreamsscallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-47237017273306015242009-01-18T10:12:00.000-08:002009-01-18T10:14:53.132-08:00冬の俳句 Winter Haiku<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DKI_428VlidzuNg9gFSjU1YhtffdShkxxsdD8zWAF_u_QnbO8cHddqxxnzyPQRsuMV7NYbVfLkr2F7pZ03SNhOe5AwjenLa_R0-5CKludogNSlZGkZkuptwF5RUIUsp0iFWyrn6o8Bk/s1600-h/00061.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DKI_428VlidzuNg9gFSjU1YhtffdShkxxsdD8zWAF_u_QnbO8cHddqxxnzyPQRsuMV7NYbVfLkr2F7pZ03SNhOe5AwjenLa_R0-5CKludogNSlZGkZkuptwF5RUIUsp0iFWyrn6o8Bk/s320/00061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292698817242689154" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">some haiku fitting the season<br /><br />雪の下<br />植物が寝る<br />秘密夢<br /><br />under the snow<br />the flowers are sleeping<br />a secret dream<br /><br />凍ったの(氷)<br />無限対面<br />僕の顔<br /><br />on the frozen ice<br />an eternal confrontation<br />my face<br /><br />毎降りる<br />美しき雪(の)<br />儚さよ<br /><br />falling down again and again<br />wonderful snow<br />transience (Vergänglichkeit) </div>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-66370517901308907742008-11-05T12:05:00.001-08:002008-11-05T12:23:08.347-08:00Heiliges Römisches Reich Holy Roman EmpireProceeding in German history I told my language exchange partner about the holy roman empire, which he was eager to learn more about.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">The Holy Roman Empire (Of German Nation)<br />963 (Otto The Great) - 1806 (Francis II)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz1SqEURyRNExhT0qydARlwHnX8IXFiNtEsa5aiK_8tq-ErlLLC8TiHkTcwRxRRhOAB5XCMykhMicCGK6HTHRY6Aw9hoCL7qV4yju3IguDORS5E1mqnJ1nyGkFD2R58soBIk3wJZyVok/s1600-h/Banner_of_the_Holy_Roman_Emperor_(after_1400).png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz1SqEURyRNExhT0qydARlwHnX8IXFiNtEsa5aiK_8tq-ErlLLC8TiHkTcwRxRRhOAB5XCMykhMicCGK6HTHRY6Aw9hoCL7qV4yju3IguDORS5E1mqnJ1nyGkFD2R58soBIk3wJZyVok/s320/Banner_of_the_Holy_Roman_Emperor_(after_1400).png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265270683939645490" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The Holy Roman Empire Of The German Nation was a union of territories in Central Europe lead by a Holy Roman Emperor. The Holy Roman Empire extended itself over present day Germany, Northern Italy, Burgundy, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Belgium and large parts of France, Souterhn Italy, Poland. Despire the name, the city Rome was not part of the Empire.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Name</span><br /></div><br />The name symbolized the attempt to revive the west roman empire, which ended with Romulus August in 476. Although Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne and his son Louis The Pious as Holy Roman Emperor, the imperial office got never formalized. The actual name changed very often from 962 version Regnum Francorum Orientalium (Kingdom of the East Franks) to 1034 Roman Empire to 1157 Holy Empire to 1254 Holy Roman Empire to its final version in 1512 Holy Roman Empire of German Nation (German Heiliges Römisches Reich deutscher Nation; Latin: Sacrum Romanum Imperium Nationis Germanicæ).<br /><br />Since not only the name, but also the territories and status constantly changed, historicians had a lot of trouble writing about "Germany". In one example Severinus de Monzambano brings it to the point: "Nihil ergo aliud restat, quam ut dicamus Germaniam esse irregulare aliquod corpus et monstro simile ..." ("We are therefore left with calling Germany a body that conforms to no rule and resembles a monster").<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Dynatsies<br /></div><br /><ul><li>Merovingian 428-751</li><li>Carolingan 751-876</li><li>Ottonian 919-1024 (aka Saxon Dynasty)</li><li>Salian 1024-1125 (aka Frankish Dynasty)</li><li>Hohenstaufen 1138-1254 (aka Swabian Dynasty)</li><li>Habsburg 1273-1806<br /></li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Before 962...<br /></div><br />...it was custom for kings of the Carolingan dynasty to divide their empire among the sons, which lead to great loss in territories and power. The last king loyal to this custom was the father of Germany and France Charlemagne. However he was survived only by one son, Louis The Pious, and therefore gave his whole emipre to him. Louis however saw the weakness of this tradition and broke with it giving the whole empire only to one son. This however lead to a lot of civil wars and a final partition of Charlemagne's empire in 834. The title and original part was given to Louis eldest son Lothar I, while the split of part became known as Eastern Frankish Kingdom. Henry I the Fowler became the first crowned king of the Eastern Frankish Kingdom and was the first one not of the Carolingan dynasty and founded the Ottonian dynasty naming his son and successor arcordingly Otto I (He was only later called Otto the Great).<br /><br />Otto was married to the widowed queen of Italy, which effectively added Italy to his empire. 962 signified a turning point in history, when the Pope decided to give his blessing to Otto I of the East Frankish Kingdom, instead of the West Frankish Kingdom acknolowding Otto's rule and power. Because of this blessing Ottonian kings saw themselves as successors to Romulus August and to the Old Roman Empire. However since the East Roman Empire still existed and the real Roman Emperor ruled from Constantinopel, they decided to abide from the name, not to provoke him.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Ottonian Dynasty<br /></div><br />At the time of the Ottonian dynasty the empire consisted of a confederation of old Germanic tribes Bavarians, Alemanns, Franks and Saxons, as well as the kingdom of Italy. This confederation was only able to survive because Henry I, Otto the Great and his succession until Henry II were such strong characters, they could hold the empire together. Yet after Henry II died without children the Ottonian dynasty came to an quick end. The confederate states elected 1024 Conrad II as new king and thus started the ...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Salian Dynasty<br /></div><br />of the empire. However Conrad II being a less strong character, the dualism and quarrels between the king and the territories constantly increased. When Henry IV came to power the escapade peaked, when the pope declared a ban on Henry the IV. Although this ban was rebuked in 1077 during the Walk To Canossa, it constantly weakend the position of the German king. Because meanwhile the dukes had appointed a new king "Rudlof From Swabia", which waged war against Henry IV. Henry was able to win after 3 years in 1080 but his title and power were weakened from then on. The last Salian emperor was Henry IV son Henry V.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hohenstaufen Dynasty</span><br /><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfCw6-_Ww0emoy_2g5oHiIommW-ly-uWQs3YlkJjsQx8uxa5V19-S6X0OMZ9ZvvnHBT2cpuNsW2MUuYCdbW8yNAnR0r8oQwrV2UpCbsbUwt7gLkJw-XzWZz2eFAvBfBst2sGIjbA1JfQ/s1600-h/Hohenstaufen_family_arms.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfCw6-_Ww0emoy_2g5oHiIommW-ly-uWQs3YlkJjsQx8uxa5V19-S6X0OMZ9ZvvnHBT2cpuNsW2MUuYCdbW8yNAnR0r8oQwrV2UpCbsbUwt7gLkJw-XzWZz2eFAvBfBst2sGIjbA1JfQ/s320/Hohenstaufen_family_arms.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265270707952665426" border="0" /></a></div><br />With the dynasty so weakened the Hohenstaufer, originally a clan holding high offices under the Salians, overtook their masters and with Conrad III becoming appointed king in 1138 introduced the Hohenstaufen Dynasty, which was able to effectively restore the empire under new conditions in the Concordat Of Worms 1122. The great king Barbarossa (Frederick I) 1152 first called the empire holy. With Barbarossa the idea of the people seeing themselves as successors to the great Romans culminated again. This seemed to be an attempt to justify power independent of the strengthend pope. In this thinking it was also tried to revive Roman Law over the empire. Of course these laws were written for a completely different world, yet it was the first attempt to get a legal constitution (Roncaglia). This was effectively an attempt to bind the stuborn German dukes closer to the empire.<br /><br />With religion and bishops taken away to maintain power over the dukes (separation from the pope), the Hohenstaufen kings devised a new strategy and intoduced ministerialia (ministers), free service men appointed to server for king and country. Starting from these offices later the kinghts were born, an important factor of imperial rule in the mid ages.<br /><br />Another attempt to spread power within the empire was the foundation of new cities. For once this was done to account for the population explosion, but also to spread the realm of influence and to cover important strategic points. The same strategy was followed by the king and the dukes the same.<br /><br />While most Hohenstaufen emperors struggled with each other for the title, mainly Barbarossa and his son Philip of Swabia and Henry the Lion and his son Otto IV, the last king of the Hohenstaufen Frederick II went an entirely different route. He did not struggle for power and ruled from sicily. When he was crowned king he suddenly claimed posesion of Rome, which lead to a ban by the pope. Most surprisingly he successfully lead a crusade in 1228 taking possession of Jerusalem. But he also lead to the empires downfall. For once he focused much of his attention on sicily, where he established a modern state with public services, financing and othe reforms, on the other side he gave great priviliges and powers to the German dukes to bind them to him. Privileges that could never again taken from the central power again, peaking in a ducment of 1232 which officially declared the dukes owner of their lands (domini terrae).<br /><br />In this time also significant is when Konrad of Masovia invited the Teutonic Knights 1226 to christianize the Prussians. Also because of the long focus on Italy, the German dukes extended their own reamls and power and eventually took possesion of Slavic territories Pommerania and Silesia.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Rise Of The Territories</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEd3Yj0S4jbQdX5NHz4rULRlVxiTD22rAMSQ9zk0rkpApnVZC-YIMOU9IxV3Jx3GLjjNEYqgtmY_cKY18dAqSLSPyu44MQhqW9sdTbzDhGm7ahLTPB-fgD0Kj8w_Atv3jDWPjzM-NKe0/s1600-h/Balduineum_Wahl_Heinrich_VII.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEd3Yj0S4jbQdX5NHz4rULRlVxiTD22rAMSQ9zk0rkpApnVZC-YIMOU9IxV3Jx3GLjjNEYqgtmY_cKY18dAqSLSPyu44MQhqW9sdTbzDhGm7ahLTPB-fgD0Kj8w_Atv3jDWPjzM-NKe0/s320/Balduineum_Wahl_Heinrich_VII.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265270697210656850" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />After Frederick II died in 1250 the Hohenstaufen dynasty ended and the dukes appointed several competing kings. This period is often referred to as Interregnunm and lasted until the election of the king Rudoplh I from Habsburg 1273. In this time much of the imperial power was lost. This struggle evetually lead to an agreement in the Golden Bull 1356, that only certain Kurfuersten (Archdukes) were allowed to cast a vote for the new king. Also all kings after the Hohenstaufen dynasty had to maintain their power differently. Until Frederick II the Emperor had its own lands (Reichsgut) and own cities (Reichsstadt), but during the Interregnum these were taken from the dukes. Instead staring with Rudoplh I from Habsburg, kings started to rely on their own dynasties for support, which were much easier to control.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Habsburg Dynasty</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgB5tF133tSF_ehiKBoaCjdFDzoo_-z_slgUHqBT_M9CkvYQBOnsUuzvVLYefbl1xvU16671StL7e5gZds_9kF5vRGgEmunNzeJSTY2PdQt0FMLFYhu2m8ihxwdJqRa_mklF04FUXHSQI/s1600-h/Counts_of_Habsburg_Arms.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgB5tF133tSF_ehiKBoaCjdFDzoo_-z_slgUHqBT_M9CkvYQBOnsUuzvVLYefbl1xvU16671StL7e5gZds_9kF5vRGgEmunNzeJSTY2PdQt0FMLFYhu2m8ihxwdJqRa_mklF04FUXHSQI/s320/Counts_of_Habsburg_Arms.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265270700980264034" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />With Rudoplh I from Habsburg the Habsburg dynasty was started and the first to regain control over the empire after the Interregnum. Rudolph I thus gave the territories of Austria and Styria (parts of modern Austria and Slowenia) to his own sons for support. Another change under the Habsburg dynasty was that money increasignly took the role of duties and economic value and gained much in importance. Peasants were increasingly required to pay tributes in money for their lands.<br /><br />Although some attempts to make a constitution were made over time (Roman Law, Golden Bull), it was still largely unsettled at the beginning of the 15th century. It therefore proved fatar when the two consecutive kings Sigismund of Luxemburg and Frederick III of Habsburg neglected the old core lands and only concentrated on their own lands. Without the presence of the king the old institution of the Hoftag (an assemply of the empire's leading men) deteriorated. This lead to quarrels and even wars of dukes against each other within the empire.<br /><br />On the other side also the church was into a great crisis. Two competing popes were appointed and when this struggle was finally resolved in the Council of Constance 1419 a new Christian belief challenged the old Catholic rule with the Hussits, which postulated much attention from the church to be fought.<br /><br />This conflicts were overcome when Frederick III needed the support of the dukes for a war against hungrary. As a response to that the dukes and electors called for an assemply of all the electors and dukes which was later called Reichstag (a succession to the Hofstag, later also joined by imperial free cities). While Frederick III was afraid to loose power and refused to go to such a meeting, his son Maximilian I prooved more wise and participated the Reichstag for the first time at Worms in 1495. At this meeting king and dukes agreed on four bills called Reichsreform (Imperial Reform), which gave the empire back some structure: e.g. Reichskammergericht (Imperial Court), Reichskreise (Imperial Circle Estates, for common defense and taxes). This changes took until 1512 to be finalized, the same year the empire got its new and final name: Heiliges Römisches Reich Deutscher Nation ("Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation")<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><br />Reformation<br /></div><br />In 1517 Martin Luther initiated the Reformation and started a fire leading to the partition of the old Catholic Christianity in Catholic And Evangelists (Protestant). This changes going along with a political struggle for more power of the dukes, since the power of Emperor Charles V was declining, lead to the parition of the empire with North / East becoming protestant and South / West remained catholic. However while in Europe several wars were lead because of this new faith, Germany remained relatively quite from the peace of Augsburg 1555 until the Defenestyration of Prague 1618 leading to the thirty years war.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The Thirty Years War</span><br /></div><br />This became the worst German war until the world wars, where 1/3 of the German population was killed. The main conflict was waged on religious reasons, but of course the true motifs were the hunger for more power of the dukes. What made this war so bad was the intervention of foreign powers like France and Sweden who supported several dukes against the imperial rule, while taking large chunks of the empire for themselves. This war devasted Germany to an incredible extent, which it was never able to recover from. It never found back to its former strength.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Long Decline</span><br /></div><br />The actual end of the empire came gradually in several steps:<br /><br /><ul><li>The Peace Of Westphalia 1648 which ended the 30 years war gave the territories almost complete sovereignity.</li><li>The Habsburg Emperors became powerless figures, a name only and therefore concentrated only on their own estates in Austria and elsewhere.</li><li>The Swiss Confederation (which existed since 1499) broke off completely and became independent.</li><li>The Northern Netherlands left the empire and formed the modern Netherlands / Holland.</li><li>The rise of Louis XIV the sun king.</li><li>The dualism between Austrian and Prussia that dominated the history of the empire since 1740.</li><li>The French revolution 1789.</li><li>The conquest of Napoleon<br /></li></ul>At this time Habsburg emperors were completely dependent on the archdukes of Austria to counter the rise of Prussia. Throught the 18th century Habsburg emperors were used in various European confilcts as the War of the Spanish Succession, the War of the Polish Succession, the War of the Austrian Succession and so on.<br /><br />The empire was formally disolved 1806, after it was first tuckled by the revolution france followed by a military defeat against Napoleon. The last Austrian Emperor was Francis II, who abdicted 1804.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Successors of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation</span><br /></div><br />Francis' dynasty was able to maintain control over Austrian and Hungary until the Habsburg empire was completley disovled after World War II in 1918. Napolean turned the empire into several confederations he took control of. Later his rule was replaced by the German Confederation lead by Prussia which eventually developed into the German Empire. Liechtenstein claims to be the last surviving remnant of the Holy Roman Empire still having a Habsburh dynasty monarch ruling over the country.scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-37167119583166034112008-11-05T10:41:00.000-08:002008-11-05T12:24:20.055-08:00戦国時代 第二 The Warring States Period II<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpegxacHXeMyMlCYEEoR4shD6YSZoE9DovEx5Yjl8eZcVYYCPANS4wPU2ADhJUvzIox4XZ9EDhAwD9U5V3IUPS6gqDfXqBdkD2Y1iTAAZC9KPnBbOeYCr0lOGjeY2UD1aOElAjWjnE8s/s1600-h/img40810511.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpegxacHXeMyMlCYEEoR4shD6YSZoE9DovEx5Yjl8eZcVYYCPANS4wPU2ADhJUvzIox4XZ9EDhAwD9U5V3IUPS6gqDfXqBdkD2Y1iTAAZC9KPnBbOeYCr0lOGjeY2UD1aOElAjWjnE8s/s320/img40810511.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265263511362718290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Although I am back in Germany, there is some material left from my language exchange in Japan, which I will present you now.<br /><br />Last time we talked about the three big 大名 daimyo (feudal lords), who influenced the period the most ruling over most and eventually all of Japan. But there were more brilliant warlords involved in this time, who if not for misfortune might have taken the rule in their stead. Two of them I'd like to present to you: 武田信玄 Takeda Shingen and 上杉謙信 Uesugi Kenshin. The are most famous for their romanticized rivalry.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">武田信玄 Takeda Shingen</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTLoOsa2HeECraitqHpM9DrHRXh4F6RdfF7PDi7QWAKi0ZB4kNruh2cpJlcfL3ujU0jVcDA98LtPuh4xqe4DBSn0wgR5odf9ego6V2w9fO9XSWGg0WrPcPRAnUUOSdtvS25OwSKfHkIE/s1600-h/406px-Takeda_Shingen.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTLoOsa2HeECraitqHpM9DrHRXh4F6RdfF7PDi7QWAKi0ZB4kNruh2cpJlcfL3ujU0jVcDA98LtPuh4xqe4DBSn0wgR5odf9ego6V2w9fO9XSWGg0WrPcPRAnUUOSdtvS25OwSKfHkIE/s320/406px-Takeda_Shingen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265263508487640578" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Shingen was the first born son of the Takeda clan leader Takeda Nobutora. In his younger years he shone as poet and as military asset to the clan, but once he reached adulthood (after <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/01/coming-of-age-day.html">the coming of age ceremony</a>) he started to rebel against his father. It is thought that the reason was the plan of his father to name his second son Nobushige successor of the clan. However at the age of 21 Shingen succeeded over his father and took control over the clan.<br /><br />With a firm grip over the clan, he started to expand the clan's territory and aimed for Shinano province. With his strategic genius, though unexperienced he was able to score victory after victory and eventually took Shinano from the Murakami clan who fled and sought aid from the neighbouring Uesugi clan.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuLm3ZYyU73xxr9-ZMMEfGjdg0QIaGS61GouXUO_1CS8WW1y9FbReiI4w5gQOP97JHjV7MirTxmx0ftBjhVIzfR0G-LvN0JamZccH5Zp7ehEVOHgn61hjJTpApMhaaNrR3DskT8Ss97A/s1600-h/Takeda_Shingen_statue.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuLm3ZYyU73xxr9-ZMMEfGjdg0QIaGS61GouXUO_1CS8WW1y9FbReiI4w5gQOP97JHjV7MirTxmx0ftBjhVIzfR0G-LvN0JamZccH5Zp7ehEVOHgn61hjJTpApMhaaNrR3DskT8Ss97A/s320/Takeda_Shingen_statue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265263514300303026" border="0" /></a></div><br />With this move Shingen faced his next enemy: Uesugi Kenshin. The rivalry between both became legendary and romanticized in many stories. It was the clash between tiger and dragon, since Shingen's nickname was the Tiger Of Kai and Kenshin was called the Dragon Of Echigo. The clash happened in five chapters, where both men's forces met each other. While the first three were mere skirmishes, the fourth became an all or nothing battle, where both men lost a good deal of their troops. It is also this battle where Shingen is supposed to have met Kenshin, who was fighting through Shingen's troop with his cavalry eventually facing him personally. Kenshin aimed for Shingen's head and stroke with his sword, but Shingen quickly lifted his war-fan and was able to block the hit.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIUNzcbEwhx-VIvy7_AVECIhGdZNVxERhwcwTxg9tf7Vp30GxKLTwtRYCZP89JiF_mEOMrkRSnl2aI7Jfd3vrLpbfZDf_tu3iLmnSnzV8sBPszn7bsSje-jrPj2RAuzlUK9mMPnPGUus/s1600-h/Takeda_Shingen_versus_Uesugi_Kenshin_statue.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIUNzcbEwhx-VIvy7_AVECIhGdZNVxERhwcwTxg9tf7Vp30GxKLTwtRYCZP89JiF_mEOMrkRSnl2aI7Jfd3vrLpbfZDf_tu3iLmnSnzV8sBPszn7bsSje-jrPj2RAuzlUK9mMPnPGUus/s320/Takeda_Shingen_versus_Uesugi_Kenshin_statue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265263522311272594" border="0" /></a></div><br />After this battle Shingen had to recover his forces, which was made more difficult by how own clan, since two people including his own son, desired his power and tried to assassinate him. He uncovered their plots and threw his son into prison, but was weakened and only scored small scale victories, taking some area from Uesugi clan.<br /><br />After he had recovered he had to realize that next to Uesugi Kenshin, another warlord had emerged and threatened to conquer all of Japan: Oda Nobunaga and his ally Tokugawa Ieyasu. Kenshin realized that he was the only one with enough abilities to stop Oda reaching his goal and thus challenged Ieyasu's forces in Futamata. Realizing the strength of their enemy Tokugawa and Nobunaga stood united against Takeda at the battle of Mikatagahara facing Takeda. Despite of the power of the alliance, Takeda could win the battle even if not decisive.<br />Preparing to face them again in Mikatagahara Takeda died of illness in his camp.<br /><br />He was succeeded by his forth son Katsuyori, who was ambitious but not as brilliant as his father. After he could steal some castles from Tokugawa, Ieyasu and Oda united against Takeda and destroyed the clan's forces in the battle of Nagashino.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">上杉謙信 Uesugi Kenshin</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJu89OKFWvvbf9v3GAMI9ZY3X5dBzy0ZRfiB2yM-gZPhSMpoid49DJp7MUmcxwDX_YpR5PZH50Ylo8mAvF-u-860krtwczierBbsmX2liUvRuAcq6o5nT6JEYFxljAE9Tcu1pOnPFYd8/s1600-h/Uesugi_Kenshin.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJu89OKFWvvbf9v3GAMI9ZY3X5dBzy0ZRfiB2yM-gZPhSMpoid49DJp7MUmcxwDX_YpR5PZH50Ylo8mAvF-u-860krtwczierBbsmX2liUvRuAcq6o5nT6JEYFxljAE9Tcu1pOnPFYd8/s320/Uesugi_Kenshin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265263677309863874" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Takeda Shingen's rival Uesugi Kenshin's father Nagao Tamekage was an successful warlord in Echigo. However he was forced to face the Ikko-Ikki and Echigo's power dwindled under their pressure. Eventually Tamekage gathered all his forces and marched westwards, where Ikko-Ikki's forces ambushed and destroyed him.<br /><br />The death of Tamekage resulted in a struggle for power among his son's, which cost the life of the second son. Kenshin, who was only 7 years at that time, was given to a temple for receiving education and for being out of the line for power politics. There he spent the next 7 years by studying.<br /><br />At the age of 14 some of his father's followers sought him to claim power over the clan, as his ruling brother proved incompetent. First reluctant to face his brother, he was later convinced it was for the greater good of the whole clan. With the support of the clan leaders he was then quickly able to overthrow his brother and take control.<br /><br />His first move as daimyo was to strengthen his position in Echigo and bolster his forces. However soon leaders from the Murakami (and other) clans came to him requesting help against the advancing powerful warlord Takeda Shingen. Soon he saw Shingen come close to the borders of Echigo and decided to stand his ground against this enemy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRQNTvx5jo7ZUjpKTWNPj-MPHQzqH3fS8h2j8SbboWvWz5B-elThe5lMt57BnNqay3UA0Wx_xDtAubJfsOndYcNSJ3YdA01UaMaCRxHu4TteQgUsmvaUdFwlX3B_-XXuL30S4h-gxAkQ/s1600-h/Uesugi_kenshin03.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRQNTvx5jo7ZUjpKTWNPj-MPHQzqH3fS8h2j8SbboWvWz5B-elThe5lMt57BnNqay3UA0Wx_xDtAubJfsOndYcNSJ3YdA01UaMaCRxHu4TteQgUsmvaUdFwlX3B_-XXuL30S4h-gxAkQ/s320/Uesugi_kenshin03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265263529567284050" border="0" /></a></div><br />You already know how this battles turned out, so let me add that both lords were what we would call gentlemen. Outside the battlefield they honored their enemy and even exchanged gifts. And not petty gifts but the most precious and dearest items they had, like a magical sword. When Shingen suddenly died Kenshin is said to have wept one night long uttering never again to meet again an enemy so worthy like Takeda Shingen. More than that, he vowed not to attack Takeda lands in honour to his fallen rival.<br /><br />Kenshin was also seen as a highly religious man, which might be caused by his visits to the Shogun in Kyoto, where he always visited many shrines and temples. His next enemy after Takeda clan was to be the Hojo clan, which took control over the Kanto area. Although powerful, Kenshin was able to take many castles from them only failing in taking down the powerful Odawara castle, although all the surrounding lands were already conquered by him. Eventually he had to break the siege for his supplied were running low and retreat to Echigo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PHd-92Et-y1O3MrRgBSgD8szSv8YeD6cPeCDxF09jCITwY9N6-M08tVqkX-U6YBoHO_qg9tFJHrUA3EUq5ataeJCtUU3BRVqLTbSnAQRNZ_Z_tXA6fwb4flqA1BniJGl30CDuCqodhg/s1600-h/Uesugi_Kenshin02.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PHd-92Et-y1O3MrRgBSgD8szSv8YeD6cPeCDxF09jCITwY9N6-M08tVqkX-U6YBoHO_qg9tFJHrUA3EUq5ataeJCtUU3BRVqLTbSnAQRNZ_Z_tXA6fwb4flqA1BniJGl30CDuCqodhg/s320/Uesugi_Kenshin02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265263676102772146" border="0" /></a></div><br />Apart from Kanto, he successfully first mediated then intervened in a conflict of two daimyo in Etchu province, which he then took for himself. When daimyo Noto died, he also quickly took the lands of the weakened clan and had a considerable empire to rule upon.<br /><br />At this time, he had to consider the threat of the ever rising Oda Nobunaga. With Takea Shingen and Hojo Ujiyasu (the powerful ruler over the Kanto area) dead, Kenshin was the only one able to oppose Oda Nobunaga.<br />Coming to the same conclusion and remembering the defeat they had when opposing Kenshin's euqal rival, Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu gathered almost 40.000 men, the largest contingent, which has fought on Japanese ground then.<br />But despite their enormously overwhelming numbers, Uesugi not only defeated them, but was able to score a solid victory and Nobunaga had to retreat and fall back to Omi province.<br /><br />After this encounter he met the same fate as his rival. He was unbeaten on the field, but stroke with a horrid sickness which tore his health apart and eventually killed him.<br /><br />When Oda Nobunaga heard about Uesugi's death, he just said:<br />Now the empire is mine.<br />And it proved true, when Kenshin's successors fought a clan internal struggle weakening the clan enough for Nobunaga to easily take it over.<br /><br />You see that though Oda Nobunaga with Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi proved victorious, there were two men, which they never could have defeated on the battle field. Who knows how the Sengoku Period would have turned out, if not for the death of the two.scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-45554918917359046222008-08-27T19:09:00.000-07:002008-08-30T19:30:54.919-07:00Die Franken The FranksAs it was custom during our fairy tale exchange, I prepared a counter lecture on German history for Nakamura-san. He first wanted an overview of German history until the German Empire. So I started at the beginning, where instead of a country we had many clans, one of them was called<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Die Franken The Francs</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP637nAVW5lX-LUlmhZMuZpMFubNw_VbQvnpd1niyHCSrN0_WrOkvla5wU-9foLw-7wlrhpFFdwKSbFj_TIfSTtlRF_sT_AeAS58948AZ906WDWsAJYsm98kKwu0rnz58uhTQ9WqyTWg/s1600-h/franks.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP637nAVW5lX-LUlmhZMuZpMFubNw_VbQvnpd1niyHCSrN0_WrOkvla5wU-9foLw-7wlrhpFFdwKSbFj_TIfSTtlRF_sT_AeAS58948AZ906WDWsAJYsm98kKwu0rnz58uhTQ9WqyTWg/s320/franks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240500404377686226" border="0" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Name</span></span><br /><br />from ancient Germanic frankon (= javelin). Germanic tribes were often called by their weapon of choice. Compare to Saxons who were using a weapon called seax (= long dagger). The francisca (throwing axe) is another weapon called after the franks, since they used this weapon too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRblhpZ9jpDt3CpvxqvRMx3vV1eGEX-mf_PaULpqHCxi4D6QDydOkzo17q8gDvDAIzSqP6NxrtrsCerS__79o2w4J9Izr7xtZqDgBDDlPYgNJF_g15dgEC2i3Z_SS_7H7yjCq0A3T8EI/s1600-h/800px-Seax_with_replica.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRblhpZ9jpDt3CpvxqvRMx3vV1eGEX-mf_PaULpqHCxi4D6QDydOkzo17q8gDvDAIzSqP6NxrtrsCerS__79o2w4J9Izr7xtZqDgBDDlPYgNJF_g15dgEC2i3Z_SS_7H7yjCq0A3T8EI/s320/800px-Seax_with_replica.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240500405125326482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">a seax</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Origins & Mythology</span></span><br /><br />the religion of the franks was Germanic Polytheism. When the Roman empire started to intrude in Germanic territory, the pantheon was supplemented by the Roman Gods. Also once the franks learned Roman lore, they found themselves ancestors in the Sicambri and Trojans.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhQem9d34ksVcNHA4DJ8SWCmC0ZoWJa1fqT5pvPkttg2qmuwjIjDP9mOv_jXbx_1yYZYaLnFGGuQZL5fYk6Pmqs7W669GxnPql5owJec3RnyROO0siIZYQC3hRsPHDx0uDplF2xIEBOU/s1600-h/300px-Sacr_Gelasianum_131v_132.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhQem9d34ksVcNHA4DJ8SWCmC0ZoWJa1fqT5pvPkttg2qmuwjIjDP9mOv_jXbx_1yYZYaLnFGGuQZL5fYk6Pmqs7W669GxnPql5owJec3RnyROO0siIZYQC3hRsPHDx0uDplF2xIEBOU/s320/300px-Sacr_Gelasianum_131v_132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240500409760488770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Liber Historiae Francorum</span><br /></div><br />This was written down in the history book ``Liber Historiae Francorum'' (history book of the Franks), where 12.000 Trojans led by Priam and Antenor moved to the Don river (Donau), settled in Pannonia and founded a city called Sicambria.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">History</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unification Of The Tribes</span><br /><br />Scholars think the Franks developed as a multi tribe entity out of many smaller earlier tribes.<br /><br />Earliest written records are to be found 260 due to the first Roman invasion into Frankish territory.<br /><br />100 years later in 356 the first Frankish king (Salian Dynasty) enters Roman territory stays there and is acknowledged king by the Romans.<br /><br />By the end of the 5th century the Franks greatly expanded their territory now including the Netherlands south of the Rhine, Belgium and northern France. All the people living in these territories were merged into the Frankish tribe. This development gave rise to the Merovingian Dynasty.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYbRY49NoHjwo0dTwpkr7A46bqHwdiQAnW0i7o_tc838WIrGPkEffwyUd1jpEMZ5HVo-cWo7nVx2m_yYJn60o9DzyGb9lBInbtHWt_n3FVs4OOT7nhVtE51-dVWBahyphenhyphenvnqBjPt4tKsXU/s1600-h/800px-Frankish_Empire_481_to_814-en.svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYbRY49NoHjwo0dTwpkr7A46bqHwdiQAnW0i7o_tc838WIrGPkEffwyUd1jpEMZ5HVo-cWo7nVx2m_yYJn60o9DzyGb9lBInbtHWt_n3FVs4OOT7nhVtE51-dVWBahyphenhyphenvnqBjPt4tKsXU/s320/800px-Frankish_Empire_481_to_814-en.svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240500412325331986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">outline of the Frankish empire from 481 to 814<br />(click to enlarge)</span><br /></div> </div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Merovingian Dynasty (481–751)</span><br /><br />In 509 Clovis was the first to call himself King of the Franks (lat. rex francorum). Clovis' empire covered most of northern central Europe (Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands). However he divided his empire into four parts and passed them on to his four sons and successors. These sons again divided their part and passed it on to their sons splitting the empire into smaller and smaller regions.<br /><br />The successors of the sons however would sooner or later wage war against each other and try to conquer territories of the other. In this period three distinct powers emerged: Austrasia, Neustria and Burgundy.<br /><br />In 613 Clothar II was able to reunite the whole empire and bound the power to his person by cutting corruption and power among the nobles of the empire. His son and successor Dagobert I was still militarily successful but after him the royal authority of the Merovingian Dyntasy started to diminish.<br /><br />Finally in 751 Pipin the Short with the approval of the pope in Rome disposed of the last Merovingian king Childeric III, had himself crowned instead and thus started the Carolingian Dynasty.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Carolingian Dynasty (751–843)</span><br /><br />The Carolingian kings started to unite central and western Europe under what was knows as the Carolingian Renaissance. Despite all the wars and different ethnics, Frankish rule and Christianity proved a good mean to control such a large area. The culture in the Frankish empire developed quite differently depending on the region and their rulers and their aims. Although these aims were often different the same basic belief system and loyalty bound all of them to the Carolingian Dynasty. These ideas and culture were basically a mixture of ancient Germanic and Roman ideas.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Military</span></span><br /><br />Germanic people are known to have served in Roman armies since the days of Julius Caesar. However the Franks also kept invading Rome, which lead to confrontations of having Franks on both sides. After a successful invasion, it was only due to a tribe of Franks loyal to the Romans, that power could be restored. From that day own Franks in the Roman army were promoted to high ranks.<br /><br />Therefore Frankish at this time and later were organized just like the renown Roman army, while merging in German customs and bringing some innovations. Also serving in the Roman army showed the Franks that in order to gain power they must stop fighting as one tribe, and start fighting as one conglomerate of many tribes with equal rights but under their rule.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Early Days</span><br /><br />Roman Procopius wrote about the Franks in 539:<br /><blockquote><br />At this time the Franks, hearing that both the Goths and Romans had suffered severely by the war . . . forgetting for the moment their oaths and treaties . . . (for this nation in matters of trust is the most treacherous in the world), they straightway gathered to the number of one hundred thousand under the leadership of Theudebert and marched into Italy: they had a small body of cavalry about their leader, and these were the only ones armed with spears, while all the rest were foot soldiers having neither bows nor spears, but each man carried a sword and shield and one axe. Now the iron head of this weapon was thick and exceedingly sharp on both sides, while the wooden handles was very short. And they are accustomed always to throw these axes at one signal in the first charge and thus to shatters the shields of the enemy and kill the men.</blockquote>and his contemporary Agathias wrote:<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote>The military equipment of this people [the Franks] is very simple. . . . They do not know the use of the coat of mail or greaves and the majority leave the head uncovered, only a few wear the helmet. They have their chests bare and backs naked to the loins, they cover their thighs with either leather or linen. They do not serve on horseback except in very rare cases. Fighting on foot is both habitual and a national custom and they are proficient in this. At the hip they wear a sword and on the left side their shield is attached. They have neither bows nor slings, no missile weapons except the double edged axe and the angon which they use most often. The angons are spears which are neither very short nor very long they can be used, if necessary, for throwing like a javelin, and also in hand to hand combat.</blockquote></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Merovingian Dynasty</span><br /><br />Under the Merovingian Dynasty the Franks strongly adapted Roman organization and ideas of military and warfare. They even started/continued to wear Roman coats of arms and symbols. This is especially significant since it lead the army to not only consist out of Franks, but of many tribes like the Saxons, Alans, Taifals, Alemanni and later Burgundy.<br /><br />Under the king were the leudes, sworn followers of the king. The king had an elite bodyguard called truste (trusties). For day-to-day business he also had a normal bodyguard the puen. Later a new unit called levy was introduced. A levy consisted of men able to fight from a district and were a kind of early military service to the king (Origin of the English expression ``To levy troops'').<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Carolingian Dynasty</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSulRKdo59vkwp-_yjx9JxbWmodep0fdd6ZmY1faiZBtlaDPFq8wrxS47XgoAst8vJ9jZc_kjdf5GyozZNiOlKdtFTADZ5J1MuxNoVDGrJ_y6LQLkccPf3RmMxz2riJbeviG2i3QQwmc/s1600-h/newer_Franks.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSulRKdo59vkwp-_yjx9JxbWmodep0fdd6ZmY1faiZBtlaDPFq8wrxS47XgoAst8vJ9jZc_kjdf5GyozZNiOlKdtFTADZ5J1MuxNoVDGrJ_y6LQLkccPf3RmMxz2riJbeviG2i3QQwmc/s320/newer_Franks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240502068842746498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Frankish military outfit in the later Carolingian dynasty</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Language</span></span><br /><br />the language of the Franks was Old Frankish. But not many words of this language are still known. It evolved into Old Dutch in the low countries and was later replaced by Old German and Old French.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Religion</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paganism</span><br /><br />Frankish paganism was most probably very similar to German paganism showing many rituals and daily activities around the multiple deities. Their gods were worldly and had relations to things in this world, unlike the transcending Christianity.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Christianity</span><br /><br />The first conversions to Christianity were in the late 5th century with Clovis I in 496 being the first king to do so after marrying a woman from Burgundy. Along with him probably around 3000 of his soldiers converted. Also with the Frankish lacking aristocracy and gaining in power this development made them a good friend of the church and the pope in Rome.<br /><br />Although many of Clovis' successors also converted to Christianity it took as much as 200 years for the Franks to convert as a whole. Resisting pagans true to their faith were persecuted and executed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_Xi7_i2_esueCEwM7mEmjYzenjQ2HabmtPLaPSdKzVrQsynB4ZnV3X2GhRkBJx-nFl9X4_Sd8hfvN7g-tAtaNJPo5ZEc_Qq322tMVmkGJ6dFv8xaL4MokvVE5wvtPfijklMHnP8mcaY/s1600-h/Bateme_de_Clovis_par_St_Remy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_Xi7_i2_esueCEwM7mEmjYzenjQ2HabmtPLaPSdKzVrQsynB4ZnV3X2GhRkBJx-nFl9X4_Sd8hfvN7g-tAtaNJPo5ZEc_Qq322tMVmkGJ6dFv8xaL4MokvVE5wvtPfijklMHnP8mcaY/s320/Bateme_de_Clovis_par_St_Remy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240500413216048290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Baptism Of Clovis I</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Art & Architecture</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Merovingian</span><br /><br />very little is preserved of the Merovingian Dynasty regarding architecture and art. But there are some small baptisteries in South France, which are still standing.<br /><br />Apart from architecture some few pieces of art like jewelry or ornate weapons were found as burial gifts to the Merovingian kings.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJvBYL6esIpdBx2cUx5F6UgqB4ShIrBzRBX4MrId_pgUbnQhIBDUbw7Zxd-trKUr483aWO77xxu5XHxFOkJIfTfowR9yCSaSzZB_Phpuhbn9VSaVcW0-rOTNGoYHlBAWcTUuZxuJOShE/s1600-h/493px-Tr%C3%A9sor_de_Gourdon_04.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJvBYL6esIpdBx2cUx5F6UgqB4ShIrBzRBX4MrId_pgUbnQhIBDUbw7Zxd-trKUr483aWO77xxu5XHxFOkJIfTfowR9yCSaSzZB_Phpuhbn9VSaVcW0-rOTNGoYHlBAWcTUuZxuJOShE/s320/493px-Tr%C3%A9sor_de_Gourdon_04.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240500665581630578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Merovingian Goblet</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Carolingian</span><br /><br />with the Carolingian Renaissance came a great boost in art and architecture. One reason was that Charlemagne encouraged the arts and even imported foreign artists to promote the art of his empire.<br /><br />One example for the peak of Carolingian architecture is the Palatine Chapel in Aachen, Germany.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQlVzlS1XarAJRY5Q2n1R7vmY8JKg2PpEEKEQg-5jEwkwDUc4PxJY59a97Jcwd9dVilslKeMYatPAJGwSjEvR-AwuGBH9okAHyrLJxHhdaXbOGNVt2H3N9R9RlOLp5DjwdMJQrTBSAYY/s1600-h/800px-Aachener_dom_oktagon.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQlVzlS1XarAJRY5Q2n1R7vmY8JKg2PpEEKEQg-5jEwkwDUc4PxJY59a97Jcwd9dVilslKeMYatPAJGwSjEvR-AwuGBH9okAHyrLJxHhdaXbOGNVt2H3N9R9RlOLp5DjwdMJQrTBSAYY/s320/800px-Aachener_dom_oktagon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240500665732345490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Palatine Chapel</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-57970016284601442842008-08-27T18:37:00.000-07:002008-08-30T19:08:05.468-07:00戦国時代 第一 The Warring States Period I<div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SjXuk9WQtxvFwWQCu2Oz_ppmrjvtk1fj398J-FLADN5xdM0LY6ZBWWkDO1E5QCsMDkjVG05SpSd4vhMJzIg3bzFjfGxniMLBVMk_jArBFDi_r1QH_OHPBZRbE2U90N3Lk7CPG9e-fpI/s1600-h/img40808381.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SjXuk9WQtxvFwWQCu2Oz_ppmrjvtk1fj398J-FLADN5xdM0LY6ZBWWkDO1E5QCsMDkjVG05SpSd4vhMJzIg3bzFjfGxniMLBVMk_jArBFDi_r1QH_OHPBZRbE2U90N3Lk7CPG9e-fpI/s320/img40808381.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240495784996912354" border="0" /></a></div> </div><br /><br />Did you notice that there were no more new fairy tales told in my Blog?<br />This is because me and my language exchange partner changed the topic of our meetings from fairy tales to history, after we both noticed the others interest in history. I would narrate about German history and Nakamura-san about the Japanese. For the Japanese history we did not start at the beginning but in the middle in the 戦国時代 Sengoku Period (The Warring States Period).<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">戦国時代 Sengoku Period</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JXyIKFOa4ch1RqPKPCO0oKRA5pcyi7wA9DgClPwL5FCVBSs1zjp938Oob6T5Wd4YCHAej_Dk8xw3ATUlAfaW1XHwvgfpfoO1W9Tc3GYUUEnxH8eGbgKAsITeyHf2wZXKDKNP9jsep58/s1600-h/427px-Sengoku_period_battle.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JXyIKFOa4ch1RqPKPCO0oKRA5pcyi7wA9DgClPwL5FCVBSs1zjp938Oob6T5Wd4YCHAej_Dk8xw3ATUlAfaW1XHwvgfpfoO1W9Tc3GYUUEnxH8eGbgKAsITeyHf2wZXKDKNP9jsep58/s320/427px-Sengoku_period_battle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240495528773997474" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The Sengoku Period is the struggle for predominance over all of Japan from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. In this time Japan was basically in a civil war where power hungry 大名 Daimyou (Japanese feudal lords) tried to expand their territory of influence, where hungry peasants rebelled against paying taxes to a far away government, when their families are starving and fast developing trade and agricultural techniques and the trade with money instead of rice made the people postulate more autonomy. A war, whose outcome would form Japan until the 明治時代 Meiji Period, when an elected government replaced the rule of the Shogun.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">時期 Beginning Of The Civil War</span><br /></div><br />Before the Sengoku Period was the 室町時代 Muromachi Period (The Sengoku Period can also be considered the last chapter of the Muromachi Period). In this Period the rule over the land was in the hands of the 足利幕府 Ashikaga Shogunate. However over the years the power of the Ashikaga was dwindling and it escalated in the 応仁の乱 Ounin War over the succession of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, who had no children. This war gave the Ashikaga the final blow and many other influential clans started to act independently.<br /><br />In the Muromachi Period Provinces were lead by a 守護 Shugo, a military governor appointed by the Shogunate in Kyoto. When the war of succession weakened the Shogunate, other forces took over the provinces, who's rule was legitimated by military power and real estate, rather than government appointment. These men were referred to as 大名 Daimyou (feudal lord). Another reason for the dwindling power of the Ashikaga was that more and more regions started to rebel against unfair taxes and trading restrictions, when they were suffering under bad harvests. This cut the budget of the Ashikaga heavily and they found themselves unable to pay their subjects.<br /><br />As it was great men who sought independence and an extension of their clan's territory, the tale of the Sengoku Period is best told by telling about its three most successful Daimyo. Those were Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and finally Tokugawa Ieyasu.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">織田信長 Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582)</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z482yKF8sdiAuM8UBjUTuDwl19xSc7e1ZwYtIIvngmfUvgPvncn5JS-RmC4iuvek_XcBmFhBWDxI52uCtbafWD2qXjYPyQRWhQyiNBvRix5rA1kW62Imyos0dYuCNMYA-Ysy0a0yFPc/s1600-h/Odanobunaga.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z482yKF8sdiAuM8UBjUTuDwl19xSc7e1ZwYtIIvngmfUvgPvncn5JS-RmC4iuvek_XcBmFhBWDxI52uCtbafWD2qXjYPyQRWhQyiNBvRix5rA1kW62Imyos0dYuCNMYA-Ysy0a0yFPc/s320/Odanobunaga.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240495536273904114" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Oda Nobunaga lived a life of conquest resulting in one third of Japan being in his hands at the time of his death.<br />Nobunaga was born in Nagoya and was known to play with kids of lower social rank and not giving much to social rank. He also annoyed people with bizarre behavior when he was a kid. He even acted insane at the funeral of his father, which ashamed his brother so much, that he committed Seppuku to preserve the family honor.<br /><br />This lead to a fight for the succession, also Nobunaga was basically the legitimate heir. Many fractions tried to seize power over Oda clan, but Nobunaga proofed cleverer than they thought and was able to grasp control over the clan and thus over Owari Province. All disputes of his rule were forgotten, when he won the battle of Okehazama when his 2000 men were able to defeat 20.000 - 40.000 due to superior military stratagem and superior equipment (helmets and spears, sneak attacks, landscape well known to the Oda Clan, enemy weakened by alcohol (they thought their victory is assured and started to drink before the fight)).<br /><br />In 1561 he secured an alliance with an upcoming war lord called Tokugawa Ieyasu and they defeated the Saito Clan together in Mino. As a token of his power he renamed Mino Province to today's name 岐阜 Gifu (岐山 Qi is a legendary mountain in China and 阜 Zhou was a powerful dynasty in China). After this victory he went with the slogan 天下武士 Tenkabushi (militarism to the world).<br /><br />He continued to score victories and defeated the Rokkaku Clan. At this time finally a new man was established as Shogun: Ashikaga Yoshiaki. He started his military rule by realizing the threat of Oda Nobunaga and forming an alliance against Oda and Tokugawa winning the Asakura and Azai Clans for his side. His enemies increased when he raided an ancient temple of 僧兵 Souhei (warrior monks) and killed 4500 monks along with one of the highest regarded heritages of Japan. He did not stop with monks and raided many towns and villages killing more then 10.000 civilians uninvolved in any wars.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2O5GedKTcxbeb5SJTBfNHn8gOHvapvw7kMnai_zg945IXrdtCTpSVW0q8psaDQQh873fUsgEZYSYgKvOLySJmGd0F0DLEUzyqWS9i6x0wieF9PeWxAcvGVJ_FmB9C1dRzoyLIv7Y7qpg/s1600-h/Yamabushi2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2O5GedKTcxbeb5SJTBfNHn8gOHvapvw7kMnai_zg945IXrdtCTpSVW0q8psaDQQh873fUsgEZYSYgKvOLySJmGd0F0DLEUzyqWS9i6x0wieF9PeWxAcvGVJ_FmB9C1dRzoyLIv7Y7qpg/s320/Yamabushi2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240495778577133026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">僧兵 Souhei Warrior Monk</span><br /></div><br />In the years following 1572 he continuously clashed with the very successful Takeda Clan with no side being able to score a distinctive victory. However on the other front he could severely weaken the Asakura Azai Alliance. He developed a new strategy for using the new slow loading but powerful rifles (arabesque) by forming three lines of people. The first lines shoots, the second lines aims and the third lines reload. Lines in front of back lines will duck in the case of shooting. With this strategy many victories were won.<br /><br />In 1577 he lost a battle against Uesugi Kenshin, but then won against Takeda Shingen (ironically Uesugi Kenshin's archenemy, in 1577. In 1582 his clan scored a decisive victory and conquered Osaka. However at the verge of victory they called for his help, maybe to give him the honor of winning the fight, maybe to let him be the first to enter Osaka Castle, maybe to show off that he is not needed or maybe even as an attempt to usurp his power. No matter the reason Oda Nobunaga set out for Osaka and knowing the region to be his territory he traveled light without many people to guard him. When he made halt at Honnoji temple to pray for military success he was ambushed by an assassination party. He fought them bravely, but lost and was allowed to commit Seppuku to preserve his honor...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpr1WTmkLymxGgvjQO3Ci4Y3G3IuktYHMzGHV3QG6lGhN1tW8klDSsvy3tFFadd5TV-B_i4ZF8jpSAVAYQUvO7B0XwRYRi4gIMDukVA20cLFZZ6cBTFFxk1abufoOc1T_qqRaYmIhTwk/s1600-h/Azuchimomoyama-japan.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpr1WTmkLymxGgvjQO3Ci4Y3G3IuktYHMzGHV3QG6lGhN1tW8klDSsvy3tFFadd5TV-B_i4ZF8jpSAVAYQUvO7B0XwRYRi4gIMDukVA20cLFZZ6cBTFFxk1abufoOc1T_qqRaYmIhTwk/s320/Azuchimomoyama-japan.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240495535670198418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Japan after Oda Nobunaga's rule<br />(click to enlarge)</span><br /></div><br />In his lifetime he modernized Japan's army significantly both in equipment, as well as in warfare strategy and organization combining pikes, firearms, iron lead ships and castle fortifications. The army was now organized by skill and ability rather than social rank, which increased its efficiency enormously. Also he gave measured and gave land by rice output and allowed for a rather free economy system called 楽死楽座 Rakushirakuza, the people rebelling to the Ashikaga Shogunate has wished for. He benefited more from it, because with that the economy was thriving and produced much more output. Under his rule also arts like the tea ceremony, gardening, theater and architecture blossomed. He also allowed for Jesuit missionaries in his territories, with brought a lot of knowledge and trading goods, apart from the Christian religion.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">豊臣秀吉 Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 - 1598)</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPXcjAscZB68e4ZYuVJK_D06oTyjkZcBLyTlLF1Umda_Dvtl0lNxKcBULRI-O5rJsiUSsKU2jN8eAneSjQNkJynHZfNojIJxw_QGHo16YgnfJhl8jpdoQwp_CDdrgb6_Je3YaTigLREI/s1600-h/Toyotomi_hideyoshi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPXcjAscZB68e4ZYuVJK_D06oTyjkZcBLyTlLF1Umda_Dvtl0lNxKcBULRI-O5rJsiUSsKU2jN8eAneSjQNkJynHZfNojIJxw_QGHo16YgnfJhl8jpdoQwp_CDdrgb6_Je3YaTigLREI/s320/Toyotomi_hideyoshi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240495778232271314" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Succeeding Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi was the first Daimyo who unified Japan under his rule. He is seen as the second great unifier of all Japan.<br />Against the plans of his parents he choose a life of adventure over temple life. He is reported to have had a rare defection which gave him two thumbs on the right hand. Born in Nagoya he served under Oda Nobunaga in the Oda Clan in Owari Province.<br /><br />He rose in ranks and helped to win the fateful battle of Okehazama for Oda Nobunaga. Afterwards he had his own army under his control and in order to secure borders with Sunomata, he initiated repairs to a border castle. According to legend, he even built another castle in between the riverbed separating Sunomata from Owari over night, which allowed him to attack and conquer Sunomata. He also proved to be an excellent negotiator and bribed many important characters from the Saito Clan to change sides.<br /><br />After his next victory at Inabayama Castle, he was promoted to General over Oda's army. After that he and Oda Nobunaga joined forces with Tokugawa Ieyasu and won the Battle of Anegawa 1570. In reaction to the alliance between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga, an Ashikaga Shogun alliance consisting out of the Azai and Asakura Clans was formed. However 1573 Toyotomi Hideyoshi lead a successful campaign against both clans and was rewarded with becoming the Daimyo of Omi Province. He used his own region to produce modern firearms, upgrading existing factories.<br /><br />1582 Toyotomi succeeded in the Battle of Akechi and took Osaka. However when he sent for Oda Nobunaga, Nobunaga was assassinated on the way to Osaka (see above). A war for the succession of the Oda Clan broke out. Toyotomi first supported Nobunaga's youngest son, while provoking the elder ones. This escalated in a battle, where he was able to defeat them and seize control over the Oda Clan.<br />A the height of his power, he now decided to become official Shogun, but the Tenno did not give in and rejected his pleadings. In 1587 he continued his conquest conquering Shikoku, Etchu and Kyushu, seizing most of Japan. After his victories he began to reduce the armament of the people declaring that only Samurai are allowed to carry weapons. He also banned Christian Missionaries, who his predecessor supported, fearing their influence.<br /><br />1590 he found a peaceful way to end peasant revolts by gathering their weapons but melting the iron and using it to build a big Buddha statue for their protection. After the peasants calmed down he continued his conquest and sieged Odawara Castle, bringing an end to the Civil War.<br /><br />Starting in 1591, when he achieved the unification of Japan, he probably went insane or mentally ill and continuously felt really horrible bad decisions: the first was to force the highly regarded master of tea ceremony Sen No Rikyuu, who revolutionized the ceremony, to commit Seppuku. In the same year his only son died away, leaving him without heir and his dynasty in doubt. He quickly adopted the child of his brother, when he died one year later and named him his heir.<br /><br />Although he was physically falling ill, he decided to continue his conquest following dreams of Oda Nobunaga. Since Japan was conquered he planned to conquer Ming China and started with invading Korea. From 1591 - 1598 he thus waged an insane and brutal war against Korea. When Seoul was occupied, Korea allied with Ming China, which feared to fall to the invasion after Korea would have fallen. Together Korea and China could drive Toyotomi back until he finally had to give up the war in 1598. However no one has won this war, China and Japan lost the biggest part of their army, while Korea lay devastated in ruins. One third of the entire population had been killed or fallen victim to the upcoming food shortages, since Toyotomi's army burned everything to the ground. It was the worst war for Korea in history, much worse even then the occupation during world war 2.<br /><br />When Toyotomi gave birth to another son in 1593, he feared for his succession, since he named his adopted nephew heir. Going along with his increasing insanity he killed one third of his own family clan including his adopted nephew in a blood rage. With his insane commands and actions increasing and the war in Korea lost and the Oda Clan's army shattered and broken, the power of Japan could easily taken by someone who was laying in wait to grasp it all the time: Tokugawa Ieyasu.<br /><br />However his rule brought Japan much progress: He gave some peace to the country by forbidding arms, except for Samurai. He increased the power of his army, by refraining Samurai from menial labor and supporting them with real estate. He made the first census in Japanese history to see how many men and women he had in his country. Following this knowledge he could develop an effective powerful taxation system, with which he could eventually finance his insane war against Korea and China. He also banned slavery to get more capable man and, before he had fallen insane, made a big impact in the tea ceremony and let it prosper.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">徳川家康 Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543 - 1616)</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjzXQ0mXhLS8kG5nYSp1jcvXH8uco0XzOW3VO8v2tTBjMuZgsqMEq-SRYYSd6BWTdmVQDRZBQ7wpVcjQnRUTZ-tpnrtB0e1JWS5t4lZrR_1m4XZTzDcYC1RT0-nf7lWyfrh9cVbryIZU/s1600-h/575px-Tokugawa_Ieyasu.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjzXQ0mXhLS8kG5nYSp1jcvXH8uco0XzOW3VO8v2tTBjMuZgsqMEq-SRYYSd6BWTdmVQDRZBQ7wpVcjQnRUTZ-tpnrtB0e1JWS5t4lZrR_1m4XZTzDcYC1RT0-nf7lWyfrh9cVbryIZU/s320/575px-Tokugawa_Ieyasu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240495531169245490" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The last of the three great Sengoku Daimyo, which ended the Sengoku time for good and established a stable Shogunate, which was able to last for 250 years.<br /><br />His birthplace and home is the province Mikawa. He was born as son and heir of the Matsurada Clan's Daimyo. However when he was only six years old the Matsurada Clan split into two fractions, one in favor of allying with the rising Oda Clan and the other in favor of the powerful Imagawa Clan. When Oda Clan invaded Mikawa, Ieyasu's father asked the Imagawa Clan for help. They agreed, but required him to send his son as hostage, as was custom. Oda Nobuhide (Oda Nobunaga's father) heard of this plan and kidnapped Ieyasu first. He then threatened Matsuradai Clan with killing Ieyasu if he would not switch allegiance to Oda Clan. Ieyasu's father refused and sacrificed his son to Oda in order to proof loyalty with Imagawa Clan. Despite that act, Nobuhide decided to keep Ieyasu alive for now.<br /><br />Suddenly both Ieyasu's father and Nobuhide died of sickness (epidemic), and Imagawa Clan saw its chances in a weak Oda Clan and lay siege to their castle in Owari Province. Oda Nobunaga, Nobuhide's second son, offered Ieyasu in exchange for an end of the siege. Imagawa seeing in Ieyasu a future allied leader of the Matsurada Clan accepted and ended the siege. Thus Ieyasu grew up within Imagawa Clan being trained for leading Matsurada Clan.<br /><br />When he came of age in 1556, he was allowed to return to Mikawa and take control over his clan. Imagawa turned Matsurada's army over to Tokugawa and told him "go out and fight Oda Clan". He won his first battle in Terabe and won valuable supplied for his troops.<br />1560 Oda Clan's dispute for leadership ended with Oda Nobunaga seizing control over the clan. Nobunaga was a brilliant stratagem and saw immediately the threat of the powerful Imagawa Clan and started a campaign to defeat the clan. It peaked in the Battle Of Okehazama where a mere 2000 men of his were defeated 20.000 of Imagawa Clan's men, by superior tactics and equipment. During the battle Ieyasu held a castle at the border to Owari province and was not involved. After this battle Tokugawa Ieyasu saw Oda Nobunaga's incredible military skills and decided to secretly ally with him. Secrecy was necessary, because his wife and son were held prisoner in Imagawa Clan's castle.<br /><br />Thus his first act as Nobunaga ally was to siege the weakened Imagawa Clan's castle and easily get back his wife and son in exchange for the wife and daughter of the Imagawa Daimyo, which he captured. His next step was to fortify his position in Mikawa and prepare his troops. supplying them with new weapons and training them with new tactics. He also strengthened his position in Mikawa province by giving castles and real estate to key vassals of his trust (e.g. Hattori Hanzo).<br /><br />In the years following 1568, while remaining loyal to Oda Nobunaga and supporting his wars, he also expanded his own territory of influence having built up a small but powerful army. He longed for the still weakened Imagawa Clan's territory and allied with another brilliant stratagem Takeda Shingen,leader of Takeda Clan. Together they were able to defeat the remaining Imagawa Clan and split their territory among themselves.<br /><br />However 1570 Ieyasu longing for the whole territory, ended the alliance with Takeda Shingen and established an alliance with Takeda Shingen's eternal rival Uesugi Kenshin, a just as brilliant military leader. However knowing Shingen's capability he did not attack right away but help his ally Oda Nobunga in fighting Asakura and Azai Clans, which formed an Anti-Oda alliance around the weak Ashikaga Shogun.<br /><br />Ieyasu was clever not to attack Takeda Shingen, but his switching alliance to Uesugi Kenshin angered Takeda Shingen and now he attacked Ieyasu 1571. Despite of sending for and receiving help from Oda Nobunaga, Takeda Shingen's military genius was able to destroy Tokugawa's entire army down to six men, including Tokugawa himself. It took Tokugawa four years to build up a new army, but when he was able to wage war again, luck stoke him, when Takeda Shingen died in a siege 1573 and was succeeded by his less genius son Katsuyori. Still his army was still trained and used to fight with Shingen's tactics and seeing Tokugawa's new army, Takeda Clan stroke again. This time Oda Nobunaga, worrying about his loyal ally came himself with 30.000 men and crushed Takeda Clan down to a small size. Now Tokugawa's small army matched Takeda's and they dealt each other many fierce but indecisive blows for seven years.<br /><br />1582 Oda Nobunaga decided to put an end to the quarrelsome Takeda Clan and for a third time an Oda/Tokugawa force attacked Takeda Clan and this time annihilating the entire clan forcing Katsuyori and his family to Seppuku, conquering Kai province. After this victory Oda returned to Osaka to see another victory of his army, but he was assassinated on the way and a struggle for the succession of the Oda Clan started. Oda Mitsuhide saw Tokugawa as the biggest threat for the succession and decided to assassinated him, yet by clever disguise and much luck Tokugawa managed to flee from Kai Province back to his fortress in Mikawa. When he gathered his forces and prepared to march to Osaka, kill Mitsuhide and seize control of Oda Clan, he saw that he was too late. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Oda Nobunaga's most capable generals, already did the job for him.<br /><br />With Nobunaga's death, some of the provinces ruled by new vassals of him were very disputed. Tokugawa grasped the chance and moved his gathered army back to Kai instead of Osaka and seized control of the province. However with the powerful Takeda Clan gone, another powerful Clan became interested in Kai and attacked Tokugawa newly established rule: The Hojo Clan from Kanto region. Realizing his chances against the huge army, Tokugawa avoided battle and fought back with diplomacy. He succeeded in ending up in an agreement that left him both with Kai and Shinano Province, while Hojo Clan took Kazusa.<br /><br />1584 Having his east borders secured by a contract with the powerful Hojo clan, he turned his eyes back westwards to Osaka, Owari and the Oda Clan. The struggle for succession was not decided yet and Tokugawa decided to throw in his lot with Nobunaga's eldest son Nobukatsu. A mistake since right after that Toyotomi Hideyoshi seized control of the entire clan annihilating Nobukatsu and almost Tokugawa. This is the only time when two of the three great warlords battled each other. At the first stage Tokugawa scored a victory against Owari castle, but then months of fruitless skirmishes followed, until he had to recede to diplomacy and a truce and alliance was called at the cost of giving his second son to Toyotomi for adoption. (He had to kill his wife and his first son, after they were accused of being involved with the assassination of Oda Nobunaga). Being left with only his third son, he named Hidetada his heir.<br /><br />After that five years of deep understandable mistrust between Toyotomi and Ieyasu kept both apart from each other, meaning that Tokugawa was not involved in Toyotomi conquering Shikoku and Kyushu. With Kyushu, Shikoku and Kansai under Toyotomi's control, only the eastern Hojo Clan was left to oppose his rule over entire Japan. 1590 after the five years, Toyotomi was able to trust Tokugawa again and both of them prepared for the final battle attacking and sieging many of Hojo's castle with 160.000 + 30.000 men. When the Hojo main castle in Odawara lay under siege, the Daimyo saw that he had no chance winning against an army that large and surrendered committing Seppuku. Right before the end of the final battle Toyotomi still being afraid of Ieyasu challenged him with a powerful proposal: Tokugawa would obtain all of Hojo's eight provinces in Kanto, but needed to give up all his six established provinces including his home province Mikawa. Tokugawa accepted.<br /><br />This was a courageous move, since it meant Tokugawa had to leave most of his trusted people and familiar places behind to move into enemy Hojo territory and hope to the loyalty of a clan he betrayed and then helped getting defeated. However his courage bore fruits, because he soon was able to win the Hojo Samurai's favor and improved Kanto's economy and infrastructure significantly. The most important fact was that Kanto was naturally isolated from Japan and hardly accessible. This left Tokugawa with almost complete independence of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A Japanese proverb goes like this: "Tokugawa Ieyasu won the country by retreating".<br /><br />1592 having conquered Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi went megalomaniac and planned to conquer Ming China. As a first step in his mad plan he invaded Korea with his entire force. One year later he summoned Ieyasu to Kyushu to serve as military advisor, but Ieyasu kept his Kanto region out of this insane war and successfully relied on his sons and trusted vassals to further improve Kanto region during his absence.<br /><br />1598 with Korea burned to ashes and his troops reduced, demolished and retreating Toyotomi's health was also dwindling. He saw his end coming and feared for his succession, since he killed a third of his family in an insanity outrage, which left his five year old son Hideyori as the only heir. Thus he summoned the five most powerful Daimyo of Japan to his bed and formed the Council of the five elders, who should rule for his son, until he would have grown older and take control himself. The five elders were: Maeda Toshii, Mori Terumoto, Ukita Hidei, Uesugi Kagehatsu and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Then he died.<br /><br />With Toyotomi Hideyoshi dead and his army crushed Tokugawa started to look at Kansai again. But he also established first diplomatic relations to Mexico and New Spain. Now he started to make alliances with various Daimyo around Japan, especially picking those who had no love for the deceased Hideyoshi. The he waited for a chance.<br /><br />1599 One year later the chance came with Maeda Toshii died naturally and leaving a power leak. Tokugawa reacted quickly and seized Fushimi and little Hideyori in Osaka castle. The three remaining elders were outraged and prepared for war. The powerful Daimyo Ishida Mitsunari, while not being an elder, longed for Tokugawa's position and planned an assassination. However Tokugawa's generals spies got message of the attempt and stopped him almost killing him. In the last moment he was saved by Tokugawa Ieyasu, how ordered his generals to let him go. This decision is highly disputed and the best explanation is that Ieyasu foresaw that Mitsunari would lead the enemy army against him and he realized that he was an incapable stratagem and thus wished him to lead the enemy army. Foreseen or not, that is what happened: Mitsunari gathered the three remaining elders and formed a huge army in the pro Mitsunari Fraction, while Tokugawa's alliances bore fruits and an anti Mitsunari Fraction formed around Tokugawa, Date, Mogami, Satake and Maeda Clans.<br /><br />1600 Tokugawa succeeded in defeating Uesugi Clan, while Mitsunari took Kyoto and Fushimi from Tokugawa. The war peaked in Japan's biggest battle: The Battle Of Sekigahara with 160.000 men clashing into each other. Tokugawa's assumption proved right and with Mitsunari leading the enemy army, Tokugawa could score a complete victory over Mitsunari's Fraction crushing the entire western block of Japan and ending up being the ruler of entire Japan. His first action was to execute important western Daimyo like Mitsunari and the the remaining two elders, replacing them with his own vassals.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizlodP1wVQ7mKsYPszAuEnSPYZCEKs3n2fW11_Y-gzE6MchghH6pwAC4z_PCKrN6DXrORreXnvUknLW6mPEDMDLnLnSz88HigO1kZFLtb3o6lCUEYnkCXobl2YSrGS7TRmeMv-mZkF_8/s1600-h/Sekigaharascreen.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizlodP1wVQ7mKsYPszAuEnSPYZCEKs3n2fW11_Y-gzE6MchghH6pwAC4z_PCKrN6DXrORreXnvUknLW6mPEDMDLnLnSz88HigO1kZFLtb3o6lCUEYnkCXobl2YSrGS7TRmeMv-mZkF_8/s320/Sekigaharascreen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240495541026953554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">depiction of the battle of Sekigahara</span><br /></div><br />1603 Tokugawa officially received the title Shogun from Tenno Go-Yozei starting the 250 years lasting Tokugawa Shogunate. In the end he outlasted all the great men of his time: Oda Nobunaga, Takeda Shingen, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Uesugi Kenshin and established the third of the three great Shogunates after Minamoto and Ashikaga.<br /><br />1605 Tokugawa officially gave the title of Shogun to his son Hidetada, but in fact remained in power until his death. As retired Shogun, Ieyasu became 大御所 Ogosho Ieyasu (Cloistered Shogun). Remaining in power her supervised the construction of Edo castle, Japan's biggest castle ever, retired to Sunpu and established trading relations to the Netherlands and Spain. He also employed the English pilot Adam Williams for forming international relations with Spain and the Catholic Church.<br /><br />1611 he visited the coronation of the new Tenno Go-Mizunoo and forced him to rebuild his palace in Kyoto. Later he composed the Kuge Shohatto, a document which weakened the Daimyo by forcing them to annually reporting to Edo leaving their estates for at least two months and loosing a lot of money for the march to Edo and back (since they had to take a huge force with them, both for protection and for showing off).<br /><br />Having relations both to protestant and catholic countries Japan was falling into the Protestant Catholic war raging in Europe without doing anything. Tokugawa reacted outraged to this religious nonsense and expelled all Christians and foreigners from Japan banning Christianity and closing the country to the world starting the 鎖国 Sakoku (closed country) Period. Most of the Japanese Christians fled to the Philippines and build communities there.<br /><br />1614-1615 the last battle of the Sengoku Period was fought, when Hideyori, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's heir reached adulthood and posed the last threat to Tokugawa's undisputed rule over Japan. When it became clear that Tokugawa wanted to dispose of Hideyori all the Samurai disloyal to Tokugawa or hating him and his rule gathered around Osaka castle around Hideyori. When the Tokugawas ordered Hideyori to leave Osaka Castle and he refused, they went into war what was known as the Winter Siege of Osaka. A peace treaty was signed and the siege ended, but before Tokugawa's troops retreated they quickly filled the castle moats with sand. When Ogosho Ieyasu returned to Sunpu he sent another eviction order to Hideyori in Osaka castle, when his refused again he and Hidetada rallied 160.000 men and sieged Osaka in the Summer Siege. With the moats being filled with sand the Tokugawa troops could seize the castle and executed everyone inside including Hideyori.<br /><br />1616 Ogosho Ieyasu died of syphilis (or cancer). After his dead he was deified as 東照大権現 the great Gongen, light of the east, a Kami / Buddha, which came down to earth to enlighten all sentient beings. His shrine and mausoleum was erected in <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2007/08/nikko.html">Nikko</a>.<br /><br />Tokugawa Ieyasu was a remarkable character at times both careful and bold. At most time he was able to determine the strength of his enemies and avoided battles he might loose. He always allied with the most intelligent capable leaders and only failed twice: Ending his alliance with Takeda Shingen and placing his hoped on Nobunaga Nobukatsu instead of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In the end he waited almost his entire life for his chance to take control and the fortune let him outlast all the other four equally capable men, so that his chance finally came and now he could take the rule in his own hands. Not repeating the mistakes of his predecessors he worked his entire rest of his life as Shogun and Ogosho to secure the rule of his Shogunate and bring Japan on a path without further civil wars.scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-80011583665110806102008-08-25T08:32:00.000-07:002008-11-01T10:31:31.468-07:00レビュー:おーい竜馬 Review: Oi! RyoumaIn recent posts I told you more and more about the Japanese Revolution (明治維新) also referred to as Bakumatsu Period (幕末時代), which translates to "end of the Shogunate". You might think that I have studied the time from history books, but in fact I got most of my knowledge from a very excellent Manga, which I'd like to introduce today together with its main character:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">坂本龍馬 Sakamoto Ryouma</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0STFC1k5ClHol-2xFe6XYbaEsZectL8xUE02dn1ZmAa-x17QmpKZcAPPU_MgVx6LAumQZVHxG0QAl-f6_w0p0oaK86yi-NvP2BM7VRUKb8_3_VxizkKPLeDVpvRyNvtUNtjnD7p8AZTQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+815.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0STFC1k5ClHol-2xFe6XYbaEsZectL8xUE02dn1ZmAa-x17QmpKZcAPPU_MgVx6LAumQZVHxG0QAl-f6_w0p0oaK86yi-NvP2BM7VRUKb8_3_VxizkKPLeDVpvRyNvtUNtjnD7p8AZTQ/s320/Nishinihon+815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756887759112434" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The Manga features one of the revolution's main characters, without whom the revolution could not have taken place: Sakamoto Ryouma 坂本龍馬.<br /><quote><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(I quoted the following text from my <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/07/nagasaki.html">長崎 Nagasaki post</a>)<br /><br /></span></quote><quote>Sakamoto Ryouma was born 1835 in 土佐藩 Tosa Province (now 高知県 Kouchi Prefecture) on the island of 四国 Shikoku. In Tosa Province a couple of 上司 Joushi (upper class samurai) ruled with iron hand and Ryouma had to experience many cruelties during his youth. He was the son of a family of 郷士 Goushi (lower class samurai), which became wealthy in the Sake business. He was known around town for bed wetting until his adolescence, his bad writing and slow learning and was generally considered an idiot.<br /><br />When he witnessed how the 大名 Daimyou (feudal lord) or Tosa killed friends of him, because of showing improper politeness when he was crossing a bridge, his life changed. He sought for a way to have an influence in the world and change it and what he found was swordsmanship. His simple childish plan was to become the best swordsman of Japan and by that gain influence. And so he did, with the burning passion and motivation of dreams behind him. Also 乙女 Otome his bigger sister played an important role, always seeing a great man in him and personally teaching him sword fighting lessons.<br /><br /></quote><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvImAMjQ_2KZBMCII_By4lmoJlFALaoCgR_mGrr31B0POjhyphenhyphen3GIDwvUMJRq2oLuhy1dz4HdI5bsi4RhiJvZNc-dhrN15CFH40N_OyF4WY70sHUkFA2YpBtg2zeWP2dS5JJU2nWFdMrKcwF/s1600-h/Nishinihon+796.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320.001px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvImAMjQ_2KZBMCII_By4lmoJlFALaoCgR_mGrr31B0POjhyphenhyphen3GIDwvUMJRq2oLuhy1dz4HdI5bsi4RhiJvZNc-dhrN15CFH40N_OyF4WY70sHUkFA2YpBtg2zeWP2dS5JJU2nWFdMrKcwF/s320/Nishinihon+796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756474191396098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />his big sister 乙女 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Otome</span></span></div><quote><br />When his skill reached a high level he joined tournaments in Edo (now Tokyo), which he was able to win. By that he made important contacts and friends in Edo. When he returned to Tosa, childhood friends of him created a local branch of the 尊皇攘夷 Sonnoujoui (a league to expel foreign dominance and influence on Japan and restore the power to the Tenno). At this time he met 吉田松陰 Yoshida Shouin and his students and was inspired by his teachings.<br />He initially joined for a certain time until they started to kill important leading figures of the feudal political structure of Tosa and Japan using the slogan 天誅 Tenchuu (heavenly punishment). At some point he got himself into an assassination mission of an important navy instructor in Edo called 勝海舟 Katsu Kaishuu. When he was about to kill him, he asked him to listen to him first and then decide whether to kill him or not.<br /><br /></quote><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mXx7qveYO2nlBJVMDRLcf5PRkimUzN3YoNRJMFgQ7UHu9ZB-ihoyUZKQ5BnejQ-iO0yhKhUeJknG4WhLjrZl-Xd6fhw6UY3myo6cjQEwm8Lr02r6iOnErX0UF1ofJbbKL_6lhpFi3AlW/s1600-h/Nishinihon+812.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mXx7qveYO2nlBJVMDRLcf5PRkimUzN3YoNRJMFgQ7UHu9ZB-ihoyUZKQ5BnejQ-iO0yhKhUeJknG4WhLjrZl-Xd6fhw6UY3myo6cjQEwm8Lr02r6iOnErX0UF1ofJbbKL_6lhpFi3AlW/s320/Nishinihon+812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756879966920274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">吉田松陰 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Yoshida</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40"><span style="font-size:85%;">Shouin</span><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZEFHrOJznRNllIy18N5a8yk_FvocAV7pG8TAjocaxxFZXDTeMqTLweNQ141P8agTEgQHWXVmTOi2azhdQ8dsaJmi6r08g6pvgK5NZRsPfXJJSkCx3RzrBfiDvFXARW3rcFTVpXqlIP5A/s1600-h/Nishinihon+790.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZEFHrOJznRNllIy18N5a8yk_FvocAV7pG8TAjocaxxFZXDTeMqTLweNQ141P8agTEgQHWXVmTOi2azhdQ8dsaJmi6r08g6pvgK5NZRsPfXJJSkCx3RzrBfiDvFXARW3rcFTVpXqlIP5A/s320/Nishinihon+790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229755991494706882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">勝海舟 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Katsu</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Kaishu</span></span></div><br /></div><quote>Katsu Kaishuu was on of the visionaries of the time and foresaw that a nation wide Civil War would weaken Japan to such a high extent that foreign powers could easily turn it into a colony of slaved. He saw the only way out in learning western science and building war ships like they do, building relations and find a peaceful way to change Japan into a strong modern country. Ryouma was immediately able to see the wisdom in his words and shared the passion of his dreams and thus in spite of killing his target, he became his 弟子 Deshi (disciple).<br /><br />Together they worked on improving Japan's navy and acquired skills in how to operate steam powered war ships. They built a navy academy in Kobe, which became a place for free thinking, philosophy and dreams. The same as around Yoshida Shouin, the Kobe Naval Instruction Facility became a magnet for 志士 (shishi free thinkers and revolutionaries) from all over the country. At this time Ryouma was a 脱藩者 Dappansha (a person leaving a province without allowance by the feudal lord, a crime punished by 切腹 seppuku). Along with him many other people commit ed 脱藩 Dappan and joined Ryouma at the Naval Academy.<br /><br />Although Ryouma was nor formally working for the Shogun he was still in good terms with the 尊皇攘夷 Sonnoujoui and other 志士 Shishi. When he met 吉田松陰 Yoshida Shouin, he also formed strong bonds of friendship with 高杉晋作 Takasugi Shinsaku, and 木戸孝允 Kido Takayoshi, which would influence the outcome of the revolution. When he was visiting 京都 Kyoto together with his 先生 Sensei, he also eye witnessed the 御門事変 Gomon Incident and at this time also made friends with 西郷隆盛 Saigo Takamori. Because of these connections he was later able to convince the two hostile provinces of 長州 Choshu and 薩摩 Satsuma to form an alliance the famous 薩長同盟 Sacchou Alliance to revolutionize the country.<br /><br /></quote><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvklG8Y1LZgQhiHf4Ch9JYji1eIYCdNcScIfqHJ69vkevGw6kH9vECgSBq4SpznwN01KuFoB_cw3GTZjqyRtZN3lQ1sqca8b_VVLIfGbFRsMtukoGv3KmUQva5VMou53pUSIbfern9EjN/s1600-h/Nishinihon+813.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvklG8Y1LZgQhiHf4Ch9JYji1eIYCdNcScIfqHJ69vkevGw6kH9vECgSBq4SpznwN01KuFoB_cw3GTZjqyRtZN3lQ1sqca8b_VVLIfGbFRsMtukoGv3KmUQva5VMou53pUSIbfern9EjN/s320/Nishinihon+813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756884970523362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">西郷隆盛 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">Saigo</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">Takamori</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> from 薩摩藩 Satsuma Province</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNZ-4tyU8Nfd8O_6z2Ck9l9IIUaWlXJkrUvQTpIWja44RBFjBLoCu9J4yfx_YKZnln0oPmB9q8EN4vz0xc36imYgasxlvQYKAV0hSeL9EYCiwdMhQsgeKWVrXhA5Ez8kob3bZni2eYh76/s1600-h/Nishinihon+806.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNZ-4tyU8Nfd8O_6z2Ck9l9IIUaWlXJkrUvQTpIWja44RBFjBLoCu9J4yfx_YKZnln0oPmB9q8EN4vz0xc36imYgasxlvQYKAV0hSeL9EYCiwdMhQsgeKWVrXhA5Ez8kob3bZni2eYh76/s320/Nishinihon+806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756482683175202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and 高杉晋作 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">Takasugi</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">Shinsaku</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVDvBvCSHyRc3LK25ki3t_dXWgUmEnUiEWQVTqOF9Lf8Mt-JVJYdBrW0jc8nXBu9VBTzEX7oD8ApN7GWX5tA56tMIkC1lJTCWzDiQi4GfMWP682Njy7dc8T7shPtJnKGEyRpTsNntUVKK/s1600-h/Nishinihon+807.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVDvBvCSHyRc3LK25ki3t_dXWgUmEnUiEWQVTqOF9Lf8Mt-JVJYdBrW0jc8nXBu9VBTzEX7oD8ApN7GWX5tA56tMIkC1lJTCWzDiQi4GfMWP682Njy7dc8T7shPtJnKGEyRpTsNntUVKK/s320/Nishinihon+807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756492416727058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and 木戸孝允 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">Kido</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">Takayoshi</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> from 長州藩 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">Choshu</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> Province</span><br /></div><quote><br />After his protegee Katsu Kaishuu had to return to Edo and abandon the Naval Training Center in Kobe, Ryouma was on its own again. However by that he and most of the 志士 Shishi became targets of feudal lords again and had to flee. The found refugee in the 薩摩藩邸 Satsuma province feudal lord villa (like an embassy) where Saigo Takamori was residing. Having time to think about the future he decided to follow the ideals of his Sensei and form a company, Japan's first company, independent of political power. For that he had to move to 長崎 Nagasaki, the only city with an open port.<br /><br />In 長崎 Nagasaki he formed the company and named it 亀山社中 Kameyama Company. With some initial support from Satsuma the trading company prospered and brought Japanese goods as silk, green tea, spices and pottery to the western world in return for weapons and later war ships. Later he realized the significance of his position, and part of his success in forming the 薩長同盟 Sacchou Alliance was to promise to supply the Choshuu army with fire arms, while Satsuma would get rice from Choshuu to supply their troops after a bad harvest. After that he continued supporting the revolution by making his company buy war ships for the revolutionaries. Therefore at this point he decided that his organizations needed a new name and he renamed it to 海援隊 Kaientai (sea support troop)...<br /><br /></quote><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJoPUkC18I4YuUZbg-cB_T3RZ1uzEgA9-WPB31QJs9GtMgRXC-aZgDUpN01WL2UiyZd0QhEY6bmV1yKzpu8E5YNivE8SQZ9KaUm8Pv0PSA2vX6Jkk0n83pz-E7zqOUjJuljl7MzFEkrA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+798.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJoPUkC18I4YuUZbg-cB_T3RZ1uzEgA9-WPB31QJs9GtMgRXC-aZgDUpN01WL2UiyZd0QhEY6bmV1yKzpu8E5YNivE8SQZ9KaUm8Pv0PSA2vX6Jkk0n83pz-E7zqOUjJuljl7MzFEkrA/s320/Nishinihon+798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240339248279673906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">the flag of the 亀山社中 Kameyama Company</span><br /><quote></quote></div><br /><br />So far the quote from Nagasaki, but of course Ryouma's story didn't end in Nagasaki, directly after he founded it, he gave the Kameyama comapany into the custody of his fellow Shishi and returned to the political tables of the period. Although the Sacchou Alliance was agreed upon, the revolution was only at its beginning. Throughout the political games, his foremost goal was always to avoid a civil war and any bloodshed at all. As long as he lived he successfully found means and convinced parties to unbloody compromises.<br /><br />On a boat trip, all by himself he wrote down 8 paragraphs that would secure Japan's future as an independent country and a fair democracy. He presented the plan to the Tenno, who accepted it.<br /><br />一策 天下の政権を朝廷に奉還せしめ政令よろしく朝廷より出づべき事<br />二策 上下議政局を設け議員を置きて万機を参替せしめ 万機よろしく公議に決すべき事<br />三策 有材の公卿×諸候×および天下の人材を顧問に備え官爵を賜い<br /> よろしく従来有名無実の官を除くべき事<br />四策 外国の交際×広く公議を採り新に至等の規約を立つべきこと<br />五策 古来の律令を折衷し新に無窮の大典を選定すべき事<br />六策 海軍よろしく拡張すべき事<br />七策 御新兵を置き、帝都を守護せしむべき事<br />八策 金銀物価よろしく外国と平均の法を設くべき事<br /><br />1. Political power should be restored to the Imperial Court and all decrees should be issued by the Court.<br />2. Both upper and lower legislative houses should be created and government policies should be decided by this legislative body.<br />3. "Men of ability" from the former daimyo, nobles and general population should be appointed councilors. Traditional posts of power that existed under the Shogunate system should be abolished.<br />4. Foreign affairs should be conducted in accordance with regulations agreed upon on the basis of general consensus.<br />5. Rules and regulations created during Japan’s feudal days should be abolished and a new, modern legal code should be created.<br />6. Naval forces should be enlarged.<br />7. An Imperial Guard should be established for the purpose of defending the capital.<br />8. The value of goods and silver should be aligned with the going rates in foreign countries.<br /><br />He also proved very wise and clever. His goal was to establish a democracy with equal rights for all humans, and a equal distribution of power. However if the two alliance leaders Satsuma and Choushuu would fight and win the revolution, they would take the greatest share of the power and thus prevent a real democracy from happening. Thus Ryouma cleverly introduced his home province Tosa as a third party to the alliance. The alliance gladly welcomed them, but they did not know about the good relations to the Shogun. Ryouma and Tosa's representative used these relations to convince the Shogun to return the political power to the Tenno (as it was goal of the revolutionaries). With this move a civil war was avoided, but the Shogun remained as a fourth political power in the game and the Tenno entered as a fifth. Thus Ryouma always tried hard to keep a power equilibrium, while fostering the revolution.<br /><br />Eventually he moved from one political leader to the next and presented a sketch for a first democratic government to all of them. All five parties: Tenno, Shogun, Satsuma, Choushuu and Tosa would send representatives and build a common government. Although it was hard to convince Satsuma, Choushuu and the Tenno to give a big part of the power to the Shogun, they eventually accepted his scheme.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzY_PlrTwgq6DLJjLqw_dKEcsm14hsFNJ7xhLFiTGmYkkKQrT4vAV6OwePohWDCdVrVSrVOVkUJYC6D5G2sp518cQVKdZNltFIrDgq7Vw1xlQTLLr-OVYf9FTX85XKqQ2TLjcfviTcE3r/s1600-h/Nishinihon+809.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzY_PlrTwgq6DLJjLqw_dKEcsm14hsFNJ7xhLFiTGmYkkKQrT4vAV6OwePohWDCdVrVSrVOVkUJYC6D5G2sp518cQVKdZNltFIrDgq7Vw1xlQTLLr-OVYf9FTX85XKqQ2TLjcfviTcE3r/s320/Nishinihon+809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756861000875538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sakamoto was assassinated along with his life long companion and friend</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuympbclrj50Pah-iylLilX-bO2cchX3R6NJWLHgfZ4pemfQpGPBqRjq4-HNqID8_46ZDSuOV7zq9UYgJpBeIQhHbtHf1SrP1gMgEPBg_4-MeHYrNGkPJBU4bPoPykY8j_4hVPftJpNE/s1600-h/200px-Nakaoka_Shintaro.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuympbclrj50Pah-iylLilX-bO2cchX3R6NJWLHgfZ4pemfQpGPBqRjq4-HNqID8_46ZDSuOV7zq9UYgJpBeIQhHbtHf1SrP1gMgEPBg_4-MeHYrNGkPJBU4bPoPykY8j_4hVPftJpNE/s320/200px-Nakaoka_Shintaro.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229786934810831618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />中<span style="font-size:85%;">岡 慎太郎 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">Nakaoka</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">Shintaro</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br />Alas Ryouma was assassinated under unclear circumstances at last, when the revolution already seemed as good as done and the cities were safe again. After his death, probably due to his missing guidance, a small war broke out despite all his efforts. Shogun Yoshinobu decided to challenge the alliance, and fought with what was left of his forces. However with the political power having been given to the alliance the new formed national army, equipped with the newest weapons and versed in the newest battle tactics quickly won over the Shogun's forces. When Sakamoto's sensei Katsu Kaishu over that surrendered Edo to the alliance, the Shogun retreated with some remainder of his force and some unhappy Samurai to Hakodate in Hokkaido forming a counter nation called the "Republic of Ezo". However even this resistance was broken by the fast moving national army in the <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/08/hakodate.html">戊辰戦争 Boushin War</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_whsq9g-d5eFcqejF31ZoAhmsaLoNWM2lW8iX5kQlgS6e-i2m6agafiYT7DkW8JMd4RFmc2fZ-ubQm5mpgGKKyBLXMxLJMurI2zx1q2NgVFsLYwd2M_hwD21O40saunJQzbRdn_oLt9U/s1600-h/img_3792.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_whsq9g-d5eFcqejF31ZoAhmsaLoNWM2lW8iX5kQlgS6e-i2m6agafiYT7DkW8JMd4RFmc2fZ-ubQm5mpgGKKyBLXMxLJMurI2zx1q2NgVFsLYwd2M_hwD21O40saunJQzbRdn_oLt9U/s320/img_3792.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863614886133186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">戊辰戦争 Boushin War in 函館 Hakodate</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">坂本龍馬僕の英雄 Sakamoto Ryouma My Hero</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf73aHRveN6Qv2MQpkYpIhDgLjI65ik8G2nunuW6Ml8RRwJJb7pBScQ5SR4Xen5SbIMkZFp_zOPXZbrZqyJERQEZa-jAhfEnCH1DrA-UkrdGKuqJ7KkIqG46syt0RP1-h_vNEqA4JhWMZF/s1600-h/Nishinihon+787.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf73aHRveN6Qv2MQpkYpIhDgLjI65ik8G2nunuW6Ml8RRwJJb7pBScQ5SR4Xen5SbIMkZFp_zOPXZbrZqyJERQEZa-jAhfEnCH1DrA-UkrdGKuqJ7KkIqG46syt0RP1-h_vNEqA4JhWMZF/s320/Nishinihon+787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229755982112389410" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />He truly has become my hero and inspiration.<br />As an independent person, never belonging to any of the five forces, he always managed to negotiate between all of them and thus find peacful solutions to what looked like certain war. Also despite the objections of his fellow Shishi he never recommened himself as carrier of any political office in the new government, although nobody would have earned this honor more than him. Also the other forces, when he was representing the scheme, asked him to also take some office for his hard work, but he answered "All I wish is to sail across the oceans and visit far away lands, knowing that my home is safe".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmdfec6OpX9Du7NA3enOcY3kUh4yJGxnYijB6ysz6NxXye_VcWdHmoyLf_C0zKcf2RU-VDjJYp7K0ez6i__mVVHKGML5Ot8wb9OSXvyl4cA6zY7SIEpjnjg4cRWWZnqWWpAZ3CzjPXgY/s1600-h/05.10.10a.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmdfec6OpX9Du7NA3enOcY3kUh4yJGxnYijB6ysz6NxXye_VcWdHmoyLf_C0zKcf2RU-VDjJYp7K0ez6i__mVVHKGML5Ot8wb9OSXvyl4cA6zY7SIEpjnjg4cRWWZnqWWpAZ3CzjPXgY/s320/05.10.10a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240341748334174946" border="0" /></a></div><br />More than that he took more sacrifices than anyone at his time could imagine. His two best childhood friends Izo and Takeshi were captured and tortured for weeks in Tosa, until finally being executed or forced to Seppuku. Along with them all of the first Shishi of the 尊王攘夷 Sonnou Joui league, which came from Tosa, were also tortured and killed. All of this for the maintaining of an unfair social class system of 上司 Joushi (high samurai) and 郷士 Goushi (low samurai). The Shishi staying with him and running the Kameyama Shachu, his big sister, Takeshi's wife, and many more friends always grieved after their friends and longed for revenge and justice/satisfaction/revenge. Sakamoto deeply shared their grief and anguish and tried to support them as best as he could. However in the end, he saw taking exactly the Tosa leaders who were responsible for all the cruelty, injustice and bloodshed into the alliance and the new government, because it was the only way to secure a balance of power and secure a safe development for the future after revolutionary Japan. With this decision, which hurt himself more than anything else, he also procured the hatred of all his friends left on this world. To be capable of taking such a road, you need to be a hero.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">僕の道 My Road</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6YSp03gZWEY7FTA-0aGA1F3eGClcHnglJ4cKw5m-G4FZoHV9am-oyZgINbvwewdVYv15ihirBDawbVJzPE0d9nEuHVFY3vIKyt7GFp1T5uUwQ-izJzPLI33UDEHR4moqAxHfPltpWoA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+811.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6YSp03gZWEY7FTA-0aGA1F3eGClcHnglJ4cKw5m-G4FZoHV9am-oyZgINbvwewdVYv15ihirBDawbVJzPE0d9nEuHVFY3vIKyt7GFp1T5uUwQ-izJzPLI33UDEHR4moqAxHfPltpWoA/s320/Nishinihon+811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240340643689080210" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I myself am also thinking about how to bring the world closer to peace of more far away from war, how to distribute the world's wealth more equally among the people and abolish racism, class systems and discrimination. So goals very similar to those of Ryouma and he has become my inspiration and hope for taking the right paths at crossroads. To always take a path that does not lead to war and bloodshed and seek a path that does not give advantage to someone. But also to keep yourself humble and away from power, always smiling and happy and a good friend everybody can trust on. Thus is my road the same as his, let's see where it leads, and hope he will be a guiding star...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">おーい龍馬 Oi! Ryouma<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2gtBlzFhESZtU-J8P5H5hnErwbOP2q7Nh4lldlJfk0_e5VgyAGeXtDTW5hacSINSDi7DVjj8r5pLLQ3XO_h5dSwqHR36x4Xo-bg5nXIQaL1Rc8JAyfqh8H0SkPEoX-W11M7u8uLFJ2g/s1600-h/Nishinihon+799.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2gtBlzFhESZtU-J8P5H5hnErwbOP2q7Nh4lldlJfk0_e5VgyAGeXtDTW5hacSINSDi7DVjj8r5pLLQ3XO_h5dSwqHR36x4Xo-bg5nXIQaL1Rc8JAyfqh8H0SkPEoX-W11M7u8uLFJ2g/s320/Nishinihon+799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240339115317414002" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The Manga covers Ryouma really well and tells his entire life, starting from his childhood, where he was known to have been a coward, a cry baby and bedwetter unable to do anything properly, to his final days where his independent position enabled him to forge alliances and compromised between Japan's greatest leaders allowing his country to a bright future.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSha9f_7URC4Xc9DndwO3GuDD3sQcuwEI1hz7XioM3aLKlOgSC5ccFbKhwRNHg03fkresIpfztX8s-gHGyB9q1KSXQKV0RkovSJXtNN_rHCHQhRYHbHi9B96tVXvX1w8PHphjc-WpTnLs/s1600-h/img_1552284_40788952_1.jpeg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSha9f_7URC4Xc9DndwO3GuDD3sQcuwEI1hz7XioM3aLKlOgSC5ccFbKhwRNHg03fkresIpfztX8s-gHGyB9q1KSXQKV0RkovSJXtNN_rHCHQhRYHbHi9B96tVXvX1w8PHphjc-WpTnLs/s320/img_1552284_40788952_1.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240341754421291266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83" style="font-size:85%;">Sakamoto Ryouma with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">Takasugi</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">Shinsaku</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> and </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">Kido</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">Takayoshi<br />compare with the originals above<br /></span></span></div><br />The drawing style is simple, as is common for Manga, but shows a good variety of emotions in the characters faces. The characters are well worked out and quickly come to live in the readers mind. But they are also not ficitional and so close to the real persons, that you will notice them immediately when you see their real photographs. The Manga has a very good humor, that it probably shared with the historic Ryouma, and often made me laugh heartily. But it also did not fail to show the dramatic events that lead to Ryouma seeking a new world and a revolution strong enough to make me cry and grief myself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnAQKguJDqrYVJ79te6EVUykhkx1j2uG9b22ph_fYUasYBMn6xZ0mfw0vPFf8vJkX1vGavaoPrD0ReeWBCNaas4nONyJoidoRqf7yRQI_TQtclOxN2oJpWT1Hg81hCmQn9h9qHqCRKa8/s1600-h/img_1552284_40788952_0.jpeg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnAQKguJDqrYVJ79te6EVUykhkx1j2uG9b22ph_fYUasYBMn6xZ0mfw0vPFf8vJkX1vGavaoPrD0ReeWBCNaas4nONyJoidoRqf7yRQI_TQtclOxN2oJpWT1Hg81hCmQn9h9qHqCRKa8/s320/img_1552284_40788952_0.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240341747475869154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">reading example, click to enlarge</span><br /></div><br />Finally the biggest merit to the author is the amazing research he has done on Sakamoto Ryouma. The Manga can as well be called an excellent biography, as well as an excellent history book on the Bakumatsu Period. But in contrast to history books and biographies, it can do one more thing, it can bring Sakamoto Ryouma and his dreams, as well as the time he lived in back to life, which is so much more important that knowing some facts about history...<br /><br />You don't learn from history by knowing times and events, you learn from history by living through it.<br /><br />mikascallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-87225708944529676502008-08-23T00:32:00.000-07:002009-08-27T09:10:57.091-07:002008 G8洞爺湖サミット G8 Toyako SummitTraveling in Hokkaido I could not resist paying a brief visit to the where only one month ago this year's G8 summit took place, the area around lake 洞爺 Touya.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">G8</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-ZjF93huafxq77AFr0ixJf-vh34XoJEuUxc9XgDyaZZY4EZiZI7aEgPw7yr39Bybei0L4o6Ue95qU1UVsVsUl7ekOrZ7JKM6tQutbI2f2PSi0b9zpW-O99g0w3VByi7mx-6_WHa6dvg/s1600-h/toyako1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-ZjF93huafxq77AFr0ixJf-vh34XoJEuUxc9XgDyaZZY4EZiZI7aEgPw7yr39Bybei0L4o6Ue95qU1UVsVsUl7ekOrZ7JKM6tQutbI2f2PSi0b9zpW-O99g0w3VByi7mx-6_WHa6dvg/s320/toyako1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239841575287370210" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />G8 stands for "Group Of Eight" and was supposed to represent the eight mightiest industrial nations on this world. They are USA, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France, Canada, Italy and Russia. In addition to that a representative of the EU takes part.<br />13% of the world's population are living in these eight countries, they receive 65% of the world's national income, and control 45% of the world trade and more than 70% of the world's military spendings. They also represent 80% of the world's biggest companies, and hist the eight mightiest banking institutes.<br /><br />The G8 is like an exclusive club, invitations to other nations depend on the decisions of the eight members. Also like a club the meetings are informal, unlike a legislative meeting. One of the eight members takes president ship over the club for one year and is supposed to organize a summit in this year. This year the president ship lies in the hands of Fukuda, Prime Minister of Japan.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">G8 抵抗 G8 Resistance</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOetxpoQQkj6007cu0RzUUA_jGL2IXKmRgJ0MEFThUwceaWUq3dUkLw5v6rlJL6paeBkNLk44wKKL2XDl4WrLmwa3KspS6YQHhU92N5Rq0ickOIB_Wg9Qq9YlJwplTFomhtJ0ZMlVwhU/s1600-h/CGIF_10.preview.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOetxpoQQkj6007cu0RzUUA_jGL2IXKmRgJ0MEFThUwceaWUq3dUkLw5v6rlJL6paeBkNLk44wKKL2XDl4WrLmwa3KspS6YQHhU92N5Rq0ickOIB_Wg9Qq9YlJwplTFomhtJ0ZMlVwhU/s320/CGIF_10.preview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239841433798074386" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Most people I met don't understand why people protest against the G8 club, since in the news they hear that on the summits important topics like reduction of climate gases or reduction of poverty in Africa are discussed. That is why I want to give 8 reasons why people protest against the G8.<br /><br />1. G8 Are Fostering Poverty<br /><br />Yes this seems contradictory to "reduction of poverty" being always a topic of the summits, but in fact little is done to change the conditions. The biggest source of the poverty (next to corruption, which is harder to tackle) are the debts of third world country towards the G8. However despite the talking about "reducing poverty" not much of this debt has been canceled. And in fact most of the "Development Aid Funds" paid by the G8 countries end up being used to pay the interest on those debts to the world bank and thus flow back into the G8 countries.<br /><br />2. G8 Are Preventing Peace<br /><br />One of the high priority goals of the G8 is to get hold on resources. If other options fail, resources have to be secured by war. One example is the infamous "War On Terror", which is also a topic of G8 summits, but leads only to destruction, poverty and civil unrest. Another proof is that 90% of the world's weapons are exported from the G8 countries. The spendings on weapons in 2007 were 700 billion dollars, where in comparison 350 billion dollars would be enough to counter poverty world wide.<br /><br />3. G8 Are Destroying The Environment<br /><br />Again this stands in dispute to the topic of the G8 summits being "climate gas reduction" and "counter measures to global warming". Still the eight countries account for 45% of the world's climate gases. And despite of the talks about reduction of the last three G8 summits, no fixed numbers, no obligations, basically nothing but the general agreement that something needs to be done, has been decided.<br /><br />4. G8 Are Preventing The Combat Against Aids<br /><br />While another topic of the summits is how to fight the spread of Aids in third world countries, all that is done about it is to give some money to corrupt governments. However even that money that is actually used on fighting Aids, is spent on Aids medicaments coming out of the G8 countries and thus furthering the local economies. For a long time African countries try to make clear to the G8 that instead of money, they need the right to produce Aids medication themselves. However the G8 are unwilling to grant this rights, which would prevent the money spent on fighting Aids flowing into the local economy, where the medication is produced and protected by patents.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb97EjBwsPNfiYiBuqJ-h_YhkFQjH2v27oEVHnO7rO0A1Hc-VsKDZ56ghAT6bvcyVMmbx8zeKll-OoNVkcZp6gmn3Tm02PFSv8HDfBDpZAm5A1dHzECuTgR8lfSNZaC9K4ifxRn7a5-c/s1600-h/no_g8_poster_01.preview.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb97EjBwsPNfiYiBuqJ-h_YhkFQjH2v27oEVHnO7rO0A1Hc-VsKDZ56ghAT6bvcyVMmbx8zeKll-OoNVkcZp6gmn3Tm02PFSv8HDfBDpZAm5A1dHzECuTgR8lfSNZaC9K4ifxRn7a5-c/s320/no_g8_poster_01.preview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239841428076777890" border="0" /></a></div> </div><br />5. G8 Are Furthering Privatization<br /><br />It has always been an interest of the G8 countries to further privatization of areas like for example: health, education, and pension. With this receiving one of these services becomes dependent of your wallet and poor people are prevented from having the same health, education etc. than richer do.<br /><br />6. G8 Are Furthering Low Wages<br /><br />The G8 states have an interest in furthering profits of their economies. One of the methods they use is to play of people in one country against the people of another, to force them to work longer and harder for less wages and benefits. For that for example European members decided on a service policy, which includes these goals.<br /><br />7. G8 Seal Themselves Off Against Refugees<br /><br />One of the fruits of the G8 policies are a high number of refugees all over the world. There are more than 40 million refugees on this world. Many of these people long for the security and safety in the G8 countries. However, in spite of being responsible for the causes, they do not allow refugees to enter and live in their countries and send them back where they had to flee from.<br /><br />8. G8 Are Not Democratic<br /><br />While the G8 club only represents 13% of the world population, their politics affect 6 billion people. Another good example for them being undemocratic is that every G8 summit has to be protected with high fences, police and military and a ban on people on a huge area.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">G8洞爺湖サミット G8 Toyako Summit</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb1XuOSIaAFdrAxcYgNMtQz6g8wMZ6ZuU3uWAZTpkNNxalCHREGSGhyphenhyphen-I8eXU2yE2kj6Li_A7_nkU0Ns7i3tvgyrqjGEAQPTVX1EqU0nJQqYu5GK9bGelNInP6yKoiJ6Zwd3zma7atwI/s1600-h/img_3773.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb1XuOSIaAFdrAxcYgNMtQz6g8wMZ6ZuU3uWAZTpkNNxalCHREGSGhyphenhyphen-I8eXU2yE2kj6Li_A7_nkU0Ns7i3tvgyrqjGEAQPTVX1EqU0nJQqYu5GK9bGelNInP6yKoiJ6Zwd3zma7atwI/s320/img_3773.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239840671338861298" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The summit in Japan this year was no exception. The area of lake Touya was secluded from all people. Protesters were only allowed as far away as Sapporo and Ishikari. Only very few demonstrations have been allowed and only under very strict rules, like not more then four people were allowed to walk next to each other.<br />Harsh security checks were found as far away as Osaka and Tokyo, especially at the airports. People being known for being activists like the 74 year old Attac member Susan George was detained at the airport. Japan spent 280 million dollar on the seclusion of lake Touyako for the summit, more than twice of what had been spent last year in Heiligendamm in Germany.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSKBNps_JC3oIbHf_k6Lbr9HJ5xgRhDAWmPFMjF3lExw7SbEKcb4Og7rftyzlvjIVmmK2g8-XLx2s9HDSx5DKGS0Mt9ygZ_wsBnJawwNyXHYUP9rfd2Z3wBgHbAQfwSAlLijYorvMwVs/s1600-h/IMG_0200.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSKBNps_JC3oIbHf_k6Lbr9HJ5xgRhDAWmPFMjF3lExw7SbEKcb4Og7rftyzlvjIVmmK2g8-XLx2s9HDSx5DKGS0Mt9ygZ_wsBnJawwNyXHYUP9rfd2Z3wBgHbAQfwSAlLijYorvMwVs/s320/IMG_0200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239840678012880674" border="0" /></a></div><br />However what I disliked most about the way the police handled the summit security were these posters, which you could see all over Japan. They tell all Japanese citizens to keep an eye on suspicious people, which might go to the summit and report them to the police. With this move every foreigner has become a potential suspect, and every citizen a potential police informant. So they played the people off against each other in a really dirty and mean way. Also because with this poster they basically told the Japanese citizens, which don't know much about the G8, that all people who protest against it, are terrorists.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w8KFaxHfwZAaDOsJ6Zuo1I_SmN1-4L556l0rXj6BokXsWqsf2IGcLX32sqtZHOMN1EONr2NBwlRCEUSrQnc4W6iui15_odekk7EX-X8UvCm7MB_Nz-wGf-r30iOYxUtiwf6WGKRFX80/s1600-h/no_g8_pirates.preview.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w8KFaxHfwZAaDOsJ6Zuo1I_SmN1-4L556l0rXj6BokXsWqsf2IGcLX32sqtZHOMN1EONr2NBwlRCEUSrQnc4W6iui15_odekk7EX-X8UvCm7MB_Nz-wGf-r30iOYxUtiwf6WGKRFX80/s320/no_g8_pirates.preview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239841429496224178" border="0" /></a></div><br />Now what the protesters do has little to do with terrorism. This year they met in 80 events during the summit period and talked about how to really reduce poverty (release the debts), how to really fight Aids (allow governments to produce Aids medication) and how to further world peace (reduce spendings on weapons), which's results they would then present to their countries leaders. For Japan which is not used to civil protests, the summit protests events have been a full success with 5000 - 10.000 people attending, and the Japanese news covering the protest events surprisingly well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4K5l-7JV0sFXtcEgLUkko3L7KvA6oB1OYr8mZbtfMXE2sGtXIas3cp35gBKI4Hln6VDMhLXRSFJePfnMSatAHtzS_fCg-865D5vPx1KpIcXO_W7Vvd696yC2LdliYrGxKb_Lzhm0fmDM/s1600-h/impede_g8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4K5l-7JV0sFXtcEgLUkko3L7KvA6oB1OYr8mZbtfMXE2sGtXIas3cp35gBKI4Hln6VDMhLXRSFJePfnMSatAHtzS_fCg-865D5vPx1KpIcXO_W7Vvd696yC2LdliYrGxKb_Lzhm0fmDM/s320/impede_g8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239841432861781954" border="0" /></a></div><br />When I visited lake Touya and watched at the Windsor hotel far off in the mountains one month later, not much was left of the turbulent time. Still you could find flags and signs everywhere, welcoming the representatives in Touya and warning people of entering the secluded summit area. Also curiously enough the driver who too my hitchhike call and took me to here asked me the question: "Do you hate the G8 summit?" and I honestly answered "Yes."<br /><br />mikascallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-39312645737414029192008-08-22T03:48:00.000-07:002008-08-28T03:57:10.692-07:00レビュー:ゼルダ夢幻の砂時計 Review: Zelda The Phantom HourglassIt is time for another review, yay!<br />This time I will review a game, I bought: Zelda the Phantom Hourglass for the Nintendo DS.<br /><br />I love Zelda Games since the NES (Famikon) and I also enjoyed this one a lot, but the reason I write about it in my Blog, is because the game is very suitable for learning Japanese.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ゼルダ 夢幻の砂時計 Zelda The Phantom Hourglass</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR48UahHm-pBvVNpuK1xkGWdC7scmT-sYUEAyW2Q7LT3d4zdbhlcXdPxlN7EJE82s2dX-xLrcB4msY0K8MfKO_-eJxFl-tL0aFsBctHNXZ0urL3WPo3hG97trbqygczDPi4uGUJnxqWbU/s1600-h/61qGisoAyTL.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR48UahHm-pBvVNpuK1xkGWdC7scmT-sYUEAyW2Q7LT3d4zdbhlcXdPxlN7EJE82s2dX-xLrcB4msY0K8MfKO_-eJxFl-tL0aFsBctHNXZ0urL3WPo3hG97trbqygczDPi4uGUJnxqWbU/s320/61qGisoAyTL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239520341705755874" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gameplay</span><br /><br />The Nintendo DS brings a lot of innovations (or rediscovered features) as for example the touch screen and touch pen. Zelda The Phantom Hourglass makes heavy use of this feature and the entire control is made by using the pen on the touch screen. This gives the Zelda game a new touch and the player a new gaming sensation.<br /><br />While the sword fighting is mostly simply "tapping with the pen on the enemy" some other weapons like the Boomerang or the Bombchu make more use of the new control. For both you can paint a line on the screen which the weapon will follow if possible (if the line is not blocked by a wall). Also at several points you will be required to draw certain patterns you got explained before or saw before on the screen. But one of the coolest features is, that you can make notes right on you maps. You can mark important areas or connect certain way points to form patterns (the X marks the treasure). This gives the game a cool new sensation, that lets you immerse more with Link.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZH6RT-TzVTXY82IFzj6eegWZ3F7xoAfFHsty4pJtv_Ru_9cstYoLB9RitpX8ZHJCbHEp5UHy6QKCK_ROSgImLM0BIBuEHzK3G7IAzu-BL3pKEzzWVy9SJeUOMLDa8lOMGkrZ26NgRM0/s1600-h/legend_of_zelda_link.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZH6RT-TzVTXY82IFzj6eegWZ3F7xoAfFHsty4pJtv_Ru_9cstYoLB9RitpX8ZHJCbHEp5UHy6QKCK_ROSgImLM0BIBuEHzK3G7IAzu-BL3pKEzzWVy9SJeUOMLDa8lOMGkrZ26NgRM0/s320/legend_of_zelda_link.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239520351662152818" border="0" /></a></div><br />Another new feature is the ship. You will use it to navigate from island to island and to fight sea monsters in between, especially fights against other ships are fun. You can also find certain parts for your ship an upgrade them. If you collect an entire set, you get an even higher life boost. Alas the fun ist mostly in the collecting itself, as the sets have all the same benefits, expect the last one, the golden set, which gives you one additional life boost than the others.<br /><br />Finally no Zelda Game would be complete without Mini Games. And Zelda The Phantom Hourglass is no exception. The Game is full of interesting and challenging, but also fair Mini Games which improve the fun during Gaming a lot. If you are stuck somewhere in the plot, you can always solve some Mini Games first and cool your head down, before you try it again.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Story</span><br /><br />The story is nothing special, but it comes with nice animations (paper cut style) and it is fun to gradually learn more about the world you ended up in. At the beginning Link seems to be a pirate on a ship. The ships runs into a storm and Link and his friend Detorah are taken away from the ship. When he awakes he has been spilled to a shore... (sounds a bit familiar ^_^).<br /><br />The further story involves a lot of monsters in temples, a Ghost Ship, three rare metals that form a special sword blade and one special temple of time. Whenever you challenge this temple, you have a certain amount of time corresponding to the sand in your hourglass. Throughout the game you will be able to find more sand and therefore be able to proceed further into the temple, where the final boss deep inside this temple is waiting for you.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Learning Japanese</span><br /><br />As I said in the introduction, I decided to mention the game, because it is very suitable to learn / improve your Japanese. First the game targets younger audience and older audience a like. Therefore the dialog use Kanji, but the programmers thought of something to make them readable also for younger people. Whenever you read a word written in Kanji on the touchscreen, you can touch the word with your pen and you will get the reading. That helps a lot following the dialog for foreigners and makes it easy and fun to learn new words. The game uses simple language, and it is usually worth learning the words you don't understand.<br /><br />Also the game contains a lot of riddles. Now the riddles are in theory quite easy to solve and shouldn't take you longer than five minutes, but with the language barrier they get really challenging. You don't know how to proceed if you don't understand the riddle, but in order to understand the riddle you need to understand what is written on the screen. This proved for me to be a very enjoyable challenge, as I slowly tried to translate the texts and then think of the meaning and the solution of the riddle. Again it is not so difficult, so be sure to give it a try!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Remark</span><br /><br />So if you like Zelda or Zelda like RPGs, try to get your hands on a Japanese version of Zelda The Phantom Hourglass (夢幻の砂時計 Mugen No Sunadokei). Luckily the Nintendo DS has no country codes and works with any kind of games.<br /><br />happy riddle solving<br /><br />mikascallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-49368148496006301182008-08-20T17:47:00.000-07:002008-08-30T20:57:27.852-07:00Low Budget Traveling<span style="font-weight: bold;">Low Budget Traveling</span><br /><br />At the end of my stay in Japan I really ran out of money for good and had to borrow some from friends and family, but I also got better and better in almost living for free and still doing traveling. Now I decided to share these gathered secrets with you and teach you how to do traveling in Japan on a low Budget.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A) Moving</span></span><br /><br />First traveling usually includes getting from point A to point B. The basic formula is, the more time you spend for getting from A to B, the cheaper you can get there. Thus we have: Night Bus, Seishun 18 Kippu, Hitchhiking and cycling and walking.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">サイクリングとハイキング Cycling And Hiking</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQ_c-T7-sfiCVzLKoCDTN8hPpeQcSZ5yc7j8GBgJCQpUFPcJyq48pq0ZD6ttpg0CcaPYCixSliJF-EuMEQR3KX18JZbvFJXYKRbZeifo4MbF2qdliFQ49OcnPa7VcpqI-9AHRaEvkV3k/s1600-h/DSCN1504.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQ_c-T7-sfiCVzLKoCDTN8hPpeQcSZ5yc7j8GBgJCQpUFPcJyq48pq0ZD6ttpg0CcaPYCixSliJF-EuMEQR3KX18JZbvFJXYKRbZeifo4MbF2qdliFQ49OcnPa7VcpqI-9AHRaEvkV3k/s320/DSCN1504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238632442965835058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Usually in itself content of the journey, as it takes too long to get anywhere far. Also cycling includes the problem of getting a bike in the first place. There are many great places for cycling and hiking in Japan and some trains allow you to take your bike (use Seishun 18 Kippu). If you want to go on a pilgrimage, I can recommend the 遍路 Henro on 四国 Shikoku (http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/01/blog-post.html).<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">青春18切符 Seishun 18 Kippu</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISBeQdAIDA-bymq6dXSWFtlQzKBTawkFgNDsqiDwzqY_2YBkj5cY8GzW2oFjL9ior_XW08C6LMZ5LityfIbmdbZ6d_w41HSjxXtMzMNQ4JSi2AHrmuvQ-ClsuRoFR9DqdviKm2vd_SKU/s1600-h/img_3813.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISBeQdAIDA-bymq6dXSWFtlQzKBTawkFgNDsqiDwzqY_2YBkj5cY8GzW2oFjL9ior_XW08C6LMZ5LityfIbmdbZ6d_w41HSjxXtMzMNQ4JSi2AHrmuvQ-ClsuRoFR9DqdviKm2vd_SKU/s320/img_3813.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238626308023945394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Seishun 18 Kippu is a cheap way of using trains at the cost of time. It allows you to use all JR local (普通) and express (快速) trains for free on five days. The days need not to be consecutive and one ticket can be used by more than one person. For every person and day you will get a stamp, of which you have a total of five.<br /><br />Cost: 11.500 Yen<br />Where To Get: Every JR Station<br /><br />Taking only local and express trains takes a long time, and requires you to change trains very often, so be sure to prepare a sheet where you note down where to change trains. For looking up the connections you should use Hyperdia and un-select Airplane (飛行機), Shinkansen (新幹線) and Limited Express (特急):<br /><br />http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi<br /><br />Validity<br /><br />The Seishun 18 Kippu is only valid at certain time periods:<br /><br />春 Spring<br />Selling Time 02/20 - 31/03<br />Validity 01/03 - 10/04<br /><br />夏 Summer<br />Selling Time 07/01 - 20/08<br />Validity 07/20 - 10/09<br /><br />冬 Winter<br />Selling Time 12/01 - 10/01<br />Validity 12/10 - 20/01<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nightbus</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnW_lYynbrlQasfzqlZf59Nlfq75ZfBXGObyIWebtxHHTLuacYUVNHyASW8GtHYdH_luJk5gmeTVZo9Q5esPt8XSog5iDUQVsQFo_dqb_KbgyG8Agf0BXe3ojliB90VrZTho9pr_0E6E/s1600-h/036_01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnW_lYynbrlQasfzqlZf59Nlfq75ZfBXGObyIWebtxHHTLuacYUVNHyASW8GtHYdH_luJk5gmeTVZo9Q5esPt8XSog5iDUQVsQFo_dqb_KbgyG8Agf0BXe3ojliB90VrZTho9pr_0E6E/s320/036_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238627432143679906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When there is no 18 Kippu, or you are in a hurry, there is one more affordable option: the night bus.<br />They usually connect larger cities and cover the distance over night. You can go as far as Tokyo - Hiroshima in one night and a bit of the day.<br />A good way to find night buses is Rakuten: http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/bus/<br />The price is usually around 6.000 Yen, depending on the distance.<br /><br />Be careful, the place to board the bus can be quite tricky to find. They are usually not at a parking lot, but simply on the side of some major street anywhere or behind stations. However the reservation comes with a map and location description you should print out. Further note down the phone number of the bus company, so you can call them, if you cannot find them. Also be sure to plan plenty of time to find the boarding place, else you will easily miss the bus.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ヒッチハイキング Hitchhiking</span><br /><br />The coolest and cheapest way to travel in Japan. Also if your lucky, you can go as fast or even faster than with the Seishun 18 Kippu. When you intend to hitchhike, you should first prepare for it:<br /><br />Preparation<br /><br />x get a DIN A3 writing block with white pages, easy to tear out<br />x get a thick dark pen or a paintbrush pen, if you can handle it<br />x get a map including roads and city names of where you want to travel (a compass also helps)<br />x get a personal thank you gift (explained later)<br /><br />The problem is, where to hitchhike. It's useless inside a city, because most cars will be on local business, so you will have to find a way to get out of the city first:<br /><br />Where To Hitch<br /><br />1 get a city map from the local tourist office (they are free)<br />2 check a suitable highway or express way interchange that leads to where you want to go<br />3 see if you can reach it by subway or bus + a reasonable amount of walking<br />4 get there<br /><br />If you have decided for the express way, keep in mind, that you cannot access them by foot, so you need to find a street that connects with the express way and since you have to pay for the express way, there aren't many streets leading to and from it. Once you are actually on the express way and need to change cars, ask your driver to drop you at an interchange. Here the cars need to wait in line and pay for the express way. That means plenty of time for them to spot you behind the gate with your sign and plenty of time to decide whether to take you or not. Thus express way interchanges are a very good place, but it is really hard to get there.<br /><br />The highway is a different matter. It leads just as the express way anywhere you want, but the speed is restricted to 60 km/h. Here suitable places are parking lots at resting stops (konbinis, restaurants, etc.). Again place yourself that people entering their car can already see you and decide whether to take you or not, until they reach you at the end of the parking lot.<br />Sometimes there are no resting places, then go for the second strategy and wait at traffic lights. When it turns red pass all the waiting cars, show them your sign and smile making eye contact. Show them that you are an ordinary guy and have nothing bad in mind.<br /><br />Making cars stop without traffic lights, resting areas or interchange accesses is really difficult. If you have no other choice, try at least a spot, where cars can stop after seeing you without blocking the road.<br /><br />What To Write On The Sign<br /><br />Now you need to decide which city to write on your paper block. In theory you can also use the thumbs sign, but not many people will understand the sign, and many will simply oversee you. So it is always better to use a sign. The question is which city to write on it. You can try your desired city, but if it is too far, try to find a big city on the way and try with that. Here it is important to have some inside knowledge. For example when I hitchhiked first I choose a city, nobody goes to, so nobody stopped. Japanese drivers don't think as far as "Oh that's on the way, to where I drive" or "I am not driving that far, but at least I can take him a bit". So it is very important what your sign says. To get inside knowledge ask passing people directly if they think it would be a good idea to try this or that city. They are usually always helpful.<br /><br />Because of the just mentioned problem writing a city name on the sign reduces the number of cars, that will stop. But then using the thumb does not work too well either, so what to do. I thought of a kind of paper thumb as solution. I wrote in big numbers the number of the current street and place a big arrow pointing in the direction I want to go below it. I found that this works quite well and many cars will stop. After you climb in you just explain where they should drop you or that they should drop you simply, when they leave the street.<br /><br />Saying Thank You<br /><br />Japanese people are really friendly and you will notice that probably every second person that let's you ride in their car also invited you for lunch or dinner on the way and pays for you. Also they never accept any money, when you climb out, so you are left with a really bad consciousness. So what to do? Takayuki, a Japanese friend that I made on the way, did it like this: Inside the car he would write a poem for the people letting him ride and give it to them when he left the car. This is a great idea, but you can of course think of a different thing: Maybe a scetch, a picture card from your home, sweets or Omiyage, or whatever is suitable for carrying around and makes for a nice Thank You gift :)<br /><br />Time<br /><br />The early bird catches the worm. This is especially true when you want to cover large distances, because the car drivers that also want to cover large distances will usually start very early. So set your alarm to 6:00 and try to be on the road at 7:00 and your chances will be very high.<br />As soon as the light fades, your chances of being taken up also fade away. Apart from the fact that people do harder seeing you, people in the night always seem scary and strange, and not many people will have the courage to take you up.<br />In general I had to wait between 20 minutes and 3 hours. But 3 hours only when I choose really bad positions... So plan ahead :)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">B) Lodging</span></span><br /><br />Concerning lodging we have the following options: Tent, Manga Kissa, Hiroma, Youth Hostel, Guest House, Capsule Hotel, 旅館 Ryokan, Hotel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">テント Tent</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzkcjHFIyxlM5Cf3MTDFZHPlLMOakca5rMcDneH-ESB-Wlc5jKhOWEVfaf6h1bXpSCwaVOsG5kyZkTbuZtGVi-O32szbQ-pgHwwixbBpx9EPlvfcg7Cspemdu-156spuF7ZzUq0FxAbA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1288.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzkcjHFIyxlM5Cf3MTDFZHPlLMOakca5rMcDneH-ESB-Wlc5jKhOWEVfaf6h1bXpSCwaVOsG5kyZkTbuZtGVi-O32szbQ-pgHwwixbBpx9EPlvfcg7Cspemdu-156spuF7ZzUq0FxAbA/s320/Nishinihon+1288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238627430037293938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Using a tent is the cheapest but most difficult for of sleeping. The problem is that there are not many places on 本州 Honshu (Japan's main island), where you can easily erect a tent. Look out for river sides, as they usually are a good spot to camp. If there is no river side, try to stop at smaller towns or village and start walking away from it. In the nature you should also be able to find a place. What worked well for me are forests. But they can be pretty scary at night, especially in summer, when there are many huge insects visiting you at night...<br /><br />Another problem is alarm systems. Most open spaces are protected for some stupid reason with alarm system. That means as soon as you set a food on it an alarm will ring, and make it impossible to proceed. Even in forests certain spots triggered the alarm. It really drove me nuts.<br /><br />There are a couple of camping places but they are not very frequent. So you'd better find another place and be ready to get up early or apologize to the first person spotting you in the morning.<br /><br />Price: free<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">漫画喫茶 Manga Kissa</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tZ_nnhIqGseQzxG30kaCDLGv3MDqNPVWYcHExa53As-4ff4lh1I73WtuU82euKYW7b2BqnTJihH54yBms2RpKXOGebgMzr7ybMMyKOuctXEF_qkTRN1gj9N_F8hynOUTp78GtnFAvqA/s1600-h/img_2910.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tZ_nnhIqGseQzxG30kaCDLGv3MDqNPVWYcHExa53As-4ff4lh1I73WtuU82euKYW7b2BqnTJihH54yBms2RpKXOGebgMzr7ybMMyKOuctXEF_qkTRN1gj9N_F8hynOUTp78GtnFAvqA/s320/img_2910.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238627965607826370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The cheapest option for cities is the Manga Kissa. At some point in the near past they decided to let people have a comfortable and cheap stay over night to increase night business. Inside you can get your own private room with leather floor and cushions, a computer with internet, countless shelfs of Manga and free drinks. Sometimes even free showers and ice cream.<br /><br />Price: 1000 - 1500 Yen<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">広間 Hiroma</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VGexrZ7oi2O_GKUBP3jAOJjJx1AKpxGSqbCqVViotnihcLxvYytH-x9LWhZeti5q78DpPuyIkkYII7MgGETPpvghsY64z43QV92MlWM1nlT34IsPtrZavlAwbY4kgTJ2fpMyXEPPzSw/s1600-h/yahikosakura12.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VGexrZ7oi2O_GKUBP3jAOJjJx1AKpxGSqbCqVViotnihcLxvYytH-x9LWhZeti5q78DpPuyIkkYII7MgGETPpvghsY64z43QV92MlWM1nlT34IsPtrZavlAwbY4kgTJ2fpMyXEPPzSw/s320/yahikosakura12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238627971031519490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Earlier this was the normal way to sleep for traveling people. A Hiroma is simply a big sleeping hall with Futon's closely arranged next to each other. Nowadays there are not many left, but you often find them in Onsen places. This is quite nice, because you can extend your stay with entering the Onsen (hot spa) before and after your sleep. The Hiroma, though usually available, are usually not listed on the information, you will have to ask for it.<br /><br />Price: 1000 - 2000 Yen<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ユースホステル Youth Hostel</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABjhctDrLj0IxjM6l6ZNa4aNg-o8UnpQS6f96Ydum0EkJv08SrMGEGV5uslQssBh1AIKUMqXz-nk2QbQeHyzSvLTw5n97V4mRcfI84qF1DjWDsCX2DNQSlC60WKUIhyphenhyphenEQDMwLHxiJ2cg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+005.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABjhctDrLj0IxjM6l6ZNa4aNg-o8UnpQS6f96Ydum0EkJv08SrMGEGV5uslQssBh1AIKUMqXz-nk2QbQeHyzSvLTw5n97V4mRcfI84qF1DjWDsCX2DNQSlC60WKUIhyphenhyphenEQDMwLHxiJ2cg/s320/Nishinihon+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238628933809806642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The classic way of lodging for the backpacker. Every major city has at least one Youth Hostel and even many far off places have one. You can have showers, wash you cloths, browse the internet and sleep in a dorm. The biggest advantage is that you can easily make friends and spend a nice time with other people. However the price is much higher than the previous options.<br /><br />Price: 2500 - 3000 Yen<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ゲストハウス Guest House</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OmTCirIia8mBxON7uxJNxa5V2oms4KnaoouHqNvUnKsFFxUUvdT-gpWuWqXHSfVZ2Mc4VQ62HFrEetce_2qt_gY_MT80FJUYj-ebVZMxkx2OsqS11SbIqrK59nqQM3pf3trRl5Nl5eQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+726.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OmTCirIia8mBxON7uxJNxa5V2oms4KnaoouHqNvUnKsFFxUUvdT-gpWuWqXHSfVZ2Mc4VQ62HFrEetce_2qt_gY_MT80FJUYj-ebVZMxkx2OsqS11SbIqrK59nqQM3pf3trRl5Nl5eQ/s320/Nishinihon+726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238628928707062082" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Basically the same than the youth hostel in all but the name. Usually run by a nice couple and often having better accommodations than the Youth Hostel. They are often even cheaper. Sometimes they are called Backpacker's Hotel. Very often they are clad in Japanese Tatami / Ryokan style, without the higher cost. Keep an eye out for them.<br /><br />Price: 2000 - 3000 Yen<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">旅館 Ryokan</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWL5_LAJ6BKnjAp78N1B6dl3IV-H49Gzx0AV5aDKmlYKCazjaC56ZDar5dmvkTcm3ciryDRV0kjRZe4kQN13mHU6UfHSlQ07VVZlL-J0VzLfBohsUoP0JW2OYHgXOOv4pCiHT5mcXAug/s1600-h/00149.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWL5_LAJ6BKnjAp78N1B6dl3IV-H49Gzx0AV5aDKmlYKCazjaC56ZDar5dmvkTcm3ciryDRV0kjRZe4kQN13mHU6UfHSlQ07VVZlL-J0VzLfBohsUoP0JW2OYHgXOOv4pCiHT5mcXAug/s320/00149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238631183915774034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The classic way for Japan to sleep while traveling. Earlier they mostly had Hiroma, now they only have private rooms, which makes them quite pricey. However when friends or our parents are in for visiting you, staying at a Ryokan you can be sure to show them the Japanese way of sleeping and resting, Apart from a Tatami room with Futons, they usually have a Japanese style お風呂 Ofuro (bathroom).<br /><br />Price: 3000 - 5000 Yen<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">カプセルホテル Capsule Hotel</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8Zp_EMhdFB61nvVWbzLU4S5zN37_wboHOcDg6CVQe7NyCJJAXwMfVYa39O3MQ7yu9or-ULqajoDNRW1xt0l8VzVv1CKiSNLktJKfAWvbAGORTXjX9nyvf5sOAi5Mf8DpCo1X7XJVyZs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+383.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8Zp_EMhdFB61nvVWbzLU4S5zN37_wboHOcDg6CVQe7NyCJJAXwMfVYa39O3MQ7yu9or-ULqajoDNRW1xt0l8VzVv1CKiSNLktJKfAWvbAGORTXjX9nyvf5sOAi5Mf8DpCo1X7XJVyZs/s320/Nishinihon+383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238629253116513410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also nick named coffin hotel. A child of the modern age. You will sleep in a tiny tube, which has a lot of Star Trek atmosphere. Inside you will have alarm clock, television set, radio and a light. Outside you might find a spacious Japanese style bathroom and recreation areas. Definitely worth the experience once.<br /><br />Price: 3000 - 4000 Yen<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Business) Hotel</span><br /><br />The way to sleep for the innocent fool, who never though of other options. However when you indeed cannot find other options, the cheapest hotels start at 4.000 Yen and thus are almost affordable. Of course it is impossible to give an upper limit for hotels... The cheaper ones are sometimes called Business Hotels, but not always. However Business Hotels are a good way to start looking.<br /><br />Price starting from 4000 Yen<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">C) Food</span></span><br /><br />For Japanese local food is a very essential part of traveling, if not the reason in itself. However that is were most of your money will go, if you are not careful. So I advise you to keep a cheap diet and extent it only here and then with some expensive local dish.<br /><br />A cheap way of not starving is to buy slices of toast (100 Yen), some cream cheese (200 Yen) and vegetables like three carrots (100 Yen), 6 paprika (100 Yen) or three cucumbers (100 Yen) from a supermarket and take them with you. Since it is not much I advise you eating four times a day one slice with cheese and one vegetable, or two times plus some cheap dish on the road. You can extend that with cheap portable Konbini food, like Onigiri. All of the above can take high temperatures and a backpack atmosphere without growing bad. A cheap food you can basically find everywhere are Soba noodles. You can get them starting at 200 Yen, and they are delicious and filling. Often they are sold at stations (駅そば Eki Soba).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPosBMfXneJzDBRu_Uw4vaLQwWDulFkPx9MFoxFzQb5Xi_Q-pQd-kOaYfVMdDkmq5oVroyaVASHxuz5v0f66eSscPidyPP2XR68v1UToh0pr4VI9C10VO5rkeLcZrJSiB2IYshtj_6Kk/s1600-h/DSCN1993.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPosBMfXneJzDBRu_Uw4vaLQwWDulFkPx9MFoxFzQb5Xi_Q-pQd-kOaYfVMdDkmq5oVroyaVASHxuz5v0f66eSscPidyPP2XR68v1UToh0pr4VI9C10VO5rkeLcZrJSiB2IYshtj_6Kk/s320/DSCN1993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238631182810858098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">prepare some Onigiri yourself before you start your journey</span><br /></div><br />If you are hitchhiking, you will probably be invited to dinner or lunch several times, and need to worry to much about food. A little supplement toast mix like above should be sufficient. In Youth Hostels and Guest Houses you are usually also able to cook, another way to extend your diet.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">D) Final Tips</span></span><br /><br />Knowing Japanese helps a lot on budget traveling, but is no requirement. You can also hitchhike without knowing Japanese, but you should find a way to write your signs in Japanese, else nobody will be able to read them.<br /><br />Speak to people! Often people have valuable advice for you like a cheap place to stay over night, a quick route to the city you want to get in, or some cheap food around the corner. Also it is very easy to make friends with other travelers, who again can give you valuable tips.<br /><br />When you arrive in a city unprepared go to the tourist information or, when there is none or it is already close, to the 交番 Koban (Police Box). Surprisingly compared to other countries, Japanese police is indeed there to help you! So you can go there and directly ask for a cheap place to stay over night. Usually you will not be the first one to ask and they often even have printouts prepared to the next cheap place. Like this I often found my way to the Onsen Hiroma, for example. In Kyoto they have a whole catalog with all the Youth Hostels, Guest Houses and Backpacker's Hotels. So be sure to ask them.<br /><br />Use Wikitravel (http://wikitravel.org/en/Main_Page). Wikitravel has an excellent pool of information about Japanese towns. You can find attractions, special food and cheap ways to travel and sleep. So be sure to check the Wikipage of the city or area you are intending in going.<br /><br /><br />That's it, I am quite experienced in Low Budget Traveling in Japan by now, so if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or contact me.<br /><br />mikascallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-53810416597972228762008-08-16T15:37:00.000-07:002008-08-23T16:54:50.168-07:00函館 HakodateMy final stop in Hokkaido was in 函館 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hakodate</span>. Because of successful hitchhiking, I managed to get to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hakodate</span> with some spare time, before I needed to go on and again cross the undersea tunnel...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">函館 </span><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hakodate</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO8YjEY-J29v1GOCTX_sfVkYao5fv-zzEghl92t5oHdDXO8G1X14gXgaiMOJRjimiifMsEemmwby-23IAgjD8no1gVQVNSq6T_1SuuGZtseGb00SDVE5aCQQSCfLEqal3ugqLtKMIzys/s1600-h/img_3806.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO8YjEY-J29v1GOCTX_sfVkYao5fv-zzEghl92t5oHdDXO8G1X14gXgaiMOJRjimiifMsEemmwby-23IAgjD8no1gVQVNSq6T_1SuuGZtseGb00SDVE5aCQQSCfLEqal3ugqLtKMIzys/s320/img_3806.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237864050558640402" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hakodate</span> city is very special and unique because of several aspects.<br />It was the first big city in Hokkaido and became the seat of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Matsumae</span> Clan, who ruled over Hokkaido until the Meiji Period.<br />Then it was among the first three cities (the other two are 横浜 Yokohama and 神戸 Kobe), who had to open their port in the second half of the 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> century because of outside pressure from Commodore Perry and thus shows early and strong influences of western architecture and culture.<br />And third is was the short lived capital of the rebellious Republic Of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ezo</span> and the last hold out of the Shogunate <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Rebels</span> during the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Boshin</span> War.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">戊辰戦争 </span><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Boshin</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> War</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_whsq9g-d5eFcqejF31ZoAhmsaLoNWM2lW8iX5kQlgS6e-i2m6agafiYT7DkW8JMd4RFmc2fZ-ubQm5mpgGKKyBLXMxLJMurI2zx1q2NgVFsLYwd2M_hwD21O40saunJQzbRdn_oLt9U/s1600-h/img_3792.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_whsq9g-d5eFcqejF31ZoAhmsaLoNWM2lW8iX5kQlgS6e-i2m6agafiYT7DkW8JMd4RFmc2fZ-ubQm5mpgGKKyBLXMxLJMurI2zx1q2NgVFsLYwd2M_hwD21O40saunJQzbRdn_oLt9U/s320/img_3792.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863614886133186" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I already talked a lot about the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Meji</span> Revolution in my previous posts about <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/07/hagi.html">萩 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Hagi</span></a> and <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/07/nagasaki.html">長崎 Nagasaki</a>, and I will continue there and talk about the last efforts of Tokugawa Shogun <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Yoshinobu</span>.<br /><br />Thanks to 坂本龍馬 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Sakamoto</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ryouma</span> two provinces, which had been archenemies, allied together against the Shogunate. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Ryouma</span> later was able to add his home province 土佐藩 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Tosa</span> to the revolutionary fraction and win the favor of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Tenno</span> Meiji. Indeed one of the main goals of the revolutionary forces was the restoration of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Tenno</span> in power, why the Meiji Revolution is also often called Meiji Restoration.<br /><br />Shogun <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Yoshinobu</span> tried to fight down the revolution and eventually saw himself forced to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">launch</span> a full fledged attack against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Tenno</span> Meiji in Kyoto. However the revolutionary forces eagerly trading with western powers, were better armed and had the newer better <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">tactics</span> concerning fighting with these new arms and thus were able to defeat the Shogun's forces. Eventually after a siege, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Edo</span> (former name of Tokyo) surrendered and Shogun <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Yoshinobu</span> agreed to give up the power hold by his dynasty for more than two and a half centuries.<br /><br />However many parties were not content with the results of the revolution and gathered around the defeated <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Yoshinobu</span> who <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">fled</span> with his forces to northern Honshu and then Hokkaido. In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Hakodate</span> they formed the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">rebellious</span> Republic Of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Ezo</span> (the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">former</span> name of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Hokaido</span>) and made their last stand 1968-1969 in the recently completed 五稜郭 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Goryoukaku</span>, which was built according to newest western architecture techniques from France, and therefore in accordance with heavy use of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">artillery</span> from both sides.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEIZYsVvqkWvXWzhrfqR3Swb96yfWUTCVIsfo1GvU4thCrQwOsP4fBRLDOSgfUegmQnTQwquJ01VgAOBchCtxnC4PWRcVl2uuSujXJ5hluKpwGEEBY6y7jxsxAGv2hA2COPgGAnEA7UE/s1600-h/img_3791.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEIZYsVvqkWvXWzhrfqR3Swb96yfWUTCVIsfo1GvU4thCrQwOsP4fBRLDOSgfUegmQnTQwquJ01VgAOBchCtxnC4PWRcVl2uuSujXJ5hluKpwGEEBY6y7jxsxAGv2hA2COPgGAnEA7UE/s320/img_3791.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863607788894450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">artillery firing from Goryoukaku</span><br /></div><br />However the new Imperial Forces of the new Meiji Japan mobilized 120.000 men, which were able to also crush this last stronghold of the opponents of the revolution. But the opposing forces were not crushed, because prominent revolutionary leader 西郷隆盛 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Saigo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Takamori</span> pleaded for clemency and eventually many of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">opposing</span> leaders even found their way to offices in the new government. By this last step the power of the new Meiji Japan was secured. This was already foreseen and tried to be achieved by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Sakamoto</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Ryouma</span>, who thought the best way to defeat your enemy, is to let him work for you by giving him <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">responsibilities</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0jXPR0Xl_oeKKI1NRhxaTDZBwKRi1G8gtRqQGEn8nTtJ8jjHltO30mTYCte5j7lQkl_u476a0xf9EykPXbMg-Gd6-gYJrR8SVFv_zgc49t8nkweXarQpPoO-u2_On-PJLrAKS9sVJcc/s1600-h/img_3796.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0jXPR0Xl_oeKKI1NRhxaTDZBwKRi1G8gtRqQGEn8nTtJ8jjHltO30mTYCte5j7lQkl_u476a0xf9EykPXbMg-Gd6-gYJrR8SVFv_zgc49t8nkweXarQpPoO-u2_On-PJLrAKS9sVJcc/s320/img_3796.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863927750796978" border="0" /></a></div><br />Although the revolution started from a group of people called 尊王攘夷 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Sonoujoui</span> Force to restore the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Tenno</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">expel</span> foreigners, they retreated from the second goal, as during the revolution they made many important relationships with western powers. However as an important <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">long term</span> goal they established the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">renegotiations</span> of the very unfair trading conditions Commodore Perry first set up with Japan.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">五稜郭 </span><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Goryoukaku</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR9Atko-G26si8Hc8_Bc6cHhSntC8C41vKKh-fRc1AdM7rvtc6gLZYSRY5OBr_H7_9mJA0qwYCJUFzeHAgJ_ZKg1DwIZazjHSVy5gBVOKSSB2RDBCV1QihJDfpHg7K4gokOfhDGH9Lfs/s1600-h/img_3788.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR9Atko-G26si8Hc8_Bc6cHhSntC8C41vKKh-fRc1AdM7rvtc6gLZYSRY5OBr_H7_9mJA0qwYCJUFzeHAgJ_ZKg1DwIZazjHSVy5gBVOKSSB2RDBCV1QihJDfpHg7K4gokOfhDGH9Lfs/s320/img_3788.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863604905366242" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />As I mentioned above, the last holdout for the Shogun <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">rebels</span> was the 五稜郭 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Goryoukaku</span> fortress in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Hakodate</span>. It is unique among Japan, as having been completed as late as 1866, it was the first Japanese fortress built after modern western architecture plans to account for heavy usage of artillery on both sides.<br /><br />It is shaped like a five edged stars and allows for artillery to be placed all along the fortress wall to be able to quickly fire in any direction. Being placed on a hill further sets the castle's artillery in an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">advantage</span> against the enemies.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ChuKCuSJSMgIj-EYwr0aMrMPfI9nL8vE0szr9MoWASwK1uXoAUJ6xm3YYmAnYaaslZ14HeY8cCjziI0wnq8rP4sHQkzKxHySGFf0aVy9G5XruTMr6g3lNhtOzyju5dLsbiNSQiCakq0/s1600-h/img_3775.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ChuKCuSJSMgIj-EYwr0aMrMPfI9nL8vE0szr9MoWASwK1uXoAUJ6xm3YYmAnYaaslZ14HeY8cCjziI0wnq8rP4sHQkzKxHySGFf0aVy9G5XruTMr6g3lNhtOzyju5dLsbiNSQiCakq0/s320/img_3775.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237862916905852306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWwowOr6NwAWOUU44ZSQi-XEbaIjM70bk8Ug_16Gicvj6xoOceMOSEtM30B6o_XXmfllQZ0Gb9cBYSF-VO9gkl-bU7LWupf83TWcFNQ_LSI9tyOTvl9d0F-VkClHiX1TVv2Iv2fkNrDA/s1600-h/img_3774.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWwowOr6NwAWOUU44ZSQi-XEbaIjM70bk8Ug_16Gicvj6xoOceMOSEtM30B6o_XXmfllQZ0Gb9cBYSF-VO9gkl-bU7LWupf83TWcFNQ_LSI9tyOTvl9d0F-VkClHiX1TVv2Iv2fkNrDA/s320/img_3774.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237862914720894434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPp5J-E8NEjQ6YTV6TZjeJEZvNyazpXcOM9EFY8H3JxgPODRW4o8i0ZR56nC-NMPz7Vzsc6Nkpp_bG1QTmXBvdg107SyaFriK1giUKs5-0RkqJmYwYQKuvhB76STIHWeCCq2x6osqrj1A/s1600-h/img_3778.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPp5J-E8NEjQ6YTV6TZjeJEZvNyazpXcOM9EFY8H3JxgPODRW4o8i0ZR56nC-NMPz7Vzsc6Nkpp_bG1QTmXBvdg107SyaFriK1giUKs5-0RkqJmYwYQKuvhB76STIHWeCCq2x6osqrj1A/s320/img_3778.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237862918626543458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x1lpvXN7iJY_H_n1wudGIRP4xfq33stdPssUPlS0JNDPRuqUCjLVqekrtjHonqcU4U_49WqU4eIqn5InyyqegPWgKDaKMOe4k437BdH2O0Nz2MxnyZBV_jj_2WvZJ1ENFvdrmO-trMM/s1600-h/img_3780.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x1lpvXN7iJY_H_n1wudGIRP4xfq33stdPssUPlS0JNDPRuqUCjLVqekrtjHonqcU4U_49WqU4eIqn5InyyqegPWgKDaKMOe4k437BdH2O0Nz2MxnyZBV_jj_2WvZJ1ENFvdrmO-trMM/s320/img_3780.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237862932721402066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKHxfjVqvEzt12J1dwcZFTZC9wkYeCg0f6a4qcr-cPG3owY-K5UhWFse7Naic-Vq18HKiC-MO-G0LrP7FMtOj9P8wJ-cmLXcGlup9iBRlRPBZfGtJYPAC7Jaiwew17UKFwNhDjpxPX64/s1600-h/img_3802.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKHxfjVqvEzt12J1dwcZFTZC9wkYeCg0f6a4qcr-cPG3owY-K5UhWFse7Naic-Vq18HKiC-MO-G0LrP7FMtOj9P8wJ-cmLXcGlup9iBRlRPBZfGtJYPAC7Jaiwew17UKFwNhDjpxPX64/s320/img_3802.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863935282406050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnrujqvV0Uqj4dBHvcfMMhEMgs2mxyg5O05o9kyo_QB9JU-IvErJ15dZeMJvUlPkSutfjcfv8rgDjt_4D_sgD8oe3rD46NVDlOzNKTiRAK5BjUHSRPB7B8FFTm4Mzz-7DyuiS9-fjQPQ/s1600-h/img_3778.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnrujqvV0Uqj4dBHvcfMMhEMgs2mxyg5O05o9kyo_QB9JU-IvErJ15dZeMJvUlPkSutfjcfv8rgDjt_4D_sgD8oe3rD46NVDlOzNKTiRAK5BjUHSRPB7B8FFTm4Mzz-7DyuiS9-fjQPQ/s320/img_3778.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863603708132770" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />However such technique does not help if one is outnumbered by the enemy almost 100 to 1, and the enemy could theoretically hold a year long siege of the castle. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">rebels</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">seeing</span> this surrendered and the castle's interior was demolished afterwards. But the star shaped castle walls still stand and the interior was turned into a public park hosting a tiny museum today.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzytNl71zjHnRPJCMulIpn8QwQCzOq2hefpJpvABGINdiu2wSh2XvOb_W4l6KcIpoRXM64cHQMtEHG6qlqBIchztYgBG1o-sCZ9tIzarh73XpZpST334FaRSoqj15-w0a7MNc7djDEzi0/s1600-h/img_3783.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzytNl71zjHnRPJCMulIpn8QwQCzOq2hefpJpvABGINdiu2wSh2XvOb_W4l6KcIpoRXM64cHQMtEHG6qlqBIchztYgBG1o-sCZ9tIzarh73XpZpST334FaRSoqj15-w0a7MNc7djDEzi0/s320/img_3783.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863285409421682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjUW6s3gfBN2g0S5jl6C9telHy-BRAh-pJ5QrBEqfJLCi4ILLp6Ha3I1SRgmwceyK44dD_99UcRlq27SBSyfRewPm3hB1j6laAw360mIbuOHTMEOD-6ABI0iNi6L_mgsTtunHQbop6UM/s1600-h/img_3786.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjUW6s3gfBN2g0S5jl6C9telHy-BRAh-pJ5QrBEqfJLCi4ILLp6Ha3I1SRgmwceyK44dD_99UcRlq27SBSyfRewPm3hB1j6laAw360mIbuOHTMEOD-6ABI0iNi6L_mgsTtunHQbop6UM/s320/img_3786.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863291204484082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdMbq5LqbpsfY0kujbSVm448XosqjVGIGo1L4pQHqfwfov5L8YC3Y7oTuBsxvakucpdsnlJnMzRQUbJgW_adMsrukrYt2uc5rbv_cdH_lpmLb8B0WtZawO_b1QoAXxAZFwsVYMYfgIdc/s1600-h/img_3787.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdMbq5LqbpsfY0kujbSVm448XosqjVGIGo1L4pQHqfwfov5L8YC3Y7oTuBsxvakucpdsnlJnMzRQUbJgW_adMsrukrYt2uc5rbv_cdH_lpmLb8B0WtZawO_b1QoAXxAZFwsVYMYfgIdc/s320/img_3787.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863291545709522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">inside the small museum</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEOpUp1TD7gYUVuXbVcB4QytroV6uuhyoDuaoF6NOTHU7e3yUh9W6FGhaxOhp77ArdVbPVXP0RSPpnRT-UwzV5FiBL9IAsAzCU0A27_Q8tzdw4oO0V-ZbzPFgFuiMrYA2gSbMMCXG7iA/s1600-h/img_3797.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEOpUp1TD7gYUVuXbVcB4QytroV6uuhyoDuaoF6NOTHU7e3yUh9W6FGhaxOhp77ArdVbPVXP0RSPpnRT-UwzV5FiBL9IAsAzCU0A27_Q8tzdw4oO0V-ZbzPFgFuiMrYA2gSbMMCXG7iA/s320/img_3797.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863932138960306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkoCZffpNvNUm4AECFXyYTzEk62ZTR9G6ZK14c8G0Hff4WPaH0y8uuYuBgJpH3xElPCqug8MSizWVwzGMGRmO59Eb9olqEcKrsmja-QWnQo2qa5Y_waozDZyvDSd-uxF2T_4Hy2STx8M/s1600-h/img_3779.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkoCZffpNvNUm4AECFXyYTzEk62ZTR9G6ZK14c8G0Hff4WPaH0y8uuYuBgJpH3xElPCqug8MSizWVwzGMGRmO59Eb9olqEcKrsmja-QWnQo2qa5Y_waozDZyvDSd-uxF2T_4Hy2STx8M/s320/img_3779.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237862924976379538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0S3K2urA_kHgJcRaTuW1vvqbDFerNU-7A_jc8ov2VkiSNVZExxd09No4MlpvuVbklKD2Ftkc6cXfx96-nEL7HNGH6aT9_OtSf5kJRL-F0PR01kqYX4e_8uJ0Zypd3rEGg4wgedqJXuE/s1600-h/img_3798.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0S3K2urA_kHgJcRaTuW1vvqbDFerNU-7A_jc8ov2VkiSNVZExxd09No4MlpvuVbklKD2Ftkc6cXfx96-nEL7HNGH6aT9_OtSf5kJRL-F0PR01kqYX4e_8uJ0Zypd3rEGg4wgedqJXuE/s320/img_3798.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863936800939842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKHvXK3gJNVCtmZNRgXAXl0fyDU5coZEnQqcl26i5A_zH1_ihlj8RlrdETUtlzl-B7uresZR8yzUSchuoyecxTs0_rmSNNG32lOfG5mc3RErg78PbgVovvBhJEZPHrHjLn3B4gOVOXD0/s1600-h/img_3804.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKHvXK3gJNVCtmZNRgXAXl0fyDU5coZEnQqcl26i5A_zH1_ihlj8RlrdETUtlzl-B7uresZR8yzUSchuoyecxTs0_rmSNNG32lOfG5mc3RErg78PbgVovvBhJEZPHrHjLn3B4gOVOXD0/s320/img_3804.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863939078667650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and the park,<br />you can even take boat rides of the castle moat</span><br /></div><br />There is also a tower that allows you to see the castle from a high altitude and thus marvel about its wonderful shape. However the cost for the tower's elevator is 850 Yen, and thus I was happy enough with taking pictures of the pictures advertising the view ^_^<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkZ1cIpQxhERKrfQK-gCG5djte8ZLt6W0jwAk-gzjtmVglqi0KL4f3hfBcEh2UW7inKDekxgdP11IAYo6UGqhxlLbVJlW1iOCS4RKJUch3U-8cfM9a7aZJ280SD5CMJ3VtRn7EC8T6L4/s1600-h/img_3805.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkZ1cIpQxhERKrfQK-gCG5djte8ZLt6W0jwAk-gzjtmVglqi0KL4f3hfBcEh2UW7inKDekxgdP11IAYo6UGqhxlLbVJlW1iOCS4RKJUch3U-8cfM9a7aZJ280SD5CMJ3VtRn7EC8T6L4/s320/img_3805.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237864051919609906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">the expensive tower</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItDp2BGZJEeQ5YEUnO62zJoQuiqizl4QTZ7bx7NgHqGFuT3bjJUFVClz3zLb1UOWXo7MCi2qIx_9yIIImc5cJLxmqwKQQ7XUooOBN9lu8RmispHktDxrkgfo8OMpJlaGXtnAIL5nYcXc/s1600-h/img_3785.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItDp2BGZJEeQ5YEUnO62zJoQuiqizl4QTZ7bx7NgHqGFuT3bjJUFVClz3zLb1UOWXo7MCi2qIx_9yIIImc5cJLxmqwKQQ7XUooOBN9lu8RmispHktDxrkgfo8OMpJlaGXtnAIL5nYcXc/s320/img_3785.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237863287241379234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and the view</span><br /></div><br />----<br /><br />and thus my second great journey through Japan came to an end and I returned to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">Atsugi</span>. In my next post I will tell you my experience in traveling in Japan and give you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">tips</span> where to save money.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">mika</span>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-90714469178745947282008-08-14T15:06:00.000-07:002009-05-03T03:43:54.380-07:00北方領土問題 Northern Territory Conflict<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">北海道の自衛隊 Self Defense Forces</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> In </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hokkaido</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoggpdEzDitZO0GqMzLeET5XTUOszFknrcduTl-VooCcXQyT-23ZPXmwHTaRBQKCqzyWDzPcry0FqDdw2aHVyVd_Wori3iRFRlJb5pSJVyj_9Dop9mmlkQVayITmIWO7B0OfP88dAqLz8/s1600-h/20050513mi01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoggpdEzDitZO0GqMzLeET5XTUOszFknrcduTl-VooCcXQyT-23ZPXmwHTaRBQKCqzyWDzPcry0FqDdw2aHVyVd_Wori3iRFRlJb5pSJVyj_9Dop9mmlkQVayITmIWO7B0OfP88dAqLz8/s320/20050513mi01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237481230760384626" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />As you know by know, I was hitchhiking around Hokkaido for a while. Thus I spent much time driving in cars on the roads of Hokkaido. The first thing I noticed was the abundance of wonderful nature views, wherever you go, as the streets cut like veins through a body entirely made of ancient magnificent nature.<br />However the second thing I noticed was the military. Strictly speaking, I need to say 自衛隊 Jieitai or Self Defense Forces SDF, as Japan is by constitution not allowed to have a military.<br /><br />I fear in average every second or at least third car, was a vehicle from the SDF, troop transports, tanks, MG-jeeps and the like. After seeing that for a while I actually got afraid. Seeing military moving within the country is not so strange, even in Germany, but not in such numbers. Also in the rest of Japan I have never seen a single vehicle. So I asked my driver "Are the Russians coming?" pointing at the SDF vehicles passing by. He replied "Oh no, it's always like that, don't worry".<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">日本ロシア戦争 The Japan Russia War</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1fbZJBBCABm4VXmdzlHsyFHBOscpzrXNP-fP7Xiw_3ZfefhtfgImtw9mAayUDVNeS4TeM8xgGwNl3uPL5h1sN-hAMX3gouTRM6Dr37Wi6vw3HzsTaMj_BT52AiV9IyWs5b0v4Qstdxk/s1600-h/northernterritories08.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1fbZJBBCABm4VXmdzlHsyFHBOscpzrXNP-fP7Xiw_3ZfefhtfgImtw9mAayUDVNeS4TeM8xgGwNl3uPL5h1sN-hAMX3gouTRM6Dr37Wi6vw3HzsTaMj_BT52AiV9IyWs5b0v4Qstdxk/s400/northernterritories08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237489128660474802" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The reason for the high presence of the SDF in Hokkaido is obvious: Russia is in War with Japan. Yes I am not kidding legally both countries are in war. The war is not a new war, that you missed in the news, but an old war you have forgotten, or are to young to remember from the news: World War 2. After Japan lost the war, the situation prior to Japan's expansion policy was tried to be restored by Potsdam Peace treaty including islands north of Hokkaido (Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai Islands), but excluding the Kurile islands and Sakhalin. Russia had occupied all these islands during the war and now refused to give any of them back (actually the conflict even dates further back, but let's start here for now). Indeed they deported all 17.000 Japanese inhabitants forcefully to Hokkaido until 1949. Thus Russia refused to sign a peace treaty with Japan and kept the northern islands. This problem is still unresolved, and both countries claim possession of the islands thus continuing the war, even if it is more fought like the Cold War.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZu_pnmtrw56G5oL43AmpJzoqtVja8-l_lGWbVZ_4E9ah1vdE365UBuofBOnPQmSOhyPjQnoDByprsPUuKSEXfUYdV4B-72SxzAy5NnLKs3WxlNVeH250a6v7tHafkwnzjj1X27bi2iXw/s1600-h/northernterritories07.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZu_pnmtrw56G5oL43AmpJzoqtVja8-l_lGWbVZ_4E9ah1vdE365UBuofBOnPQmSOhyPjQnoDByprsPUuKSEXfUYdV4B-72SxzAy5NnLKs3WxlNVeH250a6v7tHafkwnzjj1X27bi2iXw/s320/northernterritories07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237489302963468370" border="0" /></a></div><br />And that is why the SDF is so present in Hokkaido. Especially now, after seeing Russia's action in Georgia, it is only natural for the SDF to grow tense and careful, be the threat real or not. If Russia would invade Japan, they could claim that they have no peace treaty with Japan what so ever.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">北方領土問題 Northern Territory Conflict</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRsyLzr2qEcqywUHhAk6cpjj7B8_deTK1tcopKX3XHBNEpcNs2YhW7UAhnUknNXLu4XYQHXxg0KRs4gUoPU7JNchArJdYqOgsFPcjlb6DdhV-r51pHLsY7S8QLYugTiUUG0XpZQ2n7qI/s1600-h/northernterritories00.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRsyLzr2qEcqywUHhAk6cpjj7B8_deTK1tcopKX3XHBNEpcNs2YhW7UAhnUknNXLu4XYQHXxg0KRs4gUoPU7JNchArJdYqOgsFPcjlb6DdhV-r51pHLsY7S8QLYugTiUUG0XpZQ2n7qI/s400/northernterritories00.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237486094129620162" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />So let's see why both Russia and Japan claim possession of the northern islands, and why the conflict is still unresolved. It actually dates much further back then World War II, as you might have guessed by now.<br /><br />It starts in 1635 when the Matsumae clan, starting its dominance over Hokkaido, ordered a map over Hokkaido and its northern islands. This map contained all the islands in conflict: the northern islands (Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai Islands), the Kurile islands and Sakhalin.<br />Russia first explored the Kurile islands in 1711 and created a map in 1721 where it at least denotes the northern islands as Japanese territory.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CsDc8NsZjiQ76iN6R86jVJFQKCzQ-hdmOklFsunW46wUQhIGAjrRLw5ejbvPItoEZzFZ6HGaUER_Y5zPqQ9fpWY-L5DsgOpxtX9b-6kfwFL57XM4ePH3xh5sV53EFnOY0_Mf4K7AqIg/s1600-h/northernterritories03.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CsDc8NsZjiQ76iN6R86jVJFQKCzQ-hdmOklFsunW46wUQhIGAjrRLw5ejbvPItoEZzFZ6HGaUER_Y5zPqQ9fpWY-L5DsgOpxtX9b-6kfwFL57XM4ePH3xh5sV53EFnOY0_Mf4K7AqIg/s400/northernterritories03.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237486622150307410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the map ordered by Matsumae Clan<br /></div><br />With this prequel Japan and Russia peacefully negotiated a peace treaty giving the northern islands to Japan, and the Kurile islands to Russia in 1855, when Japan was forcefully opened by the west and its time of isolation policy ended. The treaty included that Sakhalin can be peacefully inhabited by Japanese and Russian people.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKLpwqgG31jCQZPUpPJrGkmBM6mEIn1KyAEAs_nTCs5gSN67R9x4PSl5hnk3A-hspycwcE1IomXYIr6cQTXISrj2ZycoLd-NGkTf61aHhn6yI7utCs7HfhJm_n4gPFZZS3mYXLAeOtP8/s1600-h/northernterritories01.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKLpwqgG31jCQZPUpPJrGkmBM6mEIn1KyAEAs_nTCs5gSN67R9x4PSl5hnk3A-hspycwcE1IomXYIr6cQTXISrj2ZycoLd-NGkTf61aHhn6yI7utCs7HfhJm_n4gPFZZS3mYXLAeOtP8/s400/northernterritories01.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237481566012058274" border="0" /></a></div><br />20 years later a new treaty was agreed upon, that exchanged the Kurile islands to Japan for the undisputed dominance over Sakhalin to Russia.<br /><br />In World War I, Japan joined the Allies against Germany, but before that it fought its own successful war against Russia. The outcome was a peace treaty in 1905 (Portsmouth Peace Treaty) after Japan had conquered the southern half of Sakhalin.<br /><br />In World War II, Japan sided with the Axis against Russia and America and lost. It was agreed that Japan had to give back all territories acquired during the war, which included for example the Philippines, Korea, and Manchuria in China. The claim on the Kurile islands and on Sakhalin were to be given up, but the northern islands remained under Japanese governance. This was written down in the San Francisco Peace Treaty 1951.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqD56uh6hwN-UP4jYGse48m70eZTyEwTifpKWH-Q5RDG7tOV9EGHU6itGYBNijqr7s6n3Tv2nEyCbe1zkcuVQLzB__WpYGbKODOqmOC97nkB5A7L6sBR7R3DsYFkGUWQxOnohSAZtctY8/s1600-h/northernterritories02.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqD56uh6hwN-UP4jYGse48m70eZTyEwTifpKWH-Q5RDG7tOV9EGHU6itGYBNijqr7s6n3Tv2nEyCbe1zkcuVQLzB__WpYGbKODOqmOC97nkB5A7L6sBR7R3DsYFkGUWQxOnohSAZtctY8/s400/northernterritories02.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237481568606053730" border="0" /></a></div><br />The Soviet Empire refused to sign this treaty, because it conquered all islands north of Japan and intended in keeping them. Ever after that peace treaties were negotiated but never agreed upon. In 1956 a treaty was proposed that after peace was reached, half of the northern islands should go to Japan and half to Russia. However since until today no peace was signed, this never happened. In 1960 the Soviet Empire refused to acknowledge that there even exists an issue about the governance of the islands and made all negotiations come to a stand still.<br />In 1991 Mikhail Gorbachev visited Japan and it was mutually agreed to finally resolve the ongoing war and sign a peace and friendship between Russia and Japan. The end of the same year the Soviet Union collapsed. 1992 an objective committee was called to gather objective facts about the history of the conflict, a big step towards resolution.<br /><br />In 1993 Boris Yeltsin visited Tokyo and in 1997 Ryutaro Hashimoto visited Moscow, and both agreed to sign a peace treaty by the year 2000. But it never happened.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESqsj9IVM8ivMaAVp6Y5m6D0TijUBut6cyIcw-EFxdozH6Y8fo_fLoadizav45SMeMQ9q0P7XThLDLkuZcJtI2kFxo8phnECc0B5EUiC6XGMmcO1JS_fMIX2u0jyhRzxNw_IQXcsv9Ek/s1600-h/northernterritories04.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESqsj9IVM8ivMaAVp6Y5m6D0TijUBut6cyIcw-EFxdozH6Y8fo_fLoadizav45SMeMQ9q0P7XThLDLkuZcJtI2kFxo8phnECc0B5EUiC6XGMmcO1JS_fMIX2u0jyhRzxNw_IQXcsv9Ek/s400/northernterritories04.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237487565310906354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Boris Yeltsin and Ryutaro Hashimoto</span></div><br />In 2001 and 2003 Vladimir Putin and Junichiro Koizumi met again and again agreed upon that a peace treaty should be made soon now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4YDd16A7giYh8J35doxO8jXBFKL1moI1x59lyksI2o8fXxn5HKfPZK_JEr44biOPEA3M_fhF9Wdus8oNm61vMukSf7NdlsNWNUxpTV7WqvHVA7BAulL6zJXH-_6D0WVx21cz9AE80OA/s1600-h/northernterritories05.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4YDd16A7giYh8J35doxO8jXBFKL1moI1x59lyksI2o8fXxn5HKfPZK_JEr44biOPEA3M_fhF9Wdus8oNm61vMukSf7NdlsNWNUxpTV7WqvHVA7BAulL6zJXH-_6D0WVx21cz9AE80OA/s400/northernterritories05.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237487568182666738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Vladimir Putin and Junichiro Kozumi</span><br /></div><br />Yet until today no such peace treaty was ever reached...<br /><br /><br />The conflict is really difficult, as both nations are stubborn to having right to the islands and it is difficult to make an objective decision. Also another problem is, that there is no third power both nations would trust to make an objective decision. The NATO would obviously favor Japan, as Russia who recently left the NATO proved. And the UN, while being representative of all the countries in the world, has no power to enforce a made decision and thus such a resolve would be as vain as the agreements on making peace treated for the last 60 years.<br /><br />The problem is that once military right wing dick heads in Japan manage to abolish article 9 of the constitution (saying that Japan cannot have a military and cannot wage wars against other nations), Japan probably would forcefully take back the northern islands. And as we see Russia's position today in Georgia, they would not hesitate to retaliate...<br /><br />Let's hope for the best<br /><br />mika<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">参考 </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">References</span><br /><br />I got the details from a Pamphlet I got in the Hokkaido History Museum in Sapporo, but I also found it online: <a href="http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/europe/russia/territory/">http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/europe/russia/territory/</a>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-60775913253517304672008-08-12T17:19:00.000-07:002008-08-22T14:58:24.499-07:00熊のサバイバルガイド Bear Survival GuideThe danger of bears in Hokkaido is real and should be taken into account, when your life is dear to you.<br />Every year about five people are eaten by bears.<br />Planning to sleep alone by tent, this got me frightened a bit and I started asking people, how to survive an bear attack. That is why exclusively on dwelling in dreams, you will a the<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BEAR SURVIVAL GUIDE</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGf09Ve0b5l7OUiiE20AYf2ewQh7w6JWm8SUmQY-zgX7RZGmWMkQyuwd8hE6lW04x5HyFMhiwpOOMXSQQTK1BfqsFBG8Gs2V1ndBgrlqAC33lQVhzvBF6nWbxPoOl2cNvH3IVEaqsXkxY/s1600-h/img_3588.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGf09Ve0b5l7OUiiE20AYf2ewQh7w6JWm8SUmQY-zgX7RZGmWMkQyuwd8hE6lW04x5HyFMhiwpOOMXSQQTK1BfqsFBG8Gs2V1ndBgrlqAC33lQVhzvBF6nWbxPoOl2cNvH3IVEaqsXkxY/s320/img_3588.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237133926907797058" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />1) Bears usually avoid big groups of people. So the more people you take with you, the less likely an attack by a bear. If you are alone, try to stay in areas with people, whenever possible. Try also to use camping grounds whenever you can find one.<br /><br />2) Bears have one weak spot, they are very sensitive to sound. That means a very loud noise can scare them away. So what I did is, I went to a 100 Yen store and armed myself with pot lid and a long iron sponge and tied them with a cord to my backpack, so they would always be in reach.<br /><br />3) If the sound does not work, or the bear won't run away there will be a time when you will want to run away. Here is what you should keep in mind: Trees are not safe, don't try climbing trees like in movies, first it usually is more difficult than you think and second the bear is at you before you know it. So let's run away. Bears are very good and extremely fast in climbing upwards a slop or mountain, so you will never be able to outrun them. However they are very bad concerning climbing downwards. That is because of their huge weight (800 Kilo) they need to put a lot of effort in keeping balance while climbing down, that the weight won't get hold of them and let them roll downwards. So you <span style="font-weight: bold;">can</span> outrun a bear downwards.<br /><br />4) Running away has the disadvantage that the bear will think your prey. So only run if the way is downwards and if you have any quick prospect of getting to safety . The final option is to drop dead. If the bear is not very aggressive your chances are high, that he will quickly loose interest in you. Don't move even when he examines you by stroking you.<br /><br />That's it! Keep In mind that bears are dangerous, and thus you'd better keep your distance so you never need to use the advice above.<br /><br />In Hokkaido I also heard a story where a bear entered a camping ground and open a tent with his paw. The girl inside was so surprised she kicked the bear with all her might. This frightened the bear so much, that he ran back into the forest. So I guess we can add<br /><br />5) Fight the bear honorably and try to land many kicks.<br /><br />mikascallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-56660355104968048902008-08-10T05:55:00.000-07:002008-08-21T07:21:16.485-07:00アイヌ Ainu<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">アイヌ Ainu</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyK5IWaOacCQmM_hHlPtdd3Tu4W852jEuNAKAyvoRwmVzoL7yg0cKiYkjgy-uHYRUQnZvRwo9-xp27okqLQLeI5iexfXl4EVt0kLfNUGpKvq31N021SisPPZ7xovxc4qfX-OExjkz0NBg/s1600-h/img_3700.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyK5IWaOacCQmM_hHlPtdd3Tu4W852jEuNAKAyvoRwmVzoL7yg0cKiYkjgy-uHYRUQnZvRwo9-xp27okqLQLeI5iexfXl4EVt0kLfNUGpKvq31N021SisPPZ7xovxc4qfX-OExjkz0NBg/s320/img_3700.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236968545765834386" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />One of my goals for going to Hokkaido was to learn more about the Ainu. I knew them a bit from the Japanese lessons in Erlangen, Germany, but my knowledge was very limited and I was eager to see and talk to them.<br /><br />There no more than 20.000 - 30.000 Ainu left in Japan. Most of them dwell somewhere in Hokkaido. However they are more and more intermingling with Japanese and very few of them heed much attention for their people's custom and history. That is why the culture of the Ainu is slowly dying out together with people calling himself Ainu.<br /><br />Ainu means human in the language of the Ainu. The language was almost lost, when the Japanese government forced the Ainu to speak Japanese in the Meiji Period (end of 19th century). However one Ainu man realized later in his life how precious the culture of his people is and from that point on did everything to preserve it. Apart from starting a couple of museums all over Hokkaido, he started voice recording the language, he still had learned from his parents and started teaching it to other. Because of that today there are again a few motivated Ainu, who are able to speak the language of their ancestors or at least sing in it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwzv5dY3QDfR6_4S6UHNr0_X-WneVWIcvDnJojZ_U8tsQtkf1PBniy3fkLFLIV56kbgUqM0R_tHiLDj9yjQrA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now there are several bigger settlements with Ainu comunities around Japan, but in most it is rather hard to get to speak to them in a couple of days. That is why I choose the only one town that uses Ainu for tourism, or more positive uses tourism to teach the world about Ainu: <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/08/lake-akan.html">阿寒湖 Lake Akan</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRK9ppxfRy2mOIJjTgtfLrqDph7BFFn4M-qKc6rDmdk7WSGGtdurUKLib4IecVq0ZqAQodC-XQOH6-IpscIDb86qBffGw9AhLDdiIZkEnL9HitqVJ4k3Ul0ThWOZAzVPjq-PZIYdBTIQ/s1600-h/img_3568.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRK9ppxfRy2mOIJjTgtfLrqDph7BFFn4M-qKc6rDmdk7WSGGtdurUKLib4IecVq0ZqAQodC-XQOH6-IpscIDb86qBffGw9AhLDdiIZkEnL9HitqVJ4k3Ul0ThWOZAzVPjq-PZIYdBTIQ/s320/img_3568.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236975075260923954" border="0" /></a></div><br />Since in Akan most shops are owned by Ainu, the museums are run by Ainu and you can see Ainu performances, it is rather hard not to meet Ainu...<br />For me I asked about Ainu after seeing the dance performance. Here I met Miyanaga-san from Ryukyu (Okinawa), who told me the secret tip of the Rider House.<br /><br />So my next steps led me to the Rider House, which is run by the Ainu's shaman Chun-san. Chun-san warmly welcomed me, and I lodged in his house. However lucky I was to sleep in the house of the Ainu shaman, I could not understand the toothless utterances of the old man and had a tough time even understanding the most simple things.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaOmdqsThoywyLVXnMqQdTIfiYbqRjYu4FNcEQZS1BESxph7G0htKku6rxFcflwxitMsnxh6z-NPx_rip7YO_YF4oJBj9DmOPKTh70RE739yBpl6WQqtXWPIUPjcp1_2PQa19Bp3pRTI/s1600-h/img_3717.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaOmdqsThoywyLVXnMqQdTIfiYbqRjYu4FNcEQZS1BESxph7G0htKku6rxFcflwxitMsnxh6z-NPx_rip7YO_YF4oJBj9DmOPKTh70RE739yBpl6WQqtXWPIUPjcp1_2PQa19Bp3pRTI/s320/img_3717.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236968566858162674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />alas I could not understand him</span><br /></div><br />So my quest continued and led me to Akan's museum. Here I was finally able to find someone to talk. I arrived the Museum Of Ainu Arts (アイヌ藝術館) just at closing time. However being run by Ainu and not Japanese, the nice Ainu girl inside allowed me to have a look around and friednly waited for me. After I had seen the exhibitions, she asked me why I had come here, and I replied smiling to get to know you.<br /><br />She was quite happy about me, and asked me why I know of the Ainu, and if everyone in Germany and Europe would know about them. I knew it, because I studied Japanese in University, but had to shatter her hopes about anyone else knowing them in Germany. She said "やっぱり Yappari I tought as much..." disheartedly. She told me about her people and their culture being taken away from them, without anyone in the world noticing. Even worse the world does not even know about them...<br /><br />I shared her grief and asked her about herself. I thought that in nowadays Japan, although much has been lost of the Ainu culture, living as Ainu would not be so difficult anymore. She told me, I was partly right, because in earlier times Ainu were segregated from Japanese. They had to use separate schools for exmaple and were not allowed to mingle with Japenese. However they were forced to speak Japanese, and assimilate the Japanese lifestyle, giving up their own. Now they are equal before the law, and segregation has stopped officially, however she told me, when she was in school people would go away from her, and someone even pointed at her saying "Ainu" in a disgusted voice. She further told me that altough her father was already allowed to go in the same schools as Japanese, all teachers would discriminate him in class, and he had a really tough time.<br /><br />Then she asked me to look into her face and shouted: "この顔を見て。日本の顔じゃないだよ ヨーロッパの顔もないだよ。 いったいどこから来たか?” "Look at this face. It is no Japanese face, neither is it European. Where on earth do I come from".<br />Yes the Ainu look neither very Asian, nor very European. They look very unique. As it always goes, I found no good reply to comfort her anguish then, now I would have said "I don't care where your face comes from, but you know, it is very pretty"...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRV_dhinPJkQkYAZcCdg94OGM7V2GT4sIhhz-Njk-LcCNNcx4bEk0r0aLI_xgTthRfRGp6UQHQTC17FCdAjflSlUAV3ERmaY2FBlZbqf9ubLw27nMzuQSfzxfKbpmNskrXatjKlHB_OU/s1600-h/img_3683.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRV_dhinPJkQkYAZcCdg94OGM7V2GT4sIhhz-Njk-LcCNNcx4bEk0r0aLI_xgTthRfRGp6UQHQTC17FCdAjflSlUAV3ERmaY2FBlZbqf9ubLw27nMzuQSfzxfKbpmNskrXatjKlHB_OU/s320/img_3683.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236969015071298466" border="0" /></a></div><br />I then accompanied her closing the museum and going back to the village. I think she took some comfort in me trying to share her pains. I am glad I met this girl, otherwise I never imagined that Ainu still today have a hard time living in Japan.<br /><br />In the other museum (Ainu Lifestyle Museum アイヌ生活記念館) I met an old Ainu lady smiling at me, when I entered. I asked her, whether she could explain me the things exhibited her, and cleverly added that I couldn't read the signs written In Japanese in front of time. So she started explaining me the usage of the tools and how the life looked like, much better than any sign could. There was a question in the back of my head concerning their life for a long time, and I finally had the chance asking it: "I saw how the old huts of the Ainu looked like and how they lived. Now I cannot imagine who they could survice Hokkaido's harsh winters, in huts that do not even really shield out the wind, not talking of containing warmth."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-u-NFBIGny8LCCbl4lADOHFpFb_LVflX52d1b4kIxfAlXvbouYPXMwFpm6cbeClSXpjW6-3LzTOCYRJfPElmUq_PHA3v89ETIHRFdjkIXlaJrIim9ml8WTFEk1UsokrUikZzVmjdm4K8/s1600-h/img_3405.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-u-NFBIGny8LCCbl4lADOHFpFb_LVflX52d1b4kIxfAlXvbouYPXMwFpm6cbeClSXpjW6-3LzTOCYRJfPElmUq_PHA3v89ETIHRFdjkIXlaJrIim9ml8WTFEk1UsokrUikZzVmjdm4K8/s320/img_3405.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236969474641177266" border="0" /></a></div><br />She replied: "Oh you must know, todays Ainu are already very different, because most mingled with Japanese sooner or later, or simply adapted to modern life. In earlier times Ainu had much more hair on their skin, almost like the fur of a bear. Also their skin was whiter and rougher and thus more adapted to the cold temperatures."<br />And indeed after she said that, I noticed that some of the Ainu I met had really really much body hair, where others looked just normal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbbtX6YrTClytx9Gj5pDN02K85euk7fxM3Ik0m2wuVdZAxIgwLCBOSTrYXC_8Ljh8zowaUcE3qIwhVuGYstVXHXfEQLGIHCEbUPyNzLqiPa2AguTFgftYv3tPF4Ti_JJhdYPGjbePFgA/s1600-h/img_3443.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbbtX6YrTClytx9Gj5pDN02K85euk7fxM3Ik0m2wuVdZAxIgwLCBOSTrYXC_8Ljh8zowaUcE3qIwhVuGYstVXHXfEQLGIHCEbUPyNzLqiPa2AguTFgftYv3tPF4Ti_JJhdYPGjbePFgA/s320/img_3443.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236974209777198498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uNsef4gpxqryWnyTnWx2aPxuMMj6oB0Ozbc0Rx9k-BAAIPwFPtRCDCTBNaA_CuaXOedXRJgtd7ciIFGYG67qib77Gqk1ckeKIr8hV9jOkYOEIrvCBzW82yzRkIVyd_z6VBjBFZTMcxQ/s1600-h/img_3411.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uNsef4gpxqryWnyTnWx2aPxuMMj6oB0Ozbc0Rx9k-BAAIPwFPtRCDCTBNaA_CuaXOedXRJgtd7ciIFGYG67qib77Gqk1ckeKIr8hV9jOkYOEIrvCBzW82yzRkIVyd_z6VBjBFZTMcxQ/s320/img_3411.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236974455457421362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">old pictures of Ainu</span><br /></div><br />My luck would continue, when Miyanga-san allowed me backstage after the concert in the evening. We talked a while and I honored his drumming skills. He then said: "Why don't you join me and my wife for an Izakaya later?" and although I usually don't drink, how could I refuse being invited by a famous Rock Star and representative of the Ryukyu kingdom.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7mZnYZLCUXHQejRQjhnt-vSk2EUD1hv0541CBxQpu9-npt5xYakY8D0EQhkW3-NAF3G-ITKyGZVS3p-ccN63ky7pg-5fof3J35Niqmep9GH5zo0FwvqcBB2ptxDg01zVctCQbWfLZrA/s1600-h/img_3745.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7mZnYZLCUXHQejRQjhnt-vSk2EUD1hv0541CBxQpu9-npt5xYakY8D0EQhkW3-NAF3G-ITKyGZVS3p-ccN63ky7pg-5fof3J35Niqmep9GH5zo0FwvqcBB2ptxDg01zVctCQbWfLZrA/s320/img_3745.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236968551056399506" border="0" /></a></div><br />And my luck peaked when inside the Izakaya (Japanese bar) we met a complete Ainu family, whose two children Miyanaga-san is teaching Taiko. The family was complete with father, mother, the two boys and both of their grandmothers. They asked us to joing their table and we gladly accepted.<br />As the night gew merrier and Miyanga-san told the parents of my interest in the Ainu, they started talking about everything. I liked best when they talked about their normal life, in which they try to contain some values of their ancestors, some rites and ways, while also not ignoring the modern age and its possibilities and comforts. They said its not always easy, but as a big family you can manage. Later a Japanese man joined the round. Miyanaga-san explained me, that he lost his home and family and has no one left. One day he straied in Akan village, and some Ainu people showed him hospitality. Later they noticed that he had some expertise in pyro techniques, and now he is managing the pyro part of the late night shows, as volunteer for free. Although he is Japanese, the Ainu community welcomed him with open arms and now fully trusts him as one of their own. He seemed really happy this evening, still showing some Japanese minorty complex, which the family countered with love and back clapping. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51xFr70SNHIOOX1wFvxt5C9S0vVEMhIpBy_DWJkSfsbJaXoIq89YRXeNKJMRiwTGp30Fqyfs73k5DdDDfSkLEZdfJm9ktRlhoGNl_jg_ID1tmIvci8Wv34DubeXDMgWA2R982rbQS0ys/s1600-h/img_3757.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51xFr70SNHIOOX1wFvxt5C9S0vVEMhIpBy_DWJkSfsbJaXoIq89YRXeNKJMRiwTGp30Fqyfs73k5DdDDfSkLEZdfJm9ktRlhoGNl_jg_ID1tmIvci8Wv34DubeXDMgWA2R982rbQS0ys/s320/img_3757.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236968555218847906" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Do you remember this picture from the <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/08/lake-akan.html">last post</a>?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEIsnuLO1bYkjTn-cNowGzJbFjtJKYO_wI5vQpDDYFHmvz1dBiEBEbnJH-V9J_m-HGej86pTPJfAZnPgM0HPVFOxnDB0QdCx-w6yPKitL5YOzOPrZz3_yJR6Te_iQW6UgyuLNh4XvbUg/s1600-h/img_3677.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEIsnuLO1bYkjTn-cNowGzJbFjtJKYO_wI5vQpDDYFHmvz1dBiEBEbnJH-V9J_m-HGej86pTPJfAZnPgM0HPVFOxnDB0QdCx-w6yPKitL5YOzOPrZz3_yJR6Te_iQW6UgyuLNh4XvbUg/s320/img_3677.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236968541931797234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I promised you to reveal its secret in this post. It was built to honor of the new found friendship between a tribe of American Indians. You already know that the Ainu are trying to making cultural exchange with the Ryukyu people from Okinawa, but the previous generation of the Ainu of Akan village has done a quite courageous step. They sent a delegation of Ainu, including shaman and elder to America to meet with American Indian tribes.<br />They could not speak a word in English, and the Indians not a word in Japanese, and still only a moment after the Indian chieftain had seen the Ainu one, tears came out of his eyes and the two noble figures embraced each other so heartily as to brothers who were separated their whole life and at its end could meet at last...<br /><br />Indeed the culture of the American Indians resembles the Ainu culture so much, it is amazing. Although their environment is so different, they developed the same beliefs of living in harmony with nature and honoring the animals around them. It really touches my heart that two kinds of people who have both suffered so hard under the rule of others, could find each other in this world and if only for the fact of realizing that they are not alone to beat this fate, break out in joy.<br /></div></div></div></div>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-9722105605480230842008-08-06T20:11:00.000-07:002011-11-20T09:50:04.356-08:00阿寒湖 Lake AkanOne of my main goals in Hokkaido was to learn more about its indigenous people, the Ainu. A Japanese friend told me of a village in the east of Hokkaido, that while being touristic overloaded, represents one of the biggest Ainu communities, which try to preserve their culture and let the world know about it. The name of this village is Akan, named after the great lake Akanko on which's shore it is located.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">阿寒湖 Akanko</span><br />
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Akan is indeed a village, because it is really small. There are basically two streets and one path. One street is the highway on Akan's north border, the other is its main shopping street, the "center" of Akan, and last the path leads along the wonderful lake and then into the mystical forest.<br />
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Being touristic overloaded means the central street is plastered with tourist shops, which however, look really nice, are mostly lead by real Ainu descendants and mostly sell items handcrafted by the owner. Apart from that there is the Ainu Kotan, the traditional Ainu village, around which the rest of the town was built and the lake, which contains its own little mystery: the ball shaped algae called marimo. On the lake you can take an expensive boat ride, which will take you to a little island in the center of the lake, which hosts a marimo museum.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">tourist shops on the central street through Akan</span></div><br />
There are also two convenience stores, which also function as restaurants and offer Ramen and some other dishes. In the far end of the village you can find a tourist information, which has maps of the place and information about all the facilities.<br />
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Concerning the Ainu there are two museums, one about how they lived, and one about their harmony with nature and their arts. There is also one inside stage, where they perform their traditional dances, and one outside for concerts. Lastly there is one more museum about the ecology of Akan, which is free of charge.<br />
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For lodging I can recommend either to use the Camping Place or the incredible cool Rider House, led by an ancient Ainu for 500 Yen a day including breakfast and dinner.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">アイヌコタン Ainu Kotan</span><br />
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Kotan is the Ainu word for village or settlement. Akan's Ainu Kotan extends the shopping street and hosts some more exclusive shops, all run by Ainu. It is the original village, today's Akan grew out of. In the center of the Kotan you can find a wooden hut, where at night around 8 pm, you can take pictures of yourself with an old Ainu Shaman for free (which happens to be the owner of the Rider House).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNODZ-1uo7AoJoTYAMPKqKDA1mXJ1nJgXf0goE4IEep9wErgfZ_0Ug_ZAXw4sMjjWovg4GizIzUqGg4UAyABBhybrWoHScAHn-uPYAJlaq5R8RPtpMkmtiyaWlb4nyq8scAA5f15PmnA/s1600-h/img_3569.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236810086775976882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNODZ-1uo7AoJoTYAMPKqKDA1mXJ1nJgXf0goE4IEep9wErgfZ_0Ug_ZAXw4sMjjWovg4GizIzUqGg4UAyABBhybrWoHScAHn-uPYAJlaq5R8RPtpMkmtiyaWlb4nyq8scAA5f15PmnA/s320/img_3569.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHN7jXNh3_cn-zn1FzAv1SJ6HMua32EG9WRyKIcavQ0y1Jzmr7kGSXCdXx7sx78KaxugRqCOV7NHWz-bxRgxvsjeupH1-GfOeLrejQ_9VAK6P9ZI9Zj-q2SUw9b9I1-53QcuqQ03plitU/s1600-h/img_3717.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236856577253320658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHN7jXNh3_cn-zn1FzAv1SJ6HMua32EG9WRyKIcavQ0y1Jzmr7kGSXCdXx7sx78KaxugRqCOV7NHWz-bxRgxvsjeupH1-GfOeLrejQ_9VAK6P9ZI9Zj-q2SUw9b9I1-53QcuqQ03plitU/s320/img_3717.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">a picture of me and the Ainu Shaman,<br />
who also let me sleep in his cool house</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0JVl0LFLBexz_aLshkPETM1UaD45ih68SVpdqV1sXU-QygmVk_FSpdEE5L4Guk_a6yfa6Ep2R5dSd4MaiZqgeZ2qkaYmg0swzwlaUtk0TGvrm2cjy2SSBwzw2DW5rB4G9mA_x3mELhM/s1600-h/img_3612.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236819276975774786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0JVl0LFLBexz_aLshkPETM1UaD45ih68SVpdqV1sXU-QygmVk_FSpdEE5L4Guk_a6yfa6Ep2R5dSd4MaiZqgeZ2qkaYmg0swzwlaUtk0TGvrm2cjy2SSBwzw2DW5rB4G9mA_x3mELhM/s320/img_3612.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTfCZ4jNyjVM7aEe-7D7_Wln-HHD39oYD_SXRfqu-QnD_4Rex1LLBEz3I4Kmni1TnJhs9cNatGJQrTHrIfeNA5R1VfZPTYKDosQscITe2NHexdO44Hmu0F1x-uzgZcht_HNs2eC6uplo/s1600-h/img_3609.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236819266303309218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTfCZ4jNyjVM7aEe-7D7_Wln-HHD39oYD_SXRfqu-QnD_4Rex1LLBEz3I4Kmni1TnJhs9cNatGJQrTHrIfeNA5R1VfZPTYKDosQscITe2NHexdO44Hmu0F1x-uzgZcht_HNs2eC6uplo/s320/img_3609.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkC-DgOG0CIQFj-oO74-jZ0BpBWikNqGy236wUixnAniS6CS3SMxhiU0U807aQtJCiLgHXkgj7mnHIU4ycuGnR4mGbQGnC2uUNorMkxr3yugW6PIsIeyil65b4B8CN2D7sIxwxJ8ZYYM/s1600-h/img_3567.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236810080224557842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkC-DgOG0CIQFj-oO74-jZ0BpBWikNqGy236wUixnAniS6CS3SMxhiU0U807aQtJCiLgHXkgj7mnHIU4ycuGnR4mGbQGnC2uUNorMkxr3yugW6PIsIeyil65b4B8CN2D7sIxwxJ8ZYYM/s320/img_3567.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWIX6EEvdRAooJR6RMjwCCEguRcgOggJKxW1l-FH_5JyOcPf9tJ86FoF8LES3ERBmSYtWAdOZUiRU-pO8bPsUXGNFgSSpgPdPJETa9IcrnwPMoTyo6K7jeDSFaMjN8KXDc8_w6S_Ur6M/s1600-h/img_3574.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236811610129313970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWIX6EEvdRAooJR6RMjwCCEguRcgOggJKxW1l-FH_5JyOcPf9tJ86FoF8LES3ERBmSYtWAdOZUiRU-pO8bPsUXGNFgSSpgPdPJETa9IcrnwPMoTyo6K7jeDSFaMjN8KXDc8_w6S_Ur6M/s320/img_3574.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYUWvAXtAb-Vikx0dTT44YBFoOCoQJXBdTKmAK4eTNQ8x1RMEVkuR1JTJeQeGn2qTPsLUdfgBiXu4J6DYxx1V83RoOZvTvWkW8fkzsc4whbyq_UZAWLU6jAxbD7ZT40YyWu-YWJ8gbts/s1600-h/img_3608.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236819263334814066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYUWvAXtAb-Vikx0dTT44YBFoOCoQJXBdTKmAK4eTNQ8x1RMEVkuR1JTJeQeGn2qTPsLUdfgBiXu4J6DYxx1V83RoOZvTvWkW8fkzsc4whbyq_UZAWLU6jAxbD7ZT40YyWu-YWJ8gbts/s320/img_3608.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNODZ-1uo7AoJoTYAMPKqKDA1mXJ1nJgXf0goE4IEep9wErgfZ_0Ug_ZAXw4sMjjWovg4GizIzUqGg4UAyABBhybrWoHScAHn-uPYAJlaq5R8RPtpMkmtiyaWlb4nyq8scAA5f15PmnA/s1600-h/img_3569.jpg"><br />
</a></div>When you face the big stage house the sixth shop to your right (熊の家 Kuma No Ie), also hosts a little museum in the basement dedicated to a talented Ainu artist who specialized in wood sculpturing. So in the basement, you can find many samples of his work, followed by information about him and the arts the Ainu.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSASlcTcu83-QE0wCf9udXFPVnD0xaFEC2KEmUT0Lgv0XrcZRTxuM-8Eie5tDYwKNZbT0IAd7PJD7znMJ-otdyrmfVcGp4q9XEd_CsHNyW9n3qJVtDsBPddibY3RIcE2M7k1PAH2VJzU/s1600-h/img_3572.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236811603410217186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSASlcTcu83-QE0wCf9udXFPVnD0xaFEC2KEmUT0Lgv0XrcZRTxuM-8Eie5tDYwKNZbT0IAd7PJD7znMJ-otdyrmfVcGp4q9XEd_CsHNyW9n3qJVtDsBPddibY3RIcE2M7k1PAH2VJzU/s320/img_3572.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">熊の家 Kuma No Ie<br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AJZu6wmCiRIrA0BafikYv-r-TVJfzIHn47K5URY0i-ayO9Fva-gxW6eVoc91IGED50At7i9lJd5iox5PRc8jBW0uJdz5RspOOeWJo6p-RMw4csIlMyByPixsVOX3kM9F2zhcvNN0s_8/s1600-h/img_3674.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236847663238468082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AJZu6wmCiRIrA0BafikYv-r-TVJfzIHn47K5URY0i-ayO9Fva-gxW6eVoc91IGED50At7i9lJd5iox5PRc8jBW0uJdz5RspOOeWJo6p-RMw4csIlMyByPixsVOX3kM9F2zhcvNN0s_8/s320/img_3674.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">the famous Ainu wood carver</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0p3AO5kWoipFa8RiRKA3G_R1TREf9avgx1qovrKLM2iY6vbCtXrOnDIRMN6gq_EKoMv9E2jOYETFdnG7XRToTW7t8aupp683Mlnm4WzMgQwnszdhupNGRgeBmofUfa4NbGtz7QK-ibg/s1600-h/img_3670.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236847659646408178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0p3AO5kWoipFa8RiRKA3G_R1TREf9avgx1qovrKLM2iY6vbCtXrOnDIRMN6gq_EKoMv9E2jOYETFdnG7XRToTW7t8aupp683Mlnm4WzMgQwnszdhupNGRgeBmofUfa4NbGtz7QK-ibg/s320/img_3670.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">makes woodcarvings of Ainu and</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Z_e3nX_ndsax2I_qpOmddTWYFtTfQPEgxSSz8cWovoj1Dsz_HbFVhUdyEF0HK7baSFoHwfICb0IRHROT0JoR3JCn2fI0AHc_LIPRTRkensWNVJBB1zEI1YG5z7EEzDxujK-hlpGhVFE/s1600-h/img_3675.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236847667980027842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Z_e3nX_ndsax2I_qpOmddTWYFtTfQPEgxSSz8cWovoj1Dsz_HbFVhUdyEF0HK7baSFoHwfICb0IRHROT0JoR3JCn2fI0AHc_LIPRTRkensWNVJBB1zEI1YG5z7EEzDxujK-hlpGhVFE/s320/img_3675.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">animals alike</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUyO1gMBgkhM6qE48cE-2MANUGLZpQzv-PhFstLFCucgO8-AY2epQeNQHXO2uG6h0iuXRGipc-K_EwVIC5sO7ok1SrMXIEBm2L8YJQ2zU42fc87NExSR8FTiI6l2iOXJPQZm74Ax_Rwc/s1600-h/img_3672.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236847662517401250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUyO1gMBgkhM6qE48cE-2MANUGLZpQzv-PhFstLFCucgO8-AY2epQeNQHXO2uG6h0iuXRGipc-K_EwVIC5sO7ok1SrMXIEBm2L8YJQ2zU42fc87NExSR8FTiI6l2iOXJPQZm74Ax_Rwc/s320/img_3672.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">sometimes even of a monster from Ainu mythology</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGk9OcL0KD08oqBlxWsZekELswdDpeQblD-MC0O24gOiOKJRDPL3UGes7r6hHmbIbddKmLijS-wr2Lccwkt97e4Qz0ILWH8OexMjF2n_gyVH8cYIrw5z9V8p3fS3iJks5gNbiyZKHs0w/s1600-h/img_3677.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236847674264757762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGk9OcL0KD08oqBlxWsZekELswdDpeQblD-MC0O24gOiOKJRDPL3UGes7r6hHmbIbddKmLijS-wr2Lccwkt97e4Qz0ILWH8OexMjF2n_gyVH8cYIrw5z9V8p3fS3iJks5gNbiyZKHs0w/s320/img_3677.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">why would he choose to make a wooden statue of a native American<br />
I will tell the answer in my next post: The Ainu</span></div><br />
Apart from that, there is one thing I recommend you buying: The ムックリ Mukkuri, a traditional instrument of the Ainu made of bamboo. You can get one for 400 Yen, but be sure to ask the friendly shop owner to give you a quick course in how to play it, because it is really difficult, as I had to find out.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRq2rTwFMiggh4w_6B1eFmB1_KtIAeS5iPC4a-I9Rg9WxSnmHZnEMECcPIUKWX3UGYN9ZAODNGNbfhMfkCFP_IDlyl_Rsa9RI8-b_Sr9T74zGm_NzRQ9n2sduwcT0FtJAtMnXto5PsoQ/s1600-h/img_3628.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236821098305060242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRq2rTwFMiggh4w_6B1eFmB1_KtIAeS5iPC4a-I9Rg9WxSnmHZnEMECcPIUKWX3UGYN9ZAODNGNbfhMfkCFP_IDlyl_Rsa9RI8-b_Sr9T74zGm_NzRQ9n2sduwcT0FtJAtMnXto5PsoQ/s320/img_3628.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
ムックリ Mukkuri</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">アイヌ Ainu</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5OprKt5OD_GUoTh_SqQRdJZV6L2ZbsFOYnUgjHohRJCw5CwT7NMU42gfoxaRYpBBxp5KX0dP9LOnUcizwi_jSfYY6MbLNvY24D0leDgu3LvE2oAehmQQEdqkGJOnZo414iRfSwFK9To/s1600-h/img_3700.jpg" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236861904111809234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5OprKt5OD_GUoTh_SqQRdJZV6L2ZbsFOYnUgjHohRJCw5CwT7NMU42gfoxaRYpBBxp5KX0dP9LOnUcizwi_jSfYY6MbLNvY24D0leDgu3LvE2oAehmQQEdqkGJOnZo414iRfSwFK9To/s320/img_3700.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
Apart from the shops and the Ainu Kotan, there are two museums, one stage show and one concert you can see about the Ainu. For the first three you can buy a combination ticket, that will save you almost 1000 Yen. The concert, however, is not included. So let's start with the dance show:<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">アイヌ踊り Ainu Dance</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnjn7-vYg15kOR7EqthOEJ16TJZHNSIQshJ9OQMjeHLr3_Drzjqwg7T8N599VWYcE9GnjJEq_6PKnJCvf3hDt78Vj3jwiY8hCqR9LzPdnr-nSggiVSleTHn66B-9Uw_-N6MPKst76f0M/s1600-h/img_3616.jpg" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236861896171623666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnjn7-vYg15kOR7EqthOEJ16TJZHNSIQshJ9OQMjeHLr3_Drzjqwg7T8N599VWYcE9GnjJEq_6PKnJCvf3hDt78Vj3jwiY8hCqR9LzPdnr-nSggiVSleTHn66B-9Uw_-N6MPKst76f0M/s320/img_3616.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
The Ainu have a lot of traditional dances, some of which they perform on the stage at the top of the Ainu Kotan. Along with the dances, some women sing songs in the Ainu language, that have been preserved, when the language was just at the brink of being forgotten. It sounds completely different from Japanese and has its very own distinctive sounds.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwB_IstJHVYJn4g1W9VAvPht7CYcGKpSOvDSAnDabzg2g2QrP-6jXXC8_-MsbCtWR0oVaxLeDe45IITpqpZ7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">listen to this Ainu song</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">They also made music using the ムックリ Mukkuri, I mentioned before. it is incredible which variety of sounds and melody they can create with a little piece of bamboo. The Mukkuri resembles the European Jew's harp.</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z5hw0G0YRT-mTbW1GWefFCyKnMvj04gWsjBf_XBMO2p3biF1IQWX3FOOCYHxEHR50bWaq7JraKU-m43-jjzFptJ96nmmQfjc2xgIjxzXslinVEEp5PlYldn-JoAwPq3CpizY1hUacvM/s1600-h/img_3630.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236821102596581842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z5hw0G0YRT-mTbW1GWefFCyKnMvj04gWsjBf_XBMO2p3biF1IQWX3FOOCYHxEHR50bWaq7JraKU-m43-jjzFptJ96nmmQfjc2xgIjxzXslinVEEp5PlYldn-JoAwPq3CpizY1hUacvM/s320/img_3630.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Mukkuri performance</span></div><br />
The dances reflect the Ainu's lifestyle or being rather calm and harmonious in contrast to energetic and ecstatic.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy-A-dKVzzuhMxKEZo1apysmCuGyy1Lo9zT5XaXYKo3V-oTkTXizrDmsa4TdUehuLZvTi2wdYYNrTE3bmME1Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">head banging ^_^</span></div><br />
Many dances in the Ainu culture are about animal mimicry, as the Ainu always tried to live in harmonious coexistence with the animals. The two most important animals were the bear and the owl.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy-i_pO8kc52fK0eWm0ZsYC6-SP7DmPfWP2MSrric09GAhneLn_SleP7yFCxta6Hdukqdevkg4jbo7ZNArSTg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">an owl mimicry dance</span></div><br />
Apart from the dances, they also showed the alcohol brewing ritual, very important to the people of the cold north.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzq85pX6v-fLG1u16VqBwOhQXZrehCsArzfRdKk1_0aQv6_MFB3QYSnP-pXaFhjRUqVJ-M0jpqH_-6XVyIOSG0B5L9zKonhAgWGLWnwd9kGOTwLau7S0wsmJji1TBo_AfB58RhI9g0Go/s1600-h/img_3626.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236821097936891490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzq85pX6v-fLG1u16VqBwOhQXZrehCsArzfRdKk1_0aQv6_MFB3QYSnP-pXaFhjRUqVJ-M0jpqH_-6XVyIOSG0B5L9zKonhAgWGLWnwd9kGOTwLau7S0wsmJji1TBo_AfB58RhI9g0Go/s320/img_3626.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">the alcohol ritual</span><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">アイヌ藝術館 Ainu Art Museum</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLg2kjGiBXrxO4b_6YqNnDvJ6dOJqIaxSFko9wsj3MAvu-AA1IJ5TvSDIZ_pANqXa0qh86T-LyfzPRSrFqjmAG3G_ijRCZ4YkaBMZT0ICGXXr2SfkryDyRj20QW9w028tSMEfygvFwTc/s1600-h/img_3690.jpg" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236853363594348402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLg2kjGiBXrxO4b_6YqNnDvJ6dOJqIaxSFko9wsj3MAvu-AA1IJ5TvSDIZ_pANqXa0qh86T-LyfzPRSrFqjmAG3G_ijRCZ4YkaBMZT0ICGXXr2SfkryDyRj20QW9w028tSMEfygvFwTc/s320/img_3690.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
In this museum you can experience how close the Ainu lived to nature. Everything they did was in harmony with the animals and plants around them and in synchrony with the current season and weather. The museum tries to explain this mutual relationship, that has been lost to modern civilizations. This is also reflected in their art, of which you can find some examples in here like wood carvings or paintings.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwwsONdQYcAikfP2AqDx59k5yzp3pKp1bQLE_-0WBAZZvs0XELzmhDQZc5sdx9cHybTEy7aS8mT-4GJ1FTuwALmYV0nLaWlybVZglWOAjqNdIySQbxRXc00lEZjGdXlu_n3AyJbO2Occ/s1600-h/img_3681.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236852025501347090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwwsONdQYcAikfP2AqDx59k5yzp3pKp1bQLE_-0WBAZZvs0XELzmhDQZc5sdx9cHybTEy7aS8mT-4GJ1FTuwALmYV0nLaWlybVZglWOAjqNdIySQbxRXc00lEZjGdXlu_n3AyJbO2Occ/s320/img_3681.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">it is explained how the Ainu lived in harmony with the animals<br />
and in synchrony to the environment</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB3Ew_tjcSxA3Pjl-Mxu9kJ67FpzGB6b2kwnyQVCTb8CiRSttHa_m53vil2JRD4vnN01SjK19_FNU555V02rW4S_KLKZRO3h8Q6fCBIynVoq97uW_lRXvCoFRrNGTswV7DVKxA5hgWzA/s1600-h/img_3691.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236853367681779730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB3Ew_tjcSxA3Pjl-Mxu9kJ67FpzGB6b2kwnyQVCTb8CiRSttHa_m53vil2JRD4vnN01SjK19_FNU555V02rW4S_KLKZRO3h8Q6fCBIynVoq97uW_lRXvCoFRrNGTswV7DVKxA5hgWzA/s320/img_3691.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOuBs_bCDz_03j6h6WfH2qNKUxYrwZMHFso6NtXDahvlwwzT5Sq2PdehAt8dn5jg5u-UjJ93IdwrTzg1wyEUzW3X7PYOddOv0hDVEqucYZYU50GBCq9Ud1F-Ccb_d8dgIVRdpzOF8evE/s1600-h/img_3694.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236853367268179586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOuBs_bCDz_03j6h6WfH2qNKUxYrwZMHFso6NtXDahvlwwzT5Sq2PdehAt8dn5jg5u-UjJ93IdwrTzg1wyEUzW3X7PYOddOv0hDVEqucYZYU50GBCq9Ud1F-Ccb_d8dgIVRdpzOF8evE/s320/img_3694.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">those instruments are used for rituals</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKSXjE5jxQCRnGAs0-XSu-Yew47T6WjScD0HTFtMvRgolgimYYDEtaI-08DULflMDe3gqFtthHDpd7OAuzgvnkAlDKJsKIIi0tQ4esPma1aIY4K6Lfkgzz-sWMxmM_LbvTuSoVWmNjEg/s1600-h/img_3696.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236853368860211826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKSXjE5jxQCRnGAs0-XSu-Yew47T6WjScD0HTFtMvRgolgimYYDEtaI-08DULflMDe3gqFtthHDpd7OAuzgvnkAlDKJsKIIi0tQ4esPma1aIY4K6Lfkgzz-sWMxmM_LbvTuSoVWmNjEg/s320/img_3696.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZPW7P_62gd-8jpZUdiOkOZ0YiSQj2eRUI3AvE1mH4BsyDMxASpExuATo-1ct9_RHo3Kx9AjciDAIOBXvzV-dR4EQ7civcSulQUxU9Xnv7v5pdipU5Q-tZc1Lk5cfmF8vNemaAmrOBhA/s1600-h/img_3683.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236852029123772258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZPW7P_62gd-8jpZUdiOkOZ0YiSQj2eRUI3AvE1mH4BsyDMxASpExuATo-1ct9_RHo3Kx9AjciDAIOBXvzV-dR4EQ7civcSulQUxU9Xnv7v5pdipU5Q-tZc1Lk5cfmF8vNemaAmrOBhA/s320/img_3683.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">an Ainu holding a marumo</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7gqjhWiueXCdbPjQfalqN8NWac-7QB24b6HOAlIflm10XPON3A-g100WmYcv7M0GkGZHCJHdFvU70AUukv7T-kCfFVMIQ_wIlFuiCj1UgJzT4P4aoxLp-UQ8H4YJ0InRb_2iNw1-Bvg/s1600-h/img_3685.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236852026599893666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7gqjhWiueXCdbPjQfalqN8NWac-7QB24b6HOAlIflm10XPON3A-g100WmYcv7M0GkGZHCJHdFvU70AUukv7T-kCfFVMIQ_wIlFuiCj1UgJzT4P4aoxLp-UQ8H4YJ0InRb_2iNw1-Bvg/s320/img_3685.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTk-9aW5CnA8YS2FWOxzSbzRh8DRuyEEAOgYSeWMrZb1toNobIhVBATZVLvqXi9ratBD84h1tsNj81PeAxmp3mIQipBUNyAA2DL7xLtduN-ggKxWAYVy9FltZvKiETBXNaviZ8oASxwo/s1600-h/img_3686.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236852037109254514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTk-9aW5CnA8YS2FWOxzSbzRh8DRuyEEAOgYSeWMrZb1toNobIhVBATZVLvqXi9ratBD84h1tsNj81PeAxmp3mIQipBUNyAA2DL7xLtduN-ggKxWAYVy9FltZvKiETBXNaviZ8oASxwo/s320/img_3686.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WUlFr-eUZMRQrbQ2cgsgVrI4NMC2sVPAOloY9JhxPS3VPYLWMQLtr4VCwHy_sDAlxc7nYNOiPRCQ1a9e9DlH2peuBDNI1eV6GNuOImziq7FbqFarMlu2eGvpzNXoGkuK3O49rbAkcp4/s1600-h/img_3689.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236852038776712818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WUlFr-eUZMRQrbQ2cgsgVrI4NMC2sVPAOloY9JhxPS3VPYLWMQLtr4VCwHy_sDAlxc7nYNOiPRCQ1a9e9DlH2peuBDNI1eV6GNuOImziq7FbqFarMlu2eGvpzNXoGkuK3O49rbAkcp4/s320/img_3689.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">more wood sculpturing</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">アイヌ生活記念館 Museum About The Life Of The Ainu</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpbTPR78gUIqn_xhDSkQxyHYhiD9mIhxY6MCX7kxXog55ENfSGxxoJXj5yEoTzVxm2-V8qPWfInOz8vzvwdKODpwYPON6TFinITMwmwVscHK9miMvvDjmVdJojDCQHN1ow7XjG9k0B5A/s1600-h/img_3705.jpg" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236855231775034594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpbTPR78gUIqn_xhDSkQxyHYhiD9mIhxY6MCX7kxXog55ENfSGxxoJXj5yEoTzVxm2-V8qPWfInOz8vzvwdKODpwYPON6TFinITMwmwVscHK9miMvvDjmVdJojDCQHN1ow7XjG9k0B5A/s320/img_3705.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
The second museum reflects the daily life of the Ainu and exhibits many daily tools used for cooking or crafting. Some other tools were reserved for ceremonies, like alcohol brewing. You can also see a selection of Ainu clothings and typical food. The lady inside gladly narrates you more, when you ask her for it.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTI6fL_SCabxijsS0lqC8HZgaa19bGOdv0zzSRnof96QN0NW5viq8icVeCo9SLJtM_YbeNmZ0D3x0xBWkIEKXzuUTEtiI0VZg1CuxSghEl3awGxEEBrTStcEtw5HG4bgJ7q1NbWxyAdU/s1600-h/img_3701.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236855220997418722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTI6fL_SCabxijsS0lqC8HZgaa19bGOdv0zzSRnof96QN0NW5viq8icVeCo9SLJtM_YbeNmZ0D3x0xBWkIEKXzuUTEtiI0VZg1CuxSghEl3awGxEEBrTStcEtw5HG4bgJ7q1NbWxyAdU/s320/img_3701.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">most of the Ainu tools were made out of wood<br />
these are for festivals</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RVcF97z5FC8YIshjlM9GFXI7ZtEzlrCcyqwbArxIGCTgcUD_tLreep2uxG0ceGeh8pDnstmdm3gF3T1ms4HhEiMxJQyKkpeighBH9FWk4KAjJhDp3yTGVgcChhnqd9TE5XqEHjQhin0/s1600-h/img_3702.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236855222214122626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RVcF97z5FC8YIshjlM9GFXI7ZtEzlrCcyqwbArxIGCTgcUD_tLreep2uxG0ceGeh8pDnstmdm3gF3T1ms4HhEiMxJQyKkpeighBH9FWk4KAjJhDp3yTGVgcChhnqd9TE5XqEHjQhin0/s320/img_3702.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozt-DiaxpstG1y0oV1NnNWlM3Ko-nd5oa-YnvHCb59nCw9_AhkxkYynS0jNw94nGjtaTWh2HYbHZZ6F_bBfggXz-pfxukB0hN0sKuYSIC2J3xkuf3gI8E0VtUSDeZECuwSipgVKF7iF0/s1600-h/img_3703.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236855225962297986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozt-DiaxpstG1y0oV1NnNWlM3Ko-nd5oa-YnvHCb59nCw9_AhkxkYynS0jNw94nGjtaTWh2HYbHZZ6F_bBfggXz-pfxukB0hN0sKuYSIC2J3xkuf3gI8E0VtUSDeZECuwSipgVKF7iF0/s320/img_3703.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">their cooking utensils resembled Japans,<br />
most probably because of trade</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wUf0HUIcib074DwLHeXJKORqAxLnz9Vh8baJOLpeyOSPBmufxQq7kBGaTg0klal-0XXhpq3wfja7r67KBoeQAZYZUTGyz1xC6Ok5TmIfc1nwfvAVnfI2ElCvtH6eRaLoEnkXm0z5TFE/s1600-h/img_3704.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236855228684288658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wUf0HUIcib074DwLHeXJKORqAxLnz9Vh8baJOLpeyOSPBmufxQq7kBGaTg0klal-0XXhpq3wfja7r67KBoeQAZYZUTGyz1xC6Ok5TmIfc1nwfvAVnfI2ElCvtH6eRaLoEnkXm0z5TFE/s320/img_3704.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpbTPR78gUIqn_xhDSkQxyHYhiD9mIhxY6MCX7kxXog55ENfSGxxoJXj5yEoTzVxm2-V8qPWfInOz8vzvwdKODpwYPON6TFinITMwmwVscHK9miMvvDjmVdJojDCQHN1ow7XjG9k0B5A/s1600-h/img_3705.jpg"><br />
</a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">アイヌ琉球演奏 Ainu Ryukyu Ensemble</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zwT7R_QfSNsWjxlxrJJP8gXcb_Bc6Hz4K7G1KtGppN_BbRv9KE4o9QKYo93fy9ztVdaKSjW87cqJ7tkQPNwx6iyLYdPz26XkRgY6qwZILi9TMRo6AxBo4o9SKyAgAxBvX2fot3v74KU/s1600-h/img_3727.jpg" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236858536350625026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zwT7R_QfSNsWjxlxrJJP8gXcb_Bc6Hz4K7G1KtGppN_BbRv9KE4o9QKYo93fy9ztVdaKSjW87cqJ7tkQPNwx6iyLYdPz26XkRgY6qwZILi9TMRo6AxBo4o9SKyAgAxBvX2fot3v74KU/s320/img_3727.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
The highlight of the day was the concert at the evening. For two months a representative of the Ryukyu kingdom, which was conquered and occupied by Japan and is now known as Okinawa, was visiting Akan for cultural exchange between two oppressed people. Since he is master of 太鼓 Taiko (big drums) and brought his drum set with him, they decided to make a cultural mixed ensemble between Ryukyu music and Ainu singing and dancing.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX15AbhOWcOuVByDjopeX7QP-M8TFCvPkhnrAzKZLD6uA4IkzNvqmDaQ0YbgqKnJQsyZjBE8amY6yRpq2_1OSJcPgVwJ94WGM7c_UUOHAAJqmNPZOvcPy1sWWzFYI4PBu_cNTvNVN9jm0/s1600-h/img_3721.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236858537147632690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX15AbhOWcOuVByDjopeX7QP-M8TFCvPkhnrAzKZLD6uA4IkzNvqmDaQ0YbgqKnJQsyZjBE8amY6yRpq2_1OSJcPgVwJ94WGM7c_UUOHAAJqmNPZOvcPy1sWWzFYI4PBu_cNTvNVN9jm0/s320/img_3721.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">the shaman opened the performance with a ritual</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxlSuCYT7yCSC2w-g165nkttx7ldokcYxfujEi5wTxpADQVSUOhV7FuOlpp7dgp4UxmRdyq8J_26YW-kdsU' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">owl mimicry once more</span></div><br />
Altough it didn't perfectly fit, Ryukyu music being energetic, loud, fast and ecstatic and Ainu dancing and singing more slowly and contemplate, the combination was more than just interesting. I enjoyed both the music and the dancing and even liked the disharmonic mix of both, which had its own flair. And they put real effort in it and created a stream of water carrying torch floats, prepared pyro effects and a really cool outside stage.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHp41l42wGULL_Ali9NiY6_5ixVgOR3-cpyIHLW2Mucf9jLcy3N_dchM3nfbywYDyDkDDepTCa70FL4UjYfevQaLXTxmtRvKK5RHpz2lo5DCAKJC9YNQey04-oFvZM7VyvUMQd1_txrzY/s1600-h/img_3746.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236859445323767346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHp41l42wGULL_Ali9NiY6_5ixVgOR3-cpyIHLW2Mucf9jLcy3N_dchM3nfbywYDyDkDDepTCa70FL4UjYfevQaLXTxmtRvKK5RHpz2lo5DCAKJC9YNQey04-oFvZM7VyvUMQd1_txrzY/s320/img_3746.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyxvPieD3557S2qbJHx5047RXatlt1_1mXZTXiXZx-E8-ERRMX7a2I0EEyYcORaaOiKzppp32R3mV4wwXlCjw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-wIE92sqGfWYf0ctMll7PQaxiGjIiBqvqrApGvNmBTbMxHXA-CFeRbfd_RqAKdNwAddrTZFIsgVtmbdT45CEIvg6DPrKyd4ahhqDptcIsq9gd-PYE8uDrCLvOqAjPEXISvSCjbDLB48/s1600-h/img_3755.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236859453245708194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-wIE92sqGfWYf0ctMll7PQaxiGjIiBqvqrApGvNmBTbMxHXA-CFeRbfd_RqAKdNwAddrTZFIsgVtmbdT45CEIvg6DPrKyd4ahhqDptcIsq9gd-PYE8uDrCLvOqAjPEXISvSCjbDLB48/s320/img_3755.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz0ZWdn_X8cMtS7k-fTzLbefZp-PFN90jF325hIEUXE02YrE6hVFSCoYmXRl7BKnmOTzXpV82CXGG5x6GTZgQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
I talked a lot to Miyanga-san, the drummer from the Ryukyu islands, and we quickly became friends. I found out that he plays in two famous Japanese Rock Bands: <a href="http://kokyokan.ti-da.net/e581043.html">Murasaki</a> and <a href="http://kokyokan.ti-da.net/e1104757.html">Zodiac</a>. I noticed that he was into Rock, both from his appearance and the music itself of course.<br />
He told me that Okinawa was an independent country called the 琉球 Ryukyu kingdom. They used Kanji like China, but had their own language, which is till spoken by elder people on the islands. He told me that Ryukyu people were forced to assimilate Japanese culture and speak Japanese as mother language. But the spirit of the islands lives on, and there are quite a few left who want independence from Japan. He invited me to come to Ryukyu once and explore the culture and history of his people. I can't make it this time, but if I ever make it back here, I am sure to heed his call.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vbIm0Ilxxkn4aNdzeAPxqlkk2WqJ_MJFSV-vKpWtID8PIn6xiY0ClGh3qVKf70dLT8q6j70_bv55_LY5UvXuFlXz8ZumVY-RbKvJyUnHXg5YeZUIiOhstMf9AXLu0vzCoVUoL7w1Xzs/s1600-h/img_3751.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236859449213385106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vbIm0Ilxxkn4aNdzeAPxqlkk2WqJ_MJFSV-vKpWtID8PIn6xiY0ClGh3qVKf70dLT8q6j70_bv55_LY5UvXuFlXz8ZumVY-RbKvJyUnHXg5YeZUIiOhstMf9AXLu0vzCoVUoL7w1Xzs/s320/img_3751.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">another dance by the women</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhHAMa4zgJdGEAPQ6RH_Z-b1RZPS5VMBpYsJtt9b8OdbEq0_hiIMV25ISMa-x7f211xUHLmu5uPEPn_X24-w0p28Us8_bYhik4qCUHHYzE4rBJeNPgobPeVAtOEv8D786O9m6qxV041A/s1600-h/img_3739.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236858548524935490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhHAMa4zgJdGEAPQ6RH_Z-b1RZPS5VMBpYsJtt9b8OdbEq0_hiIMV25ISMa-x7f211xUHLmu5uPEPn_X24-w0p28Us8_bYhik4qCUHHYzE4rBJeNPgobPeVAtOEv8D786O9m6qxV041A/s320/img_3739.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">the coolest dance was the sword fighting dance of those two</span></div><br />
The next morning I was awakened by the sound of Taiko drums. When I curiously checked where the sound came from, I saw Miyanaga-san teaching a crowd of cute little children how to play Taiko. I sat next to the proud parents in the audience and listened to their performance. They were quite good actually. After that I talked a little more to Miyanaga-san and then we bid each other farewell.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Ryukyu Magic Dancing Island</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">エコミュージアム Eco Museum<br />
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</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX0iGGmKwthd_s7jG-7PhHToi35EyZbm3uHDb6fGuEDHH0kGuU1H6Cfq6eQejVxd-pAnnwSUl3Gx6K4jHAX2rUgmV7Qxc_aE_Au2ztfOJge7SZbWt843fk-t41FFImpJFaCqC-RDFGC4/s1600-h/img_3579.jpg" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236813797555266962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX0iGGmKwthd_s7jG-7PhHToi35EyZbm3uHDb6fGuEDHH0kGuU1H6Cfq6eQejVxd-pAnnwSUl3Gx6K4jHAX2rUgmV7Qxc_aE_Au2ztfOJge7SZbWt843fk-t41FFImpJFaCqC-RDFGC4/s320/img_3579.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
At the other end of the village, where it starts fading into the forest, you can find the free ecology museum. It tries to teach you about Akan's nature, vegetation and animals. It has some exhibits, but mostly tries to arouse your interest with little interactive contraptions, that teach you about different aspects of the ecology.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBCAG3QgNZjG__kemFTh1FLCMzfprw8ZzBfkZTVVQIIRzchCkdyd9E61ZSA0s6qKgasUv23O-Rd5_Km9JbH-fZVm6KFUVQfRoSkgWCVQXO9I4yoalYpw8kwTlf4iJ4dU2t8HM_TEy_Nk/s1600-h/img_3583.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236814431565845890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBCAG3QgNZjG__kemFTh1FLCMzfprw8ZzBfkZTVVQIIRzchCkdyd9E61ZSA0s6qKgasUv23O-Rd5_Km9JbH-fZVm6KFUVQfRoSkgWCVQXO9I4yoalYpw8kwTlf4iJ4dU2t8HM_TEy_Nk/s320/img_3583.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">peak inside to experience Akan forest</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">small information plates like this are hidden all around the museum</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYJ1-jkRnpDT4mIBiqoG9cXXKkoFPkvqc_zPJG0DJ4KeyNiNff_P6pILFtkUSUvxstUwTgZ-qBw4N4tMfL-Rys9-t9s0UL2TXhzKeZ1bkNZIilskvtmp9rbA7ykYyXH9jzGfwywKff6w/s1600-h/img_3591.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236814700471883698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYJ1-jkRnpDT4mIBiqoG9cXXKkoFPkvqc_zPJG0DJ4KeyNiNff_P6pILFtkUSUvxstUwTgZ-qBw4N4tMfL-Rys9-t9s0UL2TXhzKeZ1bkNZIilskvtmp9rbA7ykYyXH9jzGfwywKff6w/s320/img_3591.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">learn the differences between the trees</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGph6ftoC9jDmsjeDZbYznrZ4YkNtat1JEof3WW6_izwIepvWwUTeNfWgqXcqExzwZB0zdMbkBFqhVqFMIjIfNMbEGd8r7y-Pa9rmOGCtPc7C2TAkPC5pboxlnKCDOpsVfpnNcY8nAF0/s1600-h/img_3585.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236814438940925362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGph6ftoC9jDmsjeDZbYznrZ4YkNtat1JEof3WW6_izwIepvWwUTeNfWgqXcqExzwZB0zdMbkBFqhVqFMIjIfNMbEGd8r7y-Pa9rmOGCtPc7C2TAkPC5pboxlnKCDOpsVfpnNcY8nAF0/s320/img_3585.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">fishes local in Akanko</span></div><br />
Especially noteworthy are the green algae balls that grow inside lake Akan. They are perfectly round and a true mystery. People tried to let them grow in labs or on other lakes, but all failed. It seems to be a delicate mix of external factors that make lake Akan the only place where those little balls can grow up. They can be as small as a rice corn, but the biggest one found was already the size of a soccer ball. They also seem to grow in colonies next to each other, which makes them even more unique. As it is Japanese custom, the marimo are touristic exploited and you can buy very ugly まりもっこり marimokkori mascots in the main shopping street.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvjm8t_zr5sBrpOwTWHWpQHMux3uHa58DN-RdHBipmC2vrBtOQG0YFqExtJo2Jj6sAwo3PnPuOkwD3MqthKddPygN5rEWiUnd_-TVVEX_T6jEBI8dNiwZ8jNtZcYsNIWm1s6nYnVKsSE/s1600-h/img_3587.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236815696006522706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvjm8t_zr5sBrpOwTWHWpQHMux3uHa58DN-RdHBipmC2vrBtOQG0YFqExtJo2Jj6sAwo3PnPuOkwD3MqthKddPygN5rEWiUnd_-TVVEX_T6jEBI8dNiwZ8jNtZcYsNIWm1s6nYnVKsSE/s320/img_3587.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">you can buy this ugly marimokkori family everywhere...</span></div><br />
If you want to see more of them, there is a museum dedicated to them in the center of the lake. This means either you are a good swimmer, or you will have to take one of the expensive boat rides. I skipped on that, but as beautiful as the lake is, a boat ride is surely enjoyable. However I recommend you using a pedal boat, instead of the luxury liner. Because in the ecology museum I learned, that the marimo are already dwindling, because of human interference on the lake...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgqB1fvI87BJQfT5DMFoDbiTmSjfVuDIsTjptAZywNZ8Cdm3tUlZhLC4X04nuY-du5kcFKfWTalVK62jdCtTfh0whlohsebwEQKIGvj_YZsZzFB8IhN5jPXIERjigfDmOpVsjryg2Npo/s1600-h/img_3604.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236816376972875874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgqB1fvI87BJQfT5DMFoDbiTmSjfVuDIsTjptAZywNZ8Cdm3tUlZhLC4X04nuY-du5kcFKfWTalVK62jdCtTfh0whlohsebwEQKIGvj_YZsZzFB8IhN5jPXIERjigfDmOpVsjryg2Npo/s320/img_3604.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
Lastly the museum does not fail to show its visitors how the ecology all around the world is more and more destroyed by the humans, and that is is in fact our fault for producing huge amounts of waste with our lifestyle, and even more waste and destruction for the production of the waste we are consuming and then throwing away again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf14oi2JGKJ5ZVb9cjxXWAVzas9liP21EYnokqdkaFj1zG8qFFeLcHs7_tdIsLJpubPpwT_fbTJaveyi2PQCbM3SW7KaE9qSzvYtBXlcAs-icZBoTt4_fjFwH1_6GJjBEkxHhMzTqVKA/s1600-h/img_3595.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236814705977427666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf14oi2JGKJ5ZVb9cjxXWAVzas9liP21EYnokqdkaFj1zG8qFFeLcHs7_tdIsLJpubPpwT_fbTJaveyi2PQCbM3SW7KaE9qSzvYtBXlcAs-icZBoTt4_fjFwH1_6GJjBEkxHhMzTqVKA/s320/img_3595.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">information about environmental disasters</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">阿寒湖 Lake Akan</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_f8V4aLzCPQWZISdjWUlc1CDH14o_BKKM12As-qb5KBATRuSGpfxSmdhXITDK0_i3zZ4KWQW7Qk11NmXiHfQGGUQnmRWEJlQZnIw6rtlvxkSOLvukBpwPK_43zv4-IB75CqmdZsMpLEI/s1600-h/img_3606.jpg" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236819261968243010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_f8V4aLzCPQWZISdjWUlc1CDH14o_BKKM12As-qb5KBATRuSGpfxSmdhXITDK0_i3zZ4KWQW7Qk11NmXiHfQGGUQnmRWEJlQZnIw6rtlvxkSOLvukBpwPK_43zv4-IB75CqmdZsMpLEI/s320/img_3606.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
I didn't take the boat ride, but I recommend you to at least walk around the lake's shore, and follow the path through the forest near the ecology museum, because it is really nice to walk on, and it gives you nice views on the lake.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCtjyvdaluVM4hj-NQE5d0A_2d_4KU7CizUB64sxGHZJSiNQ_INE8ybtFII_VcqusIDQ5Pf9PCn-HKoPvBx4G2fWEOhA30SjPt8ma7ap1moWWUnTLlROvzb3mDXi9toPFAlp3ncM1YFY/s1600-h/img_3597.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236818407405777538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCtjyvdaluVM4hj-NQE5d0A_2d_4KU7CizUB64sxGHZJSiNQ_INE8ybtFII_VcqusIDQ5Pf9PCn-HKoPvBx4G2fWEOhA30SjPt8ma7ap1moWWUnTLlROvzb3mDXi9toPFAlp3ncM1YFY/s320/img_3597.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHCyo8N8VVHFjh7RhqbEKNSPGoDmwx7kDizSzl5RhPDnXpxJLkZjAQSa87YZe10tTjhWX7s_zBrCPMwkTF4Wyr6Rv78VAEhyphenhyphenGDLNRtsEYRlbaG4iwm0aoDsH1tZ-cixUbk5NQLmsWfsE/s1600-h/img_3598.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236818412850734210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHCyo8N8VVHFjh7RhqbEKNSPGoDmwx7kDizSzl5RhPDnXpxJLkZjAQSa87YZe10tTjhWX7s_zBrCPMwkTF4Wyr6Rv78VAEhyphenhyphenGDLNRtsEYRlbaG4iwm0aoDsH1tZ-cixUbk5NQLmsWfsE/s320/img_3598.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqzqhLSt5QqfD6ycn5sYF6LnwlhBCHKd0sAv4mEvYewtzPDJ4JiIhKWpMDfU0MrJh_Z3YPnOPULgkfzKD4ZsPXXqydVC4C6os0kot73skzaDCA4PHFUVL2xTVxRujZt4dWjlQ4UStln0/s1600-h/img_3601.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236818413937587858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqzqhLSt5QqfD6ycn5sYF6LnwlhBCHKd0sAv4mEvYewtzPDJ4JiIhKWpMDfU0MrJh_Z3YPnOPULgkfzKD4ZsPXXqydVC4C6os0kot73skzaDCA4PHFUVL2xTVxRujZt4dWjlQ4UStln0/s320/img_3601.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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ポッケと展望台 Sulfur Springs And Observatory<br />
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If you are up for a little walk through nature, I recommend you following the 白湯山 Hakuto Mountain trail on the map. One warning, concerning the location of Mount Hakuto, the map is largely inaccurate concerning distances. It looks like lying right next to the Akankohan observatory, but in fact it is 4 kilometers away. the Akankohan observatory is closer and a good start, but I recommend you climbing the mountain to the second one, because the path to it goes through Akan's national park and is really wonderful.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirzGjKfje3HS9tZQxmJ2eFYX3QzDtbe6VK24DyjRi4ZobMF57rVnOjtbxHYCJyCU2_j4kR_HvGQJ1MWl3gjNz3oafb8_w6fgUkbHS2QTYnHZlRONak6zgRCLZwBkMyJOu4_U27A8nArM/s1600-h/img_3636.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236822856957308370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirzGjKfje3HS9tZQxmJ2eFYX3QzDtbe6VK24DyjRi4ZobMF57rVnOjtbxHYCJyCU2_j4kR_HvGQJ1MWl3gjNz3oafb8_w6fgUkbHS2QTYnHZlRONak6zgRCLZwBkMyJOu4_U27A8nArM/s320/img_3636.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjTXflfRAgdbUumzDI_iX7jaqRsJ8y2TeylNPvDp1fEmetA9wT0o2fH6bzY_2xEZ2DSqv82tJCx7WdD4E7bcFbn1eE0Q92hyxJdvOlrOCiD06mFRFZiE8HsWkCzILJ7gdkwLECCK0c-s/s1600-h/img_3635.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236822861292193874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjTXflfRAgdbUumzDI_iX7jaqRsJ8y2TeylNPvDp1fEmetA9wT0o2fH6bzY_2xEZ2DSqv82tJCx7WdD4E7bcFbn1eE0Q92hyxJdvOlrOCiD06mFRFZiE8HsWkCzILJ7gdkwLECCK0c-s/s320/img_3635.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">view from the first observatory (Akankohan)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTppA_-CXzg8WC1K4s1Tx-r04VbN0ii61GIdfjTjAmAfL7qaHM0ZzHISFJUX_x9Uy1qGg6HjQUbLhcMEx2F7K1EzXfNzWVYfxwLSAH5XsbNyMwb0Ac5Ucalh7C-WZGzKpoUE0vH_HAw0/s1600-h/img_3638.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236822868542742130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTppA_-CXzg8WC1K4s1Tx-r04VbN0ii61GIdfjTjAmAfL7qaHM0ZzHISFJUX_x9Uy1qGg6HjQUbLhcMEx2F7K1EzXfNzWVYfxwLSAH5XsbNyMwb0Ac5Ucalh7C-WZGzKpoUE0vH_HAw0/s320/img_3638.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">to get there you need to climb the ski hill here</span><br />
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Don't be deterred by the first huge steep climb up the ski hill to the beginning of the walking path. After you managed this first tough part, the walking trail mostly continues flat and only makes moderate ways upwards. It leads through the national park and offers you really wonderful scenery on both sides.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWliJVrxa8WfFoSOdaregMGTwUUKq6ZnI5BeR14cvfsdfN72mMovSoNAHdMA8RcmDdfcny3ME56uogaV4ugeARRoXKCkyMQjRDoSrEWXLpH7WJXvU-c63haWxcN1vzVu633fPRE1N11a4/s1600-h/img_3660.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236826430790013874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWliJVrxa8WfFoSOdaregMGTwUUKq6ZnI5BeR14cvfsdfN72mMovSoNAHdMA8RcmDdfcny3ME56uogaV4ugeARRoXKCkyMQjRDoSrEWXLpH7WJXvU-c63haWxcN1vzVu633fPRE1N11a4/s320/img_3660.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">白湯展望台 Hakudo Observatory</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK8dfR1qCRco8jQq-61nn8nPJYVzGQdPHXhpGPYXkCZjxapSgSn_ir6XpaLupHS-p191QQRzwFDccQuPFm-tZq9tgaqluI71P4RVnZ0zNC0oSPHuBqnNcVmEE4Vwx6BPPW0f39l8Gmtg/s1600-h/img_3667.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236826627523881826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK8dfR1qCRco8jQq-61nn8nPJYVzGQdPHXhpGPYXkCZjxapSgSn_ir6XpaLupHS-p191QQRzwFDccQuPFm-tZq9tgaqluI71P4RVnZ0zNC0oSPHuBqnNcVmEE4Vwx6BPPW0f39l8Gmtg/s320/img_3667.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGGLcZ5Ul9MRckMEU2glNZ6BBRmv11O15ObzMauLC5FX8yvqIC7aEIrBJ84_CyBGGZq9ZYKfWNHO-1Z-F2VDYm1pIFECo_EBGIvmY_F2oxeluVNLUZ6UWSX9CzJICib_obGO0-ADzPxY/s1600-h/img_3665.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236826430744043458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGGLcZ5Ul9MRckMEU2glNZ6BBRmv11O15ObzMauLC5FX8yvqIC7aEIrBJ84_CyBGGZq9ZYKfWNHO-1Z-F2VDYm1pIFECo_EBGIvmY_F2oxeluVNLUZ6UWSX9CzJICib_obGO0-ADzPxY/s320/img_3665.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">and the view from it</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ3_dhcE1xfX4uFKmE1KDiDSCfw4kVjHS8uYlbDFNaCzrzs-JWaQf_gODLcTURZcjzh9sljx5LQ0oTzpgSKVvL8g65LnD9tJJ9U8p_tDIRV9EpPKIXBaDtTJrkITKNlMbWc3dbWZBoPs/s1600-h/img_3666.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236826433663792242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ3_dhcE1xfX4uFKmE1KDiDSCfw4kVjHS8uYlbDFNaCzrzs-JWaQf_gODLcTURZcjzh9sljx5LQ0oTzpgSKVvL8g65LnD9tJJ9U8p_tDIRV9EpPKIXBaDtTJrkITKNlMbWc3dbWZBoPs/s320/img_3666.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">the path also continues, to where only the gods knows</span></div><br />
Exceptional are the five ふれべつポッケ Furebetsu Pokke Sulfur Springs, you will come across when climbing uphill. You can smell them from a far and see the sulfur steam rising into the air. All area next to them has dies because of lack of oxygen and looks like barren wasteland. A wonderful sight and refreshingly not as touristic exploited and shielded as <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/03/sulfur-springs.html">大湧谷 The Big Steaming Valley in Hakone</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwwzKTSJxCGHDLaJ-t38rV7U0eNrG2dw2CUVLibeFKyv4ZegjKmBFHnTntYDoKmYFe1vREss9eOj-vPMUylZ4xY4Z01P8rAX9FafVkyZpYB1Y-qka1xiztGWMoZfefxiYgKWo8jwS3jc/s1600-h/img_3652.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236825929496887250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwwzKTSJxCGHDLaJ-t38rV7U0eNrG2dw2CUVLibeFKyv4ZegjKmBFHnTntYDoKmYFe1vREss9eOj-vPMUylZ4xY4Z01P8rAX9FafVkyZpYB1Y-qka1xiztGWMoZfefxiYgKWo8jwS3jc/s320/img_3652.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">the sulfur springs turn the surroundings into wasteland</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN_0ZtnwTVMknV-_P2c1jCXYkorpBi07YbtlSRK9zbDkDMrWQ6fiWajY2cyPey1W8wRSw3lJTPOj2-0_O_slHtIHYuOeEDMo-PmEyR1w_46E17FV6Lo8lImYZDdeYLLVl8e3R3wVrQKo/s1600-h/img_3654.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236825931760663618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN_0ZtnwTVMknV-_P2c1jCXYkorpBi07YbtlSRK9zbDkDMrWQ6fiWajY2cyPey1W8wRSw3lJTPOj2-0_O_slHtIHYuOeEDMo-PmEyR1w_46E17FV6Lo8lImYZDdeYLLVl8e3R3wVrQKo/s320/img_3654.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">that's why the mountain is called Hakuto (white hot water)</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzezGMLjzz5mjxxxK7k2E_lY0X5T3To0k3FwdWkqeh7ddhTZU2HisBLvfymivUTlP2b9h7QzQYR-8o6FrJxOw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">watch the white water boil</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwR7_VgyiipZ4GdByMVbGNz_IO6OHyLEZqSYVB5YcJ6HlyO75cww7Wpc1uOerhgaGWa_1nIa7l1ha1jPb5x2A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">and the valley steam</span></div><br />
However walking through national parks has its dangers, and I was happy not to walk this path alone. A snake appeared on the way and hissed at us. I jumped back in fear, but my courageous Japanese companion quickly fixed the snake's head with his shoe to the ground and then took head in one hand and tail in the other. Now the snake was no longer dangerous, and I even could take a picture of my friend Takayuki holding the snake. However we could not relax as later we were assaulted by a killer bee. I first mistook it for an ordinary bee, as it is not much larger and maybe a little blacker than your ordinary honey bee. But Takayuki grasped the situation and quickly and shouted at me: "Zettai Ugokanaiyo" (Whatever you do, don't move!). The bee continued circling us for what seemed like 5 minutes until she eventualy allowed us to strove on. Later Takayuki explained me: "If you are stung once by a killer bee, you will probably survive, but you will be in pains for days. If you are stung twice, your death is certain".<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSo9nT6e9HCM3geZd_VfhXMT0cmzXXCZC5WiKW8uI4EB3hdDsvxHpSmG1xMjY89nN0HR7qdzRWMb_GTl0RB6qVgBmqzFcKA7gc-l8QTgyYH5B5e8djRcHIz6cECenWxOLvCV7Iu8nwI0/s1600-h/img_3658.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236826424251287362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSo9nT6e9HCM3geZd_VfhXMT0cmzXXCZC5WiKW8uI4EB3hdDsvxHpSmG1xMjY89nN0HR7qdzRWMb_GTl0RB6qVgBmqzFcKA7gc-l8QTgyYH5B5e8djRcHIz6cECenWxOLvCV7Iu8nwI0/s320/img_3658.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Takayuki defeated the snake</span></div><br />
*gulp* Paying a little bit more attention now, we strode on to the top and had in fact a really incredible wonderful view on Akan lake and the larger area.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">キャンプ場 Camping Place</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj67p0qUL3r4r4L5_3YWQvGinR6b4rRTGOCRPy0HN5SgrLeA-N-09T18v4qgzxfFBdDI-1eb_K0zfXUGcMl5itrT4ey6rWw5J5JVh_s3IkhIYdjtuHLAgLPbm72FUnH-8ke7nM-QSW_zM/s1600-h/img_3560.jpg" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236807666080481586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj67p0qUL3r4r4L5_3YWQvGinR6b4rRTGOCRPy0HN5SgrLeA-N-09T18v4qgzxfFBdDI-1eb_K0zfXUGcMl5itrT4ey6rWw5J5JVh_s3IkhIYdjtuHLAgLPbm72FUnH-8ke7nM-QSW_zM/s320/img_3560.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
Although Akan is surrounded by national parks and boundless nature, I recommend you to erect your tent on the camping ground in Akan. The reason is afore mentioned dangers the boundless nature holds, especially bears. Within the camping place you are relatively safe, because it is fenced and most animals avoid big crowds of people. Also the camping ground has facilities like toilets, water and even an 足湯 Ashiyu (Onsen/Hot Spa for the feet). However you have to pay 500 Yen, when you leave the camping place.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2SC1XMkP9QQrz9CfBuNK3H5CyeYHO_yg_7Xu7y90j6HKYLDRBguCIpayg750MG6GKTaMrhaacrjzVOZJrgeRRHZZGRD-C8uHKvOvxeKyBY_vDHAjB9UrLGGCSkHkvlOBFzQzwI33LoU/s1600-h/img_3557.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236807661362203266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2SC1XMkP9QQrz9CfBuNK3H5CyeYHO_yg_7Xu7y90j6HKYLDRBguCIpayg750MG6GKTaMrhaacrjzVOZJrgeRRHZZGRD-C8uHKvOvxeKyBY_vDHAjB9UrLGGCSkHkvlOBFzQzwI33LoU/s320/img_3557.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">this tent followed me around all over Japan</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqdlgYdLOZoaeY-u9atX8qD2-j6iuNwBDOXq0HB7tQz0JhyZPO4nqy_Gjcpz-CWX1ayKH9CkzdYOzZfqouY_yKSXdmK_fv_uM1Fmtw9HFaqQgdx_jy5UmxvSHm6BRgkwdl_HIRAf6Me0/s1600-h/img_3562.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236807665536163986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqdlgYdLOZoaeY-u9atX8qD2-j6iuNwBDOXq0HB7tQz0JhyZPO4nqy_Gjcpz-CWX1ayKH9CkzdYOzZfqouY_yKSXdmK_fv_uM1Fmtw9HFaqQgdx_jy5UmxvSHm6BRgkwdl_HIRAf6Me0/s320/img_3562.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">足湯 Onsen for the feet</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ライダーハウス Rider House<br />
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</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLhx55pb1jqZD9wShjF-Ep5Q2-tRjubgNAyIqle3SIjeNjheAWTvlVfA545OFFDZtUqdM7bHhQ_SAiCpe4P_DaLtntt8SRmZLw5xzBvZLXZR_XFhnJQCE-9APIJrzM_T3fVXyae5-HXk/s1600-h/img_3711.jpg" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236856567740295250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLhx55pb1jqZD9wShjF-Ep5Q2-tRjubgNAyIqle3SIjeNjheAWTvlVfA545OFFDZtUqdM7bHhQ_SAiCpe4P_DaLtntt8SRmZLw5xzBvZLXZR_XFhnJQCE-9APIJrzM_T3fVXyae5-HXk/s320/img_3711.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
On my second day Miyanaga-san gave me a secret tip, to try the Rider House for lodging. It is hidden behind other houses and not to be found on any map. It is lead by a very old Ainu Shaman and intended for hosting bikers. But the old guy also accepted me, and I gladly moved in. The house looks really old and has a lot of charm. Inside on the second floor, you can find many tatami rooms, in which you can sleep. Futons are also ready for usage.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylHWXKJ8Q-DAjCGGCrppM9dec6-vBYRI7ZIlmVWQIpLJmHbkBYdRXO4_kUhBvlQR4MHB3WjgTeiZMKSHrZ8R5db2LtrXxv_4eSyIme2qiWb7a70-RFH4ibEBrsWiIkf9pGEuQQzoigXY/s1600-h/img_3706.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236856569239779138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylHWXKJ8Q-DAjCGGCrppM9dec6-vBYRI7ZIlmVWQIpLJmHbkBYdRXO4_kUhBvlQR4MHB3WjgTeiZMKSHrZ8R5db2LtrXxv_4eSyIme2qiWb7a70-RFH4ibEBrsWiIkf9pGEuQQzoigXY/s320/img_3706.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
The night is only 500 Yen, and breakfast and a large dinner are included. I think the guy is supported by other villagers, cause otherwise I can't see how he could run his house like this. But then he is an old Ainu and needs nothing to live but food, water and love. And why not share your house with everyone, so that whenever you want, you can enjoy the company of people traveling all over Japan in their bikes and having many good tales to tell.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UYQM1ZBiov3IIfVUR-_RHKyV-9l26P9IvOVn5iEvdoxsFxqgFkTGYWby3oEIpwhbilCKA2Yhpy1B6PSJ6a7HZMP178UjMxUjD5vh_FJdck47tpDuaDmzdxvsfgC9Mjj1gy51zylx6a4/s1600-h/img_3709.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236860403644029746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UYQM1ZBiov3IIfVUR-_RHKyV-9l26P9IvOVn5iEvdoxsFxqgFkTGYWby3oEIpwhbilCKA2Yhpy1B6PSJ6a7HZMP178UjMxUjD5vh_FJdck47tpDuaDmzdxvsfgC9Mjj1gy51zylx6a4/s320/img_3709.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><br />
Also incredible is that the whole house runs on customer to customer service. Meaning when I moved in, an already present guest told me about the 500 Yen, that I should simply lie them on the table in the main room, that I should write my name in the guest book and make a circle for paid. Then he showed me a room and told me about breakfast and dinner. Also when the telephone rings, and a biker is asking for the way, other guests will take up the phone and explain it. Even the cooking and the dish washing is done by guests (and remember we are talking about leather jacket wearing bikers). This wonderful way of managing things by trusting the guests to manage them themselves truly amazed me.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxrhEUZw5Xoyeb-ENsqe6R9iE8c__-wMIz-dyHEvV6jS6n3w51YBde8FE044LnYRKXB4GV2HUOgN6ysYmeaFIgURH9K3Jf7nPjAaHgyTTnr4cyYhQ8uTOa43hfJ18iFw14JM0uRpaAcs/s1600-h/img_3713.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236856573990201922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxrhEUZw5Xoyeb-ENsqe6R9iE8c__-wMIz-dyHEvV6jS6n3w51YBde8FE044LnYRKXB4GV2HUOgN6ysYmeaFIgURH9K3Jf7nPjAaHgyTTnr4cyYhQ8uTOa43hfJ18iFw14JM0uRpaAcs/s320/img_3713.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">dinner with the biker family<br />
some people from the village also joined</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpoLnAF0X11HLiyY14_kOLbZowSPXLLNB8QasNfNvqWEVmYulzJbX6fC0Ewauk87cLjhurKpErdOl0xVTiYi9PyJjzauo4lZ7YZWo54YGIdP8AIBKbVWhmGCxwIJhOC9Ac_lRPGpFIhE/s1600-h/img_3716.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236856573757406354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpoLnAF0X11HLiyY14_kOLbZowSPXLLNB8QasNfNvqWEVmYulzJbX6fC0Ewauk87cLjhurKpErdOl0xVTiYi9PyJjzauo4lZ7YZWo54YGIdP8AIBKbVWhmGCxwIJhOC9Ac_lRPGpFIhE/s320/img_3716.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">the old guy owning the hut, is actually the tribe's shaman,<br />
who you can see on the picture</span></div><br />
----------<br />
<br />
In Akan learned a lot about the Ainu and made many friends. I was really lucky, always to crush into interesting people wherever I go. I will try to write a post about the Ainu, and the stories they told me.<br />
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From Akan I hit the road again.scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-91109288863404013572008-08-04T00:34:00.000-07:002008-08-20T18:50:49.189-07:00札幌 SapporoMy first longer stop in Hokkaido was in the prefecture's capital Sapporo.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">札幌 Sapporo</span><br /></div><br />Sapporo is a metropolis and does not lack anything compared to other big towns in Japan. But it has one thing the others do not have and that is space. Since 80%-90% of Hokkaido are still covered by forest, there is an abundance of space otherwise the most precious good in Japan. So buildings in Sapporo and other cities are usually larger than they are tall. Also for the same reasons you can find many and huge parks in the city, like the famous...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUORpeQr7yBCBXa3RbwD5HAx5ZAdU0ZA5193yGymBjrnzVzlvzj01COnvb8j6OWCiBFWbbZBUaPcvlN37dZxP7uO_y5nW-0zoPSnUpIMThc1VFYmIz7_AfjwWOICamn9mM5Kr_hQmeCE/s1600-h/img_3012.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUORpeQr7yBCBXa3RbwD5HAx5ZAdU0ZA5193yGymBjrnzVzlvzj01COnvb8j6OWCiBFWbbZBUaPcvlN37dZxP7uO_y5nW-0zoPSnUpIMThc1VFYmIz7_AfjwWOICamn9mM5Kr_hQmeCE/s320/img_3012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236433534316554594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sapporo Station</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">大通公園 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Odori</span> Park</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE81Zlzv23pgsj3P17u8bbH1BWI_TW94FyxV84Uphu8RJ6a9DIcjpeSeJnPM6DRHTrnYmzOAlSiL8g3QE1zgXaeltWDBPckW2WPcHKV3ADphyIxdWejaXQcGQZFM6Bdbmn_scwgapnSig/s1600-h/img_2966.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE81Zlzv23pgsj3P17u8bbH1BWI_TW94FyxV84Uphu8RJ6a9DIcjpeSeJnPM6DRHTrnYmzOAlSiL8g3QE1zgXaeltWDBPckW2WPcHKV3ADphyIxdWejaXQcGQZFM6Bdbmn_scwgapnSig/s320/img_2966.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236428958325404802" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />In the center of Sapporo starting from Sapporo's television tower, looking similar to Tokyo Tower and thus the Eiffel Tower with an additional useful clock, starts <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Odori</span> Park. It is a large park, whose name means big street. And that's what it is. The park continues like a huge street right through the city and fills it with a lot of green.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ6NTS5yKKIW67UeOKU4wrJWazwLeBezdMek0e2tZjkLe6pQ8ATOV9pT7TmXdW7jZFuufC36M8ck2lKR5M92MVSlgnQoAfeLL1ydiU4-p46AQJUWIoRh5LzCtRtLdGitpdD4nJoV69vA/s1600-h/img_3008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ6NTS5yKKIW67UeOKU4wrJWazwLeBezdMek0e2tZjkLe6pQ8ATOV9pT7TmXdW7jZFuufC36M8ck2lKR5M92MVSlgnQoAfeLL1ydiU4-p46AQJUWIoRh5LzCtRtLdGitpdD4nJoV69vA/s320/img_3008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236433529619300370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7XPfkSzjdTaoEOHcVarDtwDPEiQxWynFmmtBMijqxeK4szhw1wHuHwUysjj7QPorlE5vKx930IVrV4JcPTRZ-wUPymlyjtQ78XBKfLSl-30VkzY9GL9KZhW9U8BtzlyPOckWbl0Gcqk/s1600-h/img_2965.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7XPfkSzjdTaoEOHcVarDtwDPEiQxWynFmmtBMijqxeK4szhw1wHuHwUysjj7QPorlE5vKx930IVrV4JcPTRZ-wUPymlyjtQ78XBKfLSl-30VkzY9GL9KZhW9U8BtzlyPOckWbl0Gcqk/s320/img_2965.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236434631901465586" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Like a real street it is intersected by other streets, so that you need to cross traffic lights in order to get from one section of the park to the next. But it is truly worth walking along the park, because every section is different and it the strode gives you a nice view on Sapporo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KihB4beTjwk8d2WpqcPARKY-6-i0mwN9pgBy92izG17zJJV8bcOrG-W8mliM2SFTCgPkF-nIQMfYm4q71gRQuIpH0OOHyxGgFWvmiZdQh5I0E4eKk9zHsqkTiwrS2PsJP1pDT4rnM6Y/s1600-h/img_3006.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KihB4beTjwk8d2WpqcPARKY-6-i0mwN9pgBy92izG17zJJV8bcOrG-W8mliM2SFTCgPkF-nIQMfYm4q71gRQuIpH0OOHyxGgFWvmiZdQh5I0E4eKk9zHsqkTiwrS2PsJP1pDT4rnM6Y/s320/img_3006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236433531616313362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTpIPGU1LYYaQhPCRpt5ULMrgBqROB2LPVD_c0jiMPCYaHY4xW-cSavqya7n_ZCv3YHlERf1yVYT9YwgTFwuDjDj19PlTXM6E5PpuJJY2Y2bItsGC4EXK5lZW6WFSpcYvp59g85Evido/s1600-h/img_2968.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTpIPGU1LYYaQhPCRpt5ULMrgBqROB2LPVD_c0jiMPCYaHY4xW-cSavqya7n_ZCv3YHlERf1yVYT9YwgTFwuDjDj19PlTXM6E5PpuJJY2Y2bItsGC4EXK5lZW6WFSpcYvp59g85Evido/s320/img_2968.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236428961034146754" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">札幌ビアガーデン祭り Sapporo Beer Garden Festival<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww2mxNj3U9Z-eQVFPBmwW-7fMvUhxM2w2T3w2cnsZUB8qy6fwMtbWIhiVLgncWtrIlo-rYeK8FPUw8NF6QNc_mKTMXrRkQHLvuxoHtd7y71wt4teTyov5bIQaVlfmNvpx_eM1ZNKve4M/s1600-h/img_2994.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww2mxNj3U9Z-eQVFPBmwW-7fMvUhxM2w2T3w2cnsZUB8qy6fwMtbWIhiVLgncWtrIlo-rYeK8FPUw8NF6QNc_mKTMXrRkQHLvuxoHtd7y71wt4teTyov5bIQaVlfmNvpx_eM1ZNKve4M/s320/img_2994.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236433132889662866" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I was lucky, that just when I arrived in Sapporo, I could catch the last day of the annual beer garden festival. It takes place right in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Odori</span> Park and for every section of the park, there is a different big beer brewery responsible in making ready its own unique beer garden and according show.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXKzY_vJGSmBVbqIEXvzHVHzZzftPYPSRtADUR0KACE49XT2oYf1ipF1UR1Ixgp4YIIADKrom2erMEmj-fc4LxH10gqzedCUKBSd9iYrMRwtY3dBJphZeV1rZtB6fibUszi1DQ6URTUQ/s1600-h/img_2995.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXKzY_vJGSmBVbqIEXvzHVHzZzftPYPSRtADUR0KACE49XT2oYf1ipF1UR1Ixgp4YIIADKrom2erMEmj-fc4LxH10gqzedCUKBSd9iYrMRwtY3dBJphZeV1rZtB6fibUszi1DQ6URTUQ/s320/img_2995.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236433137612189954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Asahi</span> Brewery</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv7cIb4gxT0xX-dkDnUWA9G9-j54medT-92ZG67CocY__owFDr2LO7fRMm7PDczCagtQdazhR0o-BGUd8auiPYQkDDLuJhRUAns9WXHFX2tikCdzSAIBuQ0-w_9Wy4WXvDBfAJiyq0II/s1600-h/img_3001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv7cIb4gxT0xX-dkDnUWA9G9-j54medT-92ZG67CocY__owFDr2LO7fRMm7PDczCagtQdazhR0o-BGUd8auiPYQkDDLuJhRUAns9WXHFX2tikCdzSAIBuQ0-w_9Wy4WXvDBfAJiyq0II/s320/img_3001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236433139145809442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Suntory</span> Brewery</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WjMKqElZtRB3iVWNzSTBteiQ6bDDkwshU8j-f_D1T-zhkDg0z3bNsug0gQzW9qcQzhwNDt9xuQwRlPsmNWW9oORryFOwiaicI6qTjZf2YXOxd6oGamXO4Nv1TrmCDXkBF9w4CbacPqg/s1600-h/img_2975.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WjMKqElZtRB3iVWNzSTBteiQ6bDDkwshU8j-f_D1T-zhkDg0z3bNsug0gQzW9qcQzhwNDt9xuQwRlPsmNWW9oORryFOwiaicI6qTjZf2YXOxd6oGamXO4Nv1TrmCDXkBF9w4CbacPqg/s320/img_2975.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236432427921831266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sapporo Brewery</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s7hDM2Csdwj2H1USa-a7710x63LY-VZ7lH-ZcW1BiZnqKaDTHO34UBgmzmgKnxvLVgye0CGGAxmw-BbqBWshYrkThLlrC9Ww-5RUiXsYLoCfD1EFT9yYs3lmLS3Bsrno_ZMqn6rUXyk/s1600-h/img_2984.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s7hDM2Csdwj2H1USa-a7710x63LY-VZ7lH-ZcW1BiZnqKaDTHO34UBgmzmgKnxvLVgye0CGGAxmw-BbqBWshYrkThLlrC9Ww-5RUiXsYLoCfD1EFT9yYs3lmLS3Bsrno_ZMqn6rUXyk/s320/img_2984.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236437451366007090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kirin</span> Brewery</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsEMgTaaN3DrJOMceh7I2MloYbh6285ZQuPonufnjWuH_q0JJ4aySTlOs1K4e7M1WfZpM8DOF_SZd0obR-a1tIZEaaerCR38cHfHu1qs4e-i6lqWpN0UGc_tmcHaiIRgF4cBA8ZDZyqE/s1600-h/img_3002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsEMgTaaN3DrJOMceh7I2MloYbh6285ZQuPonufnjWuH_q0JJ4aySTlOs1K4e7M1WfZpM8DOF_SZd0obR-a1tIZEaaerCR38cHfHu1qs4e-i6lqWpN0UGc_tmcHaiIRgF4cBA8ZDZyqE/s320/img_3002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236433142533466674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">every brewery had unique big beer containers for the tables</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSXBboTWWw5Q1xN07DOA7BQckzHGVwOEWQr7KmZfx4cPNYOfJpy7SzcKU0hyphenhyphenKnteBOGEP4mR2jRDiSBsHgOKQvK8-SIomwtf_Noda1h7JYoHbMV_23-y8lzDtdVelhry5cabC0w1OsSo/s1600-h/img_2986.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSXBboTWWw5Q1xN07DOA7BQckzHGVwOEWQr7KmZfx4cPNYOfJpy7SzcKU0hyphenhyphenKnteBOGEP4mR2jRDiSBsHgOKQvK8-SIomwtf_Noda1h7JYoHbMV_23-y8lzDtdVelhry5cabC0w1OsSo/s320/img_2986.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236432432328077650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">but the coolest was without doubt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kirin's</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LivhN-SIx8WweU3k43tQFoUpVt89tqOFXT9J8ciDXcp1ig6hACSWa3sOcPQ6-_Q9lxzbywym_tZsl_NBvSyR8ovlTMRCbzxhIlXp_Qr7k95192hvWo3lyxfOA83w1e3Gr2DwhHbSDcA/s1600-h/img_2990.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LivhN-SIx8WweU3k43tQFoUpVt89tqOFXT9J8ciDXcp1ig6hACSWa3sOcPQ6-_Q9lxzbywym_tZsl_NBvSyR8ovlTMRCbzxhIlXp_Qr7k95192hvWo3lyxfOA83w1e3Gr2DwhHbSDcA/s320/img_2990.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440205002352178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">some people sat on the beer garden tables<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhED5-LlOK06XLeum2KmJsi9f2hXNgh1OzYM6ZfJoY8IA9YvM7aI2iYHLuNN4urwSLtYEf-gNiXIQ3rsxQr_6c-bRiAMR6sloA2DQB7-KWCW29tsBhF_KNPOsUXGIy-voRjnQhLYQJzf2A/s1600-h/img_2982.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhED5-LlOK06XLeum2KmJsi9f2hXNgh1OzYM6ZfJoY8IA9YvM7aI2iYHLuNN4urwSLtYEf-gNiXIQ3rsxQr_6c-bRiAMR6sloA2DQB7-KWCW29tsBhF_KNPOsUXGIy-voRjnQhLYQJzf2A/s320/img_2982.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236432430604543922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">others preferred a more picnic like approach</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMY0jecxpBoEfZWptfBig97xGIOrUnJdAek_UOyBZjTiL1k5L_xHMqtFpgUiuuPMbPdDJ0eh1aRkt3Ky3t8c71aKjleFXl0vg-36n9LF97JTZpmiv3-ZNwzHu18VwAFZQfTTu4GzBjtPk/s1600-h/img_2973.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMY0jecxpBoEfZWptfBig97xGIOrUnJdAek_UOyBZjTiL1k5L_xHMqtFpgUiuuPMbPdDJ0eh1aRkt3Ky3t8c71aKjleFXl0vg-36n9LF97JTZpmiv3-ZNwzHu18VwAFZQfTTu4GzBjtPk/s320/img_2973.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236432429043063762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWkfUtmVYbgwiTTY3n_wswRB4qc5ZF1NvRhVv1IjVibLgUQb_O8FohPf91eK7NzqL9Pm77g26CPUK7SaZQXMkq0QQ-blud9R0na31jZ7FTb_waP2vihRC2qP2pi5cBqKp396h8meQVjg/s1600-h/img_2989.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWkfUtmVYbgwiTTY3n_wswRB4qc5ZF1NvRhVv1IjVibLgUQb_O8FohPf91eK7NzqL9Pm77g26CPUK7SaZQXMkq0QQ-blud9R0na31jZ7FTb_waP2vihRC2qP2pi5cBqKp396h8meQVjg/s320/img_2989.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236432436339867298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and each garden has its own stage</span><br /></div><br />The last section of the park, much to my surprise was clad in the theme of a German beer garden, or rather the Japanese image of a German beer garden. It was called ドイツの村 the German village, and the German flag was everywhere. The also erected their own <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Maibaum</span> (= may tree), a German (Bavarian) custom. where every village erects their own tree, painted white and blue and decorated with figures each may. Well and in the image of the Japanese German beer garden personnel all wears Bavarian blue and white with a stupid looking beer hat. By the way, a lot of the personnel was actually from Germany.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIJAU1sJ6wEh6A3tiuboMk8PELxCHvYsaUo61AQa6SLIUmu7EmVoJzn1giJDIkqP1EJCykESqjOnDYCTGvapDmUMyPKWrviSIOto5om1Xu8DOIQS-HMZyCsnzj4SHbSdQIlQV2pS5QLg/s1600-h/img_2950.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIJAU1sJ6wEh6A3tiuboMk8PELxCHvYsaUo61AQa6SLIUmu7EmVoJzn1giJDIkqP1EJCykESqjOnDYCTGvapDmUMyPKWrviSIOto5om1Xu8DOIQS-HMZyCsnzj4SHbSdQIlQV2pS5QLg/s320/img_2950.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236439038582291394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />duh! why write welcome in English?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OcFAtylP8i_cnhyphenhyphenKDNkysQxTIHs6KF9RxDF30MVFtbyIOZwDUHxluXG4G3e3AooPOYkkjpsKPjNxFGvQGDzxi4YPo7dQFOEHle4aZSTP2Pr6T10FMyxDsoVp4F6EAFww38S-r1W9r50/s1600-h/img_2956.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OcFAtylP8i_cnhyphenhyphenKDNkysQxTIHs6KF9RxDF30MVFtbyIOZwDUHxluXG4G3e3AooPOYkkjpsKPjNxFGvQGDzxi4YPo7dQFOEHle4aZSTP2Pr6T10FMyxDsoVp4F6EAFww38S-r1W9r50/s320/img_2956.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236428953469422482" border="0" /></a>\<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">German personnel</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi171DPH5H0FlLvj5DGuq1VZCnYpD1AYYfoRz7ip2GxTEGREOXkgB2RSF5E7mRTQji4VqDAFxHJlxx0brWKH3COLUc9gGlJ-P5lpkrIKQizUOevsGkgT-9k47YsY-DJuucQAn5-L4zj_IE/s1600-h/img_2945.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi171DPH5H0FlLvj5DGuq1VZCnYpD1AYYfoRz7ip2GxTEGREOXkgB2RSF5E7mRTQji4VqDAFxHJlxx0brWKH3COLUc9gGlJ-P5lpkrIKQizUOevsGkgT-9k47YsY-DJuucQAn5-L4zj_IE/s320/img_2945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236428197079494626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrSUDX2C7Omsi8nrudvrM5figWHAdFR9R_DO48zuk9p61kbYpT-ErFYMxLZlYUOQexj-r6AeEB11kNlDyN4zjDRBZhyphenhyphenK0Kkbf8agPNsDlPCfNjAnx79KrqudfDGSO6IKX10ByDjTJMok/s1600-h/img_2952.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrSUDX2C7Omsi8nrudvrM5figWHAdFR9R_DO48zuk9p61kbYpT-ErFYMxLZlYUOQexj-r6AeEB11kNlDyN4zjDRBZhyphenhyphenK0Kkbf8agPNsDlPCfNjAnx79KrqudfDGSO6IKX10ByDjTJMok/s320/img_2952.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236428199075769362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />German beer<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYASMzpsQ-MhSDwT_WV_V1s-2MmzBWi7xL_qB4qA7ATHRnY1cPoHCVpINqjvNktlEVMD6aG7RN5RdaCUdjN5MavgEQh9ovCXpkRRIKFSiQsgTlae6gZZpY1guGc107dBlVcD05k6WajDE/s1600-h/img_2947.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYASMzpsQ-MhSDwT_WV_V1s-2MmzBWi7xL_qB4qA7ATHRnY1cPoHCVpINqjvNktlEVMD6aG7RN5RdaCUdjN5MavgEQh9ovCXpkRRIKFSiQsgTlae6gZZpY1guGc107dBlVcD05k6WajDE/s320/img_2947.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236428202142803458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Maibaum</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnQQ_vnhvGxe8_yD8yj86dsxF1lui502pnwb7jXq9U1PeEuTB8QHdtC4fukXJd6B67UogqUEVB8xS3QE9X7gn2bgHr7qxEqM_EmxZyJGFXbyz8GxBehCG_BvzNishNtBUHHTMQc2H5UU/s1600-h/img_2958.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnQQ_vnhvGxe8_yD8yj86dsxF1lui502pnwb7jXq9U1PeEuTB8QHdtC4fukXJd6B67UogqUEVB8xS3QE9X7gn2bgHr7qxEqM_EmxZyJGFXbyz8GxBehCG_BvzNishNtBUHHTMQc2H5UU/s320/img_2958.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236428203932959058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">they even had German beer garden food</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOaQOg4yFHPppervdEUrD2k85TfEqEjNqttGKbLTjX81g4IcBUA7tqVXWcnFFxBt6b6HutEZsSTH6xEeoMTlsyjOaROto3cDZ9-JZD46ckGIDY3j2SlA253hysKiZmr7zwTHh38Ia9fQ/s1600-h/img_2954.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOaQOg4yFHPppervdEUrD2k85TfEqEjNqttGKbLTjX81g4IcBUA7tqVXWcnFFxBt6b6HutEZsSTH6xEeoMTlsyjOaROto3cDZ9-JZD46ckGIDY3j2SlA253hysKiZmr7zwTHh38Ia9fQ/s320/img_2954.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236428211275839410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and the Japaneses' imagination of German beer garden outfits</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">時計台 Clock Tower</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpyqcx727-bgelQs2Jk24a-HViDesZh_wL6ODgTBeuYOCVc6G1t0uN6ypNWeVlGR4a72b5rCCsP-nuQjfGt-uPk8HWT6li_4Vb-CLbJ1q9AtqlE6nZO6DSLCbGzZJjcY61FsJPKtlJb0/s1600-h/img_3017.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpyqcx727-bgelQs2Jk24a-HViDesZh_wL6ODgTBeuYOCVc6G1t0uN6ypNWeVlGR4a72b5rCCsP-nuQjfGt-uPk8HWT6li_4Vb-CLbJ1q9AtqlE6nZO6DSLCbGzZJjcY61FsJPKtlJb0/s320/img_3017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440205745415218" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Sapporo's landmark is the clock tower. It was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">erected</span> in front of the first school in Sapporo in the Meiji Period, and therefore looks like a 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">th</span> century European/American style building.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhyrHmJ5qD0YlV-czCr0tYmUjZsROzSS-KE-5cz0SOWOh6bwyjP9DUh72bYB-RCaTJnPKp5ggiXgaL2ZjvQryLAG4lyDl_q9Hrv6g0b8CF36yXXa7y5kL2sAW_YGoCy3VW48-dBhDrLo/s1600-h/img_3016.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhyrHmJ5qD0YlV-czCr0tYmUjZsROzSS-KE-5cz0SOWOh6bwyjP9DUh72bYB-RCaTJnPKp5ggiXgaL2ZjvQryLAG4lyDl_q9Hrv6g0b8CF36yXXa7y5kL2sAW_YGoCy3VW48-dBhDrLo/s320/img_3016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236433541112049938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSTbFjVZIdjvXWSAfrTsOWmwv60L1WItA2gFleUxz_YXILyhYGDksfdb62eAFvx8VlzHkNEt5dtk1TGQD3KISsDGejxzkqF6Y1VTgRfVywYhlDxe6Da3imTVI9KApFZVMFdMd2Iagyno/s1600-h/img_3024.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSTbFjVZIdjvXWSAfrTsOWmwv60L1WItA2gFleUxz_YXILyhYGDksfdb62eAFvx8VlzHkNEt5dtk1TGQD3KISsDGejxzkqF6Y1VTgRfVywYhlDxe6Da3imTVI9KApFZVMFdMd2Iagyno/s320/img_3024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440207718521490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">the clock tower as part of the school</span><br /></div><br />For 200 Yen you can get inside. Inside you will find a museum about this first school and school life in Sapporo about 120 years ago.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg290btip2Jdx9T4QR5saavyefFHYUECbe8nyk1VxzvJekI3HIL8HfRpa8eG8UyBj8cnPLGMN-51_QVkV-TkvrDeQWahkKs-G28yAuuFmBEl_BA3bAQaChQqwX9qB32x1sBHRYhqmksP7c/s1600-h/img_3021.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg290btip2Jdx9T4QR5saavyefFHYUECbe8nyk1VxzvJekI3HIL8HfRpa8eG8UyBj8cnPLGMN-51_QVkV-TkvrDeQWahkKs-G28yAuuFmBEl_BA3bAQaChQqwX9qB32x1sBHRYhqmksP7c/s320/img_3021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440210778494274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">a young visitor from the US</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDawJHHp6ljIWuKQ8uHMLRre9YE5lpNeOYfUYxK94yNnC0VKJVsUGA7pq2NQ95BY8CaId7edc4z79_p3Laq0aCvw0lCDhox1tBvxHKg27b4ypuWMQnDEuZ-sJPbzgrA2S7jK-O-P7rJKg/s1600-h/img_3025.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDawJHHp6ljIWuKQ8uHMLRre9YE5lpNeOYfUYxK94yNnC0VKJVsUGA7pq2NQ95BY8CaId7edc4z79_p3Laq0aCvw0lCDhox1tBvxHKg27b4ypuWMQnDEuZ-sJPbzgrA2S7jK-O-P7rJKg/s320/img_3025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440210340589890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sapporo's symbol is the red star<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmbukVAotyLkeEGoARaJWcVnCD1kHNz8mYer_Y-RhYbyPj6f-hzAt4MaXEdzzKmax3NxYDoue0FWhluXZrHyTBYH23QehhyphenhyphenzeE24bfdntGYhXVVUHkEDRMzoNpKBcs75nCbRBOVrxepM/s1600-h/img_3026.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmbukVAotyLkeEGoARaJWcVnCD1kHNz8mYer_Y-RhYbyPj6f-hzAt4MaXEdzzKmax3NxYDoue0FWhluXZrHyTBYH23QehhyphenhyphenzeE24bfdntGYhXVVUHkEDRMzoNpKBcs75nCbRBOVrxepM/s320/img_3026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440790416522210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">explanation of how a clockwork works</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1W7fwViN3p6JvglYVspJ94v1rJCFQyc0zvx9bSnwz6c3U9DDZFBZHV6rKkC9Yk_iT7o6wrTCe0Udd4vGLu00Giv0C7ldbgDPEMtVNPjSsOiYzE9JqI5nITwEqkxmgIYilXANBpnUCMU/s1600-h/img_3030.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1W7fwViN3p6JvglYVspJ94v1rJCFQyc0zvx9bSnwz6c3U9DDZFBZHV6rKkC9Yk_iT7o6wrTCe0Udd4vGLu00Giv0C7ldbgDPEMtVNPjSsOiYzE9JqI5nITwEqkxmgIYilXANBpnUCMU/s320/img_3030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440790084881906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhyrHmJ5qD0YlV-czCr0tYmUjZsROzSS-KE-5cz0SOWOh6bwyjP9DUh72bYB-RCaTJnPKp5ggiXgaL2ZjvQryLAG4lyDl_q9Hrv6g0b8CF36yXXa7y5kL2sAW_YGoCy3VW48-dBhDrLo/s1600-h/img_3016.jpg"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">白い恋人チョコレート工場 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Shiroi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Koibito</span> Chocolate Factory</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw3YTWaWHnXd3w3PNDVOJaLhMotI2M92fJg9ENsOwJ6B82Woy-zvb-kYkqU78vB2OJX8JwdMJty3h3WPaPz2Yv01O8TjUcFKA-VXj66SEA0fXius5nmyUNYCUcigTCmQGkNkI1ft35VI/s1600-h/img_3054.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw3YTWaWHnXd3w3PNDVOJaLhMotI2M92fJg9ENsOwJ6B82Woy-zvb-kYkqU78vB2OJX8JwdMJty3h3WPaPz2Yv01O8TjUcFKA-VXj66SEA0fXius5nmyUNYCUcigTCmQGkNkI1ft35VI/s320/img_3054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441918214523378" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Loving chocolate I always wanted to go to a chocolate factory since I was child and here I finally had the chance. And the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Shiroi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Koibito</span> Chocolate Factory (or White Lover Chocolate Factory) is definitely one of the coolest of the world. All my imaginations from my childhood, how a chocolate factory must look like, where not only met but even surpassed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOzl6kWlLINy3A85gE2XAfgtfhj8098y4yK56c5HCtHmUMJcFU1Ituh2GPkUDfOkRbn6tTAjiWK1X1nuTBn5LNXrcO6pPyNnxUl6GxzFUgXLGokFfjD93ylix7p4kYHeglyCFlkkxtmg/s1600-h/img_3034.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOzl6kWlLINy3A85gE2XAfgtfhj8098y4yK56c5HCtHmUMJcFU1Ituh2GPkUDfOkRbn6tTAjiWK1X1nuTBn5LNXrcO6pPyNnxUl6GxzFUgXLGokFfjD93ylix7p4kYHeglyCFlkkxtmg/s320/img_3034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440795124544258" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQNHz3auOnOjdnuow7Ymp6XAE0Bfu3P_vM9-Y-U1A_eo5xkyAbXJDUBck-GSDXtVxfdMA7U33tGmyenZMPKwCtzsmN6BqvV7h66zHQS8ukRHddDkU7QwOBKvpH57K4FMZXewJZ0ExH80/s1600-h/img_3041.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQNHz3auOnOjdnuow7Ymp6XAE0Bfu3P_vM9-Y-U1A_eo5xkyAbXJDUBck-GSDXtVxfdMA7U33tGmyenZMPKwCtzsmN6BqvV7h66zHQS8ukRHddDkU7QwOBKvpH57K4FMZXewJZ0ExH80/s320/img_3041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440794686989682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkKWaGc_odO1_4arihdqpMvSuUa5u65RQ0UtqY9ko3j4btG0hrnpHKNMpZI7GGwOLbzQY3Y4zFoDvFA1nZEGI1oXKXzuKKm3N00gpEAkrxR0ha18ySCu9eXDI1lXO7-xRs83CeVF3qWU/s1600-h/img_3045.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkKWaGc_odO1_4arihdqpMvSuUa5u65RQ0UtqY9ko3j4btG0hrnpHKNMpZI7GGwOLbzQY3Y4zFoDvFA1nZEGI1oXKXzuKKm3N00gpEAkrxR0ha18ySCu9eXDI1lXO7-xRs83CeVF3qWU/s320/img_3045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441254958450082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHcIwmcrbi4kHdKX1O-gIlxaSIWbn0qL59h-5UzRKrQM-ZTelJY_nEACA4eLHCFyfxYlpb2IwXBBzjTc-yQYCkFJ0sgJYrkWwooaXzCVbbJnjTRAFjlISaOs2mRReg2xdGh09CGQvhbo/s1600-h/img_3056.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHcIwmcrbi4kHdKX1O-gIlxaSIWbn0qL59h-5UzRKrQM-ZTelJY_nEACA4eLHCFyfxYlpb2IwXBBzjTc-yQYCkFJ0sgJYrkWwooaXzCVbbJnjTRAFjlISaOs2mRReg2xdGh09CGQvhbo/s320/img_3056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441922190720450" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I imagined it to be a place like in fairy tales, where the houses are made of sweets and have just the right size for children, but are too small the adults would fit it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhwTDvy7HNB5blPwsAwAJu02EyRnqUfZTgYKW6aGTNjZAIsPuPDKQmVeAP4YroToIy065wcHFtslhSfv-Scyn8NdVAgduyee7W4LVEE9pFWXgRh4ZBijJJWmR4V-87c5Nqw_AY2Qo3vE/s1600-h/img_3046.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhwTDvy7HNB5blPwsAwAJu02EyRnqUfZTgYKW6aGTNjZAIsPuPDKQmVeAP4YroToIy065wcHFtslhSfv-Scyn8NdVAgduyee7W4LVEE9pFWXgRh4ZBijJJWmR4V-87c5Nqw_AY2Qo3vE/s320/img_3046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441252153376098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-NIFu_hCvAnbs36Gc1TNftKXjlLqqIK4zgvQS7VrrXnMn9-CHyZFaGIkSMBRFAAhJsXK7xhAs-xUFy7ZHZNDCzcWXpciCCrTkWufANGFz43AU7P_-bgwPvahwmZaY0Zc-EbnuJtIUvs/s1600-h/img_3044.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-NIFu_hCvAnbs36Gc1TNftKXjlLqqIK4zgvQS7VrrXnMn9-CHyZFaGIkSMBRFAAhJsXK7xhAs-xUFy7ZHZNDCzcWXpciCCrTkWufANGFz43AU7P_-bgwPvahwmZaY0Zc-EbnuJtIUvs/s320/img_3044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440798690748434" border="0" /></a></div><br />I imagined wonderful parks with soap bubbles floating around in the air and a clock tower which performs a play every full hour and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">clads</span> the whole factory in magic.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiy1EL3Hcnl9_KWeo6zjI9DF_BFWqRoSlkSlrosAVVgQRr4oVM-ib3iVhK7qw6L8CEgGZnlDx_mhXaQQqmcnLf9LF0cKsWWzso6ppIV8fPJYjQ6OPW6spHhLC15F97rjX2iszobh8_cSA/s1600-h/img_3050.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiy1EL3Hcnl9_KWeo6zjI9DF_BFWqRoSlkSlrosAVVgQRr4oVM-ib3iVhK7qw6L8CEgGZnlDx_mhXaQQqmcnLf9LF0cKsWWzso6ppIV8fPJYjQ6OPW6spHhLC15F97rjX2iszobh8_cSA/s320/img_3050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441260205687986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj830dsHCQrGgXNtt5ETSfgt_gDDKurxnNAiUpbAPyfMuz8PLWzFcXeZHI7BBgOINS9PQOn4Dj13Bw6CKD-gxN90r2sUOCSQzY_mx4sT-K42SEMd8nYORfsdencBap3jB9oDHXuthKFBBA/s1600-h/img_3137.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj830dsHCQrGgXNtt5ETSfgt_gDDKurxnNAiUpbAPyfMuz8PLWzFcXeZHI7BBgOINS9PQOn4Dj13Bw6CKD-gxN90r2sUOCSQzY_mx4sT-K42SEMd8nYORfsdencBap3jB9oDHXuthKFBBA/s320/img_3137.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236469509302287474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP8XK5ud2RYxq0uuzhLEppZsaQXASfJTdzV6HEew2uMew0XcJtUybYlmddJ_6Ds6Zw0MW6TN0U29Z1R8dp9I1Ubv7TbNPSlIvq61oEkE7CXkCNIbkq8LMW8jroN_zr6YUhADdzLfizyo/s1600-h/img_3052.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP8XK5ud2RYxq0uuzhLEppZsaQXASfJTdzV6HEew2uMew0XcJtUybYlmddJ_6Ds6Zw0MW6TN0U29Z1R8dp9I1Ubv7TbNPSlIvq61oEkE7CXkCNIbkq8LMW8jroN_zr6YUhADdzLfizyo/s320/img_3052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441920558168946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U5qM2nqubolSDf9a_DYeXSZae3-YrF5q4Bjae3tCQ7c5UozBHYfVdnIlsudx4qBk8SQmifL9PGOrgcXyJboz5kqhNk5z7gdDsKh-ByryuKvM1JvhOocZGKhJ5NSjQx1kiXDG-Lpoei0/s1600-h/img_3060.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U5qM2nqubolSDf9a_DYeXSZae3-YrF5q4Bjae3tCQ7c5UozBHYfVdnIlsudx4qBk8SQmifL9PGOrgcXyJboz5kqhNk5z7gdDsKh-ByryuKvM1JvhOocZGKhJ5NSjQx1kiXDG-Lpoei0/s320/img_3060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236442383353984530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmsHjCffCIXmdamumsZgFGWx2T5RtoH01JQ9eUAZVB8BxUNucmLzFYZ2tCfTYneY13RS8Yf-Y-HxFiOZXwrL8gCOpfEdUC1bybOIvT6bhxMIhSKlu3htPy4fo9OWajSaBFCCKNBYAqU7k/s1600-h/img_3047.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmsHjCffCIXmdamumsZgFGWx2T5RtoH01JQ9eUAZVB8BxUNucmLzFYZ2tCfTYneY13RS8Yf-Y-HxFiOZXwrL8gCOpfEdUC1bybOIvT6bhxMIhSKlu3htPy4fo9OWajSaBFCCKNBYAqU7k/s320/img_3047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441257245208866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y9R-auQYvuVT-eS9s90Pz0rBq-86Ao9up6FQZL2Ry-Tf1H0r1fgZOx3ChWY2Kv0wxcvcGvMVwdlh_72x0DTC7BiyCEURRhJrxv5gikC_6xTOeesuurgQXyV419VFccuCNWmE2co3WdU/s1600-h/img_3065.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y9R-auQYvuVT-eS9s90Pz0rBq-86Ao9up6FQZL2Ry-Tf1H0r1fgZOx3ChWY2Kv0wxcvcGvMVwdlh_72x0DTC7BiyCEURRhJrxv5gikC_6xTOeesuurgQXyV419VFccuCNWmE2co3WdU/s320/img_3065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236442386790446130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD9Nfu2t5TeorrBEZUvZ2TxbxF0uPwgHaF1hMhPes-Ue5QeC7d55z8K0knqdRfwziv1NzxfTWk7RYn29pQswdc2rxjIMpQr3pDcpRPqsUURf33bKmwrqg382oAOpXHYjJo1ulByYTxUk/s1600-h/img_3066.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD9Nfu2t5TeorrBEZUvZ2TxbxF0uPwgHaF1hMhPes-Ue5QeC7d55z8K0knqdRfwziv1NzxfTWk7RYn29pQswdc2rxjIMpQr3pDcpRPqsUURf33bKmwrqg382oAOpXHYjJo1ulByYTxUk/s320/img_3066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236465206918685954" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I imagined houses growing on trees and the facade of the huge and enormous factory looking like the houses in fairy tales.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKH73vJgWzgFPpRgunyYqfGcVrxkEPGZ3BGQOTnp5z_QmL17iV1Ck3DiKOkgECj9AfaG7Vo4meP7I6GeluDJuNMGHSfqxFtwA450A7atJgzQe-DC0Tvc8E2LsIYiQxyZ4eqsW1l2Lhq3E/s1600-h/img_3071.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKH73vJgWzgFPpRgunyYqfGcVrxkEPGZ3BGQOTnp5z_QmL17iV1Ck3DiKOkgECj9AfaG7Vo4meP7I6GeluDJuNMGHSfqxFtwA450A7atJgzQe-DC0Tvc8E2LsIYiQxyZ4eqsW1l2Lhq3E/s320/img_3071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236442651396828866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddBXoT1WAHzHBJ5EikInYyXeDfwrCmKbsbT1chsuD26T34aa9mAky9alaWbYbUMzjTpwPYu4piq-QIAvrbZ7vjqFVZP1v9y2GNewK4KUYs_AQtDnL2nKqWiZHf1wFMOMlC9YzkI0L8-s/s1600-h/img_3068.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddBXoT1WAHzHBJ5EikInYyXeDfwrCmKbsbT1chsuD26T34aa9mAky9alaWbYbUMzjTpwPYu4piq-QIAvrbZ7vjqFVZP1v9y2GNewK4KUYs_AQtDnL2nKqWiZHf1wFMOMlC9YzkI0L8-s/s320/img_3068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236442392468715842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXrmUESr5fRLpWoTPRt3Sm1x6N3TTHtBG2OxKgYUrJnGv9U17ApVPupRggdzPFI4ak-ck05v_itQYnrRE18WoLR0CPbPmz7A2P6VRJ-PTqfdWd27yzslkVWrtP3WH_GcUpR-VfnaRjS0/s1600-h/img_3058.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXrmUESr5fRLpWoTPRt3Sm1x6N3TTHtBG2OxKgYUrJnGv9U17ApVPupRggdzPFI4ak-ck05v_itQYnrRE18WoLR0CPbPmz7A2P6VRJ-PTqfdWd27yzslkVWrtP3WH_GcUpR-VfnaRjS0/s320/img_3058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441923759458514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf3zlxrm7bPqxyMuRM94Cvzgowqajr0oxq4_0yTJ_x5evALrzh0JbHxinn5QY21_P-BCK3sIjqktEk6K103URwZUUbmWcXIcvd1Kf0hw2y3VEVrO1pl915DKkBvwwfE0GAAVz1JoUf6Y/s1600-h/img_3069.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf3zlxrm7bPqxyMuRM94Cvzgowqajr0oxq4_0yTJ_x5evALrzh0JbHxinn5QY21_P-BCK3sIjqktEk6K103URwZUUbmWcXIcvd1Kf0hw2y3VEVrO1pl915DKkBvwwfE0GAAVz1JoUf6Y/s320/img_3069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236442394565738994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4N8081V8r37LKppZIW9_TCnUmfDnVx0Od1ihLm98Nfv8Y9T3ojPznLLFmiBTvnTuTMJUeNpWj_EHW_wtTyPpIYiaceYd9JEbi1G8ini1xJwWskOmwJ_7J7zljoSQk0FPKuID2h_jC6k/s1600-h/img_3072.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4N8081V8r37LKppZIW9_TCnUmfDnVx0Od1ihLm98Nfv8Y9T3ojPznLLFmiBTvnTuTMJUeNpWj_EHW_wtTyPpIYiaceYd9JEbi1G8ini1xJwWskOmwJ_7J7zljoSQk0FPKuID2h_jC6k/s320/img_3072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236442641951458338" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I imagined the inside looking like a palace with gigantic stairs and important people coming to try the chocolate.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj-hgKaTwGMLNzNKtm-1_KM-AXFPmTWbWbFZ2gdJSEjCrlCZfuUlBlLawpG80YZ8akxnm2r-vHM54fCioGKSZ8h4jmGvfR9upaIkUhZBffsjm7gZabI9ETBzFry6RJQ7rRdlVDu2Y-uA/s1600-h/img_3074.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj-hgKaTwGMLNzNKtm-1_KM-AXFPmTWbWbFZ2gdJSEjCrlCZfuUlBlLawpG80YZ8akxnm2r-vHM54fCioGKSZ8h4jmGvfR9upaIkUhZBffsjm7gZabI9ETBzFry6RJQ7rRdlVDu2Y-uA/s320/img_3074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236466246423460226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rq_d4_SHi9C5BH8D1XYC8TUDXKfwAAlzRXuoGVX8bwG_RzWtonYPh5a_ZTS1aD_d4Xby1lkf8Mx3hJaLJhXQ_IV41okHgcp2r5hDJgQ8cXbuaRnllHd4mFh7fw8xIKvoC4IEMsuRMYY/s1600-h/img_3076.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rq_d4_SHi9C5BH8D1XYC8TUDXKfwAAlzRXuoGVX8bwG_RzWtonYPh5a_ZTS1aD_d4Xby1lkf8Mx3hJaLJhXQ_IV41okHgcp2r5hDJgQ8cXbuaRnllHd4mFh7fw8xIKvoC4IEMsuRMYY/s320/img_3076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236466244796859314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7ziMbTDhuZm_2WoaOwqKnAhyphenhyphenpRVKgVnXJZXQOP2-OwlaQMLQYlyLs8vhWPaKK3X0pd1NQGEDGVn7QXqhsxtyG3pZu6K9efZZxnqnGPjpySiZ-qel9DYyP4foVAsY2Ji6dd7wEqkMY-Y/s1600-h/img_3106.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7ziMbTDhuZm_2WoaOwqKnAhyphenhyphenpRVKgVnXJZXQOP2-OwlaQMLQYlyLs8vhWPaKK3X0pd1NQGEDGVn7QXqhsxtyG3pZu6K9efZZxnqnGPjpySiZ-qel9DYyP4foVAsY2Ji6dd7wEqkMY-Y/s320/img_3106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236468755422936066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">notice the wonderful details,<br />like the wall fresco and the balloons</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkijeVBSpKJCTEJbkt687LZFWZHEJk7eAUGRZP3XSXE6pPJ225ss9nztwhk4mDMq8gDN_d8kcdws8HMDlyb4JKpPXOzOt08E3II3DKUaO9qUbahg6FSvChpas7-72UYoXxk3M2AeezpM/s1600-h/img_3104.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkijeVBSpKJCTEJbkt687LZFWZHEJk7eAUGRZP3XSXE6pPJ225ss9nztwhk4mDMq8gDN_d8kcdws8HMDlyb4JKpPXOzOt08E3II3DKUaO9qUbahg6FSvChpas7-72UYoXxk3M2AeezpM/s320/img_3104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236467840790404130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">or this dog guarding the staircase</span><br /><br /></div>I imagined horses and carriages bringing people to and from the factory.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCx1ChF2aIcSxHupcMoWC5rwt1oy-tnOKVPpjhXOkuv2TwnRMQk00mU291vNVscULFfWBT5yAURpmwc17ihleWtjpRLEUvUIOpfjKZ_RYny3uXu_lBRFwxRZ6zVyTNhHkTEuB4P2E-qo/s1600-h/img_3077.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCx1ChF2aIcSxHupcMoWC5rwt1oy-tnOKVPpjhXOkuv2TwnRMQk00mU291vNVscULFfWBT5yAURpmwc17ihleWtjpRLEUvUIOpfjKZ_RYny3uXu_lBRFwxRZ6zVyTNhHkTEuB4P2E-qo/s320/img_3077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236471544977438370" border="0" /></a></div><br />And as children like toys as much as chocolate, there also needed to be toys! A lot of toys, no all toys ever devised from ancient to most modern ones.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__hECuExWdppRRQDwWyhvWO6oVxZShrp1GZeT2ksMRcXq34rznuUu1_oj0dZ0CYi4XDEsBMejdsahaGriVz-Au_av_57DUNaSKM739-env0fqvbi18I3_cTa7zziEC0jQ6AcwPLsqVhI/s1600-h/img_3078.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__hECuExWdppRRQDwWyhvWO6oVxZShrp1GZeT2ksMRcXq34rznuUu1_oj0dZ0CYi4XDEsBMejdsahaGriVz-Au_av_57DUNaSKM739-env0fqvbi18I3_cTa7zziEC0jQ6AcwPLsqVhI/s320/img_3078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236466253451685362" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzS-ZRNdGwszP3kb2G6iz68hFtmatX9d4vfzyMfi-r6vdamQFxt4159RJnkxEeIVhv-rjBXp73E90J0gl-FgadX0f_RLw6X8rtoKuW-UHQpb30-BzjdAHIDKkhXrZQBESCC_1ct3pS1oA/s1600-h/img_3095.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzS-ZRNdGwszP3kb2G6iz68hFtmatX9d4vfzyMfi-r6vdamQFxt4159RJnkxEeIVhv-rjBXp73E90J0gl-FgadX0f_RLw6X8rtoKuW-UHQpb30-BzjdAHIDKkhXrZQBESCC_1ct3pS1oA/s320/img_3095.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236467831989845202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1w6yvvwtCTMeysaWQj7_OSyweu2UnxUJA2wJpb8DsP5B1QOMtxwmafmSVNm_BO1dNUDXLNXD13FLbfN9lnDgzCsiDM_U7QYgp__Lzk2Z1KSTnY6FQMQZ9Rw2K4hAhKGBnOvdwln-5dQ/s1600-h/img_3092.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1w6yvvwtCTMeysaWQj7_OSyweu2UnxUJA2wJpb8DsP5B1QOMtxwmafmSVNm_BO1dNUDXLNXD13FLbfN9lnDgzCsiDM_U7QYgp__Lzk2Z1KSTnY6FQMQZ9Rw2K4hAhKGBnOvdwln-5dQ/s320/img_3092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236466804761717282" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDW-cHvYJG3xB5WoDJqF39q89AoPsukFdVjY30obe_tCHXb7RznB5T-F88WvfLDfvmNZMCMac5aXmwscnFwD3YQyOHQJrWvIrd7tzOvcyyNwiUPZLaQ5u33Dof9rkj-qqGm4yVJwhAY-k/s1600-h/img_3093.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDW-cHvYJG3xB5WoDJqF39q89AoPsukFdVjY30obe_tCHXb7RznB5T-F88WvfLDfvmNZMCMac5aXmwscnFwD3YQyOHQJrWvIrd7tzOvcyyNwiUPZLaQ5u33Dof9rkj-qqGm4yVJwhAY-k/s320/img_3093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236467827661447954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_pLxiuS3mgL4iF3ppmoH7GD50Gj871FQ9KyLNB3KrnD_PKSneUaPksVqlYHqva4XxWLZrEx8JjPQigr7gHq83XVutjqM78OczjvRNd9BgIx5B8V_m0fdYZSKlTZ1ZLEwtk0VFwQkdcM/s1600-h/img_3097.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_pLxiuS3mgL4iF3ppmoH7GD50Gj871FQ9KyLNB3KrnD_PKSneUaPksVqlYHqva4XxWLZrEx8JjPQigr7gHq83XVutjqM78OczjvRNd9BgIx5B8V_m0fdYZSKlTZ1ZLEwtk0VFwQkdcM/s320/img_3097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236467835233223298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfi3dA-o3kpb2G-e_6EJpQU-sF-UFmrASPeTvXK0EHqGZ4T-aSn-xFpYXBz5aHG8zcLt8zYvJUVCCYV-gP47n4Um74a_tTxeUYYUCpajw_kaCDg24wK5jSRg5RLNREm3uIZBvKVLhvVQ/s1600-h/img_3089.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfi3dA-o3kpb2G-e_6EJpQU-sF-UFmrASPeTvXK0EHqGZ4T-aSn-xFpYXBz5aHG8zcLt8zYvJUVCCYV-gP47n4Um74a_tTxeUYYUCpajw_kaCDg24wK5jSRg5RLNREm3uIZBvKVLhvVQ/s320/img_3089.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236466797955570306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFu6hR1nI7kBLLFJKlaZy7KmG-WIc7Gxo0-0wriGIJl01kvaDn-FTv0VbVonV8ck-3ssMt8q2AziRFzkp65-7NxshghHMPmdvSXEIgi9Zw9dmR1RUBhR9aG8hFYO8xjn5lDZcFPaLdWM/s1600-h/img_3101.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFu6hR1nI7kBLLFJKlaZy7KmG-WIc7Gxo0-0wriGIJl01kvaDn-FTv0VbVonV8ck-3ssMt8q2AziRFzkp65-7NxshghHMPmdvSXEIgi9Zw9dmR1RUBhR9aG8hFYO8xjn5lDZcFPaLdWM/s320/img_3101.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236467836383923154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYcz4qzCL1d8GzREFJ7lbvTe6rTi89djSeLGvCrifu5hvVY44PWp2ss1lvvUcxXmQg1ZcK12zznKcsJuTwK-B2CGhdZTXYPxe26zLCuAcLI0lhio4AeSSqLOeP5YPT-gpC9TmVKx3QN8/s1600-h/img_3082.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYcz4qzCL1d8GzREFJ7lbvTe6rTi89djSeLGvCrifu5hvVY44PWp2ss1lvvUcxXmQg1ZcK12zznKcsJuTwK-B2CGhdZTXYPxe26zLCuAcLI0lhio4AeSSqLOeP5YPT-gpC9TmVKx3QN8/s320/img_3082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236466793707756770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc1R7dfh_0SoTFI3afaQ6LFpES-cSIKqtY1Fc43ib5H7NQhwnGfin1V7lMb6YezYN_YklfDdBsqgBWy1bztet5-j-jLP0TlZ3jThfaF9VSoNQz6xqivOjY-9CebBcCB6OkQrKigO7F2g/s1600-h/img_3083.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc1R7dfh_0SoTFI3afaQ6LFpES-cSIKqtY1Fc43ib5H7NQhwnGfin1V7lMb6YezYN_YklfDdBsqgBWy1bztet5-j-jLP0TlZ3jThfaF9VSoNQz6xqivOjY-9CebBcCB6OkQrKigO7F2g/s320/img_3083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236466797585870514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67UB_Thu1sPc__aKqjXkfeeha_2KvkfjORUuLuNIiqKOtMaAi9dRa4ox9APy5DBF9qsYbtQaJbYT4z_BIEY7rCCKsxCaQQu-jLkjSY_78g5WKId3RRqwe3XkFkjolvbt5dPxqskep_DA/s1600-h/img_3085.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67UB_Thu1sPc__aKqjXkfeeha_2KvkfjORUuLuNIiqKOtMaAi9dRa4ox9APy5DBF9qsYbtQaJbYT4z_BIEY7rCCKsxCaQQu-jLkjSY_78g5WKId3RRqwe3XkFkjolvbt5dPxqskep_DA/s320/img_3085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236466801774751026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>And as you can see the factory was just that! Also a friendly guide explained everything, you could see not only old toys but also see how the chocolate and sweet boxes and advertisements looked 100 years ago.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62E171d4jMZb2-DlrbEqjWtOAO6PYI7IuSjwLJRFa25kjWlkBi1TSfpKJmZSR3QPrmsFLPkazaVlBxjRaGr747CdkE52vJv30Z_Tb24_pIN3NX3uYFztOWmWCq3oYDqt4uV9X0N-Ef4Q/s1600-h/img_3110.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62E171d4jMZb2-DlrbEqjWtOAO6PYI7IuSjwLJRFa25kjWlkBi1TSfpKJmZSR3QPrmsFLPkazaVlBxjRaGr747CdkE52vJv30Z_Tb24_pIN3NX3uYFztOWmWCq3oYDqt4uV9X0N-Ef4Q/s320/img_3110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236468756287161378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit1LSkmC_ctc5BPsiiTSSOmwZuCiQvvUU0z29mBCD7aIc5CdQXtQ6ZsibDR8sM9-dbeGLc8djwcajnwpujAk8XqZKspg55SVHVxUmpf2tG7zMbE3F7YXrMLvm68uEeZPXW4zFHcSyEIg/s1600-h/img_3120.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit1LSkmC_ctc5BPsiiTSSOmwZuCiQvvUU0z29mBCD7aIc5CdQXtQ6ZsibDR8sM9-dbeGLc8djwcajnwpujAk8XqZKspg55SVHVxUmpf2tG7zMbE3F7YXrMLvm68uEeZPXW4zFHcSyEIg/s320/img_3120.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236468757753291122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8dvPNbgRYfnSFWgh3f33y8oW1Vrjl6HL05XjXqrXqzdON3_Y40mjh6yrPg4TRu4iiQuRKPdtYgX9ntIfkpgXoiQ_vBSM1pGPglrFjILNMOCkMssSAK_vYsBmNmEM9XnpEt46mvI7qBg/s1600-h/img_3118.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8dvPNbgRYfnSFWgh3f33y8oW1Vrjl6HL05XjXqrXqzdON3_Y40mjh6yrPg4TRu4iiQuRKPdtYgX9ntIfkpgXoiQ_vBSM1pGPglrFjILNMOCkMssSAK_vYsBmNmEM9XnpEt46mvI7qBg/s320/img_3118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236468760204311538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">in this model the two ghostly children<br />are shown how chocolate was made earlier</span><br /></div><br />You can also watch live how the factory workers supervise the factory's main product: Shiroi Koibiti White Chocolate Biscuits.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWZUVh_y70ZG3fdgQDK759PEWE1KQalpniHIRZzVtVZPMO3KnWFXzpTQcJFOLUlHPNASIYSt2JoWh1UjQo6qd5qrG4ZMrUKGORMKiCcQzmeWc1U-hohYp_QjIVm-tMJ6wXDwo3mfvQZI/s1600-h/img_3124.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWZUVh_y70ZG3fdgQDK759PEWE1KQalpniHIRZzVtVZPMO3KnWFXzpTQcJFOLUlHPNASIYSt2JoWh1UjQo6qd5qrG4ZMrUKGORMKiCcQzmeWc1U-hohYp_QjIVm-tMJ6wXDwo3mfvQZI/s320/img_3124.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236468765446863970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwUb1FHKSnKDVhPeauVZjf648Y5Jm8Q2TMmP4dLtDOIkOOORZ3W0I4-p0FM7u8_nz58YwIrYnQBpooKGuXcbQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62RowPEYwb7WBYH-JEtRP9wvRur3RckVjjxlFtmVoGEIy3qsdPHgR-Iv_jkbWj9j8z7xT6cEwL-82ga4pa3x-zaf_Ml3A8LJSw9svoxgyaIFfqL4uYv9cqN_YOCEnRGBXyPb4wRXj3eo/s1600-h/img_3128.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62RowPEYwb7WBYH-JEtRP9wvRur3RckVjjxlFtmVoGEIy3qsdPHgR-Iv_jkbWj9j8z7xT6cEwL-82ga4pa3x-zaf_Ml3A8LJSw9svoxgyaIFfqL4uYv9cqN_YOCEnRGBXyPb4wRXj3eo/s320/img_3128.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236469497241280386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx2Vu-IVmC7yJ0wVtQ6URR5Yjmmew2zZXkFKtmkNfFq_fiZMqRzgTz-ekyK4vg5lgDZsnloQh9tMu1-C-kFAw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9VSkJWWIkMe58PelwoFWwKjbxqE-1YPY8CsPk_3icEzMt35PMP1aHjNcNSHOnzCTzLAwRfG50g0_4TRGkL11KDydYvxvwEL19S7VutXPE6zMqwMMcPvmzRuXFODUVRxdd1CAZgU2DU4/s1600-h/img_3131.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9VSkJWWIkMe58PelwoFWwKjbxqE-1YPY8CsPk_3icEzMt35PMP1aHjNcNSHOnzCTzLAwRfG50g0_4TRGkL11KDydYvxvwEL19S7VutXPE6zMqwMMcPvmzRuXFODUVRxdd1CAZgU2DU4/s320/img_3131.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236469507265759538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">in another room, children could try to make their own chocolate</span><br /></div><br />Truly a place out of dreams and a must see for everyone coming to Sapporo and loving chocolate!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O2JXwwdxVU0F-SafZ4NbzgJNw2QEn5FrtGMe0nSiBy54ET26glyS2TF3Ctv3rbG8B9rMKgHgzfTh9JtTWK8AQeuGM6jhcfVE9CF-LxqvMXVEtrupX40HPKEtQWtcxIHBtqa29fzmi58/s1600-h/img_3130.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O2JXwwdxVU0F-SafZ4NbzgJNw2QEn5FrtGMe0nSiBy54ET26glyS2TF3Ctv3rbG8B9rMKgHgzfTh9JtTWK8AQeuGM6jhcfVE9CF-LxqvMXVEtrupX40HPKEtQWtcxIHBtqa29fzmi58/s320/img_3130.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236469497594513138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4T8p3FFbIwHkq8URcMAXkFxCW35YVRDvPi4r7QyLRKy6mdAJYzVMtocUNcXfjnYJoKdr_mlzS2Mu6CVMd9lwfRjM6NXZVX0YTUXwT85cZVOn3n_LnsJoMOElL5qRhyphenhyphenl0LUXpeewFNb8/s1600-h/img_3140.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4T8p3FFbIwHkq8URcMAXkFxCW35YVRDvPi4r7QyLRKy6mdAJYzVMtocUNcXfjnYJoKdr_mlzS2Mu6CVMd9lwfRjM6NXZVX0YTUXwT85cZVOn3n_LnsJoMOElL5qRhyphenhyphenl0LUXpeewFNb8/s320/img_3140.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236469516256414194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-NIFu_hCvAnbs36Gc1TNftKXjlLqqIK4zgvQS7VrrXnMn9-CHyZFaGIkSMBRFAAhJsXK7xhAs-xUFy7ZHZNDCzcWXpciCCrTkWufANGFz43AU7P_-bgwPvahwmZaY0Zc-EbnuJtIUvs/s1600-h/img_3044.jpg"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">開拓野村 Pioneer Village</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0G7xPUpRbN8MuvY3k8Opwk1kWXoyOAi46WB8pB8ch0zqu_vWKjvf9Rj9J3cVASzuBpHo66MYsF9Iq043wl07gJPdZ6EdWG-CuKUD_XxY1x6PwhILMqPoJkTebOPWW1lHYktAmUf-ECcU/s1600-h/img_3151.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0G7xPUpRbN8MuvY3k8Opwk1kWXoyOAi46WB8pB8ch0zqu_vWKjvf9Rj9J3cVASzuBpHo66MYsF9Iq043wl07gJPdZ6EdWG-CuKUD_XxY1x6PwhILMqPoJkTebOPWW1lHYktAmUf-ECcU/s320/img_3151.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236472812413844674" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Hokkaido is Japan's Wild West (North). Only in the last 120 years people from Japan really started settling on the island. It is too cold, the nature and forests to dense and dangerous (bears, snakes, ....) so that people long refrained from settling there. But now it people are living there normal lives. That was different for the pioneers, they had a quite different life in a daily struggle for survival. And to make the wild west scenario complete Hokkaido has ingenious people: the Ainu.<br /><br />And indeed the first settlements in little villages around lakes or mountains or farm land were quite simple and plain. The first towns had some more variety like barbers or a black smith, but the houses were still plain wooden houses.<br /><br />Gradually these houses were replaced by more modern houses until they became modern cities. The 開拓の村 (Kaitaku No Mura, Pioneer Village) tried to preserve some of this pioneer buildings and villages and moved them into a national park, where they can be seen today.<br /><br />The open air museum contains four parts:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. A Fishers' Lake Village</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7nGuPHX8Q4kSDMWxYKY9cdgiYeawRTd6XSV1sQSYBqn3kZnkcc5vtLYAn2whCDh4FXTRXLc1Ebn_68LHQDhrLHkhvXjv_sptyzDd9u0InmpJ3Lt4QCQqTv-U-dEhEkNjJxUbCffCcqM/s1600-h/img_3208.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7nGuPHX8Q4kSDMWxYKY9cdgiYeawRTd6XSV1sQSYBqn3kZnkcc5vtLYAn2whCDh4FXTRXLc1Ebn_68LHQDhrLHkhvXjv_sptyzDd9u0InmpJ3Lt4QCQqTv-U-dEhEkNjJxUbCffCcqM/s320/img_3208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236476635947213234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70D8i7e8fnE0l3Oa68Xge5QmXkPMZkFsSds83FR90otsjXUAPY_-r6U9YipINTLQx9omzJhNm-MqnRJcGjkbeoh57vJ9aNJQMOXQetpU11Dm8-bKFzcIMh5LILWUI-IF9SGFUTx0ikGk/s1600-h/img_3189.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70D8i7e8fnE0l3Oa68Xge5QmXkPMZkFsSds83FR90otsjXUAPY_-r6U9YipINTLQx9omzJhNm-MqnRJcGjkbeoh57vJ9aNJQMOXQetpU11Dm8-bKFzcIMh5LILWUI-IF9SGFUTx0ikGk/s320/img_3189.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236475923820446866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2dLlNr_9gxZx2faQbuYx5lUL5gGuGQZ7SAaoELSByBsRST-tAunH7VKcYtPsZTJfPAbSWOWKsCkQYJZ2w8SWsidrvqKQh4Mi8JudT3uZkFnJ1ABVBOmsbV_YPtmZUjzzvSLJZvrNJus/s1600-h/img_3192.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2dLlNr_9gxZx2faQbuYx5lUL5gGuGQZ7SAaoELSByBsRST-tAunH7VKcYtPsZTJfPAbSWOWKsCkQYJZ2w8SWsidrvqKQh4Mi8JudT3uZkFnJ1ABVBOmsbV_YPtmZUjzzvSLJZvrNJus/s320/img_3192.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236476631002132098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHitD1WGpHKaTgM37VGgpoZKSvRIu6XwvvKofMhg5yOwGDf7lqSbw9NuCLaqzwB9tLpeZtBt6gRIbGo2Ti1fnUfeNMOTswhTdevLFD1bc8-bZLEuJ0csCee9fPwLyXpXQhEBN76JX2Xxw/s1600-h/img_3177.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHitD1WGpHKaTgM37VGgpoZKSvRIu6XwvvKofMhg5yOwGDf7lqSbw9NuCLaqzwB9tLpeZtBt6gRIbGo2Ti1fnUfeNMOTswhTdevLFD1bc8-bZLEuJ0csCee9fPwLyXpXQhEBN76JX2Xxw/s320/img_3177.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236475912676399458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-njIN6mHbKKDdXrf0UkUmnTKtioc4NhJkIqPpBzfupvFsIsMbj9aeR6gAov8VhHJ-r2mpJn9svQ2oRnZOMM46yPCyT4KMpd4EmFCct4o6sVRVZCqeDHvq_XBTw7uof6tGUvzzwfrt4c/s1600-h/img_3179.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-njIN6mHbKKDdXrf0UkUmnTKtioc4NhJkIqPpBzfupvFsIsMbj9aeR6gAov8VhHJ-r2mpJn9svQ2oRnZOMM46yPCyT4KMpd4EmFCct4o6sVRVZCqeDHvq_XBTw7uof6tGUvzzwfrt4c/s320/img_3179.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236475911765371442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3njiFGjTv-U2XIU7dI94dTSIelXYmPm0kmJ1_JY8HQ6IrR9bwpMENDHYC9zN6qmtrh9Tx_HPBvLihdbTZ1RYxYvpX4JG0qxt6YXY9qRNFvHMgYP0Vwni4Iu7RhWDhIBvBQjTk8nHo1Kc/s1600-h/img_3213.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3njiFGjTv-U2XIU7dI94dTSIelXYmPm0kmJ1_JY8HQ6IrR9bwpMENDHYC9zN6qmtrh9Tx_HPBvLihdbTZ1RYxYvpX4JG0qxt6YXY9qRNFvHMgYP0Vwni4Iu7RhWDhIBvBQjTk8nHo1Kc/s320/img_3213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236476641301464626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70D8i7e8fnE0l3Oa68Xge5QmXkPMZkFsSds83FR90otsjXUAPY_-r6U9YipINTLQx9omzJhNm-MqnRJcGjkbeoh57vJ9aNJQMOXQetpU11Dm8-bKFzcIMh5LILWUI-IF9SGFUTx0ikGk/s1600-h/img_3189.jpg"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. A Woodcutters' Mountain Village</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOeGBkTDVYymnT6ATCag4wmcRMcIdGt2M1ErEKPCpbHKfGQCsADMM12761NWpHIn0wzIwrnpTeO6niMx-aychDBlEQ2AUUkntFWCBL_bxyrQUkK_bZWmyLA0t43OzMxmIcwCF8XnlmeI/s1600-h/img_3269.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOeGBkTDVYymnT6ATCag4wmcRMcIdGt2M1ErEKPCpbHKfGQCsADMM12761NWpHIn0wzIwrnpTeO6niMx-aychDBlEQ2AUUkntFWCBL_bxyrQUkK_bZWmyLA0t43OzMxmIcwCF8XnlmeI/s320/img_3269.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236530906355052770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEieLkMVZOYXRNqPlCv-8AMo7pm0hLuhscy7VtiqY50lIsrC1yKd3NBVJ7EJaqdOxx0amzqoKi6Mad0du9Y3ZDvd5zvWiadNdPwYA9fTKUeqBjZz-xNG70piBW0xnX0xE1b-Yv92biOI/s1600-h/img_3270.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEieLkMVZOYXRNqPlCv-8AMo7pm0hLuhscy7VtiqY50lIsrC1yKd3NBVJ7EJaqdOxx0amzqoKi6Mad0du9Y3ZDvd5zvWiadNdPwYA9fTKUeqBjZz-xNG70piBW0xnX0xE1b-Yv92biOI/s320/img_3270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236530904952411506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">the life of the mountain people was the most simple</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1N3IAiTB-XlYXciWCW6EzC2h8x3sfZm7jI2a3HDaavmbbSULXuKu6wKIMRFihRL8VWelKHQ1QrjYt7hNqAScNmNtW8Pf8HuncUgkA4kxn1OYBFC4OffnfZlAAp_SQjQiFhGoEMkpfyM/s1600-h/img_3272.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1N3IAiTB-XlYXciWCW6EzC2h8x3sfZm7jI2a3HDaavmbbSULXuKu6wKIMRFihRL8VWelKHQ1QrjYt7hNqAScNmNtW8Pf8HuncUgkA4kxn1OYBFC4OffnfZlAAp_SQjQiFhGoEMkpfyM/s320/img_3272.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236530910506730546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I said woodcutter, but most mountain village existed because of coal mines</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qzLSvqwPntegQUeuNIA4PVwxhD6ab0dLLwJiD4hNCFrnGzzQzQJMbKxZnkeuB0HtQP_Ya5oEvf78SrYvTRTNjQ0dID_uxZXFbCc4KT2PdkRCy92Qp8_MDsNGRukZUtLpSfBqMP1cXyY/s1600-h/img_3280.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qzLSvqwPntegQUeuNIA4PVwxhD6ab0dLLwJiD4hNCFrnGzzQzQJMbKxZnkeuB0HtQP_Ya5oEvf78SrYvTRTNjQ0dID_uxZXFbCc4KT2PdkRCy92Qp8_MDsNGRukZUtLpSfBqMP1cXyY/s320/img_3280.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236531431848432962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and the coal needed to be transported to towns by lorries</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. A Farmers Farmland Village</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsWIf8-OGZ9fpj4SudKwxJ1iRUMpzI_jWWyiQ2UoWlFxStJv0dNM9NweeKVhEhjxIKvMxaKQLzJAkh9QHd86n7FDcBe8UMCaJAmWf0lcoeQK6LGtt76CzFJ7m-sGju_uEs_SEuJhRbzY/s1600-h/img_3220.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsWIf8-OGZ9fpj4SudKwxJ1iRUMpzI_jWWyiQ2UoWlFxStJv0dNM9NweeKVhEhjxIKvMxaKQLzJAkh9QHd86n7FDcBe8UMCaJAmWf0lcoeQK6LGtt76CzFJ7m-sGju_uEs_SEuJhRbzY/s320/img_3220.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236477403694930882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">water mill</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMPsZxt6Hhqi34f_PWocbdkqknFzstQ3_588FULkvqhKvI3_8V_aeHjGbkcfi-k7zSwfuQnNm4hK4OgR-u-_HljuXd8RgnfYMMb2ruJuFUC1HNuOx3XxXmtGKw-8WlGlPUFrZFZj5DWk/s1600-h/img_3260.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMPsZxt6Hhqi34f_PWocbdkqknFzstQ3_588FULkvqhKvI3_8V_aeHjGbkcfi-k7zSwfuQnNm4hK4OgR-u-_HljuXd8RgnfYMMb2ruJuFUC1HNuOx3XxXmtGKw-8WlGlPUFrZFZj5DWk/s320/img_3260.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236529241165447394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">grain silo</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4NgPpQ7NTWn0CMincReVaxw_uORzsVZg0GnY1fPZrBaSmuH1OdpIRc17iFf5iGVs_VXlNtSRxkCevmKQOb-CLJ2MgzAFgWlBClyXPSlutt842eBPy3OFoGRcldIBQKxR_qNsc80kKxQ/s1600-h/img_3262.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4NgPpQ7NTWn0CMincReVaxw_uORzsVZg0GnY1fPZrBaSmuH1OdpIRc17iFf5iGVs_VXlNtSRxkCevmKQOb-CLJ2MgzAFgWlBClyXPSlutt842eBPy3OFoGRcldIBQKxR_qNsc80kKxQ/s320/img_3262.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236529238716762370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">cow shed</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEOsDdDZwesg3ftLWtW553OyQ7NIIh7jZvDqiGo7AQHValxivMXnbcDJ0QDgBeA3tLdNl5Mjgw4TBA-cXG9CpsH86QWdDJZNPCFpkW5tW3kNkQlpJ753U9EHo3_SlYXrXp3228IQLoJ8/s1600-h/img_3265.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEOsDdDZwesg3ftLWtW553OyQ7NIIh7jZvDqiGo7AQHValxivMXnbcDJ0QDgBeA3tLdNl5Mjgw4TBA-cXG9CpsH86QWdDJZNPCFpkW5tW3kNkQlpJ753U9EHo3_SlYXrXp3228IQLoJ8/s320/img_3265.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236529243817485218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">farm land</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgFM_K7AWSWCtbnDEw5wxEyQoO8yyqJ6-V6w6Ee0giZOe3Csb25ufxFgmYYrHcbxN5TBam4WbZwM-qjA1hs8Y7Q_FIm5XhComAjqVZRmjPRqejhz68Q5y57ImSh9ph8NgPKJP5xUyYFk/s1600-h/img_3243.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgFM_K7AWSWCtbnDEw5wxEyQoO8yyqJ6-V6w6Ee0giZOe3Csb25ufxFgmYYrHcbxN5TBam4WbZwM-qjA1hs8Y7Q_FIm5XhComAjqVZRmjPRqejhz68Q5y57ImSh9ph8NgPKJP5xUyYFk/s320/img_3243.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236527919627963874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rG5tdT-I-x_YJxuX0mkNjzAJ5pHLiTRfVzDaHDfz1AMmPvw0vieGGaiKJvB9YysmdvuFBlpszgsUMiVMNlGkpwLxcIJ-Kc2JM0-mdOwAizRn9oxRgy82zdklUP8tuvab59_ABVBZlH0/s1600-h/img_3245.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rG5tdT-I-x_YJxuX0mkNjzAJ5pHLiTRfVzDaHDfz1AMmPvw0vieGGaiKJvB9YysmdvuFBlpszgsUMiVMNlGkpwLxcIJ-Kc2JM0-mdOwAizRn9oxRgy82zdklUP8tuvab59_ABVBZlH0/s320/img_3245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236527924141939042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmxAioJhwVX1kweaORicBJz9yD2tBqkk-tdS1DKN4Lu4F4nz8K6oNpft0aexfGKp8ZPrV43AIWZfM9TAMHZq9G4hjIjgBkfG_i7gCrPCasI2eQfEssI_sf4X-PCGSgEbqbSfS0c_x9nA/s1600-h/img_3246.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmxAioJhwVX1kweaORicBJz9yD2tBqkk-tdS1DKN4Lu4F4nz8K6oNpft0aexfGKp8ZPrV43AIWZfM9TAMHZq9G4hjIjgBkfG_i7gCrPCasI2eQfEssI_sf4X-PCGSgEbqbSfS0c_x9nA/s320/img_3246.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236528494292308162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXY09SI-c8MOFBCj01vXTHoFqzT4jt_KawccxacoobN4ySWZ0pzGIw3FUcSyrvjP4agU0n51RrQp67pteJz5noL7vyo7d96thC_fZP-ipxg0CSGd1Jg-YUMxddMDyuqt0nkHMi6xu8d38/s1600-h/img_3248.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXY09SI-c8MOFBCj01vXTHoFqzT4jt_KawccxacoobN4ySWZ0pzGIw3FUcSyrvjP4agU0n51RrQp67pteJz5noL7vyo7d96thC_fZP-ipxg0CSGd1Jg-YUMxddMDyuqt0nkHMi6xu8d38/s320/img_3248.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236528495923065570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12DazZaz4-04Ow1noE6rSdSTGh7WFSxYCbt7weQDrFnq1z93oKZjbhnX-tpKHV95agPy3Jc5DFp1ro6CLoZU8boiEw6zFJqn-AXi7JqTVNLsIPBvPYSeU5hnaQ0BJBH8rBeUzphk8wB0/s1600-h/img_3250.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12DazZaz4-04Ow1noE6rSdSTGh7WFSxYCbt7weQDrFnq1z93oKZjbhnX-tpKHV95agPy3Jc5DFp1ro6CLoZU8boiEw6zFJqn-AXi7JqTVNLsIPBvPYSeU5hnaQ0BJBH8rBeUzphk8wB0/s320/img_3250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236528498204189010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUY17axmWOPP2e1gmgSb5hIkgXfs1eLM_4YBpSrg_HAgKzje4lAU9t-4H9t1mQoQuX5TC4Wtl9neYLZdtie57uxQ7IPvTtGmJZlmlOMOy1WfRmKaPFegzuz_k4AZHpInde8R8YK3dZaM/s1600-h/img_3251.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUY17axmWOPP2e1gmgSb5hIkgXfs1eLM_4YBpSrg_HAgKzje4lAU9t-4H9t1mQoQuX5TC4Wtl9neYLZdtie57uxQ7IPvTtGmJZlmlOMOy1WfRmKaPFegzuz_k4AZHpInde8R8YK3dZaM/s320/img_3251.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236528500041011730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxN0qd-8wUivkzslpILLf6nHGHXSGkmnPmZKHPRE_aDnWyUvhRfadxnehOwNGz4gBu-hGMlKABUTH6B3_jgB0aNzNPD016cuZN23BtchMmIBnHxlG973WPltOOjmAM-RN9h_9rUQ5-uY/s1600-h/img_3275.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxN0qd-8wUivkzslpILLf6nHGHXSGkmnPmZKHPRE_aDnWyUvhRfadxnehOwNGz4gBu-hGMlKABUTH6B3_jgB0aNzNPD016cuZN23BtchMmIBnHxlG973WPltOOjmAM-RN9h_9rUQ5-uY/s320/img_3275.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236531421799949890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">the village had one common shed with farming tools (tractors came only very late), because they were to expensive for individual possession, so they had to share them</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQWOFHNR_vtIrJVrWEyCI7gJHJNGJnGKlpqOPPdLb5AexwTpyswOvaEKIBElVD5E34w_CzqpMmF0MYOdAOYFhm_XjbSoYlpqSNZotyjN2ghxow0gc_bNMvUdZWaOtlWiaZIX5oiePT78/s1600-h/img_3279.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQWOFHNR_vtIrJVrWEyCI7gJHJNGJnGKlpqOPPdLb5AexwTpyswOvaEKIBElVD5E34w_CzqpMmF0MYOdAOYFhm_XjbSoYlpqSNZotyjN2ghxow0gc_bNMvUdZWaOtlWiaZIX5oiePT78/s320/img_3279.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236531429216019634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZLC7wIptu21znAaqVretwa9rYjCp1nBpUByINLjCteM_0pC4CnG4ym6B_c0SC44VcmDqOdx9MjEeM_u3FApFd3ciiHgUh-TH-WN4fV_pB2dnZKcCHaE45TtdyrXc2jjueGfmNw2-9C0/s1600-h/img_3277.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZLC7wIptu21znAaqVretwa9rYjCp1nBpUByINLjCteM_0pC4CnG4ym6B_c0SC44VcmDqOdx9MjEeM_u3FApFd3ciiHgUh-TH-WN4fV_pB2dnZKcCHaE45TtdyrXc2jjueGfmNw2-9C0/s320/img_3277.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236531422681728322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">also in the farm village they all slept in one big main building</span></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">4. A Town<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxwhiIwZFzbdur_-3MD1tOpicJvLTEMA_Bf814YOx1upnRy0E4hWspFZFS8ifsndI0Zu9-NFJ-_vwZPxM2SZJ8dP3NEjBkTUrc65mqhPfynXOMrNOjUk3qPNdhA-ERaT3AkZU_SHDJ2E/s1600-h/img_3346.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxwhiIwZFzbdur_-3MD1tOpicJvLTEMA_Bf814YOx1upnRy0E4hWspFZFS8ifsndI0Zu9-NFJ-_vwZPxM2SZJ8dP3NEjBkTUrc65mqhPfynXOMrNOjUk3qPNdhA-ERaT3AkZU_SHDJ2E/s320/img_3346.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236537247656903746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8YhQ7waOIdh_bFO-h34lUK_SZI3sm6jQRp2BdZfcHK9o43C-F1ty2QRYfiXiRs1YYdOGrpPJS2FUTHNeuK_09lV1sjHtXZPm1lLSjM5yslp2IzYnxiLakm8mDm7qiHNVNed5CB6vspY/s1600-h/img_3352.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8YhQ7waOIdh_bFO-h34lUK_SZI3sm6jQRp2BdZfcHK9o43C-F1ty2QRYfiXiRs1YYdOGrpPJS2FUTHNeuK_09lV1sjHtXZPm1lLSjM5yslp2IzYnxiLakm8mDm7qiHNVNed5CB6vspY/s320/img_3352.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236537609595843458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">town hall</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigwFtFXw7IWr4Z0iJs5_wbS56XS5HkO041fkOChEBt1T51cq1IsnHQXb8_FfhZmjaa6GODTdMQsXOmClpILtp7LP0xDlAHt18EzDfY7xbgshn8m5puC0M2mXSFQyrCEZROVBuJR1bTDY/s1600-h/img_3338.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigwFtFXw7IWr4Z0iJs5_wbS56XS5HkO041fkOChEBt1T51cq1IsnHQXb8_FfhZmjaa6GODTdMQsXOmClpILtp7LP0xDlAHt18EzDfY7xbgshn8m5puC0M2mXSFQyrCEZROVBuJR1bTDY/s320/img_3338.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236537241756224946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmG-MbJQzp-ZqVQJynujJYisSYmQTL9nV8SrZ1A5Pbqpx-KTLog4Wge5-efLyLCr4B0CKVFHMrjJpiOXVQ1BrxXfUVe4weFFSWE0Ve22LMooDUS9Hb1QyuvB21j4i0wW5jrB4PEuxt8kQ/s1600-h/img_3339.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmG-MbJQzp-ZqVQJynujJYisSYmQTL9nV8SrZ1A5Pbqpx-KTLog4Wge5-efLyLCr4B0CKVFHMrjJpiOXVQ1BrxXfUVe4weFFSWE0Ve22LMooDUS9Hb1QyuvB21j4i0wW5jrB4PEuxt8kQ/s320/img_3339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236537247320749378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >doctor's clinic<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm-cIroz4_wNhZ9rFnWr2y6NYmyre4dvojk0_JktfqZEoWXWuK2aa_g7B-YfAy2hAgOC5kJhr5-NbFC81-1UByC4rL-FAVldx7vKAtMk6Rm1vATctVHCmc-jk3Su9dcxZfTe5sOnft-s/s1600-h/img_3348.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm-cIroz4_wNhZ9rFnWr2y6NYmyre4dvojk0_JktfqZEoWXWuK2aa_g7B-YfAy2hAgOC5kJhr5-NbFC81-1UByC4rL-FAVldx7vKAtMk6Rm1vATctVHCmc-jk3Su9dcxZfTe5sOnft-s/s320/img_3348.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236537248171041266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">magistrate's home</span><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfIE24wG04bCaWro17IMiBUEqGTeDXCy-3qNUdA0Yl7VZuE6JUnYOIQxN9YEzSb2ETNU2exxXm3dizMdgKXvW_GrjHqxSp0YVpn4kYXHz39a5CHU5AjJZbw-b7-RhZcSfWv0GwXOyXtg/s1600-h/img_3321.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfIE24wG04bCaWro17IMiBUEqGTeDXCy-3qNUdA0Yl7VZuE6JUnYOIQxN9YEzSb2ETNU2exxXm3dizMdgKXvW_GrjHqxSp0YVpn4kYXHz39a5CHU5AjJZbw-b7-RhZcSfWv0GwXOyXtg/s320/img_3321.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236536445021252338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">barber</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dj48yAZEt31ydylrwOoY_Ot4KRfPn-7VGLVnSG4z7vrTTmGwGRI5YE9D2LRQVMsK9dLcFENd-HWHdwFG2Zw9p0UJfGi3vhlNuXPeZWbmqWhUiUNEJ-zEbqGuCS48npfLQ7XLyTurQPc/s1600-h/img_3326.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dj48yAZEt31ydylrwOoY_Ot4KRfPn-7VGLVnSG4z7vrTTmGwGRI5YE9D2LRQVMsK9dLcFENd-HWHdwFG2Zw9p0UJfGi3vhlNuXPeZWbmqWhUiUNEJ-zEbqGuCS48npfLQ7XLyTurQPc/s320/img_3326.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236536452327932706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >money lender</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuxyI2MGaoERktxrmTzwQ6NrkJYvi6HOx-UeNGA10XcskKnV4p7dmZEY7puuHk_HqCzFRRwxfzUFLNJZomSiSd9KX9EJUbXxe7XuSS-9hAt_Zfo5IJFr5Xt1-9I4lIPZMjsnw-qaFPl8/s1600-h/img_3327.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuxyI2MGaoERktxrmTzwQ6NrkJYvi6HOx-UeNGA10XcskKnV4p7dmZEY7puuHk_HqCzFRRwxfzUFLNJZomSiSd9KX9EJUbXxe7XuSS-9hAt_Zfo5IJFr5Xt1-9I4lIPZMjsnw-qaFPl8/s320/img_3327.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236536451435939410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">tailor</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWs7KeQeNUlmiQ0zmd2OirpznZgwkb7rWwVjaX4UAbQIhLdLwzvk7H_LYtC2lcsn1ip5RqOpIQ7DPazesqI3WdOy42R_bA9Jh5qtOlGPrj1u7eEjW0sDHwZUXtTRO-3K3FpRbu9Thc_sY/s1600-h/img_3333.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWs7KeQeNUlmiQ0zmd2OirpznZgwkb7rWwVjaX4UAbQIhLdLwzvk7H_LYtC2lcsn1ip5RqOpIQ7DPazesqI3WdOy42R_bA9Jh5qtOlGPrj1u7eEjW0sDHwZUXtTRO-3K3FpRbu9Thc_sY/s320/img_3333.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236536453670236258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">police</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ-vCY6RVXgKu4yneCqSuKYp64EARzLLdYmVxb6TjeRV56sFQIO7JxPWWCuU-6PQQOitWiyzxbg778D5mT4uSTxYWyxmLe72ze3QGR5eoNaLyg8HsAecCcyAMYhhuUmub5d2Pp5_Qoew/s1600-h/img_3312.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ-vCY6RVXgKu4yneCqSuKYp64EARzLLdYmVxb6TjeRV56sFQIO7JxPWWCuU-6PQQOitWiyzxbg778D5mT4uSTxYWyxmLe72ze3QGR5eoNaLyg8HsAecCcyAMYhhuUmub5d2Pp5_Qoew/s320/img_3312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236535904998886370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">sleigh and </span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: normal;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kAH1rARdUlqh79mBzhtCA5pproPY670T0hhNtIYnvtWinN1DWAcJ9cbmUquVZFoSs1KTwbO9Cy9lxf0duS0BSjMlPLE5CjOjSS2YPVBhgudl7YBtHWT5rYYpS0kXF5V4i77V8JJZm9w/s1600-h/img_3313.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kAH1rARdUlqh79mBzhtCA5pproPY670T0hhNtIYnvtWinN1DWAcJ9cbmUquVZFoSs1KTwbO9Cy9lxf0duS0BSjMlPLE5CjOjSS2YPVBhgudl7YBtHWT5rYYpS0kXF5V4i77V8JJZm9w/s320/img_3313.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236535910846427394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">cart construction<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnc7z6Vi2ZsawqsKJ1QOyBIqbLRrTrBNRp5AeMpYyr6XY2_ns4e82ELBxRNgMOWLJjvL5KT_gdUzOdi8hsCzpmwnaEc5cYBVXzg0Odfm0MVQm5T90LlugB8mKM8DPY8weddAwxWOp_N0/s1600-h/img_3307.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnc7z6Vi2ZsawqsKJ1QOyBIqbLRrTrBNRp5AeMpYyr6XY2_ns4e82ELBxRNgMOWLJjvL5KT_gdUzOdi8hsCzpmwnaEc5cYBVXzg0Odfm0MVQm5T90LlugB8mKM8DPY8weddAwxWOp_N0/s320/img_3307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236534214649783762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">black smith</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSHy6DyGaSH-KGlS4-aVMXWrL1E3A-jwf-xmTy9TUNRx2Nbi2yvmXqMo5NnI3piAdFxojH4SCi63Nbgbc-L-cUTbQXjKNednjz1orlozxDNraiunuzf-vEnuhnUMLzqCWVGQF1TtDtfk/s1600-h/img_3316.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSHy6DyGaSH-KGlS4-aVMXWrL1E3A-jwf-xmTy9TUNRx2Nbi2yvmXqMo5NnI3piAdFxojH4SCi63Nbgbc-L-cUTbQXjKNednjz1orlozxDNraiunuzf-vEnuhnUMLzqCWVGQF1TtDtfk/s320/img_3316.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236535915268134754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and horse smith</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGAsP1EdELb93_Kq_E6f5pcqHp1kgRvFqms4HmoKXEj4ti05Uqs4T9I3J4x7H4fLdnQVqzvRUO6a28KeBEvPfWzUIn_fBOXquyqwzP24ZPhYmHqorI8kNp0opM4QgrN8YteRpA2AD8Y4/s1600-h/img_3320.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGAsP1EdELb93_Kq_E6f5pcqHp1kgRvFqms4HmoKXEj4ti05Uqs4T9I3J4x7H4fLdnQVqzvRUO6a28KeBEvPfWzUIn_fBOXquyqwzP24ZPhYmHqorI8kNp0opM4QgrN8YteRpA2AD8Y4/s320/img_3320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236535920370227570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">porcelain</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxP1gMnS_4dAFyAnm6UQHH9VGLZnO4rXLOZz4ZNQz0pKJOxZwA7HWp79jJYS5iezFfW6VRcfr7ygTbr7MgXOWQvnIfgLi9qEFAjpwd9w1oWiaCcrErzrjmQkR9BLO4IRJedHW0n7Z1Y4/s1600-h/img_3318.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxP1gMnS_4dAFyAnm6UQHH9VGLZnO4rXLOZz4ZNQz0pKJOxZwA7HWp79jJYS5iezFfW6VRcfr7ygTbr7MgXOWQvnIfgLi9qEFAjpwd9w1oWiaCcrErzrjmQkR9BLO4IRJedHW0n7Z1Y4/s320/img_3318.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236535920732716018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">toys</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFk2lmpkz2rUW3PX_gaoiBNs4QBV2XgAywKQEC8pyDHQ8Pnt_Sx6MVzGEgm8kJ-5kLaDcjg23I-Xz11v-auDggQb5U7UtG-y250fOjZVK4iSw7UfkoSo79_KsSHsvdtEkFd6DoqXv4r0/s1600-h/img_3323.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFk2lmpkz2rUW3PX_gaoiBNs4QBV2XgAywKQEC8pyDHQ8Pnt_Sx6MVzGEgm8kJ-5kLaDcjg23I-Xz11v-auDggQb5U7UtG-y250fOjZVK4iSw7UfkoSo79_KsSHsvdtEkFd6DoqXv4r0/s320/img_3323.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236540146112508594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >and a candy shop</span><br /></div><br />Significantly for all of the villages is, that its people all shared one house for living and the other for storage and tools. So every village had one big main house, were everybody slept side by side around the fireplace. Life in the villages was extremely hard and difficult, since the people were cut off from civilizations and mostly had to use improvisations of tools they needed for everyday life. Foremost the woodcutters in the mountains, who having only berries, nuts and wild deer to eat, living under constant threat of attacks by bears, had the hardest life of all. The worst however were Hokkaido's winters where the temperature drops as much as -30 degrees Celsius in the high north.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPUAc2jt_K72ihfKbpecUP4HNOY7l3guVEFkkBcBkMoKMLs914z0ofgYK-ZD6yLsziQzEDlAvswY9ckswYbGP2TmwRa7mKllGFOo58zLJImmak5rUl9nz0Angg0R6qLC2tNRJW8utzv8/s1600-h/img_3182.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPUAc2jt_K72ihfKbpecUP4HNOY7l3guVEFkkBcBkMoKMLs914z0ofgYK-ZD6yLsziQzEDlAvswY9ckswYbGP2TmwRa7mKllGFOo58zLJImmak5rUl9nz0Angg0R6qLC2tNRJW8utzv8/s320/img_3182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236475917794180146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">storage for rice<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbR0hMQdVknCotlD3EDXaFZloPkd7l2QUQv0GlZkw2uSxQNP8Z_dZjdxwPGmyZB5uzSh-vC_OgOg-RwQUhfbej9twsSDDG1FPC8i22acbAIRYV8SJiZ-fzHKP4wpkT-zWJOvXEs-bkus/s1600-h/img_3185.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbR0hMQdVknCotlD3EDXaFZloPkd7l2QUQv0GlZkw2uSxQNP8Z_dZjdxwPGmyZB5uzSh-vC_OgOg-RwQUhfbej9twsSDDG1FPC8i22acbAIRYV8SJiZ-fzHKP4wpkT-zWJOvXEs-bkus/s320/img_3185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236475917956957506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and tools</span><br /></div><br />The town was already a good imitation of later cities, but plainer and more simple. But after a while a post office was established, railways to the coal mines and even later telegraph connections. At the same time the number of jobs increased by a barber, candy maker, doctor and the like.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2x1XbSjbtaiUsT5F-1vwDg5Q6tjQ043mZcFAY0dIitilyD4fKwadm4LJdbMyGOpaTpUGLt7LRZQtRkP8iVG2Bu3E7DHPH2DjuAsfS9OwPOLglKcERpqJqqFyv39yqdkXIrvg1M9ZiF0M/s1600-h/img_3219.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2x1XbSjbtaiUsT5F-1vwDg5Q6tjQ043mZcFAY0dIitilyD4fKwadm4LJdbMyGOpaTpUGLt7LRZQtRkP8iVG2Bu3E7DHPH2DjuAsfS9OwPOLglKcERpqJqqFyv39yqdkXIrvg1M9ZiF0M/s320/img_3219.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236477399698808770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">you can move around the village by this train wagon pulled by a horse</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V53IasMYWDCu-G4e4ePkk8Bg-KVP5OGqMEPjUGPNFkRw3I2MCUfnqLx69vj2UhzLDKtl4-iLPssEanWbNg_Xr52d_XfgUoNLCJKU6zaumWvH-SqXtqwooRR2I6YInSffh6s5gr42xdw/s1600-h/img_3226.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V53IasMYWDCu-G4e4ePkk8Bg-KVP5OGqMEPjUGPNFkRw3I2MCUfnqLx69vj2UhzLDKtl4-iLPssEanWbNg_Xr52d_XfgUoNLCJKU6zaumWvH-SqXtqwooRR2I6YInSffh6s5gr42xdw/s320/img_3226.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236477409376226066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">stables</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUH6rnn0nFp95uExffZV9CrHzTewhu2e_XXbUZh9WO29uJxk9gkdYhnR4_TlSDDhmn9h3BhLFfkiDC-F6D2a5xLCKiHh4po31i6cucYO-p3UnH6Wcvj6DkL41zGf9hlrpaYV1KnBpgB8/s1600-h/img_3229.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUH6rnn0nFp95uExffZV9CrHzTewhu2e_XXbUZh9WO29uJxk9gkdYhnR4_TlSDDhmn9h3BhLFfkiDC-F6D2a5xLCKiHh4po31i6cucYO-p3UnH6Wcvj6DkL41zGf9hlrpaYV1KnBpgB8/s320/img_3229.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236477407032554946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">the town well</span><br /></div><br />Of course the town has its own school for the children.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTRu_9EUPAYRgcTMkgyP9yHcL7XdUgX-2_BIhXnqp3E_PQy4DLBJx_We4pAiedNalpBmMh2BPBWq_zE9K_sgkQQ2MCK8jiWf8SKCBEtjUevdHvHhvIOYn-XR6djS7SCNsMa0nBR5cHyw/s1600-h/img_3174.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTRu_9EUPAYRgcTMkgyP9yHcL7XdUgX-2_BIhXnqp3E_PQy4DLBJx_We4pAiedNalpBmMh2BPBWq_zE9K_sgkQQ2MCK8jiWf8SKCBEtjUevdHvHhvIOYn-XR6djS7SCNsMa0nBR5cHyw/s320/img_3174.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236474186976300194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PM_1eD5anLZJCaAVpFsH0xxSPEFJfIVsmmHshcasNFTZGKeEMWRtR-Gq1YBXF9gg_PnaFjN5I1KR1EB4gmWT4GmygNQMi0YIig8KYVXVhyPvd6dp5ZI5XqqVHm0UryIzRkfBceU4Fzo/s1600-h/img_3164.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PM_1eD5anLZJCaAVpFsH0xxSPEFJfIVsmmHshcasNFTZGKeEMWRtR-Gq1YBXF9gg_PnaFjN5I1KR1EB4gmWT4GmygNQMi0YIig8KYVXVhyPvd6dp5ZI5XqqVHm0UryIzRkfBceU4Fzo/s320/img_3164.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236473381130374930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh080XEs9GyMeURzIStiZ9k9IovmKrR8viQxxSCbRiR-gIV2NYE9X4c8m-6KEIVnPI7IhMm3KXGBysc1mtqp5tjxWjW8vu6jaz3353EXw9ZywuTahwtM37sXV4UYsCj5W2tf6asraL3hhA/s1600-h/img_3172.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh080XEs9GyMeURzIStiZ9k9IovmKrR8viQxxSCbRiR-gIV2NYE9X4c8m-6KEIVnPI7IhMm3KXGBysc1mtqp5tjxWjW8vu6jaz3353EXw9ZywuTahwtM37sXV4UYsCj5W2tf6asraL3hhA/s320/img_3172.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236474187303037362" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNuTvgDmEEBkF3TUjtZ2yZlNLr_1GOacoOfg8KPhs8MuPehec_eSHvpD6rgkyiOiAS5DP96XnHFTWWTVCEFUyebAoYUEC1-JogxdVroc4q0GbUH8qKU3GifpG0j8gVu67IjMt00Eeb6M/s1600-h/img_3167.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNuTvgDmEEBkF3TUjtZ2yZlNLr_1GOacoOfg8KPhs8MuPehec_eSHvpD6rgkyiOiAS5DP96XnHFTWWTVCEFUyebAoYUEC1-JogxdVroc4q0GbUH8qKU3GifpG0j8gVu67IjMt00Eeb6M/s320/img_3167.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236474177362842706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">where they are taught mathematics</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbR5UqSKtEnlr6NUL_K_gFdRBtEw9g0HIser19jW6LQx8hL3D-ImMCH1d__ZJ18T-YQkAc-CeSQRmTtComodM6pbOVQQd23_R8ier2EYhkpuKWOCiAZjm-vCLd8qo8VngpBou-cxVFUY/s1600-h/img_3165.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbR5UqSKtEnlr6NUL_K_gFdRBtEw9g0HIser19jW6LQx8hL3D-ImMCH1d__ZJ18T-YQkAc-CeSQRmTtComodM6pbOVQQd23_R8ier2EYhkpuKWOCiAZjm-vCLd8qo8VngpBou-cxVFUY/s320/img_3165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236473384403094370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />martial arts</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gSHTXz3MXn8sIFhsym5-wY6XbOvBAyHxcBejQZg-mDcimBU4maEYueGX1Y6mjveqYeroULFIuRjpW72fYgtV0dknAV13urruRIcgDsA1v775f7ZfCven11OE6P8bK_E2rha59XgB4MI/s1600-h/img_3166.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gSHTXz3MXn8sIFhsym5-wY6XbOvBAyHxcBejQZg-mDcimBU4maEYueGX1Y6mjveqYeroULFIuRjpW72fYgtV0dknAV13urruRIcgDsA1v775f7ZfCven11OE6P8bK_E2rha59XgB4MI/s320/img_3166.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236473389732450466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and music</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc-gZAh3hKUUWcDBcrOvbGbo_-AbntOIfXASBcfI8Adbq76Jwb-0UpLVOzexURnQSMg0c-Nrg7w38hX-j45zDUYQNfhgHlsJnS13e80kpyxI_HbZj-t6Rzkp4yAeRvWaRBJ6rJ9UkOm4/s1600-h/img_3170.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc-gZAh3hKUUWcDBcrOvbGbo_-AbntOIfXASBcfI8Adbq76Jwb-0UpLVOzexURnQSMg0c-Nrg7w38hX-j45zDUYQNfhgHlsJnS13e80kpyxI_HbZj-t6Rzkp4yAeRvWaRBJ6rJ9UkOm4/s320/img_3170.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236474178134225042" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />like in Europe at this time, students wore this kind of uniform</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Hokkaido also had one university of agriculture, intended to improve the technique in farming, dairy production and technical farming equipment.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx90Vf1gBZtEyfu2u8At_l-AFUV9BjLgaTuHTymNx935c0_1MiZ22BpLPbJI7nDFfEOEbdPW_5cA4c5icNZdEibFrpqFlspPsmeQN1Z-bJT9YHcNuFHpVWt0LSYWX5PCmpR_Q3-V2AAvI/s1600-h/img_3302.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx90Vf1gBZtEyfu2u8At_l-AFUV9BjLgaTuHTymNx935c0_1MiZ22BpLPbJI7nDFfEOEbdPW_5cA4c5icNZdEibFrpqFlspPsmeQN1Z-bJT9YHcNuFHpVWt0LSYWX5PCmpR_Q3-V2AAvI/s320/img_3302.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236534204823627602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4seyqNPPUaWQmQ33xRmZzo25hyTMACWBs3BCgx_TEEICsjf-PlWiSKD7QWqpW-BlRF6zJXylq2ldOlADx3mxJbfCZPiCddNKoEJoCfhRYoSIYJ_TVHNM-MoUZxfKJ2N57YJlfCn82M4/s1600-h/img_3291.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4seyqNPPUaWQmQ33xRmZzo25hyTMACWBs3BCgx_TEEICsjf-PlWiSKD7QWqpW-BlRF6zJXylq2ldOlADx3mxJbfCZPiCddNKoEJoCfhRYoSIYJ_TVHNM-MoUZxfKJ2N57YJlfCn82M4/s320/img_3291.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236532895963624594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiht92-aZfAjFuNBhTCApWPT9cn3eFVJqKB3zu0fVCU1bfyYoO6WSyyv2Izlg-Rz_z_D35KqBwjmRjR0y6WQnCqWVApaQM5Ss2oNkHoilkAbsBcG05IorSgHhCrtrZSHPnE-2paF2Ux_vw/s1600-h/img_3293.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiht92-aZfAjFuNBhTCApWPT9cn3eFVJqKB3zu0fVCU1bfyYoO6WSyyv2Izlg-Rz_z_D35KqBwjmRjR0y6WQnCqWVApaQM5Ss2oNkHoilkAbsBcG05IorSgHhCrtrZSHPnE-2paF2Ux_vw/s320/img_3293.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236541457812232690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv_C1IxNsZKGoalDhQGXhhDdK7HOUwsXe-CQ1qCtE8NJwIR75h7JvWa5rj3DUeOpkDvYixwsutaS-PXNbSIiJ1C2hP-CrDQGzj3ys6ahEQxy9z93DM-krVYP5PqGjobHvfUXK9b6ele4/s1600-h/img_3297.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv_C1IxNsZKGoalDhQGXhhDdK7HOUwsXe-CQ1qCtE8NJwIR75h7JvWa5rj3DUeOpkDvYixwsutaS-PXNbSIiJ1C2hP-CrDQGzj3ys6ahEQxy9z93DM-krVYP5PqGjobHvfUXK9b6ele4/s320/img_3297.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236532894341638834" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigbb4DBguyf0szugTfs9aenk4BxefCLgZprmb0A5-m78E0tKLkMVJY4h4kxmriFPgyOpUtRx3UoDBWuMS2vbJTYt87_vVLdw3xRMq-EPujKVrUAYqk9G8Jxx5NYVd563B_2_r9IFz_qU/s1600-h/img_3301.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigbb4DBguyf0szugTfs9aenk4BxefCLgZprmb0A5-m78E0tKLkMVJY4h4kxmriFPgyOpUtRx3UoDBWuMS2vbJTYt87_vVLdw3xRMq-EPujKVrUAYqk9G8Jxx5NYVd563B_2_r9IFz_qU/s320/img_3301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236534199792473362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">students lodgings</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">They also had one martial arts Dojo.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY_PkrrMZlMPMiy6TebvOvegbgqvie3iSOa1F0H8t4BTNFkpVvHgI0iHmm8JWOTXw0uo6kM_6ff_PCksZETwQfBkbNw96CXttPMtBnzChhUG1XvvXqQjDrJJ9DibnTYdguAMTOvVpMvw/s1600-h/img_3283.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY_PkrrMZlMPMiy6TebvOvegbgqvie3iSOa1F0H8t4BTNFkpVvHgI0iHmm8JWOTXw0uo6kM_6ff_PCksZETwQfBkbNw96CXttPMtBnzChhUG1XvvXqQjDrJJ9DibnTYdguAMTOvVpMvw/s320/img_3283.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236532887224443666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDk4GutTAr4lm9HfuQM4H8F7BqMYPWFYHZb07D3nKxhW6-cexxP20qt32zw5EzT484e1YNwMZEuuPihudfdx0U1SfEay4WsVGD0sTmSvp2OyJvTxeg_p0avIMmgHAdxByhzXISCt81LSE/s1600-h/img_3286.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDk4GutTAr4lm9HfuQM4H8F7BqMYPWFYHZb07D3nKxhW6-cexxP20qt32zw5EzT484e1YNwMZEuuPihudfdx0U1SfEay4WsVGD0sTmSvp2OyJvTxeg_p0avIMmgHAdxByhzXISCt81LSE/s320/img_3286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236532889678042274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QTCfud9q5NI_nw-6DtNgeGF8P7QqhFeijF_x_j38L26jYqAmAiTsiRK2SHKesz-WkkrtH8V1XntLJQfATaFunaUNddxRS6nN0YKxg8ahlltZvVIu6LdEH16jUrm3oNVll-hpSCXu9s8/s1600-h/img_3288.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QTCfud9q5NI_nw-6DtNgeGF8P7QqhFeijF_x_j38L26jYqAmAiTsiRK2SHKesz-WkkrtH8V1XntLJQfATaFunaUNddxRS6nN0YKxg8ahlltZvVIu6LdEH16jUrm3oNVll-hpSCXu9s8/s320/img_3288.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236532890190262290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">mainly used for Kendo</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx90Vf1gBZtEyfu2u8At_l-AFUV9BjLgaTuHTymNx935c0_1MiZ22BpLPbJI7nDFfEOEbdPW_5cA4c5icNZdEibFrpqFlspPsmeQN1Z-bJT9YHcNuFHpVWt0LSYWX5PCmpR_Q3-V2AAvI/s1600-h/img_3302.jpg"><br /></a></div></div></div><br />It is quite cool to walk through the village, especially because you can enter every single house and explore its interior life recreated with puppets. One house for example teaches the creation of silk. Another plus point is that being located within a national park, the whole area is surrounded by woods and even the inside is really nice going along with the outline of the museum (hills leading to the mountain village, a lake in front of the fishers' village and so on).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9SewcOL76ceuLJTKpU7JTCcq6i2665ZHyZvMRHv3A7m4sIMAM-9qEjEuZPNY3vUN1KHm_8biD6uiQKWMtiAJr950CXCtFWxQZPicwm5s1nUIrVToUcM9Eb5aMA7UcFFA6QjaNn47NOw/s1600-h/img_3230.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9SewcOL76ceuLJTKpU7JTCcq6i2665ZHyZvMRHv3A7m4sIMAM-9qEjEuZPNY3vUN1KHm_8biD6uiQKWMtiAJr950CXCtFWxQZPicwm5s1nUIrVToUcM9Eb5aMA7UcFFA6QjaNn47NOw/s320/img_3230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236478045883570850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFRutd_crKxxFYaE3QEbOtXeyQRSOThwWoeVpOcGZyplHpETpm9b0MLomqFe13gWjPK9W0iH2RkjBAjGJOjSdBYYNThLCq8FV8m_LLICAZXbIWOs4kWAQsVx5vYH3hRqewgaWKssZh_o/s1600-h/img_3231.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFRutd_crKxxFYaE3QEbOtXeyQRSOThwWoeVpOcGZyplHpETpm9b0MLomqFe13gWjPK9W0iH2RkjBAjGJOjSdBYYNThLCq8FV8m_LLICAZXbIWOs4kWAQsVx5vYH3hRqewgaWKssZh_o/s320/img_3231.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236478044211047554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZROSBwgXnNBitRElRdEP9P5Cbbr8v8HUTFhVMcqaZjzaUJF9F4F-13dAuxeJjH9mgHEAk2V3LHRl7p48pl-H7At3-YlFK5V9cN7cNBUNCkwIwF9DVSXY52tEaOEF98iwKyBJ8L73z5g/s1600-h/img_3160.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZROSBwgXnNBitRElRdEP9P5Cbbr8v8HUTFhVMcqaZjzaUJF9F4F-13dAuxeJjH9mgHEAk2V3LHRl7p48pl-H7At3-YlFK5V9cN7cNBUNCkwIwF9DVSXY52tEaOEF98iwKyBJ8L73z5g/s320/img_3160.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236473381608835666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">recreated interior life</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvbYUYuQYcmvgKW3Th0HeoxfK1tkWmc3Q5o_oKlhs-LmIizHf2xi1Hml3EQbZo1_tIYtkQAbCMypHHzVtgS7frKCSwAV8Dh4BJhW2pQ6GWbY_SfXMYeiNeClzHu20dWD7olMzbYjeMOQ/s1600-h/img_3303.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvbYUYuQYcmvgKW3Th0HeoxfK1tkWmc3Q5o_oKlhs-LmIizHf2xi1Hml3EQbZo1_tIYtkQAbCMypHHzVtgS7frKCSwAV8Dh4BJhW2pQ6GWbY_SfXMYeiNeClzHu20dWD7olMzbYjeMOQ/s320/img_3303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236534207073258002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1sNW-hF__DHLlyfRGKPQH451UbxoJ4dSb-RsjG-ew1c7YCWUZRXkDBH5AkoDbKSvzopS-ogXO2RLuJZhchLup4pt-zv46EmiNoLxEeIhFfRlKylTBOkscVqU0UsHkEt5WetB4RfnWuY/s1600-h/img_3304.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1sNW-hF__DHLlyfRGKPQH451UbxoJ4dSb-RsjG-ew1c7YCWUZRXkDBH5AkoDbKSvzopS-ogXO2RLuJZhchLup4pt-zv46EmiNoLxEeIhFfRlKylTBOkscVqU0UsHkEt5WetB4RfnWuY/s320/img_3304.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236534210907053730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">this bridge leads from the farm village to the university</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOWhCm75aWoCeawPSY6du5BWLnB8jVrmGL8ctYjqoa7F5rmScyZyEhs04cfx8sMDMx-KJ6jokYklkIinfBBebx_Cza6hnzUBxz59aXgiUsVd6WXVmlceZ_nzhjiAt6iabTWHa3qSc36Q/s1600-h/img_3271.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOWhCm75aWoCeawPSY6du5BWLnB8jVrmGL8ctYjqoa7F5rmScyZyEhs04cfx8sMDMx-KJ6jokYklkIinfBBebx_Cza6hnzUBxz59aXgiUsVd6WXVmlceZ_nzhjiAt6iabTWHa3qSc36Q/s320/img_3271.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236530909256230546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and on the way to the mountain village you cross wonderful nature and then climb uphill</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3r2DSorimteukeliO33e1mo6Z8nkYL6HOl5rGORkIkQE-O5NwJIX3FwCJJYEoQHt7Zs6eQFqDeaVDCnnosf6o4g7ahhJWSJNeRZUbd8FsXUws7f8S9OxHqBMNsP_AlsI0yUE1p79FWA/s1600-h/img_3232.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3r2DSorimteukeliO33e1mo6Z8nkYL6HOl5rGORkIkQE-O5NwJIX3FwCJJYEoQHt7Zs6eQFqDeaVDCnnosf6o4g7ahhJWSJNeRZUbd8FsXUws7f8S9OxHqBMNsP_AlsI0yUE1p79FWA/s320/img_3232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236478047254992818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">in the silkworm house</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45Br__7Uc9useoSSl3N7e1EFiypc1_7F-nU0YvgWrMRB9o2NeZsphAVqCKacicVNR_fxf7K1LUGVncPxlumrosDdPami5YzTyOrgJD7I7XXQ5PPTToT6tr87R1F58zW6V-bn_h9-TJjU/s1600-h/img_3237.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45Br__7Uc9useoSSl3N7e1EFiypc1_7F-nU0YvgWrMRB9o2NeZsphAVqCKacicVNR_fxf7K1LUGVncPxlumrosDdPami5YzTyOrgJD7I7XXQ5PPTToT6tr87R1F58zW6V-bn_h9-TJjU/s320/img_3237.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236527912290129074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2gQijpeKG3XtZubkeo8p_gUO3sbXxP5t3S3kyD_asDz-BbX5iWCmB1kU5ilhcNEZE-U-XoLkQz6iiz3hPUTl9Z5vyIY67FX0A8DSWBo_-QJwzu40O7pmTEPC5bm8muLjzcmvbhVeFuI/s1600-h/img_3238.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2gQijpeKG3XtZubkeo8p_gUO3sbXxP5t3S3kyD_asDz-BbX5iWCmB1kU5ilhcNEZE-U-XoLkQz6iiz3hPUTl9Z5vyIY67FX0A8DSWBo_-QJwzu40O7pmTEPC5bm8muLjzcmvbhVeFuI/s320/img_3238.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236527917150818898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HEzn4fA4RRQ8sRsDdv0VGK1nW4_Tr8XVtbGnzcob8UZAVNclAIhJmP9W7XtEo6skUTtIqi_ZyLfw3wuauC8ir7KhEjCz9oYBdBqLNJhPX9IQhgvMHfm_p2BT7ze6crh35ZbTKj57u0Q/s1600-h/img_3240.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HEzn4fA4RRQ8sRsDdv0VGK1nW4_Tr8XVtbGnzcob8UZAVNclAIhJmP9W7XtEo6skUTtIqi_ZyLfw3wuauC8ir7KhEjCz9oYBdBqLNJhPX9IQhgvMHfm_p2BT7ze6crh35ZbTKj57u0Q/s320/img_3240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236527918155916258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefTJMyfQPmIFacVVr93CEa300ugL-PSfG47WUW8rKVORI4OD9VoVOhC-TVuoONYTGlj5J1osRjlEbG4YbCiBttbnSl_T22xyoK1uAwuMETVxWnuBV5yR3wpDnq8vx7dSoDMUneyCoFuA/s1600-h/img_3236.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefTJMyfQPmIFacVVr93CEa300ugL-PSfG47WUW8rKVORI4OD9VoVOhC-TVuoONYTGlj5J1osRjlEbG4YbCiBttbnSl_T22xyoK1uAwuMETVxWnuBV5yR3wpDnq8vx7dSoDMUneyCoFuA/s320/img_3236.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236478053942135218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">you can see how silk is made</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">記念博物館 Hokkaido History Museum</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKj9tsNQA61Ovf6gmmLUXR8a2W8dCoyQHUmHJVFpPOULM1SkDbCtGbP9V3D0lUf57IyrMOzaSAg-L1nhJVabQhCbr7CYtJFKOcajeyMyD7VT7ZEniMi6Wf2D3NO649MSpSKDi4YrxyqyI/s1600-h/img_3548.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKj9tsNQA61Ovf6gmmLUXR8a2W8dCoyQHUmHJVFpPOULM1SkDbCtGbP9V3D0lUf57IyrMOzaSAg-L1nhJVabQhCbr7CYtJFKOcajeyMyD7VT7ZEniMi6Wf2D3NO649MSpSKDi4YrxyqyI/s320/img_3548.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236573357911991554" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Right next to the Pioneer Village and definitely worth a visit is Hokkaido's history museum. It is one of the best history museums I have ever seen and excellently tells the history of Hokkaido in many easy to read information plates going along with countless exhibition from the time and things the plates talk off. The museum is separated by time epochs of which it makes eight.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Island of Hokkaido</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0nGDDWegfhyphenhyphen_I18D77m1g2f3WVjwgAbnhoSQ3VXOpJAO_1OVT3WFHQmhPhqFTX8K2itFVgURzHpCyQNFtDxAwoj1qYzHiFnRUKOPdcj8PFri7F9HxvwWXORzsZ_XHurJBHLscnXyXS4/s1600-h/img_3390.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0nGDDWegfhyphenhyphen_I18D77m1g2f3WVjwgAbnhoSQ3VXOpJAO_1OVT3WFHQmhPhqFTX8K2itFVgURzHpCyQNFtDxAwoj1qYzHiFnRUKOPdcj8PFri7F9HxvwWXORzsZ_XHurJBHLscnXyXS4/s320/img_3390.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236547910496618066" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The first section talks about the prehistoric life of Hokkaido and the long Ice Age where it was connected over a long bridge with the continent. Then it continues to first humans on the island and ends with Japan's first two time epochs the 縄文時代 Joumon Period and the 弥生時代 Yayoi Period. Being separated from the rest of Japan, the stone age (Joumon Period) took way longer on Hokkaido than on the rest of Japan, and only on the end of the Yayoi Period (Japan's Bronze and Iron Age) Bronze and Iron slowly also reached entrance into the culture of the Hokkaido people.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QvfHqQWgVehzZOwqvcR1edo2zCpO83nKSu_Qls55YMRAk49x3ZRrn0HaSaAYes0hfDywiiJn3RtRB_xaN8ouhOAzlex5h2tT5fy52VbMkBXrDkzGH8HY2ZKxwMUK8mT84hgaNLqR3so/s1600-h/img_3544.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QvfHqQWgVehzZOwqvcR1edo2zCpO83nKSu_Qls55YMRAk49x3ZRrn0HaSaAYes0hfDywiiJn3RtRB_xaN8ouhOAzlex5h2tT5fy52VbMkBXrDkzGH8HY2ZKxwMUK8mT84hgaNLqR3so/s320/img_3544.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236573355533184914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Hokkaido even today is a dense sea of trees</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_cnQKXDw8Ugvurg1a0X466L9UXbzzflssErU2MCGYVvRRfMazBCVygedQeJjaQVp4T0WLO-loV5f9BiE6_-RgVE7lqhVqBNXQkyDhyphenhyphenJTn9XD50IYXgJND-aRTamoyGgWCqY8VdMoWlw/s1600-h/img_3398.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_cnQKXDw8Ugvurg1a0X466L9UXbzzflssErU2MCGYVvRRfMazBCVygedQeJjaQVp4T0WLO-loV5f9BiE6_-RgVE7lqhVqBNXQkyDhyphenhyphenJTn9XD50IYXgJND-aRTamoyGgWCqY8VdMoWlw/s320/img_3398.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236547915268189458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">first human dwellings looked like that<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Ainu Culture</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvAvnTXiFpGV3DxUPbKaxtliORPOvKW07RMUBZAx66hY3AzSGadknSMZMDyAW3u5S9l-EhKvpdRqptN1mmF-FborevdRSMT1J_oCWPlvHB5GsGfXeEjdDrLM44R11GVXwWBlxDh9wI4M/s1600-h/img_3442.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvAvnTXiFpGV3DxUPbKaxtliORPOvKW07RMUBZAx66hY3AzSGadknSMZMDyAW3u5S9l-EhKvpdRqptN1mmF-FborevdRSMT1J_oCWPlvHB5GsGfXeEjdDrLM44R11GVXwWBlxDh9wI4M/s320/img_3442.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236549567941622018" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The ingenious people of Hokkaido and North Japan were distinctly different from the rest of Japan. They were evolutionary apt for living in regions with temperatures of up to -20 degrees, by having more fur than hair on their body and a white skin, similar to the Eskimo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaiW8Rg7ipokBWHl86EkAoUhogoB08bJmNzZNqmtDxlQT72oCL2SO3wA2xBrLBYJf4TiN6tUJ6S6pLDUEiica2X5Z5emeKCrooXhQ0t3cTUAC0YDQUUutFKPyOS3udDeWUbnjGn5GE_Y/s1600-h/img_3411.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaiW8Rg7ipokBWHl86EkAoUhogoB08bJmNzZNqmtDxlQT72oCL2SO3wA2xBrLBYJf4TiN6tUJ6S6pLDUEiica2X5Z5emeKCrooXhQ0t3cTUAC0YDQUUutFKPyOS3udDeWUbnjGn5GE_Y/s320/img_3411.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236548365715971058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HNTPKM11WgMURwzi-rmuCcy5vSLL9sA5M6Jj1keeoOqaAgz9j5BmEmIl3LG6U_NztXlIWn3nOdkijT-Ade9EPwNhoGb-rVDBqPpu1aNXOt5WXTjGpQqe9buIdiWvvUQDKrCpQQQsSVE/s1600-h/img_3415.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HNTPKM11WgMURwzi-rmuCcy5vSLL9sA5M6Jj1keeoOqaAgz9j5BmEmIl3LG6U_NztXlIWn3nOdkijT-Ade9EPwNhoGb-rVDBqPpu1aNXOt5WXTjGpQqe9buIdiWvvUQDKrCpQQQsSVE/s320/img_3415.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236548369034136866" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />They developed their own independent language and culture, which is very similar to the native American culture. They lived in harmony with nature and took and gave back. Whenever they had to kill an animal for food or defense, they would pray for its soul in a ceremony (especially for bears).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCcDS2ksABTVhREGsknOo6EpDbGXF5AKvIPNcFjXHm50KJdsw_7b_qv-kvYOAV_RThLXd_OnIB6TZ5DUJO_fQi1w0QXtuHLrdY9XS-vNamssqowf1hujZJJ2Ss7jweJzRJuxdicmXU68/s1600-h/img_3410.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCcDS2ksABTVhREGsknOo6EpDbGXF5AKvIPNcFjXHm50KJdsw_7b_qv-kvYOAV_RThLXd_OnIB6TZ5DUJO_fQi1w0QXtuHLrdY9XS-vNamssqowf1hujZJJ2Ss7jweJzRJuxdicmXU68/s320/img_3410.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236548367549965890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">typical winter food</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CMtCL5hPquRJEJCW0v7-VHkjus4G4Hbmx1q7wUe8tLAoYhCmTTzZj-eD_EP2g3WN9_b8QmDVWT1haQiGmWc5cfoXsvu9cVoMW78-L1r1XDYk-ZU_Z7VD7Wmtjcx3dblXBsyn7ndHlxE/s1600-h/img_3412.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CMtCL5hPquRJEJCW0v7-VHkjus4G4Hbmx1q7wUe8tLAoYhCmTTzZj-eD_EP2g3WN9_b8QmDVWT1haQiGmWc5cfoXsvu9cVoMW78-L1r1XDYk-ZU_Z7VD7Wmtjcx3dblXBsyn7ndHlxE/s320/img_3412.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236548371612953778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ainu clothing</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskertG7fw951G_Z7PPI71HYPXRuwZ3YNl95zU5lBuhkS1lyl5Wrzb2QnGAv7wVN7Yklp9_BE3rf93O8QyRKJpLEu2e6vqHdK_4PQTqGxe-F2VAWf05bhcIIJ17ngLgImKSM4KdrUy7UM/s1600-h/img_3409.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskertG7fw951G_Z7PPI71HYPXRuwZ3YNl95zU5lBuhkS1lyl5Wrzb2QnGAv7wVN7Yklp9_BE3rf93O8QyRKJpLEu2e6vqHdK_4PQTqGxe-F2VAWf05bhcIIJ17ngLgImKSM4KdrUy7UM/s320/img_3409.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236547918317430050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ainu tools</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccG4j8NCKwiMWNsdQQT1dU_Rnqs_K-Z-ZCpCkaCNRRn5ziaH0yR8fXUUOj348qIMaSyyClXrd_isaqs_jB-TK9Xmrl0PR81GG5ON-3Mn7Qp81Nes2l1N39-RUoxy2eadXLA7yhJetdbI/s1600-h/img_3419.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccG4j8NCKwiMWNsdQQT1dU_Rnqs_K-Z-ZCpCkaCNRRn5ziaH0yR8fXUUOj348qIMaSyyClXrd_isaqs_jB-TK9Xmrl0PR81GG5ON-3Mn7Qp81Nes2l1N39-RUoxy2eadXLA7yhJetdbI/s320/img_3419.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236548375101494978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">they had very simple ships</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bL7SosunLv9ti_iNL8sJpy_jnHiPIMpo9e0mqxzeC1eZYL9IkPLYuIGXjtCBKuwu7IfC9z4l-9QjvJ7bEkbzluBaat6_bUW-AOByve9ClomhguYM3Kdau5365lyQ9yBVyFamP3EawtE/s1600-h/img_3426.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bL7SosunLv9ti_iNL8sJpy_jnHiPIMpo9e0mqxzeC1eZYL9IkPLYuIGXjtCBKuwu7IfC9z4l-9QjvJ7bEkbzluBaat6_bUW-AOByve9ClomhguYM3Kdau5365lyQ9yBVyFamP3EawtE/s320/img_3426.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236549557534042418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">bears earned high respect among the Ainu</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGCfJRanc5qSqU7LWtLr2w48yk_2JXJeWeigxpg71y-XQZSEMt0mtxsVd9Tir2QCaBQ7f2xENUdY9QfJRAtBxoC8U_BpjydMES9dqYnyucPnWAV5Srb_vAMvz2K-tLRGqgoBXGKOr000/s1600-h/img_3405.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGCfJRanc5qSqU7LWtLr2w48yk_2JXJeWeigxpg71y-XQZSEMt0mtxsVd9Tir2QCaBQ7f2xENUdY9QfJRAtBxoC8U_BpjydMES9dqYnyucPnWAV5Srb_vAMvz2K-tLRGqgoBXGKOr000/s320/img_3405.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236547915820508162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS5A2h02O5a_ldBPWqn9wTBiq1NUJE9qdirvf-1CwrFKkE0GcF-TG7kyc9tINzV7eFr3DnTyWgUzYL_K1dacNfpdfGi8xsGnJsC6E1u_WXn9uo6mckcsq-GjzV9SMF2CFYknhmaUzSkI/s1600-h/img_3406.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS5A2h02O5a_ldBPWqn9wTBiq1NUJE9qdirvf-1CwrFKkE0GcF-TG7kyc9tINzV7eFr3DnTyWgUzYL_K1dacNfpdfGi8xsGnJsC6E1u_WXn9uo6mckcsq-GjzV9SMF2CFYknhmaUzSkI/s320/img_3406.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236547919054522754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">also their houses very plain<br />and could not really hold the cold winter out<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskertG7fw951G_Z7PPI71HYPXRuwZ3YNl95zU5lBuhkS1lyl5Wrzb2QnGAv7wVN7Yklp9_BE3rf93O8QyRKJpLEu2e6vqHdK_4PQTqGxe-F2VAWf05bhcIIJ17ngLgImKSM4KdrUy7UM/s1600-h/img_3409.jpg"><br /></a></div>Later they started trade and cultural exchange with people from southern Japan, China and Russia (Siberia).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVDw4KknW76td13HBJJO20Pt9imtbrNNl7UVi-M_7AXJQn5R8ECDEgPjj8r7xd3wAMDkO9UMn1cXENjSqHxjpDD0-SRqkWO6OjkKlQ8STYpKi3jWQFzSIZ-pxmGbS_8pEY8QBOqgfauQ/s1600-h/img_3432.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVDw4KknW76td13HBJJO20Pt9imtbrNNl7UVi-M_7AXJQn5R8ECDEgPjj8r7xd3wAMDkO9UMn1cXENjSqHxjpDD0-SRqkWO6OjkKlQ8STYpKi3jWQFzSIZ-pxmGbS_8pEY8QBOqgfauQ/s320/img_3432.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236549559183960578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">a ship trading with the Ainu</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH1SYIceHeLa37e_HBwfDDL82EFJ4EmeI3f2co1sMksx4xNOuUmMFGD6tkWImHzVVI6hBsgY0DInSYJUD_EQ50c2sekH8nGubshNkadiXcK_uxde390Y6XLoMq-DJeZc5BsZqlF_S8Y8/s1600-h/img_3423.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH1SYIceHeLa37e_HBwfDDL82EFJ4EmeI3f2co1sMksx4xNOuUmMFGD6tkWImHzVVI6hBsgY0DInSYJUD_EQ50c2sekH8nGubshNkadiXcK_uxde390Y6XLoMq-DJeZc5BsZqlF_S8Y8/s320/img_3423.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236549555949680994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and an Ainu trading ship</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw4m8WziSqgnG7LZPsSjNml873fvgQ_rI5C_DNnDswXCIInqZNKtN41P3QNzUby4QuBXJuzp87Xiipn2XMtig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">a sample of Ainu the language</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Age Of "Ezo"</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzLq1yHL-AOTiECOLrZ0Y_Nueeoz_sXLI4ZREC-ukpVV8LmH9i0XDPkZNl3q2lcJLUDH51OHNevCM5IUb4bCnr9Rx_qRuN2IXY6a3U8CKO94aFEN1p6nxQHi3C39af0CrJ-Mz5cKHmUg/s1600-h/img_3444.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzLq1yHL-AOTiECOLrZ0Y_Nueeoz_sXLI4ZREC-ukpVV8LmH9i0XDPkZNl3q2lcJLUDH51OHNevCM5IUb4bCnr9Rx_qRuN2IXY6a3U8CKO94aFEN1p6nxQHi3C39af0CrJ-Mz5cKHmUg/s320/img_3444.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236550535844913314" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Although the real settling in Hokkaido was not more than 120 years ago, first Japanese settlers invaded the island already in the Mid Ages and settled in southern Hokkaido, were the climate was warmer than in the north.<br /><br />By that they drove the Ainu back from Northern Japan and Southern Hokkaido into the North and East of the Island. Those first settlers called their new home Ezo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rOawGznvta-rryMpixMGoIKiC0GRYpFGXVbIslJbyJvDv6yIwCVTsB7QFsawQb95k2AgRNIzGNp50f1jFD-mGglNOYry9ZxEoTjE58eh7F3qT9_7hjVJcuC3UXJ7NZsPsBggi4dy9Mo/s1600-h/img_3443.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rOawGznvta-rryMpixMGoIKiC0GRYpFGXVbIslJbyJvDv6yIwCVTsB7QFsawQb95k2AgRNIzGNp50f1jFD-mGglNOYry9ZxEoTjE58eh7F3qT9_7hjVJcuC3UXJ7NZsPsBggi4dy9Mo/s320/img_3443.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236550528776240786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The Ainu picked up farming techniques from the Japanese</span><br /></div><br />In 17th century Matsumae, a mighty Samurai clan took possession of Ezo and started forcing local Ainu tribes under their predominance. They still let them life their lives, but forbade them trading with anyone but themselves and kept them separated in special regions.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSd5GehGETeXBfgX5p8eY6JxwJszD4NNCfgJykEZotuhSmLsA9iI0zy-U82_At7O0QKELcHU8Y_rNEcB2YJ2ygt-DIH613Qwwz4TE-GroGshca36ISzl0ftCjStX1cUkS14jzL7NlvK8/s1600-h/img_3447.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSd5GehGETeXBfgX5p8eY6JxwJszD4NNCfgJykEZotuhSmLsA9iI0zy-U82_At7O0QKELcHU8Y_rNEcB2YJ2ygt-DIH613Qwwz4TE-GroGshca36ISzl0ftCjStX1cUkS14jzL7NlvK8/s320/img_3447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236550533303887218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">the Mastumae forced the Ainu</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDETY9Gty3v9k4Xnwx8ClUYI3uDWDwBu2xYk75HC8pbnrDdtF0uBWUH8C-P6ls4kaKAqApDDwQoLKhS4rICySwGVg1P9C8EuUe4sb5maT-cV_OYc5Hzua9xKpfqiXlPyjcyHq7a_cOic/s1600-h/img_3445.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDETY9Gty3v9k4Xnwx8ClUYI3uDWDwBu2xYk75HC8pbnrDdtF0uBWUH8C-P6ls4kaKAqApDDwQoLKhS4rICySwGVg1P9C8EuUe4sb5maT-cV_OYc5Hzua9xKpfqiXlPyjcyHq7a_cOic/s320/img_3445.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236550534789873602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">to accept their leadership</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSd5GehGETeXBfgX5p8eY6JxwJszD4NNCfgJykEZotuhSmLsA9iI0zy-U82_At7O0QKELcHU8Y_rNEcB2YJ2ygt-DIH613Qwwz4TE-GroGshca36ISzl0ftCjStX1cUkS14jzL7NlvK8/s1600-h/img_3447.jpg"><br /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. The Early Modern Age</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV27Ig9wAWEl3LdOejOEnRAdS1DuLwlI0bo6IOCMz3Ujgx9mJX3PdIdIOCoBSsOME2WhtqKTJLvWbFQpWJC9RW7snYAz33DshdcWaqn_8-s987Q2BMrT-mVHqf_vhXncz51wPZC6BkLYU/s1600-h/img_3453.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV27Ig9wAWEl3LdOejOEnRAdS1DuLwlI0bo6IOCMz3Ujgx9mJX3PdIdIOCoBSsOME2WhtqKTJLvWbFQpWJC9RW7snYAz33DshdcWaqn_8-s987Q2BMrT-mVHqf_vhXncz51wPZC6BkLYU/s320/img_3453.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236550538898479570" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />1855 with the proceeding opening of Japan, Hakodate 函館, Ezo's biggest city and dwelling place of the Matsumae Clan, was together with other port cities, forced to open its port to the world. Then after the successful revolution in 1869 Meiji Japan strove to modernize Japan and compete with the western world. For this they also desired to develop Hokkaido The first tasks was to protect the immigrants in the island and actively creating industries on Hokkaido to make it self sufficient.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQR1TX76uU5nW39Iy0r58X4bTGeGor17nRQjADz_V2wenD39VJ5R6YUBEJ-3N11CGorLROwJRkvVNgMPtyEmGpsweEfQEWkHsOyPXxOPD-tPLntlzwh25SkxotNBciaugmky8cmSaLlrg/s1600-h/img_3436.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQR1TX76uU5nW39Iy0r58X4bTGeGor17nRQjADz_V2wenD39VJ5R6YUBEJ-3N11CGorLROwJRkvVNgMPtyEmGpsweEfQEWkHsOyPXxOPD-tPLntlzwh25SkxotNBciaugmky8cmSaLlrg/s320/img_3436.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236549561934921394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">the British vessel, that forced Hakodate to open its ports</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Progression Of Colonization</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpkNoaCmipv_uYLV6BLyDyjM9v8_yosOdF0DeAEBGjCoWE7xrjAi55x_7LMI0QUpfNTTYUCs2WXMFAznUkx3pqdf7_NPzvSEZZGJLcSQ5KRHozm23WuDz-yB7jL0W3K9hhNuID3Cedz8/s1600-h/img_3502.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpkNoaCmipv_uYLV6BLyDyjM9v8_yosOdF0DeAEBGjCoWE7xrjAi55x_7LMI0QUpfNTTYUCs2WXMFAznUkx3pqdf7_NPzvSEZZGJLcSQ5KRHozm23WuDz-yB7jL0W3K9hhNuID3Cedz8/s320/img_3502.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236556688409848482" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />To reach the development of Hokkaido the government greatly advertised for people to settle in Hokkaido. The peak of immigrants was reached from 1900 till the end of World War I. With every new settler more of Hokkaido was being claimed by the Japanese and more territory lost for the Ainu.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYq0JMgRuKy17sdIkIcy3g-JzIW6e8pkTcqrDdAcM9cp3FQCZjsPEvfpfAPZljGjBIxkv8E6QeNuSjufxdb-Obk1MV4PnquSQNkD8K45CxwB0L0eKBrBFwaogZNFlH7HGpLQJXJumTe68/s1600-h/img_3506.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYq0JMgRuKy17sdIkIcy3g-JzIW6e8pkTcqrDdAcM9cp3FQCZjsPEvfpfAPZljGjBIxkv8E6QeNuSjufxdb-Obk1MV4PnquSQNkD8K45CxwB0L0eKBrBFwaogZNFlH7HGpLQJXJumTe68/s320/img_3506.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236569380826042306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXDpt5FTWTHcR-I7fqU2ikDdLjvLZJ66YYlXSSjjVAUUZ5Au7m_2hXXljr2wMrt8g-ZDKbO1cep8D_aJKaUWd5yBveUu4BRsM2IJFgUiAS5_gjlOdIe7f3__jzn5HYSCO5_wU27mRxNo/s1600-h/img_3501.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXDpt5FTWTHcR-I7fqU2ikDdLjvLZJ66YYlXSSjjVAUUZ5Au7m_2hXXljr2wMrt8g-ZDKbO1cep8D_aJKaUWd5yBveUu4BRsM2IJFgUiAS5_gjlOdIe7f3__jzn5HYSCO5_wU27mRxNo/s320/img_3501.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236556688088641874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">advertising for moving to Hokkaido for coal mining</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj978t-XE4H0wlnjuV1uuB5KOG6Pm_4eUYviniymkMNrAptEN1DOaXq9-rvcmMqyQDrsaN6cZkEAz7etQmqKgBW99yCHZK7Egt9mqOD_7SycWtIvh2bhZ64dx9AClZ3mw5r5iwJ4DtBJd4/s1600-h/img_3499.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj978t-XE4H0wlnjuV1uuB5KOG6Pm_4eUYviniymkMNrAptEN1DOaXq9-rvcmMqyQDrsaN6cZkEAz7etQmqKgBW99yCHZK7Egt9mqOD_7SycWtIvh2bhZ64dx9AClZ3mw5r5iwJ4DtBJd4/s320/img_3499.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236556686766348722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkPMiozO-eSTK4OT15963ALZfwXnirWooCLT-_yjJOk0ulOX1wTWk-B86VWmCa4KaHMm1v22M1l9m8qx1HNGJXuilg5D0m9XKYWsctxGSRxthstNBNts7CfLdLt9vKQDXX4TTxIl5N0w/s1600-h/img_3500.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkPMiozO-eSTK4OT15963ALZfwXnirWooCLT-_yjJOk0ulOX1wTWk-B86VWmCa4KaHMm1v22M1l9m8qx1HNGJXuilg5D0m9XKYWsctxGSRxthstNBNts7CfLdLt9vKQDXX4TTxIl5N0w/s320/img_3500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236556684302122210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">the settlers who heeded the call had a rough pioneer life</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. From Recession To World War II</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYjGKF4z9WyLfP_eKRaFhP9N3FBx4cCEvX9ijb0YQRXRrHlXDEH_CCu5msyd6CskUs0s6d2vb02Tz0Ozd_qxnKGnASj2oOoRxF0YvqdWYnI3FZ2GaDgi1WOK_5t5re96Ge35bws3BYCg/s1600-h/img_3482.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYjGKF4z9WyLfP_eKRaFhP9N3FBx4cCEvX9ijb0YQRXRrHlXDEH_CCu5msyd6CskUs0s6d2vb02Tz0Ozd_qxnKGnASj2oOoRxF0YvqdWYnI3FZ2GaDgi1WOK_5t5re96Ge35bws3BYCg/s320/img_3482.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236555396070926466" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />After World War I, were Japan successfully fought on the side of the Allied Forces, new industries and technology rapidly came up and progressed the modernization of Hokkaido. This allowed to finally expand the territory on Hokkaido into the far east, leaving no more space for the Ainu. The Ainu were those forced to live in the territory claimed by Japanese. However they were segregated by for example having to use separate schools and not being allowed to mix with Japanese. They were also forced to speak Japanese and assimilate the Japanese culture and life.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXTkSjGlQMtqPpDbv4Cq5BDXgQQ4zs_JH11cd1bfa5dtTTADWVuCU2kvlBiev8xIs2N5vxoW3DOvNGE5-cU7Lm5eeSo_qC8-wJpGXhD0wAujDybWPzn_ZzmpE6Zj_fNZfyMV5BrrAdCU/s1600-h/img_3483.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXTkSjGlQMtqPpDbv4Cq5BDXgQQ4zs_JH11cd1bfa5dtTTADWVuCU2kvlBiev8xIs2N5vxoW3DOvNGE5-cU7Lm5eeSo_qC8-wJpGXhD0wAujDybWPzn_ZzmpE6Zj_fNZfyMV5BrrAdCU/s320/img_3483.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236555398718132802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">farming tools improved in this period</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1njuOoS9bo73c0dpHOwz5sVS9yWrCu_pKoGiu5v_5G_-oYK13j-21iTKtYRW1zc_zGmaI5Zx50AtrNcLUs4-G-vSw8AgQe7Ewz9Pt0VHuENdpdQD_71TGZ_aLUkXnHcu9IW2NoaTBC4Y/s1600-h/img_3488.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1njuOoS9bo73c0dpHOwz5sVS9yWrCu_pKoGiu5v_5G_-oYK13j-21iTKtYRW1zc_zGmaI5Zx50AtrNcLUs4-G-vSw8AgQe7Ewz9Pt0VHuENdpdQD_71TGZ_aLUkXnHcu9IW2NoaTBC4Y/s320/img_3488.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236555410476766018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">first telegraph lines were erected in Hokkaido</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7Aov0pPbH953E5Sn9cfPfSKKLPxXtLll0sGoQwKmd0j9O694TPC5yepWhlqL1kawwq1ENxcxR-cc9kgD1PJ6nQGWeJb0t0onNjZwF1kogny6d0f3SfTyXxqUIxWkfWDo_bfEgGl-aHg/s1600-h/img_3484.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7Aov0pPbH953E5Sn9cfPfSKKLPxXtLll0sGoQwKmd0j9O694TPC5yepWhlqL1kawwq1ENxcxR-cc9kgD1PJ6nQGWeJb0t0onNjZwF1kogny6d0f3SfTyXxqUIxWkfWDo_bfEgGl-aHg/s320/img_3484.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236555407249024546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and for a first time houses were upgraded with ovens for the winter</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNWZCemRP55EYB09I2NoZmr2yUscXYBrjBBxhPWOwt0B7gNB5uox1rcl6BA6yV4m_g52qf9VumjIc7b0aPmqO4uTwGCQSKVaoLs5rfpE3D9jpR_UOBr7dPoFMqIvO_7pnM7DUguKs7x0/s1600-h/img_3475.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNWZCemRP55EYB09I2NoZmr2yUscXYBrjBBxhPWOwt0B7gNB5uox1rcl6BA6yV4m_g52qf9VumjIc7b0aPmqO4uTwGCQSKVaoLs5rfpE3D9jpR_UOBr7dPoFMqIvO_7pnM7DUguKs7x0/s320/img_3475.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236554879663161042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYs4KmBsX3OZcaRKeEySLKZInHl8IJZ29cJ8udmMa3fOnt3OavdkgB3cj-_57cb0eTR_pnqG_mceajUWqs0eVXs9O4dj5Q9jGWOJQLn_zjQwMRRjpm_mV6yYx3Vh6lRfESS-QB3oRNxY/s1600-h/img_3474.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYs4KmBsX3OZcaRKeEySLKZInHl8IJZ29cJ8udmMa3fOnt3OavdkgB3cj-_57cb0eTR_pnqG_mceajUWqs0eVXs9O4dj5Q9jGWOJQLn_zjQwMRRjpm_mV6yYx3Vh6lRfESS-QB3oRNxY/s320/img_3474.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236554881873748242" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />settling continued</span><br /></div><br />During World War II Japan's focus point of development moved away from Hokkaido to Manchuria, the Philippines among other conquered areas. Settlers and support were sent there and Hokkaido largely forgotten. However at the loosing end of the war, Hokkaido became more and more a refugee for people fleeing from the bombings and the atrocities of war. So that Hokkaido ran into a huge problem of Food Supply, which was barely solved with bad planning of the government to turn everyone into emergency farmers and quickly develop more farmland, a plan the for the greatest part failed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4ra4aqK6-J-3saMCY3E0znC5L_jgiNPRWsasPt4EyVi3yGfOzPhqONMowCz0w8yYzUwWFf_ihx0UaddpppRakeN-kGMpbi9rWKkeC8Vqkuy_xDZijh4aUL11UqcuPYixGi-ZcTnMk8E/s1600-h/img_3519.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4ra4aqK6-J-3saMCY3E0znC5L_jgiNPRWsasPt4EyVi3yGfOzPhqONMowCz0w8yYzUwWFf_ihx0UaddpppRakeN-kGMpbi9rWKkeC8Vqkuy_xDZijh4aUL11UqcuPYixGi-ZcTnMk8E/s320/img_3519.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236571456943317746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">then the war was started, and Hokkaido in between</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyfeurCdV9uVPWLQirXz3fqFEHfmPQZcaRqrU_nEP7LU9EmLy0JKbKnxlr0h4ueSrpD1YwCZEBBT0jB0cCI-owRXMIa7kSk9vYqAudGSf8umGuRqT3PKDqKs4mPfnJuT8QNrNm1rf23k/s1600-h/img_3520.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyfeurCdV9uVPWLQirXz3fqFEHfmPQZcaRqrU_nEP7LU9EmLy0JKbKnxlr0h4ueSrpD1YwCZEBBT0jB0cCI-owRXMIa7kSk9vYqAudGSf8umGuRqT3PKDqKs4mPfnJuT8QNrNm1rf23k/s320/img_3520.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236571456594601154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">support our troops with coal<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuy85erH7aZmJRxXge1oW9nZvdL2C7Z389DFn-8z_P9eLhR0puXz9YuHMmbUE5YsHGD9xV3F3NIZs6Yr4hcv4dI1c5qBfUjJWV197pILhrjEpDaH9QMva7Ll7vlHNmlzJOFpHn615W1M/s1600-h/img_3521.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuy85erH7aZmJRxXge1oW9nZvdL2C7Z389DFn-8z_P9eLhR0puXz9YuHMmbUE5YsHGD9xV3F3NIZs6Yr4hcv4dI1c5qBfUjJWV197pILhrjEpDaH9QMva7Ll7vlHNmlzJOFpHn615W1M/s320/img_3521.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236571460870779826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and food</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. The Postwar Period</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQmN8QsgKiLyLC8ME7xenGZ_j-c01WSG-sqbAWVmHv3fRNA2U6xhgkQU03TQXif1xbdZFctZ3H9m6BTUKCH6bsMuDmkIIr5V9lsZIWZAMuUpC9IP8KWcyYsdmhGebN5FTCGGW84QAM4U/s1600-h/img_3535.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQmN8QsgKiLyLC8ME7xenGZ_j-c01WSG-sqbAWVmHv3fRNA2U6xhgkQU03TQXif1xbdZFctZ3H9m6BTUKCH6bsMuDmkIIr5V9lsZIWZAMuUpC9IP8KWcyYsdmhGebN5FTCGGW84QAM4U/s320/img_3535.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236573343914991026" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Because of the ongoing food shortages the post World War II time was a time of social and economic confusion and conflict. Many farmers started uprisings against the government, who always fought them down.<br /><br />However along with the rest of the nation starting 1960 the economy quickly rose to never known peaks the the life of all people was improved enormously. For a first time luxurious life was also possible in Hokkaido, and many people build modern houses with central heating.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTfqLc92XNlTf4vg6hdYHgRC8OOG5rgy0_bfX48-hAe_WzhFABAEpUzVNTfnuhcrDc1yhnx-YofsslwHnlB5eEKBT5x59yyGRau7pcTi425P3VuLAAzy7S2jXses_-pehP42TmvvwVus/s1600-h/img_3514.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTfqLc92XNlTf4vg6hdYHgRC8OOG5rgy0_bfX48-hAe_WzhFABAEpUzVNTfnuhcrDc1yhnx-YofsslwHnlB5eEKBT5x59yyGRau7pcTi425P3VuLAAzy7S2jXses_-pehP42TmvvwVus/s320/img_3514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236569386938170194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">heating improved together with</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsGB7lnpGxdgoXZmevxgiOCSmHzdLEElUoHr29NCk8Nr0-f5QxnbNxLy9zgT8mbcmo8_Qc5Fip0bkqYjILWWOMce8FkSusHSO9pj0rA-ElA0E17MNl1a-a3WUoWPXyIt89NoULA5Ito0/s1600-h/img_3538.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsGB7lnpGxdgoXZmevxgiOCSmHzdLEElUoHr29NCk8Nr0-f5QxnbNxLy9zgT8mbcmo8_Qc5Fip0bkqYjILWWOMce8FkSusHSO9pj0rA-ElA0E17MNl1a-a3WUoWPXyIt89NoULA5Ito0/s320/img_3538.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236572273948879234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">general housing</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-B11Jt50rI2ywyUyauU1xfyuBnYWwnIUtBmOp7xkmVL8owjbZM4Gu_FJYkybJYtIWzaUteHW8pFd8KNZTDKbISIsBwQ_Zc7T705MkcpSRcqUaJgnNXqXfwYsR9Z8vEuKe6YXrxDfdzk/s1600-h/img_3489.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-B11Jt50rI2ywyUyauU1xfyuBnYWwnIUtBmOp7xkmVL8owjbZM4Gu_FJYkybJYtIWzaUteHW8pFd8KNZTDKbISIsBwQ_Zc7T705MkcpSRcqUaJgnNXqXfwYsR9Z8vEuKe6YXrxDfdzk/s320/img_3489.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236555411877181922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6ag_o5hIBEuGgIkWtPWEJTKDF18N7smY3SEQ1iOFteuXp1v7piQ1aTQe2tpcJ4GpAVRZ7swxsU9kRmoQoU6b3AYqN9zfNGhmCaDkMBxhaaVgf7-PY9u_8skv1yg3vGc7duQrodO5yw8/s1600-h/img_3511.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6ag_o5hIBEuGgIkWtPWEJTKDF18N7smY3SEQ1iOFteuXp1v7piQ1aTQe2tpcJ4GpAVRZ7swxsU9kRmoQoU6b3AYqN9zfNGhmCaDkMBxhaaVgf7-PY9u_8skv1yg3vGc7duQrodO5yw8/s320/img_3511.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236569382221525890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShCjGn1_dXDHc1lEihIAkF2ScuJuldPo6JTXb5sYi6TUeSVl8TLJ4jiokPGrpi3k52Jvf1ck1gIFhQuEaNpnAHLQxqRXxA86HS67ZQ-w2WuK0XHfreZL7w7h8hcE6-7XtZioIJBCn9Ac/s1600-h/img_3512.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShCjGn1_dXDHc1lEihIAkF2ScuJuldPo6JTXb5sYi6TUeSVl8TLJ4jiokPGrpi3k52Jvf1ck1gIFhQuEaNpnAHLQxqRXxA86HS67ZQ-w2WuK0XHfreZL7w7h8hcE6-7XtZioIJBCn9Ac/s320/img_3512.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236569384826052978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">the first passenger trains were opened</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnIOCACw7a9ZI0S_pJMq123lnHuU9st2whEfdOTQXWm6D2xX_i_h1Z7aOrX_YBwFk85_tz8Nd8reQXG0t5-czP0TV4uVD5arcykb6Qd5rVUo-k29VnSZwWHxPqU43VGvga1OnomqaE1o/s1600-h/img_3539.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnIOCACw7a9ZI0S_pJMq123lnHuU9st2whEfdOTQXWm6D2xX_i_h1Z7aOrX_YBwFk85_tz8Nd8reQXG0t5-czP0TV4uVD5arcykb6Qd5rVUo-k29VnSZwWHxPqU43VGvga1OnomqaE1o/s320/img_3539.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236573347386730370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and luxury came with children's toys</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAR_CKVlQxiY1up7E5vwBlmMD1NWtq_0KRh05OQvYrvA57Gd9InLFhz_85tSiwfVvEFI5RlII2be66n8gqvHyGudlbAEgOLSBmA6DgU7MC9pValAlyBemnqYg58TIoKaK0iIsOmCRXEEg/s1600-h/img_3516.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAR_CKVlQxiY1up7E5vwBlmMD1NWtq_0KRh05OQvYrvA57Gd9InLFhz_85tSiwfVvEFI5RlII2be66n8gqvHyGudlbAEgOLSBmA6DgU7MC9pValAlyBemnqYg58TIoKaK0iIsOmCRXEEg/s320/img_3516.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236571449679989170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHW0oQPcLBD7z31OLmm3nsyxx24Od-5UNuF2Q5gItSQ72NetIUi4k8RblOq5Gdrhvv-P51ssbso-6VHCBTV2kLRW4M_3tBw5gjgWN3XVQpnZo7oZj5NdjYpv4Hwqw1-SzVbeUVKunX-o/s1600-h/img_3534.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHW0oQPcLBD7z31OLmm3nsyxx24Od-5UNuF2Q5gItSQ72NetIUi4k8RblOq5Gdrhvv-P51ssbso-6VHCBTV2kLRW4M_3tBw5gjgWN3XVQpnZo7oZj5NdjYpv4Hwqw1-SzVbeUVKunX-o/s320/img_3534.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236572265017389058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">home electronics</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9JMd_6NQymrwhplxRN0C1Oo3ZczGf4EbQ3iY71RhSJ_vFEA6nZUsEZB9vxaqa0RLq1Qn6DSKl7kyyb4cy8TnGk9a_BLeIn2Nfp8AIhQcqq5HAKbM6u-taEsE-6CSdSSXcq8CE8fYioQ/s1600-h/img_3536.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9JMd_6NQymrwhplxRN0C1Oo3ZczGf4EbQ3iY71RhSJ_vFEA6nZUsEZB9vxaqa0RLq1Qn6DSKl7kyyb4cy8TnGk9a_BLeIn2Nfp8AIhQcqq5HAKbM6u-taEsE-6CSdSSXcq8CE8fYioQ/s320/img_3536.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236572272924825170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and skiing as past time activity</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEKAHQQQ7hIAHuV-fekSt_LN4oxd5j8VSpr-b_mjZDaxTxb89tNA7EJa20e6vjBnuYlAiffCis28Vy81PS9cdY38ZrM3GVNoJR5cOoHLi-xVvCgDzb0mgtrKRudkse88L64TVDTHKzis/s1600-h/img_3531.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEKAHQQQ7hIAHuV-fekSt_LN4oxd5j8VSpr-b_mjZDaxTxb89tNA7EJa20e6vjBnuYlAiffCis28Vy81PS9cdY38ZrM3GVNoJR5cOoHLi-xVvCgDzb0mgtrKRudkse88L64TVDTHKzis/s320/img_3531.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236572261334386066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">also the farming tools were modernized</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTfqLc92XNlTf4vg6hdYHgRC8OOG5rgy0_bfX48-hAe_WzhFABAEpUzVNTfnuhcrDc1yhnx-YofsslwHnlB5eEKBT5x59yyGRau7pcTi425P3VuLAAzy7S2jXses_-pehP42TmvvwVus/s1600-h/img_3514.jpg"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Tomorrow's Hokkaido</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhp3Xrs1KZwWQSogmVfqzivX5PiwokvkYXfGtS60rHUlF7hKcPEO3TgTd2Nu7_FEiZjM2ocTOrGamHFstNnrHco5FRpV6rrSb7wPeK2DbPHCS6zm2KmShKnO4FyAhEuIh4DJPpd2wA6Q/s1600-h/img_3530.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhp3Xrs1KZwWQSogmVfqzivX5PiwokvkYXfGtS60rHUlF7hKcPEO3TgTd2Nu7_FEiZjM2ocTOrGamHFstNnrHco5FRpV6rrSb7wPeK2DbPHCS6zm2KmShKnO4FyAhEuIh4DJPpd2wA6Q/s320/img_3530.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236571458906718626" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Almost 90% of Hokkaido is still unclaimed nature. And for the most parts, the Japanese like to keep it that way and turned large areas into protected national parks. However the development and progress of life will not stop. More and better roads will be created. The sparse train net will be expanded. New settlements will be started by the courageous pioneers of tomorrow.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">百年記念公園 100 Years Memorial Park</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZP-UrVgOGs0RlFVGHtw8QePrYygRHbPqX93tnWxgyoZe0SGDJjH39RmvIVMf__iOTftyek3H9TbXxVmBBAuQ9gAHWwPRQNXjJC41Wbnq5c3WI5BEYAmBdEewkVmcTevcOUakdhZRcVM/s1600-h/img_3375.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZP-UrVgOGs0RlFVGHtw8QePrYygRHbPqX93tnWxgyoZe0SGDJjH39RmvIVMf__iOTftyek3H9TbXxVmBBAuQ9gAHWwPRQNXjJC41Wbnq5c3WI5BEYAmBdEewkVmcTevcOUakdhZRcVM/s320/img_3375.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236545612817135282" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The real settlement in Hokkaido now lies 120 years in the past. 20 years ago the new capital of Hokkaido, Sapporo, decided to turn a huge area into a national park and dedicate one area inside to 100 years of settling in Hokkaido honoring the past 100 years of settlers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4f4Lw3tOfu0LJuFzhWtio1M2wV88W7b-iTC92jVTMZzhoc4yyHN3cSreq7lbLLbYUsXlzUE5PoVHKKlrAY27uM2kst_4ZCcWbx6a5UyuOPm5DyMdQjZ4MR4Z4dTewLJUd_gvPSjYQod8/s1600-h/img_3148.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4f4Lw3tOfu0LJuFzhWtio1M2wV88W7b-iTC92jVTMZzhoc4yyHN3cSreq7lbLLbYUsXlzUE5PoVHKKlrAY27uM2kst_4ZCcWbx6a5UyuOPm5DyMdQjZ4MR4Z4dTewLJUd_gvPSjYQod8/s320/img_3148.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236472799402842834" border="0" /></a></div><br />This park is yet another part of the the same national park that hosts the pioneer village and the history museum. So you should go there after seeing the other two (since the park has no opening hours).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFSofxHQOSb-fdPpcdevGnLffrBZJ3qM3e7CT4Jm2OGwsnJSiW7xcL7btNBOkDYcElTucqqWV0tCZBzEXlrY-bcaNgqEv3zlEE-S18LCIc24aOBTqagSNHDcxYQP_e_zagfn9eAHJf8E/s1600-h/img_3371.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFSofxHQOSb-fdPpcdevGnLffrBZJ3qM3e7CT4Jm2OGwsnJSiW7xcL7btNBOkDYcElTucqqWV0tCZBzEXlrY-bcaNgqEv3zlEE-S18LCIc24aOBTqagSNHDcxYQP_e_zagfn9eAHJf8E/s320/img_3371.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236545608427020226" border="0" /></a></div><br />The memorial park, no the whole national park and even the city nearby is dominated by the exactly 100 meters high 記念タワー Memorial Tower. Created completely of Iron it towers as a huge dark threatening monolith over the trees. It looks like I always imagined Sauron's black tower from the book The Lord Of The Rings. And no matter where I was, I could no stop staring and marveling at it. There really is a magic to it, I am sure of it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLxpIcxsYgtYh3BprQsRUFyNa5OWEqgPh99uGKmeYCYC7_AVH5V0sCySuByy2jutlyuI3jNnZFl5PUpvVfyHsg4JweOiJau6NISUWp7Zc2sDgsIudnO0M8u0p-GQ3e26EJbPmmhxUbus/s1600-h/img_3377.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLxpIcxsYgtYh3BprQsRUFyNa5OWEqgPh99uGKmeYCYC7_AVH5V0sCySuByy2jutlyuI3jNnZFl5PUpvVfyHsg4JweOiJau6NISUWp7Zc2sDgsIudnO0M8u0p-GQ3e26EJbPmmhxUbus/s320/img_3377.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236546087963145490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">can you see Sauron's eye in between the top pillars?</span><br /></div><br />If you be there between 9 and 17:00, you can also go inside the tower and climb half of it's height to a observation platform. I happened to arrive their after six o'clock, but sine the sun was already setting and it was meaningless to go on, I simply decided to erect my tent right next to the tower not directly seen from the walking path.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4tPzTY_I0PlfyJ26qJV4CoJdf1kN6kUwORbdL9dsl3wha752I07yMxPcsAMbkgMJOdbl0o0jIOsqg-VZiCbOIteIpUglHm9Uw8sTnall7Pb-piGrk1y2SYAmpUdgrBlPj7ptmaeL4f8/s1600-h/img_3385.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4tPzTY_I0PlfyJ26qJV4CoJdf1kN6kUwORbdL9dsl3wha752I07yMxPcsAMbkgMJOdbl0o0jIOsqg-VZiCbOIteIpUglHm9Uw8sTnall7Pb-piGrk1y2SYAmpUdgrBlPj7ptmaeL4f8/s320/img_3385.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236546095419813778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">view from the observatory in the tower</span><br /></div><br />Therefore the guard on duty only noticed me in the morning and woke me up with a very careful questioning "ohayou gozaimasu" (Good Morning). I responded "ohayou gozaimasu" and opened the zipper of my tent putting my head outside. The guard was frightened to see a foreigner and started stuttering in Japanese:<br />"e-to. koko ha tento wo haru koto ga chotto, e-" (Erecting a tent here is, ahm). I quickly replied in Japanese<br />"ah gomennasai, wakarimasen deshita. (I am sorry, I didn't know).<br />Then he replied really relieved "nihongo ha hontou ni jouzu n desuga..., tento ha chotto..." (Your Japanese is really good, but... about the tent)<br />"Hai hai, sugu ni nidsukuri shimashou! shinpai shinaide kudasai!" (Yes, I will quickly pack it together, worry not good sir!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEq0L_yMpTYoHS8kxV3BMSy9HWcLRJbQTj6rdpuM36NXutZJ9yirAQGH2HxCowckVUkRqXftcFO5TnZ0xPx3pbeC5eF5276DHOhMn5VrnLv_6mg1B8Hl4MFeEt1UytQR8B2RKQEgknZ0/s1600-h/img_3387.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEq0L_yMpTYoHS8kxV3BMSy9HWcLRJbQTj6rdpuM36NXutZJ9yirAQGH2HxCowckVUkRqXftcFO5TnZ0xPx3pbeC5eF5276DHOhMn5VrnLv_6mg1B8Hl4MFeEt1UytQR8B2RKQEgknZ0/s320/img_3387.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236546097775536082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaqnxQIs0iDGhAfQ117uNANoru1cBZtNv9hCGTNGpobSmGpD5XJAOJX0rnRofgaGdWW5Ww8D0VF318KO1WDpxUVdT7BLhWGhpyPmI2iSNZy-FYr5-gI6QCuGWAuDS6_86WoD6VnkX5Uk/s1600-h/img_3361.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaqnxQIs0iDGhAfQ117uNANoru1cBZtNv9hCGTNGpobSmGpD5XJAOJX0rnRofgaGdWW5Ww8D0VF318KO1WDpxUVdT7BLhWGhpyPmI2iSNZy-FYr5-gI6QCuGWAuDS6_86WoD6VnkX5Uk/s320/img_3361.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236545604764481970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eXL7pkksy1AgWNVey8Bpnb2ZB-nN6MPmaSqWhL8YPWcvbKzxrp4p45_eKi_kTKUo-aasm5VH9aTluDQ9N6MeHKpJS1mgHX4J4xp4gMFfhqJdYjRqjMRoRiOQapWy7FYPmSqj2aco1uw/s1600-h/img_3363.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eXL7pkksy1AgWNVey8Bpnb2ZB-nN6MPmaSqWhL8YPWcvbKzxrp4p45_eKi_kTKUo-aasm5VH9aTluDQ9N6MeHKpJS1mgHX4J4xp4gMFfhqJdYjRqjMRoRiOQapWy7FYPmSqj2aco1uw/s320/img_3363.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236545607440228770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">there is one single way inside, for the courageous</span><br /></div><br />Later I met him again, when I finished packing the tent and waited on a bench till the clock would strike nine. The he greatly relived even sat next to me and spent almost the next hour of his duty talking to me in fascination and we became friends. We talked until his duty called and the first visitor of the day parked in front of the park around half to nine. Japanese guards and police are really cool. ^_^<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyPaDtU0fxF8S8tVRtaZ5WWZWtKAGRPdj6AOMtBRxnDOPKlU2wpMVi80M3_LOV2eS_Fuh2LM1bc4YAgZwsP1OBCJiPV5i0TyB4yj8eA4gJ9HAC82UQZ3YjdpR4vpvzwytAbKBlY66joI/s1600-h/img_3373.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyPaDtU0fxF8S8tVRtaZ5WWZWtKAGRPdj6AOMtBRxnDOPKlU2wpMVi80M3_LOV2eS_Fuh2LM1bc4YAgZwsP1OBCJiPV5i0TyB4yj8eA4gJ9HAC82UQZ3YjdpR4vpvzwytAbKBlY66joI/s320/img_3373.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236545614439874274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">actually the memorial park is more than just the tower,<br />but everything else looks plain compared to the monolith</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZP-UrVgOGs0RlFVGHtw8QePrYygRHbPqX93tnWxgyoZe0SGDJjH39RmvIVMf__iOTftyek3H9TbXxVmBBAuQ9gAHWwPRQNXjJC41Wbnq5c3WI5BEYAmBdEewkVmcTevcOUakdhZRcVM/s1600-h/img_3375.jpg"><br /></a></div>On a side notice, of course the national park around the pioneer village, museum and 100 years memorial park is also quite worth seeing. Starting from the tower there are a couple of really nice walking trails that lead through the forests and let you enjoy a nice view on the untouched nature.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68RwGe4A2jGBHbdYOK4HAwx1CTIcl1uqO1xk8XAil9wobqaBfmltnHqbVn18OKcELTnzn-TTRPWIVg4LIp9qda0oJMUWYBLCE3fndijto3KCEBbUPRWquKnTQgz3UNhFjGfSLfB6Y18U/s1600-h/img_3146.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68RwGe4A2jGBHbdYOK4HAwx1CTIcl1uqO1xk8XAil9wobqaBfmltnHqbVn18OKcELTnzn-TTRPWIVg4LIp9qda0oJMUWYBLCE3fndijto3KCEBbUPRWquKnTQgz3UNhFjGfSLfB6Y18U/s320/img_3146.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236472801386289890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnLFBOR2qbOhDAXzVNH4cSCzn6uzlzk-gzWqMs9K68MGJ6RZcpOhRQRlLTUjnsx35gKI7cOVrk40fM7mCo3SdMcKqGjxbVAE5173NXdyCbksUA78eEFx4UfqMHF2r55Q5a9-VFN18KNg/s1600-h/img_3149.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnLFBOR2qbOhDAXzVNH4cSCzn6uzlzk-gzWqMs9K68MGJ6RZcpOhRQRlLTUjnsx35gKI7cOVrk40fM7mCo3SdMcKqGjxbVAE5173NXdyCbksUA78eEFx4UfqMHF2r55Q5a9-VFN18KNg/s320/img_3149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236472807014198418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkEw_jJYCUZv4NDeRndAL1AKwgRsRRrVsU0lXCKufTI4uyOV6mWa8qoAHJ_aEMCmKmMlYyRwAcEERu3fZMWt2WSOH5woTd1oaLOg5VDqHiCtuP-n6V70M2PVZP7lb0lnOp-Jkny3GaIY/s1600-h/img_3150.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkEw_jJYCUZv4NDeRndAL1AKwgRsRRrVsU0lXCKufTI4uyOV6mWa8qoAHJ_aEMCmKmMlYyRwAcEERu3fZMWt2WSOH5woTd1oaLOg5VDqHiCtuP-n6V70M2PVZP7lb0lnOp-Jkny3GaIY/s320/img_3150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236472809093445986" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">札幌大学 Sapporo University</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL2cYxdnJ2mvLlHYsjxGuvxPd_VwcC9dQMf5JkzB0owN3aAtOCQW9ahJSOaD1RRNZUlvgW710kZCYZ16X2FYd0PX9BimoDb6L80rVazb4AMEq_szwljYD91SXT08mjW4VmxeoHE1n5pw/s1600-h/img_3769.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL2cYxdnJ2mvLlHYsjxGuvxPd_VwcC9dQMf5JkzB0owN3aAtOCQW9ahJSOaD1RRNZUlvgW710kZCYZ16X2FYd0PX9BimoDb6L80rVazb4AMEq_szwljYD91SXT08mjW4VmxeoHE1n5pw/s320/img_3769.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236574528452045138" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />When I was traveling back I crossed Sapporo a second time. I was very lucky because when I was hitchhiking for Sapporo two students of Sapporo University stopped and picked me up. We found liking each other and diverged over several Anime and Manga topics. When we reached the outskirts, they asked me where I was intending to lodge. I answered tent or manga cafe. Recognizing my financial situation and lack of need for comfort they offered me to sleep in the university. One of them was a PHD student of ecology and said in the ecology lab, there is a nice couch where I shall find a comfortable sleep. I gladly accepted.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNQzG5DBZ4AxiSbF2U4dc7tKnfY4GR6UX7UEk-fUymQi4BHRW1x3d8G_0zxszV-uM6Ph-W-7iguTxf0i5fkfloH-6Wp6TYtvUIsVEw9xVfiutpa4I3l0wSurjH3TLdjnHmiINsG977Cw/s1600-h/img_3764.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNQzG5DBZ4AxiSbF2U4dc7tKnfY4GR6UX7UEk-fUymQi4BHRW1x3d8G_0zxszV-uM6Ph-W-7iguTxf0i5fkfloH-6Wp6TYtvUIsVEw9xVfiutpa4I3l0wSurjH3TLdjnHmiINsG977Cw/s320/img_3764.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236574525990486626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">two couches and a chair = comfy bed</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyc33Lb3E0Njp-wXdEwbCJ59MXRzbZRTe_hGjnv78nBFQh1ReSH5kFLBCVCc02Zg7uxCGVp-Eh961LdY67YL7BAMRnRMDryKNnRXfprXkvV1UpF38YNvByBPuuOJA2hMxbHOi4cPEv8Y/s1600-h/img_3766.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyc33Lb3E0Njp-wXdEwbCJ59MXRzbZRTe_hGjnv78nBFQh1ReSH5kFLBCVCc02Zg7uxCGVp-Eh961LdY67YL7BAMRnRMDryKNnRXfprXkvV1UpF38YNvByBPuuOJA2hMxbHOi4cPEv8Y/s320/img_3766.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236574533699527010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">CSIAM Control Strategy of Intrusive Alien Mammals</span><br /></div><br />Arriving we all found our stomaches empty and the same student decided to use the ecology budget on some important inter cultural exchange and invited me, the other student and one girl which still was working in the lab for dinner ^_^. Later they showed me the couch and even allowed me to use the computers inside for internet surfing and writing mails.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgxZOyWbIV1d2753VWlmK6HiNpHY0Uw68H_556sCcyTN_8GZN6jk31YmaXe8SfjGr2B59GZesMb5r08ts5OsmsJKGINRDCf76kVWv6Z56PlaZOGBZvIIqeljEqXDm9b4EwY8YGm2390M/s1600-h/img_3770.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgxZOyWbIV1d2753VWlmK6HiNpHY0Uw68H_556sCcyTN_8GZN6jk31YmaXe8SfjGr2B59GZesMb5r08ts5OsmsJKGINRDCf76kVWv6Z56PlaZOGBZvIIqeljEqXDm9b4EwY8YGm2390M/s320/img_3770.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236574790392576546" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZupEV_2hI2NcSaMuBXPr9wUGiAa8scIMK2DlTg8zXYlJ5MUuZpZ5SexBpxX3BrQpv5s3HPnHSPjLn94tYIcV4V9dCAhJfJ_M9zShExqEWsYBDgRT-9dv2mlwdRtex849oz0tlSyg1AaE/s1600-h/img_3768.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZupEV_2hI2NcSaMuBXPr9wUGiAa8scIMK2DlTg8zXYlJ5MUuZpZ5SexBpxX3BrQpv5s3HPnHSPjLn94tYIcV4V9dCAhJfJ_M9zShExqEWsYBDgRT-9dv2mlwdRtex849oz0tlSyg1AaE/s320/img_3768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236574782959722578" border="0" /></a></div><br />Thus I even was allowed to see Sapporo University from the inside and outside, meet some more friends and have one more good sleep in Hokkaido's capital.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AfaDCCDYOeIAwy0Hk3WPYExr0v4F2_njHXm6hV2vI7zMLolrf8bN9lN9Z-4zm9FUIHEc-T8IVKLGcDj9AZS-2D_HdM7mxKNU-9H48IxJAgyB09p37D9xEYOhY0Qh6DR3bqk3PhB4iSA/s1600-h/img_3767.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AfaDCCDYOeIAwy0Hk3WPYExr0v4F2_njHXm6hV2vI7zMLolrf8bN9lN9Z-4zm9FUIHEc-T8IVKLGcDj9AZS-2D_HdM7mxKNU-9H48IxJAgyB09p37D9xEYOhY0Qh6DR3bqk3PhB4iSA/s320/img_3767.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236574539280507010" border="0" /></a></div><br />mikascallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-29437862728914496442008-08-02T21:29:00.000-07:002008-08-18T22:42:58.607-07:00北海道へ Going To HokkaidoAfter relaxing for almost two weeks after my travel to west Japan and Kyushu, I hit the road again, this time for the opposite direction: north Japan and Hokkaido.<br /><br />Traveling to and in Hokkaido is really difficult and time intensive, so that I decided to briefly write about how to get there, which options you have and how much time it takes.<br /><br />Basically your options are: Hitchhiking, Fairy, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Seishun</span></span> 18 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kippu</span></span>, Fast Trains, Air Plane and Car Rental.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">青春18切符 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Seishun</span></span> 18 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kippu</span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghF44CmUx5MiCpsVkpPmpqya9yBCibbZwReZd0-NriHONcV7mG38672d93xFddjc_Y1kCgGzCBYJ3QJB_FOCD1KL2REyIPBm-0a8Oqa79t9UyNL66znFoYzAuX1FuHJZpPKjT4h7sgHhE/s1600-h/img_3813.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghF44CmUx5MiCpsVkpPmpqya9yBCibbZwReZd0-NriHONcV7mG38672d93xFddjc_Y1kCgGzCBYJ3QJB_FOCD1KL2REyIPBm-0a8Oqa79t9UyNL66znFoYzAuX1FuHJZpPKjT4h7sgHhE/s320/img_3813.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236099399305088194" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The cheapest option from the above (except hitchhiking) is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Seishun</span></span> 18 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kippu</span></span>, but it also takes the longest time. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Seishun</span></span> 18 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kippu</span></span> is a special train ticket, that lets you ride all JR local and rapid (快速) trains on five arbitrary days (they need not to be consecutive) for 11.500 Yen. It is available to all ages, but only during summer and spring holiday seasons. You can not board special rapid trains (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">tokkyu</span></span>, 特急) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Shinkansen</span></span> (新幹線), which means traveling takes a lot of time and endless train switching.<br /><br />To speak plainly: from Tokyo to Sapporo with this ticket it takes 3-4 days! If you take the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Iwate</span></span> line from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Morioka</span></span> (盛岡) to 八戸 (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Hachinohe</span></span>) you can definitely make it in 3 days, but this intermediate line can not be boarded with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">kippu</span></span> and you need to pay another 2200 Yen for boarding it.<br /><br />That's the way I got to Hokkaido:<br />1st day: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Atsugi</span></span> (厚木) - Sendai (仙台)<br />2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">nd</span></span> day: Sendai (仙台) - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Hakodate</span></span> (函館) (using the above <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Iwate</span></span> line to from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Morioka</span></span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Hachinohe</span></span>)<br />3rd day: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Hakodate</span></span> (函館) - Sapporo (札幌)<br /><br />From 本州 Honshu, Japan's main island, to Hokkaido, there is only a train tunnel as the sole connection, except ships. From 青森 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Aomori</span></span> to 函館 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Hakodate</span></span>, there is a special rapid train connecting main land and Hokkaido. Since there is no local train JR makes an exception for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Seishun</span></span> 18 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Kippu</span></span> users to allow boarding of this train. The name of the train is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Tokkyuu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Shiratori</span> Number 15 特急白鳥15号 (special rapid white swan number 15).<br />However you can not go the whole way but need to board at 蟹田 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Kanita</span></span> (the north most stop on Honshu from the train, north of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Aomori</span></span>) and need to get out at 木古内 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Kikonai</span></span> (the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">southmost</span></span> stop on Hokkaido, south of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Hakodate</span></span>) and change to local trains.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ヒッチハイキング Hitchhiking</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wnNpD9H12Qp_xLceX-F1w5QXPIgR_YaRkN5jsSEmm0Lp8DfP4tLQTYgIEjmTK8hmTfOtjQQ1Ur4eYFdqTqLGm2KQPdvcOX_rNPh_DVBxpnLg2nVonX9N1GRi-CnxUrApLhySAd8D4j4/s1600-h/img_3817.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wnNpD9H12Qp_xLceX-F1w5QXPIgR_YaRkN5jsSEmm0Lp8DfP4tLQTYgIEjmTK8hmTfOtjQQ1Ur4eYFdqTqLGm2KQPdvcOX_rNPh_DVBxpnLg2nVonX9N1GRi-CnxUrApLhySAd8D4j4/s320/img_3817.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236099404508919714" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The cheapest option is without doubt Hitchhiking, and if you are only a bit lucky, it is way faster than the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Seishun</span></span> trains. Especially once you reach Hokkaido, there are many places not reachable by trains and all the trains are exceptionally slow. So I do not recommend taking trains in Hokkaido, but to use the roads.<br /><br />I will write another entry about budget traveling talking about hitchhiking in detail, but here are some techniques you should keep in mind.<br /><br />- write a sign with the destination, where you intend to go<br />- or if that destination is quite far write down the name of a big city on the way<br />- be sure to use <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Kanji</span></span>! without nobody will be able to read the signs quickly enough and understand what you want. also like this they will know that you can speak Japanese (even if you can't) and gain some confidence in taking you<br />- good positions are: big express and highway stops, express way entrance roads, traffic lights on highways. always look the people into the eyes and smile, so that they can plainly see you and loose their fear.<br /><br />Concerning getting to Hokkaido your problem will be, that there is no street, bridge or car tunnel to Hokkaido (the existing tunnel is only used by trains). So you will need to find a way to get there: either you takes one <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Seishun</span></span> 18 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Kippu</span></span> stamp and use the train or you use a...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">フェリー Ferry</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G9xGYdyxavnSxa4ZxxJ9NJ5mFO9V3LZw-htFFdTYnukSa1caLUFN4MqejGAsV9KpkzIDHhZY15Hiil5QxkqMQhg8_APVQadbOJZ7Gvmm1cq0Yd57oRLJ69oQjjPZwvuqY-gecZF1KVI/s1600-h/Pearl_of_scandinavia_1989_4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G9xGYdyxavnSxa4ZxxJ9NJ5mFO9V3LZw-htFFdTYnukSa1caLUFN4MqejGAsV9KpkzIDHhZY15Hiil5QxkqMQhg8_APVQadbOJZ7Gvmm1cq0Yd57oRLJ69oQjjPZwvuqY-gecZF1KVI/s320/Pearl_of_scandinavia_1989_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236099973658237586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image from Wikipedia</span><br /></div><br />There are two ferries I can recommend to you.<br />The first goes from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Aomori</span></span> 青森 to 函館 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Hakodate</span></span> takes 4 hours and 1.500 Yen (there is also a 2 hour ferry for 4.000 Yen that is surely not worth the extra Yen).<br />The second goes from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Hachinohe</span></span> 八戸 to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Tomakomai</span></span> 苫小牧, a city just south of Sapporo. It costs 3.000 Yen and goes overnight and includes sleeping accommodations. Therefore it surely is a good way to get there, since you also have a bed for the night.<br />Both ferries go in both direction, but depending on the season are quickly booked out. So be sure to plan ahead one or two days and call them to keep a place for you.<br /><br />八戸 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Hachinohe</span></span> <-> 苫小牧 Tomakomai <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="M">0120-539-468</span></span><br />青森 Aomori -> 函館 Hakodate <span style=""><b><span style="color:black;">017-782-3671</span></b></span><br />函館 Hakodate -> 青森 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Aomori</span></span> <span style=""><b><span style="color:black;">0138-42-5561<br /><br /><br /></span></b></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;color:black;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">レンタカー Rent A Car</span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghj8_zBozAQEUCLGXHkutQtKz4w8DohI6AmbqOl5S73f-2lI9YbovZXxrfpi8XPQSwYY6vAo-UqWGUaTgbl6CbNCZxniKO8nWf_buCK3Phop6I-0M8CitkRVRcMGvS7rv_fIQqhDOZK3A/s1600-h/747px-Benz-velo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghj8_zBozAQEUCLGXHkutQtKz4w8DohI6AmbqOl5S73f-2lI9YbovZXxrfpi8XPQSwYY6vAo-UqWGUaTgbl6CbNCZxniKO8nWf_buCK3Phop6I-0M8CitkRVRcMGvS7rv_fIQqhDOZK3A/s320/747px-Benz-velo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236098612885311442" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image from Wikipedia</span><br /></div><span style=""><b><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></b><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >As I said before, the best way to move in Hokkaido is by car. This means you can hitchhike around, or if you have enough money and a driver's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">licence</span> also rent a car. The roads are in excellent conditions and endlessly go through wonderful nature and scenery so it is really a pleasure to go anywhere in Hokkaido. Which is why also many biker find their way around here.<br /><br />The problem is however that the cost for shipping a car over the ocean is huge: 20.000 to 40.000 Yen, so that it would be utter madness to take a car to the island. Rather rent a car in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Hakodate</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Tomakomai</span></span> or Sapporo and cross the sea by ferry or train.<br /><br />The gas prices in Hokkaido seem <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">comparatively</span> lower than on the main land, you can save as much as 10-20 Yen per liter if you look for cheap gas stations.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >飛行機 Air Plane</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtVP3WBFARi1fzIcTGNh99tCi6xkonMfWL6AOSSIWMlT6hMPT5rWZFDQoDVj7g_LbjK9qNnMrbd_9cmE-eaaY7CBnNoXnjG5PvPKeVYrM3SQUnBfVbgqy8724mPrXc3mxwGdTnOUGVZI/s1600-h/800px-Air_india_b747-400_vt-esn_arp.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtVP3WBFARi1fzIcTGNh99tCi6xkonMfWL6AOSSIWMlT6hMPT5rWZFDQoDVj7g_LbjK9qNnMrbd_9cmE-eaaY7CBnNoXnjG5PvPKeVYrM3SQUnBfVbgqy8724mPrXc3mxwGdTnOUGVZI/s320/800px-Air_india_b747-400_vt-esn_arp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236098618062237394" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image from Wikipedia</span><br /></div><span style=""><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><br />The fastest way and still cheaper than fast trains and car rental is the plane. It costs not more than 15.000 - 20.000 Yen for a return ticket, depending on the season, and takes you to and from Sapporo quickly.<br /><br />So if you don't have a JR <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">Rail pass</span> and don't want to spend 6-7 days within trains, then this is your best option.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=""><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">特急 Fast Trains</span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM7tAF-Uy3Mc_Dgj2sDY9KVI_4j_xNlFyGaGvmgPltLX_nv3trAlgajhcA1suHLpJlEQpFMEyxofI7GEdlX0TPTZE3RcaZ5iIO1SvieHf9AgxiXhBQqhA698YrYjG2JmqZkDXaXr05EQ/s1600-h/gkc18312.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM7tAF-Uy3Mc_Dgj2sDY9KVI_4j_xNlFyGaGvmgPltLX_nv3trAlgajhcA1suHLpJlEQpFMEyxofI7GEdlX0TPTZE3RcaZ5iIO1SvieHf9AgxiXhBQqhA698YrYjG2JmqZkDXaXr05EQ/s320/gkc18312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236098622828889602" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style=""><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><br />This option is incredibly expensive and way slower than the air plane. The only case this option makes sense is, if you are holding a JR <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">Rail pass</span>. Without the fee for a train from Tokyo to Sapporo is 35.000 Yen one ways, and even more for a bed inside the train. The train takes one day, because there are no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">Shinkansen</span></span> yet going as far a Hokkaido (although a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Shinkansen</span></span> is currently <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">planned</span> for Sapporo).<br /><br />So it would be utter madness to use this option, except you can use it with the JR <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">Rail pass</span>. However even the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">Rail pass</span> does not include the fee for a bed, so you have to sleep in your seat or choose one of the other options.<br /><br /><br />Now that you know all the options, I recommend a combination of them as the best and cheapest way to get there:<br />First get to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Morioka</span></span> 盛岡 either by hitchhiking or by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Seishun</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Kippu</span></span> (or rather stand up early use one stamp and see how far you can get within one day). From there you should hitchhike to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">Hachinohe</span></span> 八戸 or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">Aomori</span></span> 青森, since the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">Seishun</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">Kippu</span></span> does not cover the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">Iwate</span></span> Train line. And you'd probably even be faster that way.<br />From <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">Aomori</span></span> 青森 / <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">Hachinohe</span></span> 八戸 decide whether you want the ferry or tunnel (and see if a place on the ferry is available). The tourist <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">information</span> can help you find and book the ferry.<br />In case you want to take the tunnel get to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">Kanita</span></span> 蟹田 by local trains, take the next fast train to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">Kikonai</span></span> 木古内 and then again locals to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">Hakodate</span></span> 函館.<br />Lastly from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">Hakodate</span></span> 函館 or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">Tomakomai</span></span> 苫小牧 refer to hitchhiking as long as you are in Hokkaido.<br /><br />With a combination of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">Seishun</span></span> 18 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">Kippu</span></span>, hitchhiking and taking one fast train from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">Kanita</span></span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">Aomori</span></span> (because there are no local trains after 16:00 o'clock, I was able to cover the way from Sapporo to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">Atsugi</span></span> in two days. I first intended to use ferries, but they were all booked out, so try to plan ahead.<br /><br />so let's see what treasures Hokkaido holds in my next posts<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">mika</span></span><br /></span></span>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-31942375041385708812008-08-01T00:45:00.000-07:002008-08-08T02:09:24.654-07:00伊賀上野 Iga-UenoFrom Beppu I turned eastwards, but the distance is far and the trains slow, so I decided to make another halt at Yamaguchi sleeping in Andreas' dormitory and spending another day in the city. Afterwards I caught an early train and succeeded in reaching Iga-Ueno before nightfall.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">伊賀上野 Iga-Ueno</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ei2YmzH46Rahix2g-SmE49Hpqft-kSW1Qg5RpN3n56lPTZikzobZlEqVGKzYIQvxS0ARu00aflr_zoLEj9-6NA4RZUQZDptSOAhntuDNjpIqNojf8tiqJuTB-ppa025WnloKdi5h47A/s1600-h/IMG_2843.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ei2YmzH46Rahix2g-SmE49Hpqft-kSW1Qg5RpN3n56lPTZikzobZlEqVGKzYIQvxS0ARu00aflr_zoLEj9-6NA4RZUQZDptSOAhntuDNjpIqNojf8tiqJuTB-ppa025WnloKdi5h47A/s320/IMG_2843.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232070697495875890" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Iga-Ueno is actually two towns named Iga and Ueno which, to avoid confusion with the popular area in Tokyo and because of their close vicinity, were merged and renamed to Iga-Ueno. The town is close to Nara and can be reached from Nara by train in 30-40 minutes.<br /><br />The town is very interesting for two reasons:<br />Hattori Hanzo and the Iga Ninja and<br />Matsuo Basho and Haiku.<br /><br />Apart from that there is also a museum about a really cool and special festival called Danjiri Festival and Ueno Castle, from where Hattori Hanzo ruled the land.<br /><br />Note! There are two special tickets for the two you should get:<br />Iga-Ueno Pass: Includes Ninja Museum, Iga-Ueno Castle and the Danjiri Festival museum<br />Matsuo Basho Pass: Includes Basho Museum, Basho Birthplace and Minomushian, one of his five hermitage residences, where he composed world famous Haiku.<br /><br />If you pay for them one by one, it will get very expensive. However you don't need the day pass for the city train, because walking through the old town is nice in itself, and even if you take the train back once, it is still cheaper than a day ticket.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1rURFczrTt9co_3DH617X3aYS8Y8_gwOLIilE3Wvb69blIVIqrOhABCA3yRBY1ECsW6iYidySEXYzQiDEBWFDa7KDJ0P1VeHQ_h6V0EaXlOrItd9q7JcW28eOjEOP0EkW94EulZQwIA/s1600-h/IMG_2849.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1rURFczrTt9co_3DH617X3aYS8Y8_gwOLIilE3Wvb69blIVIqrOhABCA3yRBY1ECsW6iYidySEXYzQiDEBWFDa7KDJ0P1VeHQ_h6V0EaXlOrItd9q7JcW28eOjEOP0EkW94EulZQwIA/s320/IMG_2849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232051182060935666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCCba3rnpHY021f7NveUYglkbP3xHNP6aX4pKy5u-btcCOVojHexB5RmMFBRNjNH5IRb92rS8h9rFCy-7up6SPIWnCKZsNu6nIYuaFKmbzjdl2ec-JlFvDMdzJohn9ZeZO9mYIJyEFJg/s1600-h/IMG_2850.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCCba3rnpHY021f7NveUYglkbP3xHNP6aX4pKy5u-btcCOVojHexB5RmMFBRNjNH5IRb92rS8h9rFCy-7up6SPIWnCKZsNu6nIYuaFKmbzjdl2ec-JlFvDMdzJohn9ZeZO9mYIJyEFJg/s320/IMG_2850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232051181101829730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the city train is supposed to look like a Ninja...<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">伊賀上野森 Iga-Ueno Forest</span><br /></div><br />Arriving late I needed a place to sleep. My first sight of Iga-Ueno made me feel spirited to easily find a nice place. Iga-Ueno is more village than town and there are many open spaces. After walking for a while I found a suitable meadow close to rice fields and shielded from the eyes of people by a little warf. However my spirits sank, when I set a foot on it and an alarm rang. *sigh* In Japan really every stupid little meadow is secured by alarm systems, it is really annoying.<br /><br />Well despite my first intentions I had to recede to the forest again. My <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/07/asuka.html">previous experience</a> still in mind, I got the creeps, but had no choice. Even worse, because of my time wasted to look for a suitable meadow the sun was setting and it was getting dark. When I finally reached the first it was already pitch black. I found a suitable spot anyway, but it took me a lot of effort erecting the tent in darkness. Also at times I just had to use the flashlight, which attracted hundreds of insects biting and flying all over me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacXzNDKDNY2R8XHf0M2mcEL9bHAsEqKEodoewGzY-92gibGq_Wpy69-PQZCBiR-zkxnY1sY9uSNq5oK4xEJhcpi2THKfFIEBSXPSG-BIgr7xrFLslnI6axbjxoHmXZioQjSer_xm3QXY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1286.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacXzNDKDNY2R8XHf0M2mcEL9bHAsEqKEodoewGzY-92gibGq_Wpy69-PQZCBiR-zkxnY1sY9uSNq5oK4xEJhcpi2THKfFIEBSXPSG-BIgr7xrFLslnI6axbjxoHmXZioQjSer_xm3QXY/s320/Nishinihon+1286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232034043404183794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxsH9mT0sVtZPtfcQdCasahsxfjmFO65-A2ngUSVEjQTk1XG-XZn8J4W_DWpnhXxVP-DtVha0QH-PAv9MnuEMdx505CCkQ8tcgHG4pLtTiSAhM09oc2gz9smIVtzdLNbPtSRam6O8A4k/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1288.JPG"><br /></a></div>The night was not better than the previous, and this time a large something even crawled below my bed waking me up in terror. But again at some point I fell asleep from exhaustion and could regenerate a little bit.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxsH9mT0sVtZPtfcQdCasahsxfjmFO65-A2ngUSVEjQTk1XG-XZn8J4W_DWpnhXxVP-DtVha0QH-PAv9MnuEMdx505CCkQ8tcgHG4pLtTiSAhM09oc2gz9smIVtzdLNbPtSRam6O8A4k/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1288.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxsH9mT0sVtZPtfcQdCasahsxfjmFO65-A2ngUSVEjQTk1XG-XZn8J4W_DWpnhXxVP-DtVha0QH-PAv9MnuEMdx505CCkQ8tcgHG4pLtTiSAhM09oc2gz9smIVtzdLNbPtSRam6O8A4k/s320/Nishinihon+1288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232034041358299522" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">伊賀上野忍者 Iga-Ueno Ninja<br /><br /></span><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCSq_os1_RrhCxlk017gofNn9fCONaoYL2ksp-IE4FYmaoMkWLXvaglF0aG2bJMp2b_HSULSxLc8qlsdvK_yHVxJe-qtRGHGyE073c0YCaKVkPr4wTClwXTRrNm5fICs8n9HQnfeplVM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1301.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCSq_os1_RrhCxlk017gofNn9fCONaoYL2ksp-IE4FYmaoMkWLXvaglF0aG2bJMp2b_HSULSxLc8qlsdvK_yHVxJe-qtRGHGyE073c0YCaKVkPr4wTClwXTRrNm5fICs8n9HQnfeplVM/s320/Nishinihon+1301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232034760007379138" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The Ninja were my reason for coming here, I heard a lot about the Ninja of this place and knew Ninja from childhood on, now it was about time to find out if the real Ninja were really as awesome as I always imagined. To break the suspense, they were.<br /><br />The Ninja lived a life of disguise not to be noticed by anyone. For that they had a cover job as farmers. Nobody suspects a farmer or looks closer at one, since they were at the very bottom of the social hierarchy. That is why no one ever noticed that the faces of the farmers actually changed from time to time, when they switched with other Ninja for secret training. The switching, training and meetings were also never seen, because they happened underground. Each farmer house was connected via underground tunnels, so they could meet and train unseen and move far paths underground, before emerging to the surface. If someone enters a farmhouse like this, he would see nothing special, just an ordinary house. If he enters the house with the intent to kill the ones inside, he would be surprised that the voices he just heard suddenly vanished and no one could be found inside. And suddenly he would be stabbed from somewhere... The Ninja's farm houses, while looking ordinary were full of secret passageways, secret cabins for hiding, secret weapons and traps, so that some Ninja inside could fend of a whole troop of men entering the house and escape when necessary.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99XZTyn2F47EXpgv7YLDIdKRnE-layExwsQ1oEdbVTEgmsqGlZCWxy0A3V9lD2YVj38FjUzOWKYPwAtpA5fb_mrPjzYgxMR5gOPYOWMbDb8QCzpaOi5AbuiJXw9YEZ1gXQV-M-yglqMY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1420.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99XZTyn2F47EXpgv7YLDIdKRnE-layExwsQ1oEdbVTEgmsqGlZCWxy0A3V9lD2YVj38FjUzOWKYPwAtpA5fb_mrPjzYgxMR5gOPYOWMbDb8QCzpaOi5AbuiJXw9YEZ1gXQV-M-yglqMY/s320/Nishinihon+1420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232042187081975570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />looks like an ordinary farming village<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7DrZu47WAT9e0lFaGuPYtGyqvapad8xbaP0td945XtQvPlSWYlYAC5VFFCP_IcVKjk55N8BIN9if3nZ-57k_z6rj-4v9ECAoj_cldIX3UFJrlPXIt52GLArrd1A3L4cfUiyHKIjLEGc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1395.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7DrZu47WAT9e0lFaGuPYtGyqvapad8xbaP0td945XtQvPlSWYlYAC5VFFCP_IcVKjk55N8BIN9if3nZ-57k_z6rj-4v9ECAoj_cldIX3UFJrlPXIt52GLArrd1A3L4cfUiyHKIjLEGc/s320/Nishinihon+1395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232040293924584802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />with ordinary farmers inside<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4FnK_QfdCsvM3qpybCvWzUUrPg8ykX_2cP0dtVbNN6A9l2nX989KH-LaCoxOv6joHTqSY2LrUYaFVm9abwwLtRp8bDc7zm-ixPFyDx2wKejnNcT3KhlczwI9ee_CbgjvpZby-IgZNIU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1414.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4FnK_QfdCsvM3qpybCvWzUUrPg8ykX_2cP0dtVbNN6A9l2nX989KH-LaCoxOv6joHTqSY2LrUYaFVm9abwwLtRp8bDc7zm-ixPFyDx2wKejnNcT3KhlczwI9ee_CbgjvpZby-IgZNIU/s320/Nishinihon+1414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232042189597577682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />sometimes they also disguised as wandering monks of hermits<br /></div><br />The first part of the Ninja Tour in Iga-Ueno leads you to such a Ninja Farmhouse and ridiculous but cute looking pink Ninja Girls will show you around all the traps and secrets, performing the vanishing with grace. The pink color is of course ridiculous, but female Ninja surely aren't. They were called Kunoichi and equal to men within the Ninja clan. In training they could cover as a farmer's wife making the family impression almost complete, but in action they were more valuable then men. This is for two reasons: first women were regarded as incompetent, incapable of fighting and simply lower than man. So they were underestimated and usually able to win fights quickly. Also nobody suspected women to be spies, which made them perfect for infiltrating castles and residences of feudal lords. Also in a case of an attack, the enemy suddenly found all their doors and gates unexpectedly open.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtz0my1oB3D8aWEXAY57_OWJ33wDYAXZANVBGkrjS23p4tlfRrXCuUN96Nnze8_HEm0GlOoTQvQQw1jX366gGS7CklK0dqhQFnmW0PVdh7LyQcxajn2TL4gqyeO57ZFVy6X6ESQa6hXM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1324.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtz0my1oB3D8aWEXAY57_OWJ33wDYAXZANVBGkrjS23p4tlfRrXCuUN96Nnze8_HEm0GlOoTQvQQw1jX366gGS7CklK0dqhQFnmW0PVdh7LyQcxajn2TL4gqyeO57ZFVy6X6ESQa6hXM/s320/Nishinihon+1324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232036511151104434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a hidden sword, that she could grab and draw in less than a second<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUZ2o71zu1uBOJx507n8AL6kWl0kaNchIyAq_CuPe9QBZQOvgRYW9TUfVBr6tzgUPw75j-vgd5APLMwg_tci-u97aJbzwakbDTET-RzDnjtAANLxrXiwJ2Ycwv9b7-2WSwuJdnBWmuug/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1322.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUZ2o71zu1uBOJx507n8AL6kWl0kaNchIyAq_CuPe9QBZQOvgRYW9TUfVBr6tzgUPw75j-vgd5APLMwg_tci-u97aJbzwakbDTET-RzDnjtAANLxrXiwJ2Ycwv9b7-2WSwuJdnBWmuug/s320/Nishinihon+1322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232036085594817410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />more secret weapons<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3neDPEs6We4z3H6tbfR0HSMrrbRL3xRlx77OIZerQL-VItHdu1-N4WdXb_zuNRJZkLJlDHKWWQsoDLhxDim7cpsVoJH_9-4bEabDwkEKE5C0QHrAW_upGHNQ7Gfg8_rRK5HOiJi5RUMc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1327.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3neDPEs6We4z3H6tbfR0HSMrrbRL3xRlx77OIZerQL-VItHdu1-N4WdXb_zuNRJZkLJlDHKWWQsoDLhxDim7cpsVoJH_9-4bEabDwkEKE5C0QHrAW_upGHNQ7Gfg8_rRK5HOiJi5RUMc/s320/Nishinihon+1327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232036509996146610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCaowkLDIyxp71EZY1IXLt9EfTq2UkVmJVGXZFVTPNty3P083fNM0mTcqMFGMMwnZ004TKaMZC-t7tnNAnlkgnWxo-dX-Xlfw7zVF0k9nmCyw9iNNtLtJzKIqDb_GvXOZYE1ywoOCfDU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1326.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCaowkLDIyxp71EZY1IXLt9EfTq2UkVmJVGXZFVTPNty3P083fNM0mTcqMFGMMwnZ004TKaMZC-t7tnNAnlkgnWxo-dX-Xlfw7zVF0k9nmCyw9iNNtLtJzKIqDb_GvXOZYE1ywoOCfDU/s320/Nishinihon+1326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232036510200344770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />many hidden doors<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVujYEMk5p4-TAfXVvXKA2gQdyHa3xbRq8EpPGHvZLAITqcx_XkZMdNexhU4qXimiIj1em1Y5wNVtCuqp4vdySpcu4I3ykjA9Oxn6wmNWSgEc__incrbq0af0SVaId7krtQsjorxO5y_s/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1328.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVujYEMk5p4-TAfXVvXKA2gQdyHa3xbRq8EpPGHvZLAITqcx_XkZMdNexhU4qXimiIj1em1Y5wNVtCuqp4vdySpcu4I3ykjA9Oxn6wmNWSgEc__incrbq0af0SVaId7krtQsjorxO5y_s/s320/Nishinihon+1328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232036515794819730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />unknowing you see an ordinary house<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6UKDqn4vzPB5FUgolkdbn84TFKr3SLtYZSbb3MrxXVDnHf5R6p69tcOA6TIDCpTbnDtEQ32t0y8Zp2RyDDVENVjzqovM5LlDb0Qz1Z3xJyIwdb3y3_daPvIIJL0psj2tkJFGgYYbxMo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1315.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6UKDqn4vzPB5FUgolkdbn84TFKr3SLtYZSbb3MrxXVDnHf5R6p69tcOA6TIDCpTbnDtEQ32t0y8Zp2RyDDVENVjzqovM5LlDb0Qz1Z3xJyIwdb3y3_daPvIIJL0psj2tkJFGgYYbxMo/s320/Nishinihon+1315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232036081499669154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYT05YhhevxVffNbu9M7gskK2eGWsKAv1_mTeiHXYg1lisHS0ZkibB3Xx-yMOb6eAQnHHqZD87LIGOooa6M0M-388IiTtSu2937LXVWMQ7Om59hVvUOd5rjg4IyWKEw9NkhDm4UClHhQA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1314.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYT05YhhevxVffNbu9M7gskK2eGWsKAv1_mTeiHXYg1lisHS0ZkibB3Xx-yMOb6eAQnHHqZD87LIGOooa6M0M-388IiTtSu2937LXVWMQ7Om59hVvUOd5rjg4IyWKEw9NkhDm4UClHhQA/s320/Nishinihon+1314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232035347180414322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a skilled Ninja could disappear behind this door in less than a second<br />I guess our guide trained hard for it<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYChkKhTtLRRS23lCs4-FpYmgODAnEO_JWvUcyGUJ16ZZP2CZRulb2crfjZTK5HUACgSdyUr-zATCMGv7OV-nOoqGidoS0n295K6DI9u-HpaBJZRgFUcpPkziUVuOkIwPFvSmHmAGXMQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1317.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYChkKhTtLRRS23lCs4-FpYmgODAnEO_JWvUcyGUJ16ZZP2CZRulb2crfjZTK5HUACgSdyUr-zATCMGv7OV-nOoqGidoS0n295K6DI9u-HpaBJZRgFUcpPkziUVuOkIwPFvSmHmAGXMQ/s320/Nishinihon+1317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232036081482690322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPhPA-lxp5FS9IfQ51O7Ij-gT_tMztcNZbfBz0fhSUSBCU6AjIzMOQze6Hei9hEtR2L85Dxf7piMUtgqVoPw-FR9-NiFjdoPx7ngJro5FEKc2MV-9zFNqiZki7CPJvXFrFHmbVjwiCQE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1318.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPhPA-lxp5FS9IfQ51O7Ij-gT_tMztcNZbfBz0fhSUSBCU6AjIzMOQze6Hei9hEtR2L85Dxf7piMUtgqVoPw-FR9-NiFjdoPx7ngJro5FEKc2MV-9zFNqiZki7CPJvXFrFHmbVjwiCQE/s320/Nishinihon+1318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232036085452974354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a Ninja could hide in this mini second floor and shoot from their poison darts<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfr8Oph-Ej64cm_dvFjLpHCrLvGaLM02_Qg9doDBERc3Du9-mKi3s8Vor0tD66X_q0juA-G8CsqK6IUo0BcpSscZZOtSWQW1p4J4117IoU6_miws-lptlDxz-IJF2E3xjvMXeurLefS4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1320.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfr8Oph-Ej64cm_dvFjLpHCrLvGaLM02_Qg9doDBERc3Du9-mKi3s8Vor0tD66X_q0juA-G8CsqK6IUo0BcpSscZZOtSWQW1p4J4117IoU6_miws-lptlDxz-IJF2E3xjvMXeurLefS4/s320/Nishinihon+1320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232036086143615874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a small emergency exit, that can only be opened by using a special technique (e.g. with paper)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-G9PD6okI2CuRkVCt5a1JdCUa7c8THlq2xBRNXIv-81IDKex-ijLyzff8Zz9ddtxn8w4ftSi3_u4zvj4dSGZfVL14e4zRCSRlhLeIKr9biOY84Y__vSLUcsax__jYxTpIlDlrSWWmidY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1391.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-G9PD6okI2CuRkVCt5a1JdCUa7c8THlq2xBRNXIv-81IDKex-ijLyzff8Zz9ddtxn8w4ftSi3_u4zvj4dSGZfVL14e4zRCSRlhLeIKr9biOY84Y__vSLUcsax__jYxTpIlDlrSWWmidY/s320/Nishinihon+1391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232039516858268978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDgq3G6qtHivO_TlEd-wayvwC3x0a04dO76agiVmw8N6Wc-hY7UavrWTFfe-JmJrPHFkZklFv3jK19d3puy-lnjTL7OlA-xd98QHYXVl5jN-01zyFjyPvf6xPsePVCTuRvCg1bSpUGCw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1393.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDgq3G6qtHivO_TlEd-wayvwC3x0a04dO76agiVmw8N6Wc-hY7UavrWTFfe-JmJrPHFkZklFv3jK19d3puy-lnjTL7OlA-xd98QHYXVl5jN-01zyFjyPvf6xPsePVCTuRvCg1bSpUGCw/s320/Nishinihon+1393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232039516305899090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the most common tricks in Ninja houses<br /></div><br />After that we followed her downstairs, where instead of the former tunnels and hidden meeting halls now a museum took their place. In this museum you can learn everything about the Ninja there is to learn. Every legend will either be verified or clarified.<br /><br />For example according to one legend, Ninja were able to walk over water. This legend is wrong, but not entirely, because they were able to walk over mud. Many castles had one side protected by a swamp and since an attack from this side is almost impossible, it is usually not guarded. So it is the perfect way for a Ninja to get into a castle for espionage or assassination. So how could they walk over a swamp? They used special shoes, who were formed like a large disc and trained themselves in a special balancing technique which allowed them to distribute their weight evenly across the disc shoes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj9IlYenNLa1ZQO99ewnyRDU0zaOlFHP_Kg22fHJJ65XYv4r3A9rHSBDEFHvNACt5b-6-OHdmXePkM5nnq4T3oKaNIZSwuakUu19gfkmq4wuvpm8yoJx6H7LlZJcJuRPjmnMWh5sy7Ns/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1330.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj9IlYenNLa1ZQO99ewnyRDU0zaOlFHP_Kg22fHJJ65XYv4r3A9rHSBDEFHvNACt5b-6-OHdmXePkM5nnq4T3oKaNIZSwuakUu19gfkmq4wuvpm8yoJx6H7LlZJcJuRPjmnMWh5sy7Ns/s320/Nishinihon+1330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232036515036002002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />mud shoes<br /></div><br />One of the most impressive part about Ninja is their tools. They used a lot of tools for a lot of purposes like lock picking, fighting, espionage climbing walls. However moving in disguise, they could carry nothing that would arose suspicion. Because of that they became master in multi functional tool crafting. Their tools would look like something a farmer might carry but all had hidden functions. For example two or three farmer sickles could be combined to a grappling hook.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH97GbxBFZ7QISv-R1aL6vcPfIfcu7itQyms2idRcl9dQL5iCuymkWS_aSHttw44fqhVdDfF-MN6nHQbD16Cg7HeUTZsmBw6Rf3pB8hY6T13p9rH15BkJrZ6OOD82OiOyWyFOudtgJsGs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1339.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH97GbxBFZ7QISv-R1aL6vcPfIfcu7itQyms2idRcl9dQL5iCuymkWS_aSHttw44fqhVdDfF-MN6nHQbD16Cg7HeUTZsmBw6Rf3pB8hY6T13p9rH15BkJrZ6OOD82OiOyWyFOudtgJsGs/s320/Nishinihon+1339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232037290358290386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ninja could build ladders very quickly from their surroundings<br />as you can see the grappling hook consists out of four peasants sickles<br /></div> </div><br />If they carried weapons they really carried the much famed Shuriken (throwing stars) and as an addendum Kunai (throwing daggers) which could also used for infighting and climbing if necessary. When carrying weapons they carried a typical Ninja multi functional sword. The peak is sharp and together with a stable protection blade, the sword could be used for pole-jumping. A rope adjusted to the sword made sure they could retain their sword after using it to jump a wall. The sharp peak of the hilt could also be removed and the hilt be used as snorkel.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y0hmj4D5-3fxD7tTHGnv74Es5AtY_G3-8SIJh7soogWNlkMCyrE1dSefDMU0JdpGIay74MoKX7UTbddRxoBYkZlDdHWiSKqniXokR1Lftu5Ae69nOmE1SgStl3_tccfUrTTtZoE0dXk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1367.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y0hmj4D5-3fxD7tTHGnv74Es5AtY_G3-8SIJh7soogWNlkMCyrE1dSefDMU0JdpGIay74MoKX7UTbddRxoBYkZlDdHWiSKqniXokR1Lftu5Ae69nOmE1SgStl3_tccfUrTTtZoE0dXk/s320/Nishinihon+1367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232038907217083378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />multi functional swords<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74I4CV81uPJf7eL3FPHw5Za3foo-XqF0JO0a3iMpnzy9FtLrLwVqv9k74S6vZLZsMzX02X1jXukr5hLuDJweLiMxPSjUl6yfsx_3eHbt9TxFfcUTnll0ic4kMlxRIBOl96h96UOpvwbo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1380.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74I4CV81uPJf7eL3FPHw5Za3foo-XqF0JO0a3iMpnzy9FtLrLwVqv9k74S6vZLZsMzX02X1jXukr5hLuDJweLiMxPSjUl6yfsx_3eHbt9TxFfcUTnll0ic4kMlxRIBOl96h96UOpvwbo/s320/Nishinihon+1380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232039515092817778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />you could always carry a sickle without arising suspicion<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxlAJs0wKlALmGqLKQIR9yFXW6immRXpVXeMv07wLBgPS90iRCeWoH138zuJ-iI7Q9KSzEqwxoDrCvYkvp34a65-to0n4MwWDMLWHwRwDs-RNaWleOgTlnRUwFdeAkRhyB05RFLOzKjI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1386.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxlAJs0wKlALmGqLKQIR9yFXW6immRXpVXeMv07wLBgPS90iRCeWoH138zuJ-iI7Q9KSzEqwxoDrCvYkvp34a65-to0n4MwWDMLWHwRwDs-RNaWleOgTlnRUwFdeAkRhyB05RFLOzKjI/s320/Nishinihon+1386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232039512475820098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the Shuriken's shape depended on the Ninja Clan<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSoJrmvFRZZtyPdeAZJbKJvvj4NyhtJMx7-nBROmVnjb7qkqgH71Nv7E2jyxAtWv1-G8_jBYhxznI_8ar9XW57rZgP2WIbe5_7XrAILqwJdFpWNLNUEvQxHktV4tOe0swUOOhRaKW2r4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1371.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSoJrmvFRZZtyPdeAZJbKJvvj4NyhtJMx7-nBROmVnjb7qkqgH71Nv7E2jyxAtWv1-G8_jBYhxznI_8ar9XW57rZgP2WIbe5_7XrAILqwJdFpWNLNUEvQxHktV4tOe0swUOOhRaKW2r4/s320/Nishinihon+1371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232038905922567410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />claws are a good weapon against swords<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNND-v4Jci-jlVEq9e3Ru2lA14aKAimQsFtR_2gQPkA_i8_ipDkGjweZ0m2EzMeF3SO605lygATvDOyykccL1kSmvrBWnVN2fmEaJeR6HW1KDjs6hF2G2I-7J7npPYC9b0vFUizFVcR4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1374.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNND-v4Jci-jlVEq9e3Ru2lA14aKAimQsFtR_2gQPkA_i8_ipDkGjweZ0m2EzMeF3SO605lygATvDOyykccL1kSmvrBWnVN2fmEaJeR6HW1KDjs6hF2G2I-7J7npPYC9b0vFUizFVcR4/s320/Nishinihon+1374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232038909201756818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />caltrops<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiva1ypd_NoSKuw2edQTjc4T-Rl2zua_gbbXWsSMHTeJocPL2rKrwey3yNDnFuQS3jYjh7J4JR5hBKqFr9KmV30o3Aio0Miv9dwQyQYJuLTxDuQStUh7kaYB8oDo2p8kG9sXXeDDpDylwc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1333.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiva1ypd_NoSKuw2edQTjc4T-Rl2zua_gbbXWsSMHTeJocPL2rKrwey3yNDnFuQS3jYjh7J4JR5hBKqFr9KmV30o3Aio0Miv9dwQyQYJuLTxDuQStUh7kaYB8oDo2p8kG9sXXeDDpDylwc/s320/Nishinihon+1333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232037284770544882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />lock picks<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbIu6kamna9y6wvf1iQmRh0oaZlAFWnEJNJcAjYjbr1paP4l3yHhnCdP5Z7-9wK6ago22LIrjXbvrSjDwhSK2FcS3Yc5kYB1-iEcgeiUbOyBTGPhZuGWzbmrAyfTrlRMF2QLelJGBYPE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1334.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbIu6kamna9y6wvf1iQmRh0oaZlAFWnEJNJcAjYjbr1paP4l3yHhnCdP5Z7-9wK6ago22LIrjXbvrSjDwhSK2FcS3Yc5kYB1-iEcgeiUbOyBTGPhZuGWzbmrAyfTrlRMF2QLelJGBYPE/s320/Nishinihon+1334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232037288116715570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kunai also had more purposes than fighting or throwing,<br />for example to dig into a wall<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzVqFX_OntNgf5WB7jYurE12eR9CrPxKRShJc56YBtSkAirsXXjjtYPjMLOcK4BXpN5H9DnD2IvwJKsY3XGkk86RZyJaXaY9GKEI0qJTaBQ9rRnI5lWRJYxw_wk76Lr3PXHT4fs8luRw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1343.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzVqFX_OntNgf5WB7jYurE12eR9CrPxKRShJc56YBtSkAirsXXjjtYPjMLOcK4BXpN5H9DnD2IvwJKsY3XGkk86RZyJaXaY9GKEI0qJTaBQ9rRnI5lWRJYxw_wk76Lr3PXHT4fs8luRw/s320/Nishinihon+1343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232037286946724050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />or to climb a wall<br /><br /></div>At most times however they could carry neither weapons nor many tools, to keep their cover. That is why they became masters of improvisation. They surpassed even Mac Gyver in being able to use their surroundings for their needs. To clarify another error, Ninja never wore black garments. Why? Because they needed to act in secrecy and wearing all black is very suspicious. Instead they wore navy blue garments, which looked exactly like the dresses of Iga-Ueno farmers and thus were very unsuspicious. Plus the color faded into the night just as well as black.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqFr7ziQ-ZuxZrYUw9c_zV-ZNgd8j07OY8_9A84PqeznSMU0XXpUI7SsUDOkva9C1llzom21ZLPWLvBL01HGQKcNi8u3bO3-8IVp3ErGHYrssgmFjPZwaIt9Tucapylh0HgdIFYcHpDg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1363.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqFr7ziQ-ZuxZrYUw9c_zV-ZNgd8j07OY8_9A84PqeznSMU0XXpUI7SsUDOkva9C1llzom21ZLPWLvBL01HGQKcNi8u3bO3-8IVp3ErGHYrssgmFjPZwaIt9Tucapylh0HgdIFYcHpDg/s320/Nishinihon+1363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232038103712620738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJw37OpM2XxBvGvBvE7zR3prA4ql2uhnh6H66q0J0lC0FxwoQqrQg4W2E1-kL3B-5TJe-oXU7YslTWI_JDz6am55Ds2USdqDzZV3bF2ku23JTYp3o8KVh4zl-RMAU0MtHE9P6tdO2-sVY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1364.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJw37OpM2XxBvGvBvE7zR3prA4ql2uhnh6H66q0J0lC0FxwoQqrQg4W2E1-kL3B-5TJe-oXU7YslTWI_JDz6am55Ds2USdqDzZV3bF2ku23JTYp3o8KVh4zl-RMAU0MtHE9P6tdO2-sVY/s320/Nishinihon+1364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232038108284937522" border="0" /></a></div><br />Did you know, that Ninja were great scientists? They were, especially in chemistry. For example they were masters in gunfighting, even before the first guns reached Japan from Portugal. So how is this possible? It has been kept secret until the mysteries have been explored only in this age. Before gun importing from Portugal, Ninja already developed their own kind of guns, used for assassinations from a distance. Not many people knew about this powerful weapon and those who knew gave their best keeping it secret. They also developed the famous smoke grenade, which allowed them to escape.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujLnuHv15fQkKhuxm1To-o67rVFBzjq6Lghg7m1rQz__w26ugPDg2Mj5zoTHFHQdowhjVUT2NsMBtl8IaCdV_4jVhkCx6tRyPjopSVqOIhJThkBQVeVjyDXFEeSqbmR5K18hST5T4ghw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1384.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujLnuHv15fQkKhuxm1To-o67rVFBzjq6Lghg7m1rQz__w26ugPDg2Mj5zoTHFHQdowhjVUT2NsMBtl8IaCdV_4jVhkCx6tRyPjopSVqOIhJThkBQVeVjyDXFEeSqbmR5K18hST5T4ghw/s320/Nishinihon+1384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232039515383527906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIrpsPKkVdoBY9L3ud5hPqlpRi7c76LpJo0sYpbcBhoSFSW6oMC1_Cs9MPWloGYP_4TuDxAqa7uSZgQ5SoIKGP5WMNYTamZ-bYw9k1mAPeFoJKyyXAiL_OYMksMD8x1lHoT9cM3zVq6g/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1379.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIrpsPKkVdoBY9L3ud5hPqlpRi7c76LpJo0sYpbcBhoSFSW6oMC1_Cs9MPWloGYP_4TuDxAqa7uSZgQ5SoIKGP5WMNYTamZ-bYw9k1mAPeFoJKyyXAiL_OYMksMD8x1lHoT9cM3zVq6g/s320/Nishinihon+1379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232038914036288690" border="0" /></a></div><br />Another less known fact is that they mastered coding of messages. When written messages had to be exchanged they needed to ensure, nobody could read them in case of an interception. They basically used two coding systems. One involving different colors and another involving ropes with knots. The second one is especially interesting, because it was not really a coding system, but in fact Japan's old and own system of writing. Yes that is right, despite what we learned in school (Japan had no writing system and adopted Kanji from China), ancient Japan in fact had a writing system similar to those of the Aztecs in South America. However at some point people started to forget about it. When the Ninja rediscovered it and realized its usability for exchanging messages, they looked into it that every written record of it (in Kanji) was destroyed and it really was forgotten.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVbBZCJHs_qKcwtcWhDmqJS-t0rN-n3jPAawjfu78dFyvMcA5824fgpV3i9Nxz1pkMWIEKphTU7MueBLxy562SjkLXzUfLSAPUdiNYp1WxEmBFCuBHvxf3WveKDP_PgPy4TV4cqw3hPQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1411.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVbBZCJHs_qKcwtcWhDmqJS-t0rN-n3jPAawjfu78dFyvMcA5824fgpV3i9Nxz1pkMWIEKphTU7MueBLxy562SjkLXzUfLSAPUdiNYp1WxEmBFCuBHvxf3WveKDP_PgPy4TV4cqw3hPQ/s320/Nishinihon+1411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232042191139679442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfLK_oGV2I3KxtI0lGZIWCp5876ABxgNkul8EYy-GGfnMaFpr0DEiHspLh1QaSVb23AszaEamZq3RyGhhkRbAYETbttFY0HscEEYUTCfnfd9ClOsM_UeS06ZBSN5EvtVQf57qtGo_gi4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1413.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfLK_oGV2I3KxtI0lGZIWCp5876ABxgNkul8EYy-GGfnMaFpr0DEiHspLh1QaSVb23AszaEamZq3RyGhhkRbAYETbttFY0HscEEYUTCfnfd9ClOsM_UeS06ZBSN5EvtVQf57qtGo_gi4/s320/Nishinihon+1413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232041646608990658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the ancient Japanese rope and knot characters where preserved by the Ninja<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6O1kAZj8ger-i9LrDG3ooFWdf3FKIbjwJ24UdroMgCi25ASgDd6J11zvFbUPKEo8H5-bYF-wAT-qdX8re6UOjgj3tVfuPpOO5sDE9Isy85oGLv0ZVR5L3LLOvAB_W7unrm4BilPj1Co/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1410.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6O1kAZj8ger-i9LrDG3ooFWdf3FKIbjwJ24UdroMgCi25ASgDd6J11zvFbUPKEo8H5-bYF-wAT-qdX8re6UOjgj3tVfuPpOO5sDE9Isy85oGLv0ZVR5L3LLOvAB_W7unrm4BilPj1Co/s320/Nishinihon+1410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232041643886612466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpBvmaFeoi0xsb2DXxgaaeFm-RZvsgwrUt6ye3pKXoiJ8Mit2dk7PNZhNUcPlXZzsGjhu6JXziNOrVZEArCkR0T3Bs8Nzv8tw1i6hiwdpMFVruSb6w_ZozQCwk-dv-I-A21tVabAT3sE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1421.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpBvmaFeoi0xsb2DXxgaaeFm-RZvsgwrUt6ye3pKXoiJ8Mit2dk7PNZhNUcPlXZzsGjhu6JXziNOrVZEArCkR0T3Bs8Nzv8tw1i6hiwdpMFVruSb6w_ZozQCwk-dv-I-A21tVabAT3sE/s320/Nishinihon+1421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232042195305841666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />system of color coding<br /></div><br />The training of the Ninja was very hard. Basically their whole life was training and learning. They had to become masters of memorizing, because the safest way to transmit a spied conversation is to remember it word by word, so no written record could get into anyone's hand or reveal the Ninja when under cover. But this is not easy and required daily memorizing training. Apart from that they needed very acrobatic bodies to be able to climb steep walls with few tools, run large distances, be always quicker than the enemy and become a master of fighting. Or rather killing, since Ninja rarely went into fighting, they rather sought for the quickest way of killing the opponent, even if it involved nasty techniques.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGC00r5Iz7aUPqWxBnw_fC-QtUasmWjkgW26CkcT5oaeql-JJqLYNEn-W8gbRKg5V8mG0BdVaLFS8GZHocDWr-mZqGaizYD0BGCxAdKkX__FVy-Sy0IRVRnZLZLfVaZjMBBcDY47Eg08/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1398.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGC00r5Iz7aUPqWxBnw_fC-QtUasmWjkgW26CkcT5oaeql-JJqLYNEn-W8gbRKg5V8mG0BdVaLFS8GZHocDWr-mZqGaizYD0BGCxAdKkX__FVy-Sy0IRVRnZLZLfVaZjMBBcDY47Eg08/s320/Nishinihon+1398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232040299084970834" border="0" /></a></div><br />Also less knows is that Ninja occupied themselves with sorcery. What they considered sorcery involved both the summoning of demons and spirits, consulting powers,and future telling, as well as more practical magic like hypnosis. According to books they were able to put a hypnotic spell on someone binding him to their will.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9nn-tvXu__S3ZZLew7liMU96exWcvLUDSzg8i0Z6RC0wpDZf5xOeoSOK7eLK3Ms9-wjNq3rV8O7G9WNNwe-oSTLAs2ggxBEbUb31tbbvxM4-HOGA3-EmYZEqniDX9r3HtJPngdcb7hA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1407.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9nn-tvXu__S3ZZLew7liMU96exWcvLUDSzg8i0Z6RC0wpDZf5xOeoSOK7eLK3Ms9-wjNq3rV8O7G9WNNwe-oSTLAs2ggxBEbUb31tbbvxM4-HOGA3-EmYZEqniDX9r3HtJPngdcb7hA/s320/Nishinihon+1407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232061682616035666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiyf5mR5Ufdp3tUe1XK7CUH6t7ZCZq0RDFvh4Tea84vCbCmF8ffq18XK6Vk0yWySsnzboPLSk_FY2XavaX_jaZFTP7D2qyhK7UM5SY5WxS9YmUg1u0q27iXEENhuUQq-75yC2Q3IsWLc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1399.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiyf5mR5Ufdp3tUe1XK7CUH6t7ZCZq0RDFvh4Tea84vCbCmF8ffq18XK6Vk0yWySsnzboPLSk_FY2XavaX_jaZFTP7D2qyhK7UM5SY5WxS9YmUg1u0q27iXEENhuUQq-75yC2Q3IsWLc/s320/Nishinihon+1399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232040299632844434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaQRQgmBW-dl0SfQyaJrj4wWIRCf0zq6WMEwM1jR2rwD9kLGxnO4H5uoqN0Jmie9rWNyBW_gSI4H4XbtmCE3F0PaV1TlUub-NJ0yMFyBY_fYcIFFgNt9XlEdeBS9dzk4XH0HQDLxoUH8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1416.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaQRQgmBW-dl0SfQyaJrj4wWIRCf0zq6WMEwM1jR2rwD9kLGxnO4H5uoqN0Jmie9rWNyBW_gSI4H4XbtmCE3F0PaV1TlUub-NJ0yMFyBY_fYcIFFgNt9XlEdeBS9dzk4XH0HQDLxoUH8/s320/Nishinihon+1416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232062194588011186" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Apart from that they were also master in weather forecasting and finding food and water in the wilderness. They often had to survive for days or weeks in the wilderness, were it was both important to foretell the weather as well as to find food, water and shelter. Despite this they found ways to keep themselves clean and keep body smells away, since they would quickly reveal themselves in hiding. Ninjas also developed a funny way of reading the time of from the eyes of a cat, called the cat clock.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYysUSGZK2oYVEo_dTUXlBLS805PXtki6PKYfDucq5iJc9sm4U-c9VrsB4oWWYU4_JmM9KTvfIaSV9mKAuVHaTPxV72erw_Hsd4Ool3mNecDA0skQ8-DkII84yh7OwBwglDakR0FxVNpE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1401.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYysUSGZK2oYVEo_dTUXlBLS805PXtki6PKYfDucq5iJc9sm4U-c9VrsB4oWWYU4_JmM9KTvfIaSV9mKAuVHaTPxV72erw_Hsd4Ool3mNecDA0skQ8-DkII84yh7OwBwglDakR0FxVNpE/s320/Nishinihon+1401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232040305424228818" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfslAvzcwqUX2jh9o0P_lBJygBVENgdTfbWkv4z2_EnIYlwZOT67yyFCLnly6We3scy2VDTn4wM5rjuVCOOJm9sRILEDi2EWA-CWBE2uUEwDTuKvU3n-FJ-8CsRxRNILJTnBNkWrmQhKA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1409.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfslAvzcwqUX2jh9o0P_lBJygBVENgdTfbWkv4z2_EnIYlwZOT67yyFCLnly6We3scy2VDTn4wM5rjuVCOOJm9sRILEDi2EWA-CWBE2uUEwDTuKvU3n-FJ-8CsRxRNILJTnBNkWrmQhKA/s320/Nishinihon+1409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232041645460295554" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_ragMVIpDnQ4lgHJdm30_QmOOxkAfDXOWVSp7ycr-AV_6NZ-Hxi7MszLqOzUZ29fC79__0O6SObMnla-bRILeNGsh2O9ZUEorOc2OuB4mOGwyxP7PIc1JyAK4bXQfn_WMDgB2UIchNM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1402.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_ragMVIpDnQ4lgHJdm30_QmOOxkAfDXOWVSp7ycr-AV_6NZ-Hxi7MszLqOzUZ29fC79__0O6SObMnla-bRILeNGsh2O9ZUEorOc2OuB4mOGwyxP7PIc1JyAK4bXQfn_WMDgB2UIchNM/s320/Nishinihon+1402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232041640743533666" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />According to written records, before the time of paved streets and railways, the Ninja had secret paths leading from important places to others. Using this well hidden paths, they could securely and quickly move through large distances. According to legend, the road connected all places containing the 賀 ga Kanji in the name.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3lShlvEdfkeS3E4Z15lJ-jL7IyX5_KpiBw3QXW_LTrpGiH7fw-hE7k8Hc-syfr-dhMtCXRhYPXUh5KA64xpaiYRGUqT_Dk9JtwQfY3j3WDqGK_7ELYwq1M9UgWGUrY6-IbHsUO6vJZE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1408.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3lShlvEdfkeS3E4Z15lJ-jL7IyX5_KpiBw3QXW_LTrpGiH7fw-hE7k8Hc-syfr-dhMtCXRhYPXUh5KA64xpaiYRGUqT_Dk9JtwQfY3j3WDqGK_7ELYwq1M9UgWGUrY6-IbHsUO6vJZE/s320/Nishinihon+1408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232041644072983906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>According to the museum the origins of Ninjustsu date as far back as 2000 years B.D. in China and India, where first techniques for espionage were developed. These techniques reached Japan probably during the Asuka and Nara Periods (500 A.D.). The height of the Iga-Ninja reached until the Sengoku Period (1500 A.D.) where Oda Nobunaga lead an army against the Ninja Clan. Although the Ninja were 1 to 10 outnumbered, because of their complete intel on the enemy, superior skills and fighting tactics (avoid open confict, guerillia fighting, strike and run) and all the traps and secret passages and rooms on thei home turf, they were able to defeat this first army. However Oda Nobunaga was angered and attacked the village again and now the Ninja were almost outnumbered 1 to 100, plus the enemy had learned about their skills, technqiues and traps. Thus they were defeated, but not disposed of. Oda Nobunaga and his successors realized the Ninja's values and let them serve for themselves. Iga lying in Mikawa Province and belonging to Matsuradai Clan, Tokugawa Ieyasu, leader of the clan, set in a trusted vassal as the head of the Iga Ninja's: <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">服部 半蔵 </span></span>Hattori Hanzo (on which the fictional Kill Bill character is based on). However loosing their independence, from this point on the power and fame of the Iga Ninja dwindled until it ended with the Meji Restauration in the end of the 19th century.<br /><br />Finally leaving the underground museum you can watch a display of Ninjutsu:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwm3QJLVRVduLrS99bAbxlrLvrHowWOwIyInC8q8xSaYvfaQMs79Weeutp6BTGFNgILZ3xapKFQ4YAg_hw3pw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Sword Pole Jumping<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz4M1sVC2S_3ZZ1G4U21jILJmCVteUrP5RjeNDEr8kyQWRwV2Mm38JMp9uuCjUZJ3UwfTdpHnw4IZ-Zk9r-TA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Midnight Fighting Action<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwJUYsiZ3d0M8dHqBfa0zs81gkeBc1Z-SeTs3WDeuvScKcWuUIcgu9VVVos3xhyban7Ls6_kn2ti_t8-S5qCw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Kendo Sword Fighting<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzsSEW8rEu7XiWuYKJcLADZMkGIEck2huxIivr2w_CJdeONtMa4BPeLtCdCkCxUZNdoeid40GqKjcqzQtaAbw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Shuriken Throwing<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">伊賀上野城 Iga-Ueno Castle</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKXGXwem7XRMhDjNVQpwM2IHDqIaoDoFmbt_sxiz0SpP9ogGkDVhG5Xx6bFGSTdo3a0QchYtP-JuZSUFTGiRd7kMZOJp5KtEbHZX5aFY_UkLC0VPgHtZcieLamb0Qm39BhNlsP20Zc98/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1425.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKXGXwem7XRMhDjNVQpwM2IHDqIaoDoFmbt_sxiz0SpP9ogGkDVhG5Xx6bFGSTdo3a0QchYtP-JuZSUFTGiRd7kMZOJp5KtEbHZX5aFY_UkLC0VPgHtZcieLamb0Qm39BhNlsP20Zc98/s320/Nishinihon+1425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232042573156048418" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />As the Iga region was very important, because of its Ninja, it also has a castle for defense. From this castle Tokugawa's vassal Hattori Hanzo ruled over Iga secretly training the Ninja Clan he took over.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHCGCGnm0IBfQZ5ZOiIh8Hjwvh2DhEaF_yTTdZkF6q0JjJV3Oxk-s3fNRud4uzkEX39loq8Lmwj_HLtw9F1rTbuR9deUzgvhZRykeggJvYCgh8ZaBUmwrb2ocrsVBmdOIsxQHwOO2Myk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1446.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHCGCGnm0IBfQZ5ZOiIh8Hjwvh2DhEaF_yTTdZkF6q0JjJV3Oxk-s3fNRud4uzkEX39loq8Lmwj_HLtw9F1rTbuR9deUzgvhZRykeggJvYCgh8ZaBUmwrb2ocrsVBmdOIsxQHwOO2Myk/s320/Nishinihon+1446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232044002286866034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdKwFbmO_f0H8RfJ82cxs-LfIhQl1IO5bab_I9h5Y1YG-YbT08C3pPTeswJJKQ8NZD32rKevW0J8UtRFyXfjVJlmcrFFjCQgPnAk0rzM2XM-fzrzNT9ykoG0kFzyQr8aF0XwUTR96Tc4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1437.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdKwFbmO_f0H8RfJ82cxs-LfIhQl1IO5bab_I9h5Y1YG-YbT08C3pPTeswJJKQ8NZD32rKevW0J8UtRFyXfjVJlmcrFFjCQgPnAk0rzM2XM-fzrzNT9ykoG0kFzyQr8aF0XwUTR96Tc4/s320/Nishinihon+1437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232043244982704738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37iL_e5sfUB65WGmcHuNwv_V3hkqzmBZM_QT3_fFP0jSEzRkT0UbYZ6O6F9zG4XbxzVJRLEbDrEy6l-xj0mtk2xCPh-DGHPdBTE044u2jPKWkjGvu1kHVdJsIHvi31X7hQCYA5jOzq9Y/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1439.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37iL_e5sfUB65WGmcHuNwv_V3hkqzmBZM_QT3_fFP0jSEzRkT0UbYZ6O6F9zG4XbxzVJRLEbDrEy6l-xj0mtk2xCPh-DGHPdBTE044u2jPKWkjGvu1kHVdJsIHvi31X7hQCYA5jOzq9Y/s320/Nishinihon+1439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232043249813698434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfATvDBwoMD3rPOMgCMsra2bL-EVVDy_Kw6OkPuQ95NTln26YPE_Wpqx4UsibUMtLyIwHf1pPdMN9E_aVBZPaTSByaqy5JRl4l07ij9d6gl859mYSXMP7IQxmPWlf4Vz3o2G30K8C1o4A/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1438.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfATvDBwoMD3rPOMgCMsra2bL-EVVDy_Kw6OkPuQ95NTln26YPE_Wpqx4UsibUMtLyIwHf1pPdMN9E_aVBZPaTSByaqy5JRl4l07ij9d6gl859mYSXMP7IQxmPWlf4Vz3o2G30K8C1o4A/s320/Nishinihon+1438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232043246915196946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />if you look around carefully, you can find Ninja spying on the place<br /></div></div><br />The castle is not really special, but has a really nice collection of Samurai helmets inside for display.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ2bkYLsjhyphenhyphenuZF2DY5XgWsDgHsyqbfFp8zTu26ZvQOHjCQ0G1On6mHKPhQb627Bfxx0a9QeRbVZs9-16ob-rUFM6gUAV-6aWMY05yCntxe8QjeLBtDSv7m_Q-xu7gVPRhcn57mtE3GPU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1427.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ2bkYLsjhyphenhyphenuZF2DY5XgWsDgHsyqbfFp8zTu26ZvQOHjCQ0G1On6mHKPhQb627Bfxx0a9QeRbVZs9-16ob-rUFM6gUAV-6aWMY05yCntxe8QjeLBtDSv7m_Q-xu7gVPRhcn57mtE3GPU/s320/Nishinihon+1427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232042571490229618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5lK-umAaLmLdQvU64ZqE-Gku-kzl9Xf_kbSTLIIvCwfHGE7G6Z5X95LJtT_1tmKkmPtp7-3nSkeasfeWd2YgM9nCqGrOsm6Be_HU-MlFRKCazZAMiWr7r9xspXbCCJs9fkOoqxmuECk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1428.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5lK-umAaLmLdQvU64ZqE-Gku-kzl9Xf_kbSTLIIvCwfHGE7G6Z5X95LJtT_1tmKkmPtp7-3nSkeasfeWd2YgM9nCqGrOsm6Be_HU-MlFRKCazZAMiWr7r9xspXbCCJs9fkOoqxmuECk/s320/Nishinihon+1428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232042573840401746" border="0" /></a><br /><br />this strange helmet was the castle's most valuable possesion<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVgfxq1i48qjbJTPq-a4EmHyj2DMfbUsC-TTSS9j2OVh014o6r4KCtK828VQA6xlXAZOA_WyVVWMHt1ZNviI16jdsrDFzSSyI9QtBEdHxzySK2whM_5xd1SygRIITFmmfI76vqWLhFmU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1431.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVgfxq1i48qjbJTPq-a4EmHyj2DMfbUsC-TTSS9j2OVh014o6r4KCtK828VQA6xlXAZOA_WyVVWMHt1ZNviI16jdsrDFzSSyI9QtBEdHxzySK2whM_5xd1SygRIITFmmfI76vqWLhFmU/s320/Nishinihon+1431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232042579247005682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJ_dw7JENS3hC9C_3VTMwMKFNs-Kjqg9E-l_zex23JmQq8jhXxgwK_R5mzmSx6IY8uk7IlDPNp9toVo6QKCeJ5DuUkxf1hINE4FsyXaP_B4PoBAobZY4sI5fvLiP_VzW8oHzhQsWR1vk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1434.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJ_dw7JENS3hC9C_3VTMwMKFNs-Kjqg9E-l_zex23JmQq8jhXxgwK_R5mzmSx6IY8uk7IlDPNp9toVo6QKCeJ5DuUkxf1hINE4FsyXaP_B4PoBAobZY4sI5fvLiP_VzW8oHzhQsWR1vk/s320/Nishinihon+1434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232042581327329602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">秘密な寺 Secret Temple</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">if you look around Iga-Ueno park more closely you can find an old path leading through the forest. It doesn't look like it's used anymore or that it leads anywhere. But...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeJoILSAOFzc2DOWi9RPvLQWwDsNSY7hKA-4Y-Nzv9Emr8awpUBvi-SLrPPdJpb-Lqt7XhFj8bpmEWOH7Cjtbe3Q34JE4mVhf-Jy1mcipwW2e0I5-Oumszjx6-SHivCLyXgKJrY-0AhU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1308.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeJoILSAOFzc2DOWi9RPvLQWwDsNSY7hKA-4Y-Nzv9Emr8awpUBvi-SLrPPdJpb-Lqt7XhFj8bpmEWOH7Cjtbe3Q34JE4mVhf-Jy1mcipwW2e0I5-Oumszjx6-SHivCLyXgKJrY-0AhU/s320/Nishinihon+1308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232035342944525778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />if you follow it...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuABFF3ELiOFXxefrbGYFqIV4fE_VcUxlLaZzaugpNjb1oBPGKRDQhG1BGK7QaW4m5bq3AWEpnyga1tff994LyxIzjTGx3gagNyCHvHt7pinknyu9kVSNioASyJTtuHXrgiJuTPXXKYY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1309.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuABFF3ELiOFXxefrbGYFqIV4fE_VcUxlLaZzaugpNjb1oBPGKRDQhG1BGK7QaW4m5bq3AWEpnyga1tff994LyxIzjTGx3gagNyCHvHt7pinknyu9kVSNioASyJTtuHXrgiJuTPXXKYY/s320/Nishinihon+1309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232035343583163602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and don't even stop at this clearing,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4cyX-mMnceDtak5otkQbMhFR2w9QDSTKU16XRxYsCrw6J1G8pxjwPPJM6KhyuW0Yi5r8fwdrr2DTXSNp3QxO09CxnCU-TrbjcyJTefRJ7FUlRH_DlH2m6cY6Oeuho6E19dv1CGfoapc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1310.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4cyX-mMnceDtak5otkQbMhFR2w9QDSTKU16XRxYsCrw6J1G8pxjwPPJM6KhyuW0Yi5r8fwdrr2DTXSNp3QxO09CxnCU-TrbjcyJTefRJ7FUlRH_DlH2m6cY6Oeuho6E19dv1CGfoapc/s320/Nishinihon+1310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232035347598024914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />but go further through the forest<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkvg-gDyZpliY3PZtFwCY2JR7BH0ZycDLlS6WiWHth5keT67Y9wF076fyPAo_WJ-utr2j3ELx8ou7_1UKy57t8KDwhgAf4S2yjwf2bd7z_zEO6NePN7Hq3iwRIXAaWJkeSr5ppmJfs2k/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1311.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkvg-gDyZpliY3PZtFwCY2JR7BH0ZycDLlS6WiWHth5keT67Y9wF076fyPAo_WJ-utr2j3ELx8ou7_1UKy57t8KDwhgAf4S2yjwf2bd7z_zEO6NePN7Hq3iwRIXAaWJkeSr5ppmJfs2k/s320/Nishinihon+1311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232035348066367106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />you can find a secret Teddy Bear temple<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">だんじり祭り Danjiri Festival Museum<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfU9BMWdfzsS01nRXZXx3MlXm3HIdTRpJxQinl_HtdxU3vUVRom-5IDkZVrpPmS1MKmXoNZXm1cZKvjO4b5ZGOorgfjaBC5CUIYngkqNwLQxP3SJbwml9VvrrTUd7FHhEKTSnSMnJztM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1468.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfU9BMWdfzsS01nRXZXx3MlXm3HIdTRpJxQinl_HtdxU3vUVRom-5IDkZVrpPmS1MKmXoNZXm1cZKvjO4b5ZGOorgfjaBC5CUIYngkqNwLQxP3SJbwml9VvrrTUd7FHhEKTSnSMnJztM/s320/Nishinihon+1468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232044453687293106" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The Iga-Ueno Pass includes entrance to a third place. A museum about the local festival, I probably wouldn't have entered if it wasn't included, since I have seen such places <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2007/09/kawagoe-high-school-festival.html">before</a>, but I did not regret it after all.<br /><br />I didn't regret it because the festival is quite unique. It had big floats (Dashi or Danjiri in the local language) like other festivals, but it also has a parade of Zombies and Demons.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOh5MXyZ99U_M97b-Enit94mU0AkQcWVQ5C0wrZibvxYWvReYdyEXugc49BfAbUKEGQKpuI6WL4Mnm2-cle38b9aQwa9fy9UQk1O8U5USWNm7Bv4RRzKDTsG5OIPjs2RNKdvmLiekzQzI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1477.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOh5MXyZ99U_M97b-Enit94mU0AkQcWVQ5C0wrZibvxYWvReYdyEXugc49BfAbUKEGQKpuI6WL4Mnm2-cle38b9aQwa9fy9UQk1O8U5USWNm7Bv4RRzKDTsG5OIPjs2RNKdvmLiekzQzI/s320/Nishinihon+1477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232045426262173458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />dashi (floats) for the festival</div><br />According to the brochure I got, a local Noh-Theater writer once wrote a piece including many demons. The performance became so popular that people started to perform it during the festival. A tradition was started to create more and more fearful scray demon masks and outfits. The demons were allowed to scare the people watching the parade and indeed they look terrifying ^_^<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-BIsx_UDhXzWAsj9D2IY3Iql1sV5d1GTgR4vikR7b78534VNe6T12OEkWtM6iVsC-cSaqo_LhjYAfcP3xJIh2Vp0kZ4sBGek5w9f_SPi3-Nin-oSqEhP9-31HpIv6vYXSirG1wSvsUo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1471.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-BIsx_UDhXzWAsj9D2IY3Iql1sV5d1GTgR4vikR7b78534VNe6T12OEkWtM6iVsC-cSaqo_LhjYAfcP3xJIh2Vp0kZ4sBGek5w9f_SPi3-Nin-oSqEhP9-31HpIv6vYXSirG1wSvsUo/s320/Nishinihon+1471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232044846089429570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireqZM19tW5Fwviw_FWr0H-CQbN5OkyakAWU7SVbQ7dfd05GzIldqwsj7yq01obTpkQ46-ynzeXDv5Y94DI59qaJEa7pBliNYfJmGxpBZGlNJF4zotnsGuvom8ZKK3Vz3KzqYLTKKCFRQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1473.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireqZM19tW5Fwviw_FWr0H-CQbN5OkyakAWU7SVbQ7dfd05GzIldqwsj7yq01obTpkQ46-ynzeXDv5Y94DI59qaJEa7pBliNYfJmGxpBZGlNJF4zotnsGuvom8ZKK3Vz3KzqYLTKKCFRQ/s320/Nishinihon+1473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232044849063507954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJu6PMy3vjhTw8R3zsWY3AE-AA6iobhUIfA8iamEiq0AojCz6k5OSM9IjdlXcYqzMz7zeJDDKUnlc-3FLtnGQ6EcrNhaSTe1-sYeafi1smjd5a_XRFciMMwAaPidcAQIheFiI1-ljycq4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1474.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJu6PMy3vjhTw8R3zsWY3AE-AA6iobhUIfA8iamEiq0AojCz6k5OSM9IjdlXcYqzMz7zeJDDKUnlc-3FLtnGQ6EcrNhaSTe1-sYeafi1smjd5a_XRFciMMwAaPidcAQIheFiI1-ljycq4/s320/Nishinihon+1474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232044849921277522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCnvr6mVWaIvhKRA6207wI7SLNlYFQMpUu_2yHURq2RPL_ZJHwUsLtQ4Q0IsgwAofKf9tOjCOs2SLILelCmeOOyrlloFBqZ79L1kjRxWi4EvX9ZDeRYKkk70v35hYKjrRHIHib9no-0k/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1475.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCnvr6mVWaIvhKRA6207wI7SLNlYFQMpUu_2yHURq2RPL_ZJHwUsLtQ4Q0IsgwAofKf9tOjCOs2SLILelCmeOOyrlloFBqZ79L1kjRxWi4EvX9ZDeRYKkk70v35hYKjrRHIHib9no-0k/s320/Nishinihon+1475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232044850439496962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh638LTV5-MDJAv43R-GYMdWiGn2LQwf9LYJXHy-woLmvrA3ipeHiYXkFKJhlWilASPiLzak8s-1lv8PlEBDOwE702sumX92ZpxcXywKKYxscEWAyeig8CbAxnDvqhc4BS9EhNgDxZmw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1476.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh638LTV5-MDJAv43R-GYMdWiGn2LQwf9LYJXHy-woLmvrA3ipeHiYXkFKJhlWilASPiLzak8s-1lv8PlEBDOwE702sumX92ZpxcXywKKYxscEWAyeig8CbAxnDvqhc4BS9EhNgDxZmw/s320/Nishinihon+1476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232044852541994770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />it most be really horrifying to see them march<br />it must feel like being in a Zombie movie<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">松尾芭蕉 Matsu Basho (1644 - 1694)</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyT-RL1MUefpd9_MD3kz4SKfKdhVOLhoFgSAXv1bsZhdYQx3HshR8Q2nEo27GamQuUzqRHfmeNsaCYHO5UhpFsILCgL63-gasR5MYla73eUfULuSEVMNTlTDjfZvga6hcHDIeG33V71s/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1295.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyT-RL1MUefpd9_MD3kz4SKfKdhVOLhoFgSAXv1bsZhdYQx3HshR8Q2nEo27GamQuUzqRHfmeNsaCYHO5UhpFsILCgL63-gasR5MYla73eUfULuSEVMNTlTDjfZvga6hcHDIeG33V71s/s320/Nishinihon+1295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232034047485173346" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Matsuo Basho is Japan's most famous poet. In Europe he is often introduced as the inventor of Haiku, but that is not entirely true. Before Basho's time there were already short poems called Haikai which usually told a joke or some funny story.<br /><br />Basho was born 1644 in Iga City and introduced to poetry in a young age, got an excellent education and eventually acted as teacher in Edo (former name of Tokyo) himself. Working both as teacher and poet in Edo during the Edo Period, where Edo was Japan's center, quickly made him famous throughout the country. However even after becoming famous, he avoided the circles of high society and despised the urban life.<br /><br />Instead he sought for tranquility and contemplation in nature and started traveling around the country. Altogether he undertook four journeys which lead him through out Japan, in a time when traveling was still difficult and burdensome. His life can be seen as one long pilgrimage through nature.<br /><br />On his journeys he realized that the Haikai poems, while funny have no depth. Also inspired by Buddhist ideas, he decided to reform Haikai, Japanese poetry and the entire thinking of the people to deal with more philosophical ideas. He found the Haikai or then Haiku the perfect carrier. With its limited structure, you can only write very few words. However even with very few words, you can say all there is to say and touch the essence of the world.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">旅に病んで<br />夢は枯れ野を<br />かけぬぐる<br /><br />on a journey, ailing -<br />my dreams roam around<br />over a withered moor<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">With his ideas and ideals, although living on pilgrimages, he reached the thoughts of many Japanese people and many were inspired by his character and tried to follow his path. He succeeded in giving the people and life itself more meaning and depth, inspring people to think about life and marvel about the simple wonders of nature.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">芭蕉翁記念館 Basho Memorial Museum</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlobPpfhz62oYFhfgZXDhuSBVt365qUDhm7JEfezpyPMqpAbkPsZOOKdTX5VX7qvtt1QK0fSdLqDaNkd1w2hWY2pKz0xrvfQWsR4i_myWlFvk0WEZ18Pzj7CIiF8Yy1CnsGiTNaMA7Qs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1293.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlobPpfhz62oYFhfgZXDhuSBVt365qUDhm7JEfezpyPMqpAbkPsZOOKdTX5VX7qvtt1QK0fSdLqDaNkd1w2hWY2pKz0xrvfQWsR4i_myWlFvk0WEZ18Pzj7CIiF8Yy1CnsGiTNaMA7Qs/s320/Nishinihon+1293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232034046375688322" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />In Iga-Ueno park you can not only find the castle and the Ninja Museum, but also the Basho Memorial Museum. The place is small, but it introduces Basho to the visitors and displays many of his poems in original form.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghm7lUmFBykMt4KGf99PLfgcoCFnAVDzIy5ktPjbytfr9dkumHTIeebE-BIen2m_HfTzkhTN1Vk7-SpdwCgIdg0QjZzQIs16hkS36vSDtFtv4Q_gooOEXIbLHeSG8jtDXRKxlChDdltLY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1296.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghm7lUmFBykMt4KGf99PLfgcoCFnAVDzIy5ktPjbytfr9dkumHTIeebE-BIen2m_HfTzkhTN1Vk7-SpdwCgIdg0QjZzQIs16hkS36vSDtFtv4Q_gooOEXIbLHeSG8jtDXRKxlChDdltLY/s320/Nishinihon+1296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232034046281085970" border="0" /></a></div><br />A second section illustrates and talks about the four travels he has done.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioahmLFjXdpu7MYLbc3Gnbrw4yUM8pecM40o-2lDYhgjECmckypq_TzCu7T-y-a0LoPgEdHrmJGNV_3HS0OXz8YTQamloda54nG0b83DfAY_8cmCV47KpcM73vZwO8tgVzkYnqc4gnqIk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1297.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioahmLFjXdpu7MYLbc3Gnbrw4yUM8pecM40o-2lDYhgjECmckypq_TzCu7T-y-a0LoPgEdHrmJGNV_3HS0OXz8YTQamloda54nG0b83DfAY_8cmCV47KpcM73vZwO8tgVzkYnqc4gnqIk/s320/Nishinihon+1297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232034760565186194" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>年暮れぬ<br />笠着て草鞋<br />履きながら<br /><br /></i>another year is gone<br />a traveler's shade on my head,<br />straw sandals at my feet<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">俳聖殿 Basho Pavilion<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngX4XKYKtPaA2PjFCaB7o-6D-T58VfTE2SyJFnvGxc4Nib6SOwoBpmzXnQfsB0wmDnVJZ3iJxi1qyp1ZhBwNHg2lP7B8O0mdhiRYI8zra1LgejB1HwvMpb_n0lwlIM12sfOdFpuG_ii4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1305.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngX4XKYKtPaA2PjFCaB7o-6D-T58VfTE2SyJFnvGxc4Nib6SOwoBpmzXnQfsB0wmDnVJZ3iJxi1qyp1ZhBwNHg2lP7B8O0mdhiRYI8zra1LgejB1HwvMpb_n0lwlIM12sfOdFpuG_ii4/s320/Nishinihon+1305.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232034761691705506" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />To Basho's honor a pavilion has been erected shaped like the hat, he used to wear on his travels. It can be found in Iga-Ueno park close to the Memorial Museum.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwK3k97uh7EgdLdauJzzFFGqXkIdeZMKynh_efue48sw5sSBFZXnSE0hu6EHU6a-j9-HW1XqXSo-TItjMsCUhyqUiO3ZPg1cAHjskPZeIMbRH5yrJIKoaFq9RqUEarGvNjfeu_FBs7NUQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1307.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwK3k97uh7EgdLdauJzzFFGqXkIdeZMKynh_efue48sw5sSBFZXnSE0hu6EHU6a-j9-HW1XqXSo-TItjMsCUhyqUiO3ZPg1cAHjskPZeIMbRH5yrJIKoaFq9RqUEarGvNjfeu_FBs7NUQ/s320/Nishinihon+1307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232034763664299698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJAQV1wpSH3Z_ADelY_lMxjdCquAZSO4ptSkk4ZLPCMqe9vfdHfJeZfjNXfJqdhj2l6npjqJxGTH5n3KsVzrlmX-3Wvwm0hntidLBjLkiQq6fyFXUokEUY-I1HwzxvzYcCmwtKtbwzqA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1304.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJAQV1wpSH3Z_ADelY_lMxjdCquAZSO4ptSkk4ZLPCMqe9vfdHfJeZfjNXfJqdhj2l6npjqJxGTH5n3KsVzrlmX-3Wvwm0hntidLBjLkiQq6fyFXUokEUY-I1HwzxvzYcCmwtKtbwzqA/s320/Nishinihon+1304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232034761493755522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />いざさらば<br />雪見に転ぶ<br />所まで<br /><br />now then, let's go out<br />to enjoy the snow... until<br />I slip and fall!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">芭蕉翁生家 Basho's Birth House</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtMrGtt5eK07ZwBBrVts1xMxth4XpW8hmfp1obkWXxOiF_adQohwLIxs_QsCuk0apWULZULOuPlfGQptauZrayGRXVoKN35FwYijdgVsHrVYxgY9e_JojF6tVTAEu1H_Y9uhx1CGfZEY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1485.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtMrGtt5eK07ZwBBrVts1xMxth4XpW8hmfp1obkWXxOiF_adQohwLIxs_QsCuk0apWULZULOuPlfGQptauZrayGRXVoKN35FwYijdgVsHrVYxgY9e_JojF6tVTAEu1H_Y9uhx1CGfZEY/s320/Nishinihon+1485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232045429184935330" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Close to the Danjiri Museum you can find Basho's birth house. A very simple house with a tiny garden. You can go inside and look at the interior, some remaining pots and tools also remain, which might have served Basho once as child.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64MccnS3dwjBiqU9Pj8BropmdERkMtgYnF292lWLktVZn8zHaWbaN4JrwCw3cDjyNCPuK-1VTV0SAxY1ppz1vl6F-d6vz2z0Fqsd-tdg11vJzM6y7_VXG8mxgn66wC1ipkdUdmHEvH-A/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1497.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64MccnS3dwjBiqU9Pj8BropmdERkMtgYnF292lWLktVZn8zHaWbaN4JrwCw3cDjyNCPuK-1VTV0SAxY1ppz1vl6F-d6vz2z0Fqsd-tdg11vJzM6y7_VXG8mxgn66wC1ipkdUdmHEvH-A/s320/Nishinihon+1497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232045784921888098" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgniMOLFnrLLynKwzaviqhdDzyThyphenhyphenFmepxIL4XTFquoZei4sjAdc1YQ_FxC_PRTJFBeUl02FCZiPYPgdMVbc4_mCBGOdrx8UtI_VOKAs5YLCQOQGLN7710NItj-QXBm4-y5jJZUm9Uv8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1491.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgniMOLFnrLLynKwzaviqhdDzyThyphenhyphenFmepxIL4XTFquoZei4sjAdc1YQ_FxC_PRTJFBeUl02FCZiPYPgdMVbc4_mCBGOdrx8UtI_VOKAs5YLCQOQGLN7710NItj-QXBm4-y5jJZUm9Uv8/s320/Nishinihon+1491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232045776855573458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeySa-vpsTqFsDC12Ndmy3dtm-6f6qezEYNyra6ixcE3e8-86OHsDAl9EbKmavLXmDN0p3Hm-a7twpVbA4_6cqC9FZgFbe3OW465yvCrES7YvBYVRS4z8NR3bX3DlSp8Rrd0QfzgOVZo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1488.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeySa-vpsTqFsDC12Ndmy3dtm-6f6qezEYNyra6ixcE3e8-86OHsDAl9EbKmavLXmDN0p3Hm-a7twpVbA4_6cqC9FZgFbe3OW465yvCrES7YvBYVRS4z8NR3bX3DlSp8Rrd0QfzgOVZo/s320/Nishinihon+1488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232045428264674242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />toilet ^^<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9fs72L-2ao0wm7BezrsP1CGf6mczy-MHGQQDSdA9036T0IJDoBOoYw2V5teDSElaKfc-vKmz3CnphcczB-Z1df2pv20gCKj7xK2JWcOr8t4NdCezW_eSBbOBXhkq0vU8Hkwj5yO7mfk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1490.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9fs72L-2ao0wm7BezrsP1CGf6mczy-MHGQQDSdA9036T0IJDoBOoYw2V5teDSElaKfc-vKmz3CnphcczB-Z1df2pv20gCKj7xK2JWcOr8t4NdCezW_eSBbOBXhkq0vU8Hkwj5yO7mfk/s320/Nishinihon+1490.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232045432813158994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCoZvJsyFyf7UGwGFBAwwLdcvsUh-dgG2k6z8oTBqBdIYaWlnTUZWXzktFga6lU3cznG4Vltm1w46a2wPG6YMJF3c4xZRzG3pFTrhWqcZeYy0twJZMdC6HyIN6wjarmr9uVV5xuJ8nwU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1493.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCoZvJsyFyf7UGwGFBAwwLdcvsUh-dgG2k6z8oTBqBdIYaWlnTUZWXzktFga6lU3cznG4Vltm1w46a2wPG6YMJF3c4xZRzG3pFTrhWqcZeYy0twJZMdC6HyIN6wjarmr9uVV5xuJ8nwU/s320/Nishinihon+1493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232045778644110642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9al9QO1hfZ1jKtq_2cN1TBcSNKupH2OA4GG9BUjn5r8ISbmyCUUP98Cs6_N56OEZmP5FgzJMQ-PbtftFlpX-bX9r_d7IIHkBA8rKC5Ps2zUsbjKiFvOD63Ra0OsjYjehJfgrsKhf_os8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1496.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9al9QO1hfZ1jKtq_2cN1TBcSNKupH2OA4GG9BUjn5r8ISbmyCUUP98Cs6_N56OEZmP5FgzJMQ-PbtftFlpX-bX9r_d7IIHkBA8rKC5Ps2zUsbjKiFvOD63Ra0OsjYjehJfgrsKhf_os8/s320/Nishinihon+1496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232045781354244290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyr-ayW1hi2dlCL8M3dKj12P7_avmod1vIyTDO1U3H4E8iA9LLaQ7BrZxrAkYn-tJb-fqBnm6GFC3FO49vkmCPXth5EMCs0BdjoyoqWzs1VkRmS62UmeIREi3uWOlnDs_S31UQmU_NN8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1499.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyr-ayW1hi2dlCL8M3dKj12P7_avmod1vIyTDO1U3H4E8iA9LLaQ7BrZxrAkYn-tJb-fqBnm6GFC3FO49vkmCPXth5EMCs0BdjoyoqWzs1VkRmS62UmeIREi3uWOlnDs_S31UQmU_NN8/s320/Nishinihon+1499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232045782487248082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">上野天神宮 Iga-Ueno Heaven Shrine<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9cKy6t13P1bPrg9UtHXDZz5LxyImBZRSQojK5uP1UWnwbIF158Z05agQZX1wyF7GJZF0UEAK7htGoQMGBeqTocaYxgK6t8Vhd_29IJtHsyNhZRHrEJgcTR8Cjb3c0gNUa4imkumWI3M/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1500.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9cKy6t13P1bPrg9UtHXDZz5LxyImBZRSQojK5uP1UWnwbIF158Z05agQZX1wyF7GJZF0UEAK7htGoQMGBeqTocaYxgK6t8Vhd_29IJtHsyNhZRHrEJgcTR8Cjb3c0gNUa4imkumWI3M/s320/Nishinihon+1500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232047276260480722" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />This shrine was built honoring Basho's transformation of 俳諧 Haikai into 俳句 Haiku, when he was 29 years old and used the pseudonym 宗房 Sōbō (the On-Reading of his Samurai name Munefasa, written with the same Kanji). It lies on the way to the famous Minomushian House and you actually walk through the shrine on the way, so you can as well look at it ^_^<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1PDDyXT7xBHkNlD91fyudDAhMk3gm_AiuqhXVoBMeWrfclMKPMKjDDcFJnxu2RR1ChkaW94FmZKztO-y8HDBREn2wP8WC2ac1-GKcbcsROQ_dqo6ACDME8vFiYm0grgh9OLmqBicbeo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1502.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1PDDyXT7xBHkNlD91fyudDAhMk3gm_AiuqhXVoBMeWrfclMKPMKjDDcFJnxu2RR1ChkaW94FmZKztO-y8HDBREn2wP8WC2ac1-GKcbcsROQ_dqo6ACDME8vFiYm0grgh9OLmqBicbeo/s320/Nishinihon+1502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232047279496009154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYZDORZX0Ci_YDLue74_YPcnxADeyM6FPSvrUK0yMkzQS4aRXJN5_cJKC_P_zhXtMEDAtKYswy5n9NjOljGqMND38SdBcYRgtcyw3Yiny4w5LGWcKQoKpFabodGbrhpGSW48f3Or1XzI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1504.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYZDORZX0Ci_YDLue74_YPcnxADeyM6FPSvrUK0yMkzQS4aRXJN5_cJKC_P_zhXtMEDAtKYswy5n9NjOljGqMND38SdBcYRgtcyw3Yiny4w5LGWcKQoKpFabodGbrhpGSW48f3Or1XzI/s320/Nishinihon+1504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232047281125671186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlSq_6Ker2N21Fd2LYko7reMtLcTHZLqRmSHN0vr4i9S4mBx7TzZy88rOuCoikEdvHZfv0g9-Z0aT_877Yp9lm5DrEQbL0oZY3YbJTSjrfx5C5id6pS1XxC13w96VHORKkXTBirmY13M/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1501.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlSq_6Ker2N21Fd2LYko7reMtLcTHZLqRmSHN0vr4i9S4mBx7TzZy88rOuCoikEdvHZfv0g9-Z0aT_877Yp9lm5DrEQbL0oZY3YbJTSjrfx5C5id6pS1XxC13w96VHORKkXTBirmY13M/s320/Nishinihon+1501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232047282745146818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzfqfJtlzyASPQdx-cp56ItCEjNsG0Uv6GuoEeDOxCnNmmf0UozIRP19GINyJjOiTKN9rdKVs_oL8aUPuqroIwbThI31cq09rXKwKaG890fAz-9OBBJsXaN2g0IVDLJwPnWFCsiSDkuw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1506.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzfqfJtlzyASPQdx-cp56ItCEjNsG0Uv6GuoEeDOxCnNmmf0UozIRP19GINyJjOiTKN9rdKVs_oL8aUPuqroIwbThI31cq09rXKwKaG890fAz-9OBBJsXaN2g0IVDLJwPnWFCsiSDkuw/s320/Nishinihon+1506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232047283879430450" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">寺街 Temple Street</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8N_3mLiQq3og4SLyq8mBqQoHODjaCxPwMhOsAlVU8QkGYai45eNs7Owrz0v42pj10LzQR0nfZpmgYR9G05Ui2oDH8_mzdmbPOIJaAVnun1FlOmgO0mJYALfEja_TWK1QJVWD6BvM_5Oc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1515.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8N_3mLiQq3og4SLyq8mBqQoHODjaCxPwMhOsAlVU8QkGYai45eNs7Owrz0v42pj10LzQR0nfZpmgYR9G05Ui2oDH8_mzdmbPOIJaAVnun1FlOmgO0mJYALfEja_TWK1QJVWD6BvM_5Oc/s320/Nishinihon+1515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232049026975279794" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />From Heaven Shrine onwards to the Minomushi Hermitage, you should choose to walk this road. It contains seven temples, which make walking down the road vert enjoyable.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_eRKFH7cDtZnFmW1Ilt6KOa36b8USajcLqujFfmlPmyaoe8ickXhVW3K1o0cWWCN4bdzd6Z8zZX1HxB1bvA0i7jeQ7wUbMdHcIIMJ6jVrxQ1vGnZy7yGIYV4NdrlVdwvR4H8foyMcPY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1522.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_eRKFH7cDtZnFmW1Ilt6KOa36b8USajcLqujFfmlPmyaoe8ickXhVW3K1o0cWWCN4bdzd6Z8zZX1HxB1bvA0i7jeQ7wUbMdHcIIMJ6jVrxQ1vGnZy7yGIYV4NdrlVdwvR4H8foyMcPY/s320/Nishinihon+1522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232049567429411090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqxeeiw33v03DL8RrIVAgAqfe3fuQw6AyU6KJ5c6tViX-2cFFJg8zuJoMv7a3Un4O12AL-cwuKMX206bnoMn_dIOXs0Bc6fYVrmTZvMJalLlY8glVZqKLyk8glij3zMeuX6gMOE7gbY8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1516.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqxeeiw33v03DL8RrIVAgAqfe3fuQw6AyU6KJ5c6tViX-2cFFJg8zuJoMv7a3Un4O12AL-cwuKMX206bnoMn_dIOXs0Bc6fYVrmTZvMJalLlY8glVZqKLyk8glij3zMeuX6gMOE7gbY8/s320/Nishinihon+1516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232049028577279154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fxtidGor-IIpxz8Hic1fRKJ2EVpSZmYln4UKtAd9Do-XDOoW1G4yu8qmyjSDo2swELth3eM8O5qAEiL1veoY6SsZk4PB9nal497vMok_jSlI0qVPmvVxEFfC_fnL37ZbxNShuTENT94/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1518.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fxtidGor-IIpxz8Hic1fRKJ2EVpSZmYln4UKtAd9Do-XDOoW1G4yu8qmyjSDo2swELth3eM8O5qAEiL1veoY6SsZk4PB9nal497vMok_jSlI0qVPmvVxEFfC_fnL37ZbxNShuTENT94/s320/Nishinihon+1518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232049024714936978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmhr28cfuLj_HTYPRogQbWiz47p_ngv4rfdz3A6pgYG6RfHTCdV02VllPd6bPnEvR2CUgNGLpIwg9IA2gPyx1RKIUHHrlE20cqNceAd31zbvFEVVntLeahheqtDH_QPVXakh5JSBk9yE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1520.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmhr28cfuLj_HTYPRogQbWiz47p_ngv4rfdz3A6pgYG6RfHTCdV02VllPd6bPnEvR2CUgNGLpIwg9IA2gPyx1RKIUHHrlE20cqNceAd31zbvFEVVntLeahheqtDH_QPVXakh5JSBk9yE/s320/Nishinihon+1520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232049031201716082" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxYWU-WNmWQHUp4B6YQ90YHnhDzlHoXxfJy6UKHZTjGUxXpNIWVX59eeO4nX5DoiHlAMnwpnT-hSKTqiGVBtu9hqL7DXg3f9Z_At9zhqdc919kEYEaNobAE88VB9OktJdNY1HfqO8d8Q/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1524.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxYWU-WNmWQHUp4B6YQ90YHnhDzlHoXxfJy6UKHZTjGUxXpNIWVX59eeO4nX5DoiHlAMnwpnT-hSKTqiGVBtu9hqL7DXg3f9Z_At9zhqdc919kEYEaNobAE88VB9OktJdNY1HfqO8d8Q/s320/Nishinihon+1524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232049567931913410" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">蓑虫庵 Minomushi Hermitage</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e-0yFShRfzKyRK2F9yID9WqT-fSabozuH8gpJqKr2kaDUUZn7HmZvzLpp_4Ehvyuzve0dxLnXxQWZNF6X90KB0eTaRreLX00qHX1iQOv93CEs8DZYXv0kViDz6BlDtfOU8cjwRy8YpY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1526.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e-0yFShRfzKyRK2F9yID9WqT-fSabozuH8gpJqKr2kaDUUZn7HmZvzLpp_4Ehvyuzve0dxLnXxQWZNF6X90KB0eTaRreLX00qHX1iQOv93CEs8DZYXv0kViDz6BlDtfOU8cjwRy8YpY/s320/Nishinihon+1526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232049570292004562" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Minomushian was one of the five hermitages of Basho. He loved his quiet little hometown of Iga and spent a lot of his life in this hermitage. You can go inside to see how Basho the hermit and poet lived and how he found contemplation for his poems in the wonderful garden behind the house.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBv2EzuJjQGzFcNlFyczBh3pc0IMrwiQW1aeGcAiA8YQC6SubrRdRVauPX6Kp_vkHjkOMP8Z6AvRwgzo1O8QRX6V2SlMAq3rFGpSsuJ9XobOQvo9yGr1tI7rd33IGYHR7QimKKVKb6Kw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1547.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBv2EzuJjQGzFcNlFyczBh3pc0IMrwiQW1aeGcAiA8YQC6SubrRdRVauPX6Kp_vkHjkOMP8Z6AvRwgzo1O8QRX6V2SlMAq3rFGpSsuJ9XobOQvo9yGr1tI7rd33IGYHR7QimKKVKb6Kw/s320/Nishinihon+1547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232050877854616210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2rsV2bdJg8MGUWv7bvE3wiIpG6kSU1IDW2QGBl4FrUhuDTWf4qmhTh1NbpxkfJiG4e-WMnUBmagkx8ubOvCuOJS0x94JduIHe_CRUcsmFBMzN37O6UFSaGnEFPnirPT1VAwGTxOMR4c/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1533.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2rsV2bdJg8MGUWv7bvE3wiIpG6kSU1IDW2QGBl4FrUhuDTWf4qmhTh1NbpxkfJiG4e-WMnUBmagkx8ubOvCuOJS0x94JduIHe_CRUcsmFBMzN37O6UFSaGnEFPnirPT1VAwGTxOMR4c/s320/Nishinihon+1533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232050350424994802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfDKCkRqCRWrHSL_NZDCSrYUNWjCeKxlHq8OYtUA8vYFbfKPoimWHQLmJnX_ZZ15_tkC53ozNNDTFSaRtOOmrxC-uF5ipVdhnnteYwnKmfk9sx3Pffs_KGFoh47PBVgS2E2lG8KmCiO0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1535.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfDKCkRqCRWrHSL_NZDCSrYUNWjCeKxlHq8OYtUA8vYFbfKPoimWHQLmJnX_ZZ15_tkC53ozNNDTFSaRtOOmrxC-uF5ipVdhnnteYwnKmfk9sx3Pffs_KGFoh47PBVgS2E2lG8KmCiO0/s320/Nishinihon+1535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232050349446399330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gkzEB1Vde2BzBXzlBrbBjVSEefQ8NJ5h57o-hLDiCP6oBli_puoJS_OOnUegZ14poclBQoy6dxjo6Ja7n4B_sfaOX9BMgxlEaMfV8sQWYmB3BI5MCvdSVJHqi6ogpL43YgMZf2IKXRs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1537.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gkzEB1Vde2BzBXzlBrbBjVSEefQ8NJ5h57o-hLDiCP6oBli_puoJS_OOnUegZ14poclBQoy6dxjo6Ja7n4B_sfaOX9BMgxlEaMfV8sQWYmB3BI5MCvdSVJHqi6ogpL43YgMZf2IKXRs/s320/Nishinihon+1537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232050350850249346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aVeena_vvIm6a-PPmvRrNoH8WjDqNC5CCpwJGUvzA3HTmcSYlNIFDWYWIAbOhNRr9vkfwbUW5XrVH9DX4-W1JNJ0XJkT-mM3wnbixq10D_ZYul2nuSph3EpHVtYkdxbGz4gZbs6gKqs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1539.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aVeena_vvIm6a-PPmvRrNoH8WjDqNC5CCpwJGUvzA3HTmcSYlNIFDWYWIAbOhNRr9vkfwbUW5XrVH9DX4-W1JNJ0XJkT-mM3wnbixq10D_ZYul2nuSph3EpHVtYkdxbGz4gZbs6gKqs/s320/Nishinihon+1539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232050355844620690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftWzmuWghLA_F2uCqL3vPIwpDoQBQzVLDRmfez7_SaHg5A5gP_jbhDNwGaRkaxWmbIcnCmMpR8O0qGvLElRfGaotn2_oAOc9Aa35VQud-Z9_VrLdQie8llFWg0MBoi3qPjxaJ3NoqOxk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1540.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftWzmuWghLA_F2uCqL3vPIwpDoQBQzVLDRmfez7_SaHg5A5gP_jbhDNwGaRkaxWmbIcnCmMpR8O0qGvLElRfGaotn2_oAOc9Aa35VQud-Z9_VrLdQie8llFWg0MBoi3qPjxaJ3NoqOxk/s320/Nishinihon+1540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232050355398037730" border="0" /></a></div><br />Minomushi refers to an insect with a very distinct noise. He said the harmonious noise of minomushi gave him calmness and contemplation. I found the insects less calming and more annoying, but the nice woman from the entrance came to my rescue and adjusted a kind of incense to my jeans, that held off the enemy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-n3nZlosN_ChnfDJqomqLUjdB8Q24yLwWrRU2sb1Q96YixPwQfbej_DKM42Ze96s7FqhwOVTHMQ_Qk0hPLCwXkUsB8VsWZWfBJ-bRZ_hFydGyxYqLLl6CguZ5X-bHYrM08fSRLR05s4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1544.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-n3nZlosN_ChnfDJqomqLUjdB8Q24yLwWrRU2sb1Q96YixPwQfbej_DKM42Ze96s7FqhwOVTHMQ_Qk0hPLCwXkUsB8VsWZWfBJ-bRZ_hFydGyxYqLLl6CguZ5X-bHYrM08fSRLR05s4/s320/Nishinihon+1544.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232050879278651554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>In this garden he is also supposed to have written 奥の細道<b> </b>The Narrow Road to the Deep North, one of his most famous Haiku:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6yHdbi8eG2S9xUP7-Oy5KGBN5HyjU38mCoxhhebJ1JanGq0PBbmV43qSfptdOC71McC8_Ju4u69sKKdlgQREij24gxLjCqfGMWsklT41nblq8OgLFwWIs0I30rcjQd8d9l2s90HSI3Y/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1546.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6yHdbi8eG2S9xUP7-Oy5KGBN5HyjU38mCoxhhebJ1JanGq0PBbmV43qSfptdOC71McC8_Ju4u69sKKdlgQREij24gxLjCqfGMWsklT41nblq8OgLFwWIs0I30rcjQd8d9l2s90HSI3Y/s320/Nishinihon+1546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232050879085506850" border="0" /></a></div><dl style="text-align: center;"><dd> 古池や</dd><dd> 蛙飛び込む</dd><dd> 水の音</dd></dl><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><dl style="text-align: center;"><dd> An old pond! </dd><dd> A frog jumps in— </dd><dd> the sound of water. </dd></dl><br /></div></div>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-64005368419459570242008-07-30T01:17:00.000-07:002008-08-06T04:23:01.718-07:00別府 BeppuFrom Aso I moved further eastwards and made my next stop in 別府 Beppu.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">別府 Beppu</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrLdIFlEvzZujho_2MwZzoQUZq1InhpgxGP0BQNMrIahe23tvPgJC_BMoA1xsJTydWzwCtd3Qobfvjl0Mlxz_yuyxnJBbIqPkt3tV7N9XlKTJCdOUAjKvA7QldO5jdZi9CMTILwIKFBI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1084.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrLdIFlEvzZujho_2MwZzoQUZq1InhpgxGP0BQNMrIahe23tvPgJC_BMoA1xsJTydWzwCtd3Qobfvjl0Mlxz_yuyxnJBbIqPkt3tV7N9XlKTJCdOUAjKvA7QldO5jdZi9CMTILwIKFBI/s320/Nishinihon+1084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335004775913314" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Beppu is an Onsen (hot spa) resort with many natural Onsen all over the area. The Onsen combined with the wonderful nature and the sea made Beppu the number one Honey Moon destination for Japanese, before a rising economy made trips to Hawaii affordable.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">広間 Hiroma</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb8uUgVf5vUXxlav6snROu0IF5N81i-QKToxo-vwDjj-PuvzwTnwLPuIjS9ggstLAQmLeTg0Bh_jDTz-i8Dc88LC7DO5208aH-rAW_Gd7DLAUxK6rFW5Bf5wu8MuCk_GS72H4NPwbalI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1080.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb8uUgVf5vUXxlav6snROu0IF5N81i-QKToxo-vwDjj-PuvzwTnwLPuIjS9ggstLAQmLeTg0Bh_jDTz-i8Dc88LC7DO5208aH-rAW_Gd7DLAUxK6rFW5Bf5wu8MuCk_GS72H4NPwbalI/s320/Nishinihon+1080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231334999147965346" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />After sleeping in a Capusle Hotel in <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/07/okayama.html">Okayama</a>, there is another special way of sleeping left in Japan. The most traditional way there is, the 広間 Hiroma. The Hiroma is nothing but a large tatami room, where many 布団 Futon (Japanese Bed laying on the ground) are ordered next to each other. Well and that's it, you'll be sleeping next to many men and women in the same room on the floor.<br /><br />Earlier nobody but Daimyou (feudal lord) could have afforded single rooms for sleeping, so ordinary traveler stayed in Hiroma, which were often found in 旅館 Ryokan (traditional Japanese tatami hotel). Nowadays Ryokan do not offer Hiroma anymore, because there is not much money to make.<br /><br />However in Beppu I was lucky to bump into an Onsen with sleeping facilities close to the station. Since I wanted to relax in an Onsen and get a place to sleep, it was a perfect fit for me. Turned out it was an inside Onsen, like a Japanese お風呂 Ofuro (Japanese Public Bathhouse), but it let me relax none the less.<br /><br />I was also lucky that nobody in the large room snored and that it had an untraditional air conditioning system, else it would have gotten a little hot.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">地獄巡り A Tour Through Hell</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1AMMGV8ryVF62UFc9teJVp6HYiUJezgkrrW1GX8sVkKnZAFEOE6u-lbcHcCWgmGFq-HN4_S3t4BlbrITG_bpIvV4PJkR6Yi9pRvaHXrW_J9nwvEHLsSAr3Kdfyaxi1Zs2q1k9z67-Kw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1116.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1AMMGV8ryVF62UFc9teJVp6HYiUJezgkrrW1GX8sVkKnZAFEOE6u-lbcHcCWgmGFq-HN4_S3t4BlbrITG_bpIvV4PJkR6Yi9pRvaHXrW_J9nwvEHLsSAr3Kdfyaxi1Zs2q1k9z67-Kw/s320/Nishinihon+1116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336477083612354" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />One of Beppu's biggest attraction is the 地獄巡り Jigoku Meguri (literally a tour through hell). Jigoku Meguri is a collection of eight hells, which you can visit one by one for a total of 2000 Yen. It is a little pricey, but remember that you are paying entrance four eight places, and I think they are worth the money.<br /><br />As manufactured as this hells mights sound, they are all natural. For each hell hot water reaches the surfaces and dissolves some materials on the way, that give them a distinct color and smell.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. 海地獄 Sea Hell</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe93HuetxA_rNQdi0Pnf9Y07qxJDDPI06TPNf-1jCbQGZgsJyZi4Ij6QupTRZq097vSBNJ9FgpP6FgvCZugFjH2pjgAZf99Vj28mfd9XnNKRVgh0IuNnnQ4-5BgFP1RWpDtrQalgltf4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1099.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe93HuetxA_rNQdi0Pnf9Y07qxJDDPI06TPNf-1jCbQGZgsJyZi4Ij6QupTRZq097vSBNJ9FgpP6FgvCZugFjH2pjgAZf99Vj28mfd9XnNKRVgh0IuNnnQ4-5BgFP1RWpDtrQalgltf4/s320/Nishinihon+1099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335576469007682" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The first hell is a collection of hot springs, which are as blue as the sea. The cobalt blue seas of boiling and steaming water were created 1200 years ago after a volcanic eruption.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioENafc_rphM93qGT4TvNdbjH6uVr8yOaJHiglf-gBw7esF2Pwob_qBiudtgKM5MW9ZBCNj1c5gsMJn7Qj6ZrzNoS24e26AnE74av6VvdnqAKaKXvm-kx-XQm0rQlw-stIMzRn9gxYMm8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1090.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioENafc_rphM93qGT4TvNdbjH6uVr8yOaJHiglf-gBw7esF2Pwob_qBiudtgKM5MW9ZBCNj1c5gsMJn7Qj6ZrzNoS24e26AnE74av6VvdnqAKaKXvm-kx-XQm0rQlw-stIMzRn9gxYMm8/s320/Nishinihon+1090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335274696024578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjuSqIL_gCU1NVU45j8fBoIegiBkMIfteZ3VxjOTJE6s3wIkra7d_cmHJ67bJVXLz2to5tyc8jizbfv2asTVd90fvdv9CM3Hev9MgSBP-Th_-1PakoGbLFc84iUmUACSCRZNzOO-uK1c/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1091.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjuSqIL_gCU1NVU45j8fBoIegiBkMIfteZ3VxjOTJE6s3wIkra7d_cmHJ67bJVXLz2to5tyc8jizbfv2asTVd90fvdv9CM3Hev9MgSBP-Th_-1PakoGbLFc84iUmUACSCRZNzOO-uK1c/s320/Nishinihon+1091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335279081731442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikV8372Dh30dunjpWizhdjbo5SYV_O_JeslaYSN1T0Qf9VK1VRcqcWgtRckXMShmXXxH0uGwlCuvwO0lX-xGRnX_LuSOw8T-Q8N8rFrNTapMJZ6ZYOL9FsFh_KjzHeCD9vdRAt3PYf3mg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1092.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikV8372Dh30dunjpWizhdjbo5SYV_O_JeslaYSN1T0Qf9VK1VRcqcWgtRckXMShmXXxH0uGwlCuvwO0lX-xGRnX_LuSOw8T-Q8N8rFrNTapMJZ6ZYOL9FsFh_KjzHeCD9vdRAt3PYf3mg/s320/Nishinihon+1092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335281691142498" border="0" /></a></div><br />As a special this hell focused on water botanic. You can see a nice collection of water plants like sea roses. The most impressive plant is without doubt the 大鬼蓮 Daionihasu, which means Gigantic Ogre Lotos (Victoria Amazonica). It is in fact huge and strong as an Ogre. A child till around 8-10 years can sit on it, without sinking into the water.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjT1tEEPrq_AlNmZKtwXIyv1dVm57HRKAH9wKVgk9H_ioU2m39NPoUjVkanzKIuo2mg1q6biesNmqQISpVSNCy_0F9mbnnOB1jlqz8cQ8jGCifI30NGBhAGD8jSlHerj-UfDi-xYDWMk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1088.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjT1tEEPrq_AlNmZKtwXIyv1dVm57HRKAH9wKVgk9H_ioU2m39NPoUjVkanzKIuo2mg1q6biesNmqQISpVSNCy_0F9mbnnOB1jlqz8cQ8jGCifI30NGBhAGD8jSlHerj-UfDi-xYDWMk/s320/Nishinihon+1088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335275246876322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQMacVD8OgPQUTzzLrXNM70otsQQO6zuh8GU8iliTAsqlPIifdUtWzPGDW7C3l7JM5Zazt0vxjyO98PTaqs8TwZ3qVsig4qCiDPR3nsqL_TQfef7RfX7olgv4Gb14AJ9YtgFsPqoYeg0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1100.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQMacVD8OgPQUTzzLrXNM70otsQQO6zuh8GU8iliTAsqlPIifdUtWzPGDW7C3l7JM5Zazt0vxjyO98PTaqs8TwZ3qVsig4qCiDPR3nsqL_TQfef7RfX7olgv4Gb14AJ9YtgFsPqoYeg0/s320/Nishinihon+1100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335574980872786" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkiYrnT67vJev1UenkVxUpOe-H-eto6pma0tiHPmQzDjJGLbQJQ1Z8wYS9EvCJ6gjfxXL4p2rxj19kqFOrOnpVRbAkCIeiHKLrgBVQXZFVtQIVvG0C69an1mSI8DaRopDRZ5n48Ulzvs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1113.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkiYrnT67vJev1UenkVxUpOe-H-eto6pma0tiHPmQzDjJGLbQJQ1Z8wYS9EvCJ6gjfxXL4p2rxj19kqFOrOnpVRbAkCIeiHKLrgBVQXZFVtQIVvG0C69an1mSI8DaRopDRZ5n48Ulzvs/s320/Nishinihon+1113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336090276218466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_l8NcpqgiS2PpQhDboQYvgaKH6FU7Tw-eZKqtKuv7DjN2_Mg8bcBxAtqKQjCZ0JYE3r-fnwX87qr8YZ78n7pR-2EzAJkWa1JGSl5yGDqhK0rGnposv7xx7_3Zvg_wkyp2qXZBCu_Ohtw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1112.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_l8NcpqgiS2PpQhDboQYvgaKH6FU7Tw-eZKqtKuv7DjN2_Mg8bcBxAtqKQjCZ0JYE3r-fnwX87qr8YZ78n7pR-2EzAJkWa1JGSl5yGDqhK0rGnposv7xx7_3Zvg_wkyp2qXZBCu_Ohtw/s320/Nishinihon+1112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336097066312898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />If you need a rest, the sea hell also has a comfortable place to rest, while hanging your feet in hot water. If you investigate the construction closer, you can figure out how they cool the water down for you.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrEU6F-J_gJaogIgMUTEn4q-y4V2vWHr1_1niylAXPfDPnW1QmJzq5Owi_rRjZi24vcQ1wDVDvXz1dIX3qjZXAYBZss9PRocsYgbv3mxo1kJxSOZ48S_6skDOCBOpATihU1yYRuwyiVg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1114.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrEU6F-J_gJaogIgMUTEn4q-y4V2vWHr1_1niylAXPfDPnW1QmJzq5Owi_rRjZi24vcQ1wDVDvXz1dIX3qjZXAYBZss9PRocsYgbv3mxo1kJxSOZ48S_6skDOCBOpATihU1yYRuwyiVg/s320/Nishinihon+1114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336095839780562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA2V8jdTKPYMWgEcws6WAZPmYc5K1lKMrhbZJn9hIHO8eK3BFkRNqznwMKPD3-sGo0WYoPYwgYk80boQSLwvFcA6kfVRQeuWzFsCo0uBLkBqJLvHlcIbcrcsajag2LwC8TUHkibyEKPc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1115.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA2V8jdTKPYMWgEcws6WAZPmYc5K1lKMrhbZJn9hIHO8eK3BFkRNqznwMKPD3-sGo0WYoPYwgYk80boQSLwvFcA6kfVRQeuWzFsCo0uBLkBqJLvHlcIbcrcsajag2LwC8TUHkibyEKPc/s320/Nishinihon+1115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336096402128850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Also since you just entered hell, you will need some protection and guidance, so be sure not to miss the mystic shrine lying beyond the mists of sea hell.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTObsbNV0LUdWHaQ-jMqJ0ueuf1ufyAIhBqRj37vW1J1UWFtpQSSxXw_9tsVvr4A6konO0ZUDqvTRA4o_QPH5vwVXXqiLvyicWN54A75o5xy-7ulk3rE738k_x2Lx6AR_PQVmreSBN0w4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1097.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTObsbNV0LUdWHaQ-jMqJ0ueuf1ufyAIhBqRj37vW1J1UWFtpQSSxXw_9tsVvr4A6konO0ZUDqvTRA4o_QPH5vwVXXqiLvyicWN54A75o5xy-7ulk3rE738k_x2Lx6AR_PQVmreSBN0w4/s320/Nishinihon+1097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335571759382482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw97u8IHSTfl-TSZ4hLKOLr_CO54gvg14xNpp4vXpNVbiF_loppQGDu5OJsfEAaEOqqfdHeWDUAYbOEk4Qpm-oX939aCNlEh-0KNdYdrGOWTkFkSR-iY3ebHFEIO729_bRuwUm2ZhGgHY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1104.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw97u8IHSTfl-TSZ4hLKOLr_CO54gvg14xNpp4vXpNVbiF_loppQGDu5OJsfEAaEOqqfdHeWDUAYbOEk4Qpm-oX939aCNlEh-0KNdYdrGOWTkFkSR-iY3ebHFEIO729_bRuwUm2ZhGgHY/s320/Nishinihon+1104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336093139719346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgRh_ir_BMlgyGK7_HnWMHBce6N56Irv1cTr5wkZ-FmBPfSWpA3J31X3uDI3f7wjXAn29AIQbpZewFtrtY5j1pgKw0rNDec2-a8RVn6pGr8wA4MbDvdkwstWv04yXrda-Bsa8fXkboRM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1102.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgRh_ir_BMlgyGK7_HnWMHBce6N56Irv1cTr5wkZ-FmBPfSWpA3J31X3uDI3f7wjXAn29AIQbpZewFtrtY5j1pgKw0rNDec2-a8RVn6pGr8wA4MbDvdkwstWv04yXrda-Bsa8fXkboRM/s320/Nishinihon+1102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335574973743986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3jXNpre6Bz9euGs-XBQt1M6LPvguU1nq1rlUKieXWmKTEWg5BMUNBRbaoBKyEa3Bn2ZVM8smk0jYOLKA_umAv0zU2bw_rDGXaTaY6M-YotcCdT1PePic-psnGn3TSxB-c_id-tdckYk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1103.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3jXNpre6Bz9euGs-XBQt1M6LPvguU1nq1rlUKieXWmKTEWg5BMUNBRbaoBKyEa3Bn2ZVM8smk0jYOLKA_umAv0zU2bw_rDGXaTaY6M-YotcCdT1PePic-psnGn3TSxB-c_id-tdckYk/s320/Nishinihon+1103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335580041865618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqj8qm6_UxgXYSuHpLPpd5g4iJwLMUlsVwAQjVEDPBbnhfwdpE5Lwuw_TRfAcQo3mbL8r0-xWYd9tU4IrAcfffOzcoJZ4Piav-oaeBbxjbze3MutAdwIkO8L_hIz16Yf3ebPYZa72k0q8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1086.JPG"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. 鬼石坊主地獄 Hell Of Ogre Stones And Monk Heads</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvPyo6gAE-48M3k5FTf9CDwvaPjGkId0YPcUaPvue-hkrjE8lcb241f09X7GNz-mVtEW4WX7LugqI3iSOj0_msiSDCUeZCFGY5rNmjG9ArNtNTDGiOfTYr_l_9YN4RMTSJ3vLMJzxXoc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1125.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvPyo6gAE-48M3k5FTf9CDwvaPjGkId0YPcUaPvue-hkrjE8lcb241f09X7GNz-mVtEW4WX7LugqI3iSOj0_msiSDCUeZCFGY5rNmjG9ArNtNTDGiOfTYr_l_9YN4RMTSJ3vLMJzxXoc/s320/Nishinihon+1125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336488098178738" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The hot springs of the next hell have a completely different color and shape. They are ashgrey and produce huge bursting bubbles. The grey bubbles look as flat and clean as a monk's head, therefore the name. It looks fascinating and dangerous a like, as if the stones itself have been molten, a perfect bath for Ogres.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV0B3hBXUkgJanw3EwVdX6ba9XYkDf2KZxKg3IttTc46cNskBJtOPn-5CcxS_QfAsjAVMAygAiBcmToh1dGM09nHY8JAkfHW2ROGgkufBwj2ZPb1tMmRcMA3Yp9r9KDJWYYz_p6MfMyE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1123.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV0B3hBXUkgJanw3EwVdX6ba9XYkDf2KZxKg3IttTc46cNskBJtOPn-5CcxS_QfAsjAVMAygAiBcmToh1dGM09nHY8JAkfHW2ROGgkufBwj2ZPb1tMmRcMA3Yp9r9KDJWYYz_p6MfMyE/s320/Nishinihon+1123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336482229761394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0M5HQgodkGPVsc-QWiVYOGtzfSIYtV3zKnLtgM07YO_SrHu_6QC5ObD-ZsvqZ6NmszB9Ri32dvT_xrbX2-_xj660K1qbk5VqtEBtKerp09uk8KUQaDfkf7pO-ogn3fAYYDYVgMzYZNA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1118.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0M5HQgodkGPVsc-QWiVYOGtzfSIYtV3zKnLtgM07YO_SrHu_6QC5ObD-ZsvqZ6NmszB9Ri32dvT_xrbX2-_xj660K1qbk5VqtEBtKerp09uk8KUQaDfkf7pO-ogn3fAYYDYVgMzYZNA/s320/Nishinihon+1118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336482063407666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbIm0sW7e3Rki2exhE5o17UxatZLoP_ROgrKIejaFVV_z1uHE0lH1q1fcxS46u8ut8d8hzm_oq0D37W_EkYBikvDIwh1knd173MVqI1ZCIhaFLjAeftoeVuVuaBW3a9oWyt5iw2GeFgM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1126.JPG"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. 山地獄 Mountain Hell</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTLyfE4L_QiI5PJyNNtQ4GO7EVyE-tk0Qy9HghtoMZzRa6RYNBJEUGJSLB_L7ILUg88xE1d-QTvDBtM2DPVIy-PkJYeUtJEaNZ5Yqqe1AUGdNdb1IOsWGa9kCouNdQSs7EmOPum-liZ4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1135.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTLyfE4L_QiI5PJyNNtQ4GO7EVyE-tk0Qy9HghtoMZzRa6RYNBJEUGJSLB_L7ILUg88xE1d-QTvDBtM2DPVIy-PkJYeUtJEaNZ5Yqqe1AUGdNdb1IOsWGa9kCouNdQSs7EmOPum-liZ4/s320/Nishinihon+1135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336859719437602" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />In this hell the hot springs are hidden below or close to rocks. Because of the hot water underneath, it looks like all the mountains are steaming. If you get close to them, it feels like taking a hot shower and you will be wet immediately.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjA2sr0G2wtfodIoNhKvWBAnK7nc2kZlPcs78gXPHcjRi-DVY7EGcH4aQXz6q4Vhgjjn1qdkfvAraGbzai6aQunpA7Ik4paTsOXF9NKL4LymVHX9RYGWqkaCByScTzWEwMJ0x0bh3PSrs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1136.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjA2sr0G2wtfodIoNhKvWBAnK7nc2kZlPcs78gXPHcjRi-DVY7EGcH4aQXz6q4Vhgjjn1qdkfvAraGbzai6aQunpA7Ik4paTsOXF9NKL4LymVHX9RYGWqkaCByScTzWEwMJ0x0bh3PSrs/s320/Nishinihon+1136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336864557538498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WdxQfDoOXYZ86eyq5eC7_2Dkt3pwkwmiTAKMU1ZEecVyaelFljBq0H-6Ps1IW_4-rwvWucHwhzwZmO11zzC61xzxzRBVjChtWQVUeKJ9Ygf2P9jJV8Kff698gMG1nH6D-15OWrFy6oc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1130.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WdxQfDoOXYZ86eyq5eC7_2Dkt3pwkwmiTAKMU1ZEecVyaelFljBq0H-6Ps1IW_4-rwvWucHwhzwZmO11zzC61xzxzRBVjChtWQVUeKJ9Ygf2P9jJV8Kff698gMG1nH6D-15OWrFy6oc/s320/Nishinihon+1130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336861270251026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx65I9IUjLP5-jvyp__1810ry3T9Oe5tdgU8WK9IMkzYOzMqw0EdNd8eTfBwfPDblENHgeE2mOxeVylJl4CtA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />As specialty this hell hosts a zoo. I'd like to say nice words, but all I can say that it truly is a hell for the animals locked in there. Because of the narrow space, none of the animals have really place to move. So all they can so is stand, sit, lie and eat the whole day long, for their whole life. It is really sad to treat animals that badly, and I went to one of the caretakers and confronted him with the animals situation. He did not reply and only starred at me opening and closing his mouth. After five minutes and three attempts of conversation, I gave up...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeoWxbfk0_uQfOZC8C-z_lWqtedEbHidvdMaVJmBeZixFzd78aZNKocqWj0esYYp2ivmZ_BizGaf7KL1PSYFxvBme5bYrBBGLU6VOkI2tQ5FgsYOTNDJuR3E5gjYqaJkWG5pNOAtK3Gs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1143.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeoWxbfk0_uQfOZC8C-z_lWqtedEbHidvdMaVJmBeZixFzd78aZNKocqWj0esYYp2ivmZ_BizGaf7KL1PSYFxvBme5bYrBBGLU6VOkI2tQ5FgsYOTNDJuR3E5gjYqaJkWG5pNOAtK3Gs/s320/Nishinihon+1143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231337230468122690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5kZxTAXp8FTpg1BpHLgO-ndwkXyScnED__4MoSYgHYZ1y5TAXqgfr9lcI5b_LnCQf6ubYfV2Y8HguxYz_DOepPHZpeVEXLzJ8yqbja8xpc68frG5Mmj9VWCJqQQnwK3pjUHDNF3TK4w/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1140.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5kZxTAXp8FTpg1BpHLgO-ndwkXyScnED__4MoSYgHYZ1y5TAXqgfr9lcI5b_LnCQf6ubYfV2Y8HguxYz_DOepPHZpeVEXLzJ8yqbja8xpc68frG5Mmj9VWCJqQQnwK3pjUHDNF3TK4w/s320/Nishinihon+1140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336863320802578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr1LXS_SOEY4r6W-YNqWF4WnDC_qZanaDjytjP4RyCp0Gmq30Wwwn0azhZIedv6lb29BKv1yfhyGLPAvvEPfp8CpvbRCybQTc7PqNwEXou_aZawfyJxS-xSkFLuC1VwRLbfnDNtG8ix8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1142.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr1LXS_SOEY4r6W-YNqWF4WnDC_qZanaDjytjP4RyCp0Gmq30Wwwn0azhZIedv6lb29BKv1yfhyGLPAvvEPfp8CpvbRCybQTc7PqNwEXou_aZawfyJxS-xSkFLuC1VwRLbfnDNtG8ix8/s320/Nishinihon+1142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231336870387965954" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. かまど地獄 Oven Hell</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJedLd1b2z2d1zeKN5ZCU9YZN-8D2siH3Ak0_aGYW-Vb46GP7XnWtv5IjKNXPN1AkRnq90TQxRNJDw92s4_49QPgGjZd-jzqbIPQAX7lYdgYB6hDKFiFy8dccVh14L6xopU5FxVDJNzg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1157.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJedLd1b2z2d1zeKN5ZCU9YZN-8D2siH3Ak0_aGYW-Vb46GP7XnWtv5IjKNXPN1AkRnq90TQxRNJDw92s4_49QPgGjZd-jzqbIPQAX7lYdgYB6hDKFiFy8dccVh14L6xopU5FxVDJNzg/s320/Nishinihon+1157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338025290479778" border="0" /></a></div> </div><br />Welcome to the hell's kitchen. Here the Ogres cook their meals (mostly humans) and enjoy them with a good mug of steaming hot mud water.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVamAm9MBAEGJFXw_r5dWd5MNNksywtZjJ9IRNtvhovROB5bpJXgdI2qV2zbw8-IIFvuWGyP-Jpuo5877aICzRnUgr9rTBMqChVPyd1_rp_hzzvbgFEIrrO_BVfS_7t88c29frLMhX1Mw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1152.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVamAm9MBAEGJFXw_r5dWd5MNNksywtZjJ9IRNtvhovROB5bpJXgdI2qV2zbw8-IIFvuWGyP-Jpuo5877aICzRnUgr9rTBMqChVPyd1_rp_hzzvbgFEIrrO_BVfS_7t88c29frLMhX1Mw/s320/Nishinihon+1152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231337233356721538" border="0" /></a></div><br />In hear you can see people using the hot spring for cooking. You can eat an egg boiled in the hot spring for a snack, or enjoy some food in the restaurant, which was also cooked with the help of the boiling hot spring water.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TqrZDqxQucpvVuVjH6cA9q65-xChvFAwbHvw_EWdFLX7ZyGN-RGwQjJfAhSsDrIl7XBY4ELgkA9EyxRMeE7ktvOBrurlHYylYlaYsZ5qyHe6L9duc8Of7lLryq0bOfoEwgDJWV2ndnQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1155.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TqrZDqxQucpvVuVjH6cA9q65-xChvFAwbHvw_EWdFLX7ZyGN-RGwQjJfAhSsDrIl7XBY4ELgkA9EyxRMeE7ktvOBrurlHYylYlaYsZ5qyHe6L9duc8Of7lLryq0bOfoEwgDJWV2ndnQ/s320/Nishinihon+1155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231337232481095250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81ACDYnJ2bHKP28RlUCaSdas0okUhPTk4fsJ9qNAiptZUjWSDaBZqBHK3ma0-bsVlsMDQILJt1mxGmDEy2MDKQkcBGu04nYx7S0AducTDhuhyq5ekliIWqj0qPRgUruAtjOtSbeZHz5g/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1150.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81ACDYnJ2bHKP28RlUCaSdas0okUhPTk4fsJ9qNAiptZUjWSDaBZqBHK3ma0-bsVlsMDQILJt1mxGmDEy2MDKQkcBGu04nYx7S0AducTDhuhyq5ekliIWqj0qPRgUruAtjOtSbeZHz5g/s320/Nishinihon+1150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231337232186371106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />when the water of the lake above dries, it leaves these white stones behind<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4Nc3z7Y_69a0Ih6crpCveFCAYWoirJcMDAQNNhBe-p11gWi-THkoJUrchU2czpb4Mveqc85pE8ScMvvyJw33JW7pLJ-jodhW448IEKQgHVxWB2Yq3TcVIkzQuqeRTmObna9lTz6bAmU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1147.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4Nc3z7Y_69a0Ih6crpCveFCAYWoirJcMDAQNNhBe-p11gWi-THkoJUrchU2czpb4Mveqc85pE8ScMvvyJw33JW7pLJ-jodhW448IEKQgHVxWB2Yq3TcVIkzQuqeRTmObna9lTz6bAmU/s320/Nishinihon+1147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231337231585313362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />most of the water springs in Oven Hell are muddy<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. 鬼山地獄 Ogre Mountain Hell</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCRIRxRKK8hDqfrMj8_hnNRsC24MD3laFgQYiR38wHiYN9re3f4UxM4SI-bsnEO0RV3Y8iraJoCIwH1SeRERahgGlJ5MLaut7P04Gy5cKDKnUAC4b-Z4UX6mdx2vD8A22_zXBmuriDzo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1166.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCRIRxRKK8hDqfrMj8_hnNRsC24MD3laFgQYiR38wHiYN9re3f4UxM4SI-bsnEO0RV3Y8iraJoCIwH1SeRERahgGlJ5MLaut7P04Gy5cKDKnUAC4b-Z4UX6mdx2vD8A22_zXBmuriDzo/s320/Nishinihon+1166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338030460712498" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The name of this hell, for a change, does not refer to the content, but to the vicinity of a mountain, which carries the name Ogre Mountain.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeYVT_yzPwcM7jm3hRyaz7ioICeokIxV3sULYQcIIAsf6fDsFnL33F1xLVESW0jRiXPA3niAZ0WgwWvz7pAvRLN2iK8Zrupim1qN1XMOtt2_FwAposGfYJvzvYV7oXJ-NeAMyfY7xeps/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1170.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeYVT_yzPwcM7jm3hRyaz7ioICeokIxV3sULYQcIIAsf6fDsFnL33F1xLVESW0jRiXPA3niAZ0WgwWvz7pAvRLN2iK8Zrupim1qN1XMOtt2_FwAposGfYJvzvYV7oXJ-NeAMyfY7xeps/s320/Nishinihon+1170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338029756076898" border="0" /></a></div><br />The hot water from the hot springs in this area are used to raise Alligators (Surprise!). That means in the while place you can find crawling and resting Alligators and Crocodiles. They are raising a lot of them here. Alas the conditions are just as bad as in the Mountain Hell, and in some cages the poor beasts are stuck together in a crowd.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHiSgZZVkCW1YR2qho6V9q2yYKUHSgteYt6qKD6OFUmN_x1iEkgV5HXCUz49P4Myt6M35cZwcPpVsTcVtKl3I0i7SbaEB4_AASrftuFbX7c_HX-cEPXLCQHDpJs1sGuYFv1hR00DEILU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1184.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHiSgZZVkCW1YR2qho6V9q2yYKUHSgteYt6qKD6OFUmN_x1iEkgV5HXCUz49P4Myt6M35cZwcPpVsTcVtKl3I0i7SbaEB4_AASrftuFbX7c_HX-cEPXLCQHDpJs1sGuYFv1hR00DEILU/s320/Nishinihon+1184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338708348104690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmyMV71OJt7ZUjs7Oilin6SzsH9wsNOELMhW7oF1IFhTsfU-SNbeUY16vUR56sQNLEv391QHFpzS3aIzo3V8E0XYCdEf3grsbf8ICfs5ZJ_f0bABhFsWW_iWHm-4QZilHlaH89IxzcsA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1172.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmyMV71OJt7ZUjs7Oilin6SzsH9wsNOELMhW7oF1IFhTsfU-SNbeUY16vUR56sQNLEv391QHFpzS3aIzo3V8E0XYCdEf3grsbf8ICfs5ZJ_f0bABhFsWW_iWHm-4QZilHlaH89IxzcsA/s320/Nishinihon+1172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338028658232018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVK8UglIOQeBLoXpd0cfw5jXPMv8M38MtOgjAQIGP3_ro2-QNhr4gVp7zc-F4teyIojdqxRaKwXRbw7L4D4G-iyl6Pv_N1yED32XhzBDMnFCp39PF15rPIG4PEgEC19xWZvOtqfP4jos/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1182.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVK8UglIOQeBLoXpd0cfw5jXPMv8M38MtOgjAQIGP3_ro2-QNhr4gVp7zc-F4teyIojdqxRaKwXRbw7L4D4G-iyl6Pv_N1yED32XhzBDMnFCp39PF15rPIG4PEgEC19xWZvOtqfP4jos/s320/Nishinihon+1182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338408423898530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3JO4u1Ohg9b67rjEceaubKURM7gBndyFNPmPXA5w-6oTGMQaZtUjTpyy6woZS3sRMTsoAH181o0JIAMT2caQYs3KGSPD0RyIJ6Fo_QiiLDpO-O-YAFwKYIUZyU80tixi3Kj3bTFdRz0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1167.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3JO4u1Ohg9b67rjEceaubKURM7gBndyFNPmPXA5w-6oTGMQaZtUjTpyy6woZS3sRMTsoAH181o0JIAMT2caQYs3KGSPD0RyIJ6Fo_QiiLDpO-O-YAFwKYIUZyU80tixi3Kj3bTFdRz0/s320/Nishinihon+1167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338030594444642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the fierce guardian of this hell<br /></div><br />You can learn a bit about Alligators and Crocodiles here though, and look at a small exhibition about them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgddI6BzT-b8kG56Z483svN6goMUv13nyKbtdqDcAgM3AD0f_DdGtvUhUdP3-Tl3Pi2hoz1mjJuCq97N_-CKEmJRiecokr1VxaTUUr0-78uZzPt688XqC07swVozA6jkMKlZAOUQWwmY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1173.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgddI6BzT-b8kG56Z483svN6goMUv13nyKbtdqDcAgM3AD0f_DdGtvUhUdP3-Tl3Pi2hoz1mjJuCq97N_-CKEmJRiecokr1VxaTUUr0-78uZzPt688XqC07swVozA6jkMKlZAOUQWwmY/s320/Nishinihon+1173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338398380256290" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90KkfMj5JUFbtDoUyPGbXFzBKRS-fK0JLke8YL707WvDxINFinP4LbZpfOTTjySB_sDO_d6CSC1SU6gmRY40qau_Y0UzQu8bFi-54AQHAPhO67MsEWL4gU7zBkrnb7SUwd0erspbhDUU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1180.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90KkfMj5JUFbtDoUyPGbXFzBKRS-fK0JLke8YL707WvDxINFinP4LbZpfOTTjySB_sDO_d6CSC1SU6gmRY40qau_Y0UzQu8bFi-54AQHAPhO67MsEWL4gU7zBkrnb7SUwd0erspbhDUU/s320/Nishinihon+1180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338402669527922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />did you know there was a third type next to alligator and crocodile called kabiaru<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. 白池地獄 White Lake Hell</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAFkSU3j1DrY2NJ6Rt_48UltRKeOhNrsXKpAcq65G24T6ZyeNvxZFDQGJa9zLMAljqQsmGPWpbZdx8TD5kAlEaDTYIFBn2FGMH44KAcF62Pweynt0UD0cs6x5-sKYCB4PyhTOvF8p9XY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1202.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAFkSU3j1DrY2NJ6Rt_48UltRKeOhNrsXKpAcq65G24T6ZyeNvxZFDQGJa9zLMAljqQsmGPWpbZdx8TD5kAlEaDTYIFBn2FGMH44KAcF62Pweynt0UD0cs6x5-sKYCB4PyhTOvF8p9XY/s320/Nishinihon+1202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231342136929882610" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The hot water in this area is colorless. Around it a nice garden has been built. They lead you around the area and surround the not so white lakes of hell and make almost make you forget where you are.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsvUDYpba8bWeczQUXMY5mGPE0axZrmbG_1DJQg_qE2jeYge5VovfkK2Y6Ye1gYKnHeOstL6H_9ux5LVLGSWs_26D6-LkD4q4sq2UjQwam7dTFNwdcFihLhS4RMP3DtbLT9sTzqbhWDc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1203.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsvUDYpba8bWeczQUXMY5mGPE0axZrmbG_1DJQg_qE2jeYge5VovfkK2Y6Ye1gYKnHeOstL6H_9ux5LVLGSWs_26D6-LkD4q4sq2UjQwam7dTFNwdcFihLhS4RMP3DtbLT9sTzqbhWDc/s320/Nishinihon+1203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231342135162398898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimhfsd6EPkAEbz2YMm3UR7yAwfu5OFPFX3ivnkeMrEG0IC5cp4tSlSaoiLyPQ8yI7NeCA4afrG447KhvTwIoM_A0fghCRz0OGnK6bcacDDi1pQigPZGZ_E8eoqWN1-442OV4-izJkB3o/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1186.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimhfsd6EPkAEbz2YMm3UR7yAwfu5OFPFX3ivnkeMrEG0IC5cp4tSlSaoiLyPQ8yI7NeCA4afrG447KhvTwIoM_A0fghCRz0OGnK6bcacDDi1pQigPZGZ_E8eoqWN1-442OV4-izJkB3o/s320/Nishinihon+1186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338709780880738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMNg13IkEBMv5aZEQ_hG5h5_CyJl6uh-7M0JmPiDxsinVbrR-kESoKCBB2nmoMCBpAKYjY37FkKpXH-CIDxAfNt3RdscrMzfeKDKVkyMVz8-VbDcI78tKn8Yhwwd7bC4a_e2Dk58kZII/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1190.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMNg13IkEBMv5aZEQ_hG5h5_CyJl6uh-7M0JmPiDxsinVbrR-kESoKCBB2nmoMCBpAKYjY37FkKpXH-CIDxAfNt3RdscrMzfeKDKVkyMVz8-VbDcI78tKn8Yhwwd7bC4a_e2Dk58kZII/s320/Nishinihon+1190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338713854309810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3aGcwHfOBmEynieqe-kUJg7UL5bdNvucGmM20V1aUz8YSqx0xUEVouXFVuu6VUB0SpjCCdECMULZrd6hiwm3OZ-Y8T1FWpvpSvEAgPEPlAFr0UFr02n58bYTZaqI0-KCsMi7-V4XItk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1185.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3aGcwHfOBmEynieqe-kUJg7UL5bdNvucGmM20V1aUz8YSqx0xUEVouXFVuu6VUB0SpjCCdECMULZrd6hiwm3OZ-Y8T1FWpvpSvEAgPEPlAFr0UFr02n58bYTZaqI0-KCsMi7-V4XItk/s320/Nishinihon+1185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338711689847394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dVn3fgGr6sqar06qkGuXICrIjoMDym7T7HemVT_o7oEUv34GA_GsnkUu6tjlFRxhyVGrVR33Wtgf9KV5SdDmAcHxRPkwQOnmxy4cRJipJVQBzz8WuC4DqFpVCGg6XFT6F89BNg06oLI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1187.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dVn3fgGr6sqar06qkGuXICrIjoMDym7T7HemVT_o7oEUv34GA_GsnkUu6tjlFRxhyVGrVR33Wtgf9KV5SdDmAcHxRPkwQOnmxy4cRJipJVQBzz8WuC4DqFpVCGg6XFT6F89BNg06oLI/s320/Nishinihon+1187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231338710939793570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br />As a specialty you can marvel at hell's most sinister fishes in an Aquarium.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EzF9IUr89zuhY2WyISRJ__Kz5uw77yivJ0dJ0e3I-xBTjqQi72DAZFc2QEheu5l0NOERu2TupA5raiEqYuS_7LG39mCOhWu0pBjVgWgLFA1p9R7ELt2gOXPapGsAJ2IZdht0H4q2jRA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1199.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EzF9IUr89zuhY2WyISRJ__Kz5uw77yivJ0dJ0e3I-xBTjqQi72DAZFc2QEheu5l0NOERu2TupA5raiEqYuS_7LG39mCOhWu0pBjVgWgLFA1p9R7ELt2gOXPapGsAJ2IZdht0H4q2jRA/s320/Nishinihon+1199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231342136043644226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AQc_pocktdRJ9U6usZH2dxzHuEg2fAlj-oqREWAZwNj2iq7bB2BzRznc_sN1WQnKxzvDUopxO-s-4O-DWU8eem0dtvLijUz5ilDvdXTD61mVfLo4HwP-HD7hxAGMVPvml9En2t3KT3o/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1196.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AQc_pocktdRJ9U6usZH2dxzHuEg2fAlj-oqREWAZwNj2iq7bB2BzRznc_sN1WQnKxzvDUopxO-s-4O-DWU8eem0dtvLijUz5ilDvdXTD61mVfLo4HwP-HD7hxAGMVPvml9En2t3KT3o/s320/Nishinihon+1196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231341746657854594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrZRUrIKrDR0GMY6iWD0wu9hJheEd7DmCIzx2MGvZ2hylfEIV7jGroG470cD2VdHnWbOCV89UWQqPXA1Cm_OE1p7k62tjvcu1sdXis-OM1Ln-UdRS8z5S67xN9fSKC8EQ_QyCiUsjhBk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1197.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrZRUrIKrDR0GMY6iWD0wu9hJheEd7DmCIzx2MGvZ2hylfEIV7jGroG470cD2VdHnWbOCV89UWQqPXA1Cm_OE1p7k62tjvcu1sdXis-OM1Ln-UdRS8z5S67xN9fSKC8EQ_QyCiUsjhBk/s320/Nishinihon+1197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231341749293637298" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />And if that wasn't enough, if you look careful, you can find a small art exhibition with paintings done by local artists.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MmNW8OHL7lebJ0xj8HSSEpqXcvq5n8Zc4m-xfCwEf5QdT1lulounj2hYtpbftYNK_lX_NIfScxJ1BKVZHuz6o8o3q4fJYsj3nac0DIKJ2eyPt-sq8j4PWPfrPuc7O_7G6m62lOA6xYg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1193.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MmNW8OHL7lebJ0xj8HSSEpqXcvq5n8Zc4m-xfCwEf5QdT1lulounj2hYtpbftYNK_lX_NIfScxJ1BKVZHuz6o8o3q4fJYsj3nac0DIKJ2eyPt-sq8j4PWPfrPuc7O_7G6m62lOA6xYg/s320/Nishinihon+1193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231341744209378066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoXpFmCJ5rJO3TBDKubbKZ3jhR87V75WThI5_0HemqmEr1t-JwQjHvyZIrnxlbJt3IMitlIYtDk0d368E95xLAhFEsA5aRgQ73MNd8s0sEucg7g_7GYSlyES0Ya9EKpvZLj_kcJX-zYo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1194.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoXpFmCJ5rJO3TBDKubbKZ3jhR87V75WThI5_0HemqmEr1t-JwQjHvyZIrnxlbJt3IMitlIYtDk0d368E95xLAhFEsA5aRgQ73MNd8s0sEucg7g_7GYSlyES0Ya9EKpvZLj_kcJX-zYo/s320/Nishinihon+1194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231341742908496290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1HItRer4aL4wmY3HPMin0_Ct_druqB40yf9POijrWibrprNdtqdix6hhfBgvjq3p4TpDfmNyLpeYLS3Drrj4eVjVV_tXZZk4UqaVDPtfunCAS0Kx6yLSJGYx1PZM3mAYH9LaYzKuTwk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1195.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1HItRer4aL4wmY3HPMin0_Ct_druqB40yf9POijrWibrprNdtqdix6hhfBgvjq3p4TpDfmNyLpeYLS3Drrj4eVjVV_tXZZk4UqaVDPtfunCAS0Kx6yLSJGYx1PZM3mAYH9LaYzKuTwk/s320/Nishinihon+1195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231341750353025602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. 血の池地獄 The Blood Lake Hell</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeV4SLaIoCwSglvmSo8JwGRDXiU4BDvjmEBkFPsgN0aSr-18K4fjeMNe5PvJ9-lBUdIuoUoc5-cT36S8srNJkX2g3ODd7Am54Vg9znfhPkrvaB3mQA8P6V2pYoEORHmhqd_t4tRNqw2Q/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1207.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeV4SLaIoCwSglvmSo8JwGRDXiU4BDvjmEBkFPsgN0aSr-18K4fjeMNe5PvJ9-lBUdIuoUoc5-cT36S8srNJkX2g3ODd7Am54Vg9znfhPkrvaB3mQA8P6V2pYoEORHmhqd_t4tRNqw2Q/s320/Nishinihon+1207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351375126059746" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />After the white lake hell, you will have to walk for around 30 minutes to get to the next hell, but it is surely worth it. Inside you will marvel over a big lake of steaming blood.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKwW2f1mskJjQJQfSyhE8719MyW-a7ISKkkXM3lSxzkpTxGPPzG01CUGZM79eeSEFTOqMjRJya33CEjD9dmHB36_n1JoeyM8IGjh_bOJU_m8VJlYP-hSbye7Ycp6aLWG8aKYliOOlRo8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1204.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKwW2f1mskJjQJQfSyhE8719MyW-a7ISKkkXM3lSxzkpTxGPPzG01CUGZM79eeSEFTOqMjRJya33CEjD9dmHB36_n1JoeyM8IGjh_bOJU_m8VJlYP-hSbye7Ycp6aLWG8aKYliOOlRo8/s320/Nishinihon+1204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231342141352023490" border="0" /></a></div><br />The hot water dissolves a special type of clay in this area, which completely colors the water red. This is Japan's oldest hell and previous Tennos have payed it a visit to see what hell must be like.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wJcV_JvC9oExWROrlX9Ji_D1AQc8ux3sGQuRLsGfwd5lmzhCXnFkqTaLuP74DDagtUHO0Db36LKbb8gYaDB2q97H_8pDcrdFLIIKTyYzxDBbohuauauEDR3unpounhyphenhyphenNABsqOGzhJcU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1207.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wJcV_JvC9oExWROrlX9Ji_D1AQc8ux3sGQuRLsGfwd5lmzhCXnFkqTaLuP74DDagtUHO0Db36LKbb8gYaDB2q97H_8pDcrdFLIIKTyYzxDBbohuauauEDR3unpounhyphenhyphenNABsqOGzhJcU/s320/Nishinihon+1207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231342144914681538" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />By the way, the red clay is said to be effective against skin diseases. You can get the cream, created from the clay here. It is called Chinoike Ointment.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZEQS67CJMH2Yq-p20H33XZ_T0drrFXImiofeYfkX5My3WOtZZAEr0OZ1EUVq4jrtA4isR3SlZLX4HYduTPp2qWCunRkWR_VEsOhKoDQqro_MGg5JuBDAr6z5iMSQ2eWda_GpGVOo428/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1209.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZEQS67CJMH2Yq-p20H33XZ_T0drrFXImiofeYfkX5My3WOtZZAEr0OZ1EUVq4jrtA4isR3SlZLX4HYduTPp2qWCunRkWR_VEsOhKoDQqro_MGg5JuBDAr6z5iMSQ2eWda_GpGVOo428/s320/Nishinihon+1209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351371700912322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />another Jizou protecting visitors, that they don't really end up in hell<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f7ibwID4_7p-Yzno25j_fBFf7TequofWn75_YR6IzVcFGuwD8N0NVCntuIs0TGGzN_Kzm9t8x04Rl4yCTdItmtVQwGY9WI_Xo2CgFHKc2jHv2V77fBd1cosxxrDQVky3spPXb9votew/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1210.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f7ibwID4_7p-Yzno25j_fBFf7TequofWn75_YR6IzVcFGuwD8N0NVCntuIs0TGGzN_Kzm9t8x04Rl4yCTdItmtVQwGY9WI_Xo2CgFHKc2jHv2V77fBd1cosxxrDQVky3spPXb9votew/s320/Nishinihon+1210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351376920602594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgEV6-bWDYh5VVelnss-W1ew_SFwieXvfLmcvQx3C_bqK6PQMCa4djkIU_ibc3MItzQOoBfYBb8DjxVhxtFOLvoQsCQSXUPGPnea3YNqAL7G4-Vk__5yhAQ8Oz6FP1joOL2pz502Lohk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1211.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgEV6-bWDYh5VVelnss-W1ew_SFwieXvfLmcvQx3C_bqK6PQMCa4djkIU_ibc3MItzQOoBfYBb8DjxVhxtFOLvoQsCQSXUPGPnea3YNqAL7G4-Vk__5yhAQ8Oz6FP1joOL2pz502Lohk/s320/Nishinihon+1211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351378881476146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />there is also some nice nature around the lake<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ljb6_eF9mYqhGMOqiSwCiadTZehPH1Js5SMtHczfOQAC5Vl9QWm6ZVDkTqqBzQEvg0NyeQpunNjYNwuo6N6yr2u3yKGFygwLd9LVGdnVJVYiwEqamCl8_vpvt6Qn2ZQEXD9-yEVs_Eo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1217.JPG"><br /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. 龍巻地獄 Dragon Waterspout</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyGVMPxxCNo2aat7ZK4XPGuvm5o6y_6aayd7Yg28lf73VZ2nYTG57RUNXn17LNZSJyF7Rhv4E1SfjXKfuqadHB9degiSDztETdDZavInGcPwqZpXX00jV6zMOKqW7Zrbdrl6HtbHyAYE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1221.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyGVMPxxCNo2aat7ZK4XPGuvm5o6y_6aayd7Yg28lf73VZ2nYTG57RUNXn17LNZSJyF7Rhv4E1SfjXKfuqadHB9degiSDztETdDZavInGcPwqZpXX00jV6zMOKqW7Zrbdrl6HtbHyAYE/s320/Nishinihon+1221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351633627505394" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The last hell is surely one of the most fascinating. Inside you can find a natural water spouting geyser, like you can find them a lot in Iceland. However this one is quite unique among the world for its short interval span of only 30-40 minutes.<br /><br />It is nice to sit down and relax and suddenly be excited by a sudden fountain of water shooting from the ground, because the pressure below got to high. Once the water shoots out, it remains shooting for almost five minutes, until it surceases and the pressure has to be build up from anew.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ljb6_eF9mYqhGMOqiSwCiadTZehPH1Js5SMtHczfOQAC5Vl9QWm6ZVDkTqqBzQEvg0NyeQpunNjYNwuo6N6yr2u3yKGFygwLd9LVGdnVJVYiwEqamCl8_vpvt6Qn2ZQEXD9-yEVs_Eo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1217.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ljb6_eF9mYqhGMOqiSwCiadTZehPH1Js5SMtHczfOQAC5Vl9QWm6ZVDkTqqBzQEvg0NyeQpunNjYNwuo6N6yr2u3yKGFygwLd9LVGdnVJVYiwEqamCl8_vpvt6Qn2ZQEXD9-yEVs_Eo/s320/Nishinihon+1217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351382326805394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzxlKzQAeaSC5oJcy6LQw-pPbWzu-v6jy4G7fuOzVE3iyf57ugBCF-TS0Tx-RChR3A3GOBC2wlbz_YMv1sSbf-1iSxoXA6WUHbKw0eyP-QLta1yrX5Qim0lekzovqgL_qyNC5TC_oE4o/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1222.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzxlKzQAeaSC5oJcy6LQw-pPbWzu-v6jy4G7fuOzVE3iyf57ugBCF-TS0Tx-RChR3A3GOBC2wlbz_YMv1sSbf-1iSxoXA6WUHbKw0eyP-QLta1yrX5Qim0lekzovqgL_qyNC5TC_oE4o/s320/Nishinihon+1222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351634985721426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwdWI2r5MbyP16DALCzN3imbjSVsQv0JhKm0Y48CFWtCpM7F6WjDOV5Vf6faXJovfJKnQJwzvLwA0fSEmX8Jw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Apart from the geyser, there is also a nice forest path you can stride along.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dPDnchqa4P-kZPbTN_NGwIPIMn94GjLgukUtv5eJPAvMnO9TsjzbWYBesoT9NRnbKOGwJH_ntmUJhPtFRcrr8Ved3EI1yVCkWc4Cp4yrAmhyphenhyphenHwZGjeQrqLp2mH2PsNrrgbpSglUnK4M/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1223.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dPDnchqa4P-kZPbTN_NGwIPIMn94GjLgukUtv5eJPAvMnO9TsjzbWYBesoT9NRnbKOGwJH_ntmUJhPtFRcrr8Ved3EI1yVCkWc4Cp4yrAmhyphenhyphenHwZGjeQrqLp2mH2PsNrrgbpSglUnK4M/s320/Nishinihon+1223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351638148629362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52pKa3XX5kJzUAASzvcd-sNYGBiuzwKRNH6O3jH1twvhK_YR8RkWp4iDFEMyHmvZb7Z0NWgJsb8l3kxvNQtbaeWZDSAxtcQqUlstT5HEnRg_Ed2BQ_RwEg_vT9B92oBQBJfXDe11JXio/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1225.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52pKa3XX5kJzUAASzvcd-sNYGBiuzwKRNH6O3jH1twvhK_YR8RkWp4iDFEMyHmvZb7Z0NWgJsb8l3kxvNQtbaeWZDSAxtcQqUlstT5HEnRg_Ed2BQ_RwEg_vT9B92oBQBJfXDe11JXio/s320/Nishinihon+1225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351638023036482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Kon Tohoku, a famous Buddhist priest and writer said about the hell:<br /><br />Heaven, as depicted by Dante, John Milton and William Blake seems neither beautiful nor interesting to me. However, I find the visions of hell conjured by these atists to be tremednously interesting. The curelty of beings vividly expressed in them that I almost feel that I would prefer to go to hell rather than heaven. In this day and age, however, the heavens and hells described by these great poets and writers no longer evoke yearning or fear amongst many people.<br />However, if you visit Beppu you will be confronted by a vision of eight great hells appearing before you. And these are certainly terrifying hells. Hot water gushes forth from the ground, roaring and rumbling fiercely, as numerous enormous corcodiles jostle violently with each other. Though you cannot see demons, it is clear that one false step, one slup, will bring you to a rapid destruction. When I consider that these hells must be hotter than the reported cauldrons of hell, all my longing for hell fades swiftly away.<br />Human beings need to experience hell in this life at least once, to empty themselves of their superfluous accumulations, to reflect on their past and conduct, and to contemplate the path ahead. For this important purpose, I highly recommend a visit to Beppu, to witness the many aspects of hell. Only those who have been through hell and lived to recount the experience, are worthy to be called real human beings.<br /></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">グローバルタワー Global Tower</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-43xQMqkW4c3bAhNWqBkoYYOcA2F89L_I4RtjKmyJKmtvHc1xNmPiR9MpbqLiA2B_cDvO7BVBDumA6-33nHNgkOQ7RbZVVBtyyzUZw2vigm_UDa0nrRP9L8rko8mSpXObf_s3iZCIurs/s1600-h/CA241622.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-43xQMqkW4c3bAhNWqBkoYYOcA2F89L_I4RtjKmyJKmtvHc1xNmPiR9MpbqLiA2B_cDvO7BVBDumA6-33nHNgkOQ7RbZVVBtyyzUZw2vigm_UDa0nrRP9L8rko8mSpXObf_s3iZCIurs/s320/CA241622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231354235228903762" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />By chance I met two nice Japanese girls at the last hell. They spoke to me, because they saw my heavy backpack. I found out they are two students (medical) on summer vacation with their own car. They invited me to explore Beppu together, and I gladly accepted.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoFDrHu2lxIWMqBglQw5aSom3JJBSqEiUJybW9uHz4dk4MiVvR2sEQ6xHMv2qPTyhL2BEiAdbQG2L_-wxCdhLHVaXZ0wkBa8an3iGGXqd2akHltOdb8fDhE71fwlGj5wUjZ8EazB5gz4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1226.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoFDrHu2lxIWMqBglQw5aSom3JJBSqEiUJybW9uHz4dk4MiVvR2sEQ6xHMv2qPTyhL2BEiAdbQG2L_-wxCdhLHVaXZ0wkBa8an3iGGXqd2akHltOdb8fDhE71fwlGj5wUjZ8EazB5gz4/s320/Nishinihon+1226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351639294596482" border="0" /></a></div><br />After some nice lunch we drove to the Global Tower, the highest building in Beppu. Admission is 300 Yen and from top you can see really far, and have a nice view over Beppu. It seems tradition for touristic cities to have at least one such tower. I think as soon as a city attract some tourists, there is someone who says: Let's build a tower as yet another tourist attraction.<br /><br />Anyway since I was with the two girls, it was actually quite nice, as we wondered what certain buildings were, or when we discovered something among the sea of houses, like the little bright orange house.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsS0K5lwjzqr03cI2IuVL1e7kOHpivActsEM7vMDsJwoiInJ-uhMghU5b465SPiClbxbqy1hqb3JAmBAWUwyhxb0J7S9KtPOT2K2qH0YxqKOc0BQUQDAkC3y1cn_2zJbVEBv4tEKqzrfE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1228.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsS0K5lwjzqr03cI2IuVL1e7kOHpivActsEM7vMDsJwoiInJ-uhMghU5b465SPiClbxbqy1hqb3JAmBAWUwyhxb0J7S9KtPOT2K2qH0YxqKOc0BQUQDAkC3y1cn_2zJbVEBv4tEKqzrfE/s320/Nishinihon+1228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351958997346898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qpSVpvq-EVhZhjzvUOe99SMKM0l4WJiMF4eHgYKiv36kI8Gk-yRK3Y82h41g5KqX7Po4FXq9YgFyL-IAQcxGfSpYiyyJCalY2anBQjZ-tJvTcqMslOA-j2F5GaY2nn5r9W5Ua5C-MC0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1238.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qpSVpvq-EVhZhjzvUOe99SMKM0l4WJiMF4eHgYKiv36kI8Gk-yRK3Y82h41g5KqX7Po4FXq9YgFyL-IAQcxGfSpYiyyJCalY2anBQjZ-tJvTcqMslOA-j2F5GaY2nn5r9W5Ua5C-MC0/s320/Nishinihon+1238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231352260921959042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />can you see the orange roofed house<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_kwnxLtceCx0EAd1WbMzb5YKmi2UEkvfB2IEwdODmPfogzYdRNH8v99AmbVvvBq47tOoVA2XAvlTKAHgS0kApO24gQS2DQQHVv4ot7JnXcjwXdcmac2qWWc_HCdhjhFkC6h1PKuYEp8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1237.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_kwnxLtceCx0EAd1WbMzb5YKmi2UEkvfB2IEwdODmPfogzYdRNH8v99AmbVvvBq47tOoVA2XAvlTKAHgS0kApO24gQS2DQQHVv4ot7JnXcjwXdcmac2qWWc_HCdhjhFkC6h1PKuYEp8/s320/Nishinihon+1237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231352259070331698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />it really sticks out from bird's view<br /></div> </div><br />The tower looks quite strange, and when reading the brochure, we found out it is modeled to look like a giant's eye, with the observation platform where the pupil would be. It was constructed for a big convention that was held in Beppu.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMnI6ClX98wMyme0wkfWO5u8ts-he7a1bg9-FIPoFRARo7Y8BAnvuaG17fn8MG-GB9ikNrnRKFVMVBippoDnEXO9x4uZzog-9BXNxpXghvEAmLyOj6lJ0JO5vjn7rUqJ35i63oNlhbUU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1233.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMnI6ClX98wMyme0wkfWO5u8ts-he7a1bg9-FIPoFRARo7Y8BAnvuaG17fn8MG-GB9ikNrnRKFVMVBippoDnEXO9x4uZzog-9BXNxpXghvEAmLyOj6lJ0JO5vjn7rUqJ35i63oNlhbUU/s320/Nishinihon+1233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231352259023230210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5t60bX_3Y1sDY6piJPMaQzH1TeH9CPgQ8VcpxUhBbmI8pWL4CPmN5PvKSxk0eRk9f-_2xNpZi_yqC_oPwSZ7nt_GnANP8zLvayONrKWK90ep_agfPp21bErZlp3xd72ZnnP3pHVjj7y0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1230.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5t60bX_3Y1sDY6piJPMaQzH1TeH9CPgQ8VcpxUhBbmI8pWL4CPmN5PvKSxk0eRk9f-_2xNpZi_yqC_oPwSZ7nt_GnANP8zLvayONrKWK90ep_agfPp21bErZlp3xd72ZnnP3pHVjj7y0/s320/Nishinihon+1230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351961190396274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the sea<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPiRPQgpDFBZzy2QZ1l_KgF5aTPE5TYsY2yfK7lryoY2lgNYDFoU1eyLoYNukN1-Zs4JMmUTHxaL9ET0dgc3tQZzhZkgnBNw8WQXMHx0tlRp8v_qdEcj_1rz8T9f513Ro0Id-c53Uccw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1231.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPiRPQgpDFBZzy2QZ1l_KgF5aTPE5TYsY2yfK7lryoY2lgNYDFoU1eyLoYNukN1-Zs4JMmUTHxaL9ET0dgc3tQZzhZkgnBNw8WQXMHx0tlRp8v_qdEcj_1rz8T9f513Ro0Id-c53Uccw/s320/Nishinihon+1231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351964361348770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and the mountains</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVqie1qrL6fSzEwGzS9VSBM_S-ySKF3pqaod5vbtaV7yADGVb6D6jDTPGOP6HfXnU8XzPRkY-KAk4BnoCenSkBkG-HONSxc1H_NjV6OtNzMfZs1ZoBalt7DaPNdcIQ13PNA-cyPRJrLk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1229.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVqie1qrL6fSzEwGzS9VSBM_S-ySKF3pqaod5vbtaV7yADGVb6D6jDTPGOP6HfXnU8XzPRkY-KAk4BnoCenSkBkG-HONSxc1H_NjV6OtNzMfZs1ZoBalt7DaPNdcIQ13PNA-cyPRJrLk/s320/Nishinihon+1229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231351964148001202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a part of Kyoto university<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">別府町 Beppu Downtown</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZB3qOSJDD8UcfLn_5ASnNiQGmdG4s1c5Q4L2fD5ztKTLHFkyHLJndF_5DIVd_ypTYz4INAPbdwmVnruin1NCJr8SEYsp0mkV2169U2UKoibS7r5W4SgsYCun6pAVgCcm0DX7d4DXbwk4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1081.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZB3qOSJDD8UcfLn_5ASnNiQGmdG4s1c5Q4L2fD5ztKTLHFkyHLJndF_5DIVd_ypTYz4INAPbdwmVnruin1NCJr8SEYsp0mkV2169U2UKoibS7r5W4SgsYCun6pAVgCcm0DX7d4DXbwk4/s320/Nishinihon+1081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335002027893794" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />After the tower, we decided to strive a little along Beppu downtown. However we were quite unlucky, it was Wednesday, and what I didn't know and the girls forgot, is that on Wednesday most stores are closed in Japan.<br /><br />However we found some nice Omiyage (tarvel presents) stores and eventually ended up in a family run cafe. I really like those family business, where you are treated naturally and not with super artificial robotic politeness like in chains.<br /><br />I talked quite warmly to the girls and found out that one of them studies medicine in order to work for 国境無き医者団 doctors without borders. Since I am thinking of working for them for a while myself, we had quite a energetic talk.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSKwxqq-rYthsYingZIXEDQpmamDlyRBH2Vb7EFahPJQjLX1FmmbEyjTLdIHeMFhLm99cEXEmvz2ISW6HYYlU8gX40RoeiuiQJbWmQ97TgEGXxr_nX3S1dEKBbrsYHOITJwHon1z08bw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1083.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSKwxqq-rYthsYingZIXEDQpmamDlyRBH2Vb7EFahPJQjLX1FmmbEyjTLdIHeMFhLm99cEXEmvz2ISW6HYYlU8gX40RoeiuiQJbWmQ97TgEGXxr_nX3S1dEKBbrsYHOITJwHon1z08bw/s320/Nishinihon+1083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231335006018058418" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98MdW8eHegDS1TrAC2VpgrjR_7G8mvz8XdICeAHebU_D4eDRsUdL8dyo6ymlGXYgyN___ylfkoWlIoVijPWNPnopMfDwa8153phL3IZ-5YPQ5dhuGNUZCTJet18DnwHMKFLGOa7ze2YI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1239.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98MdW8eHegDS1TrAC2VpgrjR_7G8mvz8XdICeAHebU_D4eDRsUdL8dyo6ymlGXYgyN___ylfkoWlIoVijPWNPnopMfDwa8153phL3IZ-5YPQ5dhuGNUZCTJet18DnwHMKFLGOa7ze2YI/s320/Nishinihon+1239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231352267928212354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI01ryKvuTI7H5ZCbUGcUkINf_6iHcz0p_K8NU6sHLC-gDpBUw8w0ndHsfrgkre6XQjJbGhQbnqUsp4OEv2qZGgQ_2LMi1YpvYe5RbUV0uOqa4r6aLds9vHl7rN5NZ8Tg6Po5Jzwg-8o/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1240.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI01ryKvuTI7H5ZCbUGcUkINf_6iHcz0p_K8NU6sHLC-gDpBUw8w0ndHsfrgkre6XQjJbGhQbnqUsp4OEv2qZGgQ_2LMi1YpvYe5RbUV0uOqa4r6aLds9vHl7rN5NZ8Tg6Po5Jzwg-8o/s320/Nishinihon+1240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231352265186212258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />we found a lot of remnants of a Tengu festival, that had taken place recently<br /></div><br />---<br /><br />Afterwards we parted and I boarded the next train eastwards, which would take me back to Honshu (Japan's main island) again.scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-90699220750100042452008-07-25T18:35:00.000-07:002008-08-04T21:06:53.764-07:00阿蘇 AsoFrom Nagasaki I started eastwards again. After so much information, human history and urban areas I longed to see the nature, which brought me to 阿蘇 Aso.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">阿蘇 Aso</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X3ZabO-Z-aJuPhW4Id58Cd1dOyi0KVpV_nU0cpJnsgbkaDx3Ox6inK9CaUxjaZbvBaqwcjl7_JI2nVgR-jgtA2en_p-xBTOl7L_SRok7CV32vzTc7SD9sl3X-P6H0d5XF9uiQkqYyn4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1020.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X3ZabO-Z-aJuPhW4Id58Cd1dOyi0KVpV_nU0cpJnsgbkaDx3Ox6inK9CaUxjaZbvBaqwcjl7_JI2nVgR-jgtA2en_p-xBTOl7L_SRok7CV32vzTc7SD9sl3X-P6H0d5XF9uiQkqYyn4/s320/Nishinihon+1020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230872410032235202" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Aso is a small village in central 九州 Kyushu in 熊本県 Kumamoto Prefecture. In spite of being a small village, a lot of tourists stop here for a while. The reason is Aso's natural attraction 阿蘇山 Mount Aso.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">阿蘇山 Mount Aso</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIvhffBuDIkGOroJtlzKGs9IgbKFylY8AjIivgqnMPkTBHtOKCJYOQDhuD5Cb1dY654bha11bDWYy3rKoyR-lL8i6c1fbEXs4uoQlbeNTYuYNjYN8W8DCnI6wP38fgDIbxWB1y2jRlw0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1059.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIvhffBuDIkGOroJtlzKGs9IgbKFylY8AjIivgqnMPkTBHtOKCJYOQDhuD5Cb1dY654bha11bDWYy3rKoyR-lL8i6c1fbEXs4uoQlbeNTYuYNjYN8W8DCnI6wP38fgDIbxWB1y2jRlw0/s320/Nishinihon+1059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230875065704364050" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Mount Aso is the largest still active volcano in Japan and among the largest in the world. This means you can stand on top of the huge crater and look right inside and see the water sulfur mix seething .<br /><br />From Aso Station a bus will take you to the mountain for around 500 Yen. On the way I remember two stations: one was called Aso Youth Hostel and the other Aso Camping ground. So that are your options for sleeping here. Of course Aso being a little village in the midst of nature, you don't even need the camping ground, you can camp basically everywhere.<br /><br />Like inactive 富士山 Mount Fuji, 阿蘇山 Mount Aso has been heavily developed for tourism. That means paved roads lead all the way up to the huge crater. You can go there even by car. Another option is a Cable Car that brings you from the bus station to the top for a horrendous sum. The best option is still walking. Walking from the Bus station to the top takes no more than 30 minutes and the road is not too steep.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL_MrS79_Oa65cZGtwGKlWBmZaEHhkAUjA7L_KrNjs0KPJO8KwT1_ySCa3G22smWMpT3UAfYd3ENBsC0tuwkEfAtnKNbR7dIghWjnKLLcMEfFdbYkjJNu2dhbApATym0g4BK59gelsAc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1034.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL_MrS79_Oa65cZGtwGKlWBmZaEHhkAUjA7L_KrNjs0KPJO8KwT1_ySCa3G22smWMpT3UAfYd3ENBsC0tuwkEfAtnKNbR7dIghWjnKLLcMEfFdbYkjJNu2dhbApATym0g4BK59gelsAc/s320/Nishinihon+1034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230873240530503458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />walking to the top<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZL2DebURHF21C6SpodI60CnNyk5PlwxtAfmQStn5vaqObP4c88uDlw16ZkF8cseOjhPDiy0srrXo8OH5AF0DiOBcHlu7nExKeEJPFax32pwm79U4_U1zxwsvYxWfOJ7-fN_NsJdj_E5Y/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1029.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZL2DebURHF21C6SpodI60CnNyk5PlwxtAfmQStn5vaqObP4c88uDlw16ZkF8cseOjhPDiy0srrXo8OH5AF0DiOBcHlu7nExKeEJPFax32pwm79U4_U1zxwsvYxWfOJ7-fN_NsJdj_E5Y/s320/Nishinihon+1029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230873227360181842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />but you can also take the street<br /></div><br />Reaching the top you will find a catering station and a touristic area around the crater. At least they don't charge entrance... yet. That means depending on the season there will be many tourists looking down the crater, it can even get crowded when a whole tourist group arrives. However most don't stay very long and if you wait for a bit you should have most of the area for yourself (think in cable car arrival steps ;))<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85EUOQMzwNyRGcYths3mTsL1Vd_tEPoi9vv7Y3tr-faKPLeCOCewiUwx4yi3D8wiv1H1j8UhXkKwz_CXeu7DQERUCZRopjaJPu7XE-T2zAU94qbkawnUPN_LPkjEmHZBmaI1Z6LVyBnU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1073.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85EUOQMzwNyRGcYths3mTsL1Vd_tEPoi9vv7Y3tr-faKPLeCOCewiUwx4yi3D8wiv1H1j8UhXkKwz_CXeu7DQERUCZRopjaJPu7XE-T2zAU94qbkawnUPN_LPkjEmHZBmaI1Z6LVyBnU/s320/Nishinihon+1073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230875441666285794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the station right next to the crater looks like a fortress<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVeBKV_HoqZIpQF8t2clATENu5KZQnOSUEaEk2v8sS9jOc5oUc2SpeyqLVyhaGSRj4QtxHUhsc1uv7p57Baf8AvKJ0mx7UzoootDr7w0ZIK3CxzVkYW_9T9N_E7gHVbK5Ar9Hm7Q3qZA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1042.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVeBKV_HoqZIpQF8t2clATENu5KZQnOSUEaEk2v8sS9jOc5oUc2SpeyqLVyhaGSRj4QtxHUhsc1uv7p57Baf8AvKJ0mx7UzoootDr7w0ZIK3CxzVkYW_9T9N_E7gHVbK5Ar9Hm7Q3qZA/s320/Nishinihon+1042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230874357916731874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJt2Dssk5u9URY1dP3K7WhQFg1HniXj6vZ5n0e8ZWzjHW3FeLCUyL8XhjBsKb6dF-ut_gAdiFqMuALIez8kfOnKoMQ8ofP2dIVwC4l_m7h3-P5pXON5hvpsalp1gFYDcRe-3sSbYbrYQs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1040.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJt2Dssk5u9URY1dP3K7WhQFg1HniXj6vZ5n0e8ZWzjHW3FeLCUyL8XhjBsKb6dF-ut_gAdiFqMuALIez8kfOnKoMQ8ofP2dIVwC4l_m7h3-P5pXON5hvpsalp1gFYDcRe-3sSbYbrYQs/s320/Nishinihon+1040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230874352588465890" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />and indeed you can find little bunk shelters all around the crater area<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_JRcrDXw2MFf5wSqsPaoVagkjpItp1zK_BYY4GEr7et3uRv6K8-TJEK9gZlEOxn4NyM0wkXgaXwmIUYZ9vfqaASLyMAuxdKTO3CHP2a08WfZ3LoB85ybsAcrQE7vsxWJcS3u82vl4yo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1079.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_JRcrDXw2MFf5wSqsPaoVagkjpItp1zK_BYY4GEr7et3uRv6K8-TJEK9gZlEOxn4NyM0wkXgaXwmIUYZ9vfqaASLyMAuxdKTO3CHP2a08WfZ3LoB85ybsAcrQE7vsxWJcS3u82vl4yo/s320/Nishinihon+1079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230875442356762722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />there is also a temple for protecting the visitors<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDWoM0OohqN5fv2rW-hV0_j2B2cZXp5cTphYYiXbZ2mbKphylZcLbk95U_TESzFWGcX6yAZDnTODANy_9I-hKIucituCY8Gz887IgGpZFlUa4wUkNTxWFBJzmEiCt3_f5DSdMRu827o0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1021.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDWoM0OohqN5fv2rW-hV0_j2B2cZXp5cTphYYiXbZ2mbKphylZcLbk95U_TESzFWGcX6yAZDnTODANy_9I-hKIucituCY8Gz887IgGpZFlUa4wUkNTxWFBJzmEiCt3_f5DSdMRu827o0/s320/Nishinihon+1021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230872714466533122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />apparently Aso tourism has seen better times,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8NV9Rzlq8ThMB4CgSk0Ao9x9tligqkNgStpKW7Jie8VvUkuohUhwhcG9aF1biLl9AcavCSCMgI5Np38aRwU0DpYzJfB9RlrVJJj4_Rar79NCBGbJma_9XgCx4nCL7tNtxpifNK_OwdE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1023.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8NV9Rzlq8ThMB4CgSk0Ao9x9tligqkNgStpKW7Jie8VvUkuohUhwhcG9aF1biLl9AcavCSCMgI5Np38aRwU0DpYzJfB9RlrVJJj4_Rar79NCBGbJma_9XgCx4nCL7tNtxpifNK_OwdE/s320/Nishinihon+1023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230879764114650050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />there were a couple of abandoned houses<br /></div><br />What not many tourists notice is that the area around Mount Aso, which is not paved and secured by fences is also really wonderful and there are many more smaller craters to be found around. So if you have enough of Mass Tourism manufactured in Japan, you can sneak out of the road unseen and explore the area a bit. If you are a bit careful, I don't think its too dangerous, however there is one danger you should be aware of:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherxFN-Au-t_BPjwOYGYycKF05DnO54JGImeXi3TWOmVFJK8-NED2XuHP0KYla62xDCLtaekY3yJfmQB42JUCVo3v7l6fVCpeCXIUtOo9zSJeTaRFjSD3_siaML2IzrHUHkFvGV9nZl-o/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1045.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherxFN-Au-t_BPjwOYGYycKF05DnO54JGImeXi3TWOmVFJK8-NED2XuHP0KYla62xDCLtaekY3yJfmQB42JUCVo3v7l6fVCpeCXIUtOo9zSJeTaRFjSD3_siaML2IzrHUHkFvGV9nZl-o/s320/Nishinihon+1045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230874651073106066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3x3uBm74eKXY-2eOhIYLLiuArGUkja-ayA4clgGKA-extKS2CcgYO0hpZz7MuHGEyvVvUPvRmxUVjPevrWeKuV3wYja7npRSq3cFXAbziThLvFH4LzSsLtjOspB3GuLWFwh6eSLrf7A/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1051.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3x3uBm74eKXY-2eOhIYLLiuArGUkja-ayA4clgGKA-extKS2CcgYO0hpZz7MuHGEyvVvUPvRmxUVjPevrWeKuV3wYja7npRSq3cFXAbziThLvFH4LzSsLtjOspB3GuLWFwh6eSLrf7A/s320/Nishinihon+1051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230875056631386466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUIWLyM-7ISdu1rY2WdeN2GjS6GpdXbUV-KVVLjMWot5DVE7n4gSKT5euIqO8QUWg2hx5svKvHdSoNpcFRB_do0kdfLGbk-tCBKwa0lzFovCBR6NwT81O3_vSQ_GMpoF0hNiegYSpNa8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1050.JPG"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dywxDxjTp-Dtj_DDG0oMnQ6D6s39F84N12lPLKp1I-Lsgi9_nDDDbkUAO-o6S4JiwpXp3cHWxFJmyY6dNrZEQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">硫黄ガス雲 Sulfur Gas Clouds</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFXBqMPGfTbLrF2FxqmGEXWwdUKRlExpePj2ou1aAhRcUJZnLu-P8Xi4igpZtCz485LFXy4EW9Tg6gE9yj_UO_Boc8GWKbDyMAFqtgHKpVVZeHpOdwqH60U6zTEsxUOs7QwjbDXKoXac/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1069.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFXBqMPGfTbLrF2FxqmGEXWwdUKRlExpePj2ou1aAhRcUJZnLu-P8Xi4igpZtCz485LFXy4EW9Tg6gE9yj_UO_Boc8GWKbDyMAFqtgHKpVVZeHpOdwqH60U6zTEsxUOs7QwjbDXKoXac/s320/Nishinihon+1069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230875435225013522" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Mount Aso constantly spits out gigantic sulfur clouds out of the craters. The one from the huge crater are big and concentrated enough to kill humans by suffocation. That is why the tourist association has many helpers including a medical team there as well as a warning system. The system has basically four colors:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmtER-MLIr7-gFO_J_xUpzm0k2QcDmM9Uph9N4ATOchrvg1N_T39uS-g1Hqsgtoa6Wlgf6O59ZDJCp0rPMpYR25UK36VJQfmD4DkYUqVQp6r4OM-KHUBFJTLpjZuZ6UxbajxDK2Hmkso/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1054.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmtER-MLIr7-gFO_J_xUpzm0k2QcDmM9Uph9N4ATOchrvg1N_T39uS-g1Hqsgtoa6Wlgf6O59ZDJCp0rPMpYR25UK36VJQfmD4DkYUqVQp6r4OM-KHUBFJTLpjZuZ6UxbajxDK2Hmkso/s320/Nishinihon+1054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230875063685018642" border="0" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">青 blue</span> 0 ppm<br />currently no sulfur eruption<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">緑 green</span> 0.2 - 2 ppm<br />minor sulfur eruption, people with Asthma, Bronchitis, breathing problems, heart problems and a weak stamina should be careful and take precautions<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">黄色 yellow</span> 2 - 5 ppm<br />medium sulfur eruption people with Asthma, Bronchitis, breathing problems, heart problems and a weak stamina are forbidden to approach the crater, life threatening. Other people should be careful and take precautions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">赤 red </span>more than 5 ppm<br />high sulfur eruption. Access forbidden to everyone, the air is not breathable.<br /><br />At another spot precautions are described with medicine and brining a wet towel. If you breathe through the wet towel you can block most of the sulfur and suck the oxygen out of the air.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztSgQnc5azRzMpQUMu9CNgBVRzwa-eO34H9Qo7FOqc8b6iX7z3A6YQbhKZmOm22Z4pLPup2ZDgqrK_PVpycg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> </div><br />When I arrived we had yellow alert, for me having Asthma it would have meant it was too dangerous. However I am in excellent physical condition and my Asthma hasn't bothered me for quite some time, so I took the risk. I had my emergency spray at hand and prepared a wet towel, which I used for breathing and I was okay.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwmk-6ZxQZuyvqak6uu3re0Mq-CXJlxeQPU34YfxDi6YKlfmpRTh3wvQXrYkBM9dV5iJE7TnGTCUSe83BYblw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />However if you to camp in the wilderness, take the sulfur into account. Spending there an hour is different from a whole night. The high sulfur percentage in the air will eventually get you, so be sure to get some distance between you and the craters.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuvA_EIK8BQKo0agWKRAUqvzFoZlj1K3EMFR5Z2hEph87BU04VTUhJQ9b12DoIinlQmAZoT4FwOXv122XQo4XL-b8WetssAJ4Q5DHU0I7mWdrBqcIOnGP1zhw9-ofBM6x-uPnkWlLnZ8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1046.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuvA_EIK8BQKo0agWKRAUqvzFoZlj1K3EMFR5Z2hEph87BU04VTUhJQ9b12DoIinlQmAZoT4FwOXv122XQo4XL-b8WetssAJ4Q5DHU0I7mWdrBqcIOnGP1zhw9-ofBM6x-uPnkWlLnZ8/s320/Nishinihon+1046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230874651760242930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUIWLyM-7ISdu1rY2WdeN2GjS6GpdXbUV-KVVLjMWot5DVE7n4gSKT5euIqO8QUWg2hx5svKvHdSoNpcFRB_do0kdfLGbk-tCBKwa0lzFovCBR6NwT81O3_vSQ_GMpoF0hNiegYSpNa8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1050.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUIWLyM-7ISdu1rY2WdeN2GjS6GpdXbUV-KVVLjMWot5DVE7n4gSKT5euIqO8QUWg2hx5svKvHdSoNpcFRB_do0kdfLGbk-tCBKwa0lzFovCBR6NwT81O3_vSQ_GMpoF0hNiegYSpNa8/s320/Nishinihon+1050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230874658899147058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamqycuhe6eLpe8Gj3Z2IOzW3PuddNgq-hDua4yZl4HedV2R9sFgTjgJzphMfHoba1xi71BnhIk4fSJMETUWwpiAjSl7dpKnD69pv3D-47nymP7boXsC4fGIes77hQxcnsK2j3AhJPERo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1068.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamqycuhe6eLpe8Gj3Z2IOzW3PuddNgq-hDua4yZl4HedV2R9sFgTjgJzphMfHoba1xi71BnhIk4fSJMETUWwpiAjSl7dpKnD69pv3D-47nymP7boXsC4fGIes77hQxcnsK2j3AhJPERo/s320/Nishinihon+1068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230875435918287170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />an observatory close to the crater provides you with some far sight<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyEKKuYiUjhwxu7iX9CadKK3NtPQHH3GWnjZHbBNgSCdPpoifTZpXtWrb7VE920PhouzbuTiReYLiIEBNnFA0jG2YIV7oqOJqEmfChdFxgsp-JfK0tGwwriINTE4RldAHX5LRvJAKzBY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1066.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyEKKuYiUjhwxu7iX9CadKK3NtPQHH3GWnjZHbBNgSCdPpoifTZpXtWrb7VE920PhouzbuTiReYLiIEBNnFA0jG2YIV7oqOJqEmfChdFxgsp-JfK0tGwwriINTE4RldAHX5LRvJAKzBY/s320/Nishinihon+1066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230879767896458738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcfZoSKJE28kDzh5R64Gnd_14rVeX9vZdk-Al19UIYgtBf6hly36TdvfAEDsMXffcayKMoxOn73fC-I-EINr994O9YOfqc2dKhj7I0r3WYsuJgLNC5kUey32zP8T0wzklCoaPD8qTotE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1071.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcfZoSKJE28kDzh5R64Gnd_14rVeX9vZdk-Al19UIYgtBf6hly36TdvfAEDsMXffcayKMoxOn73fC-I-EINr994O9YOfqc2dKhj7I0r3WYsuJgLNC5kUey32zP8T0wzklCoaPD8qTotE/s320/Nishinihon+1071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230879768079881874" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ハイキング Hiking</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYHfYZC6OZO1hg7xMXRwoSjBVGSHmXmTw1qlzoWcHsGBRiqeXBWqKidqsVEI18csEjrz2b5lY0k7wvrNZIfgUVQdrFw5or8d8CYxLnzZVKaaPB4EAYIL6TG0N0z1uPFd6zvihm7gvOLA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1077.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYHfYZC6OZO1hg7xMXRwoSjBVGSHmXmTw1qlzoWcHsGBRiqeXBWqKidqsVEI18csEjrz2b5lY0k7wvrNZIfgUVQdrFw5or8d8CYxLnzZVKaaPB4EAYIL6TG0N0z1uPFd6zvihm7gvOLA/s320/Nishinihon+1077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230875443021481746" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Finally if you decide to spend a night here, you will have plenty of time left to walk around the wonderful nature here. There are several hiking trails you can follow, but when you feel adventurous, you can also get a whole area map at the station and just walk where you feel like. All area around the volcanoes is easily accessible and overgrown by an abundance of nature, due to the fertile volcanic ash ground. Be sure to take a compass with you and you should find your way through the green meadows and grey stone planes easily.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFst7SVV8kmdTbo7eIu5yuzb4NnJu_pRz5gvxluy8yL2BWygDNScZLOAon0rkQnYTDUOy61ncKwomCufQVJ8UgF4bLwDx2CryfXqBr_Jl6ncSp_p3vcI4V-Ck5b4E8s5VM_ASxD4Qrk1E/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1041.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFst7SVV8kmdTbo7eIu5yuzb4NnJu_pRz5gvxluy8yL2BWygDNScZLOAon0rkQnYTDUOy61ncKwomCufQVJ8UgF4bLwDx2CryfXqBr_Jl6ncSp_p3vcI4V-Ck5b4E8s5VM_ASxD4Qrk1E/s320/Nishinihon+1041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230874356264036530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZKQdiyQi4mST6HXDCCENPgrcdnYSCYHg5kABVIbBfUsH9rvMKohFLkdeLpfwH2hGwAIsqXfNBI0QtWB5bXgaXz_ljbThzUUFR2QZf0d2NC1NxbxH5XlYOkfCMKCtM4tp5nn7A2VccVA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1037.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZKQdiyQi4mST6HXDCCENPgrcdnYSCYHg5kABVIbBfUsH9rvMKohFLkdeLpfwH2hGwAIsqXfNBI0QtWB5bXgaXz_ljbThzUUFR2QZf0d2NC1NxbxH5XlYOkfCMKCtM4tp5nn7A2VccVA/s320/Nishinihon+1037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230874349694981842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQA7_GGzWK0b0tqlufe0hDBcssPnItfNriUOH5YbEiM-4SAjGAsgu1Scp1yEaCdNAEAFk_C_cyfvmNS8Ee0K5oxIpAkqxMXya2r49-OrhMLLyouVOBJamNNlo0C6ZjA46BLFAouYmXtE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1030.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQA7_GGzWK0b0tqlufe0hDBcssPnItfNriUOH5YbEiM-4SAjGAsgu1Scp1yEaCdNAEAFk_C_cyfvmNS8Ee0K5oxIpAkqxMXya2r49-OrhMLLyouVOBJamNNlo0C6ZjA46BLFAouYmXtE/s320/Nishinihon+1030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230873230403169346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RQ3rzZ9nZuXoBffzYLVRPyRF4J00DgLCcsw8uJ4M1qG4bMUDGrDo9wYRJs02u1H7e0WuO51DB2-mttanQFS-3xtSd5NUgWaOjWgMN4e9fle7WG8P2wtxiOmcSMBFsd9B_X8fUH_VKnQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1026.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RQ3rzZ9nZuXoBffzYLVRPyRF4J00DgLCcsw8uJ4M1qG4bMUDGrDo9wYRJs02u1H7e0WuO51DB2-mttanQFS-3xtSd5NUgWaOjWgMN4e9fle7WG8P2wtxiOmcSMBFsd9B_X8fUH_VKnQ/s320/Nishinihon+1026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230872712179246770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpjMyCuUFkJBXw6ckxhgdP0_bwkV0Ob5lyorS-AWVceGyhENspVOxGckjKmKUz_E_DGj4obdrcPi_4ZbAOTYZwFBIj4J-7RiDMbfD1UWUvbME-5X2viLNP_DqNZn-fjJ2iTUi1ajhiUs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1024.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpjMyCuUFkJBXw6ckxhgdP0_bwkV0Ob5lyorS-AWVceGyhENspVOxGckjKmKUz_E_DGj4obdrcPi_4ZbAOTYZwFBIj4J-7RiDMbfD1UWUvbME-5X2viLNP_DqNZn-fjJ2iTUi1ajhiUs/s320/Nishinihon+1024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230872718799215714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4SFcq7vga6cIeKd-Hltwpd3Gyw_zUUIueAGHhdeQQTF25MbXo6a6gK_xhI6VzHNkOpa_4HCwjt2bMjLaB2LLLQLeh9d-XynXrbLbCwPJ667xYhn7ZOo3VUBaIfwGT5ZH10i0_0-D__A/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1027.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4SFcq7vga6cIeKd-Hltwpd3Gyw_zUUIueAGHhdeQQTF25MbXo6a6gK_xhI6VzHNkOpa_4HCwjt2bMjLaB2LLLQLeh9d-XynXrbLbCwPJ667xYhn7ZOo3VUBaIfwGT5ZH10i0_0-D__A/s320/Nishinihon+1027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230872718845125842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEP84zQxH10nU-u-t8l6atfwtZe66Gcg773nCN5pA39h6vFP9ATLBbJWB7gMgw_YgWwh5kS6m7HsoRrcQwN8Vpkkb8JO6GvPHOkaxQpEYfQtj-HmJCb-c9PvgpXmx7y8oSXYgx8BbxCV8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1031.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEP84zQxH10nU-u-t8l6atfwtZe66Gcg773nCN5pA39h6vFP9ATLBbJWB7gMgw_YgWwh5kS6m7HsoRrcQwN8Vpkkb8JO6GvPHOkaxQpEYfQtj-HmJCb-c9PvgpXmx7y8oSXYgx8BbxCV8/s320/Nishinihon+1031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230873237346674434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />you can still see where the lava river was<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A cool thing about Japan are the little stone figures people erect by placing stones above each other. If you have careful eyes and watch your surroundings closely, you can find them at the strangest places.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5GKOz_C-Q7jzPzILRV5zBLfC33SEbvrQ9rL-U4bY9Z9Pj7vo3zBKaaUFBjWtZY-z8ACzTajbolbjuU0c458LIjC_zjqiS-6Y_gojc1SC83NmlJzG0H5-KE6v0uCGowcpqewJ7WUWMC4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1039.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5GKOz_C-Q7jzPzILRV5zBLfC33SEbvrQ9rL-U4bY9Z9Pj7vo3zBKaaUFBjWtZY-z8ACzTajbolbjuU0c458LIjC_zjqiS-6Y_gojc1SC83NmlJzG0H5-KE6v0uCGowcpqewJ7WUWMC4/s320/Nishinihon+1039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230874351805265890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9U27VPG2WwlnVhYURblGVARt2YZkFSw0aUvi9s2kSLeIM7AblkJynHB_SVLde1me9lR8ry7yT7_d5Q6dKgxTU5sSKbpS0ijnAvmDyWwSZ7NERT2F4Y3tUbpVTmf7Qt9p44iFEK1gULXU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1036.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9U27VPG2WwlnVhYURblGVARt2YZkFSw0aUvi9s2kSLeIM7AblkJynHB_SVLde1me9lR8ry7yT7_d5Q6dKgxTU5sSKbpS0ijnAvmDyWwSZ7NERT2F4Y3tUbpVTmf7Qt9p44iFEK1gULXU/s320/Nishinihon+1036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230873239439227730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkuedQCdGvfc4rvbyl7XJ31H34zIQ5ngjcMttbyBOuShJnaOzwZsBWH9GvidNublawH5PV_VPR7n51ztDAWByEflaAQDkzf0s8zuFUkCzzJ6EXoqQ6HPyD096izhj2mMcy75LCQqLMQc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1028.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkuedQCdGvfc4rvbyl7XJ31H34zIQ5ngjcMttbyBOuShJnaOzwZsBWH9GvidNublawH5PV_VPR7n51ztDAWByEflaAQDkzf0s8zuFUkCzzJ6EXoqQ6HPyD096izhj2mMcy75LCQqLMQc/s320/Nishinihon+1028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230872727147086402" border="0" /></a></div></div></div><br />---<br /><br />So I found my way back to nature and found some time and tranquility to let the thoughts and impressions of the last days wander by. My next stop would be the number one destination for honey moons before flights to Hawaii became affordable...scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-82970658886325171392008-07-23T20:07:00.000-07:002008-08-30T08:48:01.364-07:00長崎 NagasakiMy journey west met its end, when I reached the most westwards point of my journey: Nagasaki. From here on, it would be back eastwards. There are many reasons to come to Nagasaki: the Atom Bomb, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dejima</span></span>, Clover among others. But for me someone else called me to this city: 坂本竜馬 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sakamoto</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ryouma</span></span>, who has become my hero. He spent a lot of his life in Nagasaki and changed Japan from here...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">長崎 Nagasaki</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfQ4UReqGDSz-35nOT-nm5apgWYUY5Nq8W2eNKOUguqGTz26AcJeDS50j4vnvzBZUv8fLpdOWI0ly7Gus_YwH5H1KFE0phLeQflLdVRthFqPl_o142j0iTQ-40bbW4ov1IxEiNdLEtXu2/s1600-h/Nishinihon+833.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfQ4UReqGDSz-35nOT-nm5apgWYUY5Nq8W2eNKOUguqGTz26AcJeDS50j4vnvzBZUv8fLpdOWI0ly7Gus_YwH5H1KFE0phLeQflLdVRthFqPl_o142j0iTQ-40bbW4ov1IxEiNdLEtXu2/s320/Nishinihon+833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229757976783345778" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Nagasaki is an extraordinary city. During the three hundred years of 鎖国 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sakoku</span></span> (closed country), when Japan was closed to the outside world, only one single port remained open to the world: Nagasaki. During and before the 明治維新 Japanese Revolution Nagasaki served as a source for western ideas, philosophy and technology, which inspired many people in creating a new world, where all would be equal. Also it served as a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">possibility</span> to get into contact with western people and get your hands on western guns or warships, by clever trading. Finally during the Second World War weapons were produced in Nagasaki, reason enough for the US Administration to add Nagasaki to the list of possible Atomic Bomb targets. When the nearby city 小倉 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kokura</span></span>, which hosted a lot of armories, was clouded out of sight on the 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span></span> August of 1945, Nagasaki's fate was decided.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">長崎あかりバックパッカーズホステル Nagasaki <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Akari</span></span> Backpacker Hostel</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbr59UlHPeo50dWL7xuJYaNGD23Dx38UR-eeSkcgHuOoev-Nt4PeL565BixUt6sgzOtTgb8OYOqqqQkawZJyOpuILL4Qgm6whjP-wc1qewZg5DzEU97c0MIxiWB79nMBnOhmoOiPhAnuP/s1600-h/Nishinihon+726.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbr59UlHPeo50dWL7xuJYaNGD23Dx38UR-eeSkcgHuOoev-Nt4PeL565BixUt6sgzOtTgb8OYOqqqQkawZJyOpuILL4Qgm6whjP-wc1qewZg5DzEU97c0MIxiWB79nMBnOhmoOiPhAnuP/s320/Nishinihon+726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229752444332357202" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Sleeping with a tent was out of the question in Nagasaki, since Nagasaki is a huge city and the nature far away, so I looked for a Youth Hostel before hand and instead found a wonderful Backpacker Hostel named <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Akari</span></span>. The couple leading the hostel have been around the world themselves and are fluent in English. The hostel is really nice and has three computers with 24h free <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Internet</span>, a big kitchen for everyone to use and a television set with a lot of DVDs for Movie Nights with the other guests. The dormitory rooms as well as the private rooms are tatami rooms and really clean and nice.<br /><br />The two owners are really friendly, and I spent a lot of time talking to them. One of my question was, which placed in Nagasaki are connected to my hero 坂本竜馬 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Sakamoto</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ryouma</span></span>. Luckily the man was also a big admirer or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Sakamoto</span></span> and the lady found a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Sakamoto</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ryouma</span></span> tour through Nagasaki, which she photocopied for me.<br /><br />http://www.nagasaki-hostel.com/<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">坂本竜馬 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Sakamoto</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ryouma</span></span></span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0STFC1k5ClHol-2xFe6XYbaEsZectL8xUE02dn1ZmAa-x17QmpKZcAPPU_MgVx6LAumQZVHxG0QAl-f6_w0p0oaK86yi-NvP2BM7VRUKb8_3_VxizkKPLeDVpvRyNvtUNtjnD7p8AZTQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+815.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0STFC1k5ClHol-2xFe6XYbaEsZectL8xUE02dn1ZmAa-x17QmpKZcAPPU_MgVx6LAumQZVHxG0QAl-f6_w0p0oaK86yi-NvP2BM7VRUKb8_3_VxizkKPLeDVpvRyNvtUNtjnD7p8AZTQ/s320/Nishinihon+815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756887759112434" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Sakamoto</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Ryouma</span></span> was born 1835 in 土佐藩 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Tosa</span></span> Province (now 高知県 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Kouchi</span></span> Prefecture) on the island of 四国 Shikoku. In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Tosa</span></span> Province a couple of 上司 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Joushi</span></span> (upper class samurai) ruled with iron hand and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Ryouma</span></span> had to experience many cruelties during his youth. He was the son of a family of 郷士 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Goushi</span></span> (lower class samurai), which became wealthy in the Sake business. He was known around town for bed wetting until his adolescence, his bad writing and slow learning and was generally considered an idiot.<br /><br />When he witnessed how the 大名 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Daimyou</span></span> (feudal lord) or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Tosa</span></span> killed friends of him, because of showing improper <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">politeness</span> when he was crossing a bridge, his life changed. He sought for a way to have an influence in the world and change it and what he found was swordsmanship. His simple childish plan was to become the best swordsman of Japan and by that gain influence. And so he did, with the burning passion and motivation of dreams behind him. Also 乙女 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Otome</span></span> his bigger sister played an important role, always seeing a great man in him and personally teaching him sword fighting lessons.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvImAMjQ_2KZBMCII_By4lmoJlFALaoCgR_mGrr31B0POjhyphenhyphen3GIDwvUMJRq2oLuhy1dz4HdI5bsi4RhiJvZNc-dhrN15CFH40N_OyF4WY70sHUkFA2YpBtg2zeWP2dS5JJU2nWFdMrKcwF/s1600-h/Nishinihon+796.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvImAMjQ_2KZBMCII_By4lmoJlFALaoCgR_mGrr31B0POjhyphenhyphen3GIDwvUMJRq2oLuhy1dz4HdI5bsi4RhiJvZNc-dhrN15CFH40N_OyF4WY70sHUkFA2YpBtg2zeWP2dS5JJU2nWFdMrKcwF/s320/Nishinihon+796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756474191396098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">his big sister 乙女 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Otome</span></span></div><br />When his skill reached a high level he joined tournaments in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Edo</span></span> (now Tokyo), which he was able to win. By that he made important contacts and friends in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Edo</span></span>. When he returned to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Tosa</span></span>, childhood friends of him created a local branch of the 尊皇攘夷 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Sonnoujoui</span></span> (a league to expel foreign dominance and influence on Japan and restore the power to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Tenno</span></span>). At this time he met 吉田松陰 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Yoshida</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Shouin</span></span> and his students and was inspired by his teachings.<br />He initially joined for a certain time until they started to kill important leading figures of the feudal political structure of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Tosa</span></span> and Japan using the slogan 天誅 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Tenchuu</span></span> (heavenly punishment). At some point he got himself into an assassination mission of an important navy instructor in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Edo</span></span> called 勝海舟 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Katsu</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Kaishuu</span></span>. When he was about to kill him, he asked him to listen to him first and then decide whether to kill him or not.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mXx7qveYO2nlBJVMDRLcf5PRkimUzN3YoNRJMFgQ7UHu9ZB-ihoyUZKQ5BnejQ-iO0yhKhUeJknG4WhLjrZl-Xd6fhw6UY3myo6cjQEwm8Lr02r6iOnErX0UF1ofJbbKL_6lhpFi3AlW/s1600-h/Nishinihon+812.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mXx7qveYO2nlBJVMDRLcf5PRkimUzN3YoNRJMFgQ7UHu9ZB-ihoyUZKQ5BnejQ-iO0yhKhUeJknG4WhLjrZl-Xd6fhw6UY3myo6cjQEwm8Lr02r6iOnErX0UF1ofJbbKL_6lhpFi3AlW/s320/Nishinihon+812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756879966920274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">吉田松陰 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Yoshida</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Shouin</span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZEFHrOJznRNllIy18N5a8yk_FvocAV7pG8TAjocaxxFZXDTeMqTLweNQ141P8agTEgQHWXVmTOi2azhdQ8dsaJmi6r08g6pvgK5NZRsPfXJJSkCx3RzrBfiDvFXARW3rcFTVpXqlIP5A/s1600-h/Nishinihon+790.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZEFHrOJznRNllIy18N5a8yk_FvocAV7pG8TAjocaxxFZXDTeMqTLweNQ141P8agTEgQHWXVmTOi2azhdQ8dsaJmi6r08g6pvgK5NZRsPfXJJSkCx3RzrBfiDvFXARW3rcFTVpXqlIP5A/s320/Nishinihon+790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229755991494706882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">勝海舟 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Katsu</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Kaishu</span></span></div><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Katsu</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">Kaishuu</span></span> was on of the visionaries of the time and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">foresaw</span> that a nation wide Civil War would weaken Japan to such a high extent that foreign powers could easily turn it into a colony of slaved. He saw the only way out in learning western science and building war ships like they do, building relations and find a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">peaceful</span> way to change Japan into a strong modern country. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Ryouma</span></span> was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">immediately</span> able to see the wisdom in his words and shared the passion of his dreams and thus in spite of killing his target, he became his 弟子 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Deshi</span></span> (disciple).<br /><br />Together they worked on improving Japan's navy and acquired skills in how to operate steam powered war ships. They built a navy academy in Kobe, which became a place for free thinking, philosophy and dreams. The same as around <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Yoshida</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Shouin</span></span>, the Kobe Naval Instruction Facility became a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">magnet</span> for 志士 (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">shishi</span></span> free thinkers and revolutionaries) from all over the country. At this time <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">Ryouma</span></span> was a 脱藩者 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">Dappansha</span></span> (a person leaving a province without allowance by the feudal lord, a crime punished by 切腹 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">seppuku</span></span>). Along with him many other people <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">commit ed</span> 脱藩 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">Dappan</span></span> and joined <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">Ryouma</span></span> at the Naval Academy.<br /><br />Although <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">Ryouma</span></span> was nor formally working for the Shogun he was still in good terms with the 尊皇攘夷 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">Sonnoujoui</span></span> and other 志士 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">Shishi</span></span>. When he met 吉田松陰 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">Yoshida</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">Shouin</span></span>, he also formed strong bonds of friendship with 高杉晋作 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">Takasugi</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">Shinsaku</span></span>, and 木戸孝允 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">Kido</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">Takayoshi</span></span>, which would influence the outcome of the revolution. When he was visiting 京都 Kyoto together with his 先生 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">Sensei</span></span>, he also eye witnessed the 御門事変 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">Gomon</span></span> Incident and at this time also made friends with 西郷隆盛 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">Saigo</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">Takamori</span></span>. Because of these connections he was later able to convince the two hostile provinces of 長州 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">Choshu</span></span> and 薩摩 Satsuma to form an alliance the famous 薩長同盟 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">Sacchou</span></span> Alliance to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">revolutionize</span> the country.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvklG8Y1LZgQhiHf4Ch9JYji1eIYCdNcScIfqHJ69vkevGw6kH9vECgSBq4SpznwN01KuFoB_cw3GTZjqyRtZN3lQ1sqca8b_VVLIfGbFRsMtukoGv3KmUQva5VMou53pUSIbfern9EjN/s1600-h/Nishinihon+813.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvklG8Y1LZgQhiHf4Ch9JYji1eIYCdNcScIfqHJ69vkevGw6kH9vECgSBq4SpznwN01KuFoB_cw3GTZjqyRtZN3lQ1sqca8b_VVLIfGbFRsMtukoGv3KmUQva5VMou53pUSIbfern9EjN/s320/Nishinihon+813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756884970523362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">西郷隆盛 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">Saigo</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">Takamori</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> from 薩摩藩 Satsuma Province</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNZ-4tyU8Nfd8O_6z2Ck9l9IIUaWlXJkrUvQTpIWja44RBFjBLoCu9J4yfx_YKZnln0oPmB9q8EN4vz0xc36imYgasxlvQYKAV0hSeL9EYCiwdMhQsgeKWVrXhA5Ez8kob3bZni2eYh76/s1600-h/Nishinihon+806.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNZ-4tyU8Nfd8O_6z2Ck9l9IIUaWlXJkrUvQTpIWja44RBFjBLoCu9J4yfx_YKZnln0oPmB9q8EN4vz0xc36imYgasxlvQYKAV0hSeL9EYCiwdMhQsgeKWVrXhA5Ez8kob3bZni2eYh76/s320/Nishinihon+806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756482683175202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and 高杉晋作 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">Takasugi</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">Shinsaku</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVDvBvCSHyRc3LK25ki3t_dXWgUmEnUiEWQVTqOF9Lf8Mt-JVJYdBrW0jc8nXBu9VBTzEX7oD8ApN7GWX5tA56tMIkC1lJTCWzDiQi4GfMWP682Njy7dc8T7shPtJnKGEyRpTsNntUVKK/s1600-h/Nishinihon+807.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVDvBvCSHyRc3LK25ki3t_dXWgUmEnUiEWQVTqOF9Lf8Mt-JVJYdBrW0jc8nXBu9VBTzEX7oD8ApN7GWX5tA56tMIkC1lJTCWzDiQi4GfMWP682Njy7dc8T7shPtJnKGEyRpTsNntUVKK/s320/Nishinihon+807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756492416727058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and 木戸孝允 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">Kido</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">Takayoshi</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> from 長州藩 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">Choshu</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> Province</span></div><br />After his protege <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">Katsu</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">Kaishuu</span></span> had to return to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">Edo</span></span> and abandon the Naval Training Center in Kobe, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">Ryouma</span></span> was on its own again. However by that he and most of the 志士 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">Shishi</span></span> became targets of feudal lords again and had to flee. The found refugee in the 薩摩藩邸 Satsuma province feudal lord villa (like an embassy) where <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">Saigo</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">Takamori</span></span> was residing. Having time to think about the future he decided to follow the ideals of his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">Sensei</span></span> and form a company, Japan's first company, independent of political power. For that he had to move to 長崎 Nagasaki, the only city with an open port.<br /><br />In 長崎 Nagasaki he formed the company and named it 亀山社中 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">Kamayama</span></span> Company. With some initial support from Satsuma the trading company prospered and brought Japanese goods as silk, green tea, spices and pottery to the western world in return for weapons and later war ships. Later he realized the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">significance</span> of his position, and part of his success in forming the 薩長同盟 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">Sacchou</span></span> Alliance was to promise to supply the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">Choshu</span></span> army with fire arms, while Satsuma would get rice from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">Choshu</span></span> to supply their troops after a bad harvest. After that he continued supporting the revolution by making his company buy war ships for the revolutionaries. Therefore at this point he decided that his organizations needed a new name and he renamed it to 海援隊 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">Kaientai</span></span> (sea support troop)...<br /><br />On The Traces Of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">Sakamoto</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">Ryouma</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) 光永寺 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">Koueiji</span></span></span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVOr3mFg9cR6pA-JbuIhexRFtROQo2waCUunFgG95MICJ8S5i1ZrDSt35tzbacD1a_qsmUti_WP-0Afb03vt_8w2q3EoCVEQbhXGa99fpU1LXLHJTGa2hjaT0u8TohIksOABXI8msJRDC/s1600-h/Nishinihon+729.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVOr3mFg9cR6pA-JbuIhexRFtROQo2waCUunFgG95MICJ8S5i1ZrDSt35tzbacD1a_qsmUti_WP-0Afb03vt_8w2q3EoCVEQbhXGa99fpU1LXLHJTGa2hjaT0u8TohIksOABXI8msJRDC/s320/Nishinihon+729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229752804029364834" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />福沢諭吉 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">Fukuzawa</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">Yukichi</span>, One of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">Sakamoto</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">Ryouma's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">cotemporaries</span> studied here for over one year 蘭学 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">Rangaku</span> (western science). Later he joined the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">Kanrin</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">Maru</span>, Japan's first steam powered ship) to a trip to the United States. Upon his return he founded the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">Keio</span> University in Tokyo. He can be considered one of the founders of modern Japan.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B1_nFchycymLUDv8-Mpx79NRUCL5f9_bjRDVvcYGqqRSc5jDpRTpDNd6jYYiq6UFtFWoIV39J5OEgihQOKcqCGLQdScMX31jJ9vWDTGUMch1oI7Yci7ORQ5RxwgRsTfueYhAhyphenhyphentV3DoR/s1600-h/FukuzawaYukichi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B1_nFchycymLUDv8-Mpx79NRUCL5f9_bjRDVvcYGqqRSc5jDpRTpDNd6jYYiq6UFtFWoIV39J5OEgihQOKcqCGLQdScMX31jJ9vWDTGUMch1oI7Yci7ORQ5RxwgRsTfueYhAhyphenhyphentV3DoR/s320/FukuzawaYukichi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229752433974676034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image from <a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A6%8F%E6%BE%A4%E8%AB%AD%E5%90%89"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">Wikipedia</span></a><br /><br /></span>福沢諭吉 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">Fukuzawa</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">Yukichi</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR3vcbjs5wL_fCDALOapqSSqp8n4u1D1ZiTV6bqjzwswl4rrSLxTS5io2UCU54OOdz09kbKZFiD6qLG44Ojj6hF16RSGCvEDXR_cpCnejpdPC4Eu4YBvnB1dzOEicbSA6F4pnoqUabT7C/s1600-h/Nishinihon+728.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR3vcbjs5wL_fCDALOapqSSqp8n4u1D1ZiTV6bqjzwswl4rrSLxTS5io2UCU54OOdz09kbKZFiD6qLG44Ojj6hF16RSGCvEDXR_cpCnejpdPC4Eu4YBvnB1dzOEicbSA6F4pnoqUabT7C/s320/Nishinihon+728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229752451261914082" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />(2) 竜馬通り <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">Ryouma</span> Street<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2Cpu6j3Hyn1hZMAs8viKzrTkOhSESUX_XxLvLPtWiq7-F38AGe1a7JI5ilT0gnztA32pItRBVqXq-zZx7eHPHDxm5PpCNQUQm1_B0_N83QF3RkbONVRG1n39ikohLYp9QmlM2Baigs7W/s1600-h/Nishinihon+746.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2Cpu6j3Hyn1hZMAs8viKzrTkOhSESUX_XxLvLPtWiq7-F38AGe1a7JI5ilT0gnztA32pItRBVqXq-zZx7eHPHDxm5PpCNQUQm1_B0_N83QF3RkbONVRG1n39ikohLYp9QmlM2Baigs7W/s320/Nishinihon+746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229753433328517538" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />the road leading up the hill to the 亀山社中 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">Kameyama</span> Company was named after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">Ryouma</span>. The road is narrow, has a lot of stairs and no car could ever drive there. It is really nice, especially knowing that you walk the same footsteps than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">Ryouma</span> and his 脱藩者 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">Dappansha</span> and 志士 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">Shishi</span>. It is even more fun, because every couple of meters you will find a nicely hand made <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">Ryouma</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">Doori</span> sign with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">Ryouma</span> on it quoting some of his sayings. Also in bigger distances characters from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">Kameyama</span> Company are presented on information signs. And thirdly another set of signs leading to the remains of the company house has a different <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">Kameyama</span> member on it every time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvApohpjnAikMacXPKNymbNyFXYRQyAUekEPXWiQ3vsA5D5nvrSZRRhrq08Los0TK_PenC9LPVH1OI66eUrlilJEzE_dwt-9dtkvXm6OiYawWyEmUXEX4JkcoN5g2iKVNcP6kiQOz0cw-/s1600-h/Nishinihon+739.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvApohpjnAikMacXPKNymbNyFXYRQyAUekEPXWiQ3vsA5D5nvrSZRRhrq08Los0TK_PenC9LPVH1OI66eUrlilJEzE_dwt-9dtkvXm6OiYawWyEmUXEX4JkcoN5g2iKVNcP6kiQOz0cw-/s320/Nishinihon+739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229753424648569634" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGt2V6R-YC2qktItS6knlNcTRt3apRBnAgrfvw-g4-X_wLrZ2qclI4P-reSufy_ZWqYz7eURWh_-Blu-3fInfK5RLgc6A5CbPv_IvCv1zjnhAjyOsb85VcBgFhRlH1NkSmEJwSeT4PdRst/s1600-h/Nishinihon+741.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGt2V6R-YC2qktItS6knlNcTRt3apRBnAgrfvw-g4-X_wLrZ2qclI4P-reSufy_ZWqYz7eURWh_-Blu-3fInfK5RLgc6A5CbPv_IvCv1zjnhAjyOsb85VcBgFhRlH1NkSmEJwSeT4PdRst/s320/Nishinihon+741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754078739635970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEQUUAwJsjaIuAms1BHs-2f-R81XvMK68xvhhbq-4vY97EsDoew-KZTG4kFYWgii-j6XTMW4V7mgGCpV40Etrp3Jbb0TC5_RBklYTWTaH0wta7BH-MKxyWvG4O9iUHg9yeu8gr5jlKP8Z/s1600-h/Nishinihon+737.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEQUUAwJsjaIuAms1BHs-2f-R81XvMK68xvhhbq-4vY97EsDoew-KZTG4kFYWgii-j6XTMW4V7mgGCpV40Etrp3Jbb0TC5_RBklYTWTaH0wta7BH-MKxyWvG4O9iUHg9yeu8gr5jlKP8Z/s320/Nishinihon+737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229753421710282866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmXKb_PncWU7yxip9X4AVO1PTuqDqzNL8w9itOENjISGutHPQOlDKhGz4zU7EJCItijwPSxqY4NckuEXo4z-Sr9aoCF0cP1FY0Ili5NnbdqcXsBntqiQ3jo-xo3AjKQvM9XMlpf8DLLM1/s1600-h/Nishinihon+756.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmXKb_PncWU7yxip9X4AVO1PTuqDqzNL8w9itOENjISGutHPQOlDKhGz4zU7EJCItijwPSxqY4NckuEXo4z-Sr9aoCF0cP1FY0Ili5NnbdqcXsBntqiQ3jo-xo3AjKQvM9XMlpf8DLLM1/s320/Nishinihon+756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754088667443234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yoshi! Let's use our passion and create a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">splendid</span> new world<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8R_oAstZRRYJdp4mi1VAcsBC3PHqpN7eEQtf-aP7nXm9wg-Moq68qpfV4ABvgMINB9p8Wo1mC9HaWweKkgALxQnpHYDJ-ZWCjowq5RWeVHJ3jNVIltqR9B_mpWkM9ni73vF21Z3VDfpp/s1600-h/Nishinihon+743.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8R_oAstZRRYJdp4mi1VAcsBC3PHqpN7eEQtf-aP7nXm9wg-Moq68qpfV4ABvgMINB9p8Wo1mC9HaWweKkgALxQnpHYDJ-ZWCjowq5RWeVHJ3jNVIltqR9B_mpWkM9ni73vF21Z3VDfpp/s320/Nishinihon+743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229753436491938786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDu6vj8gc4HvntvZB-H3J3xLN-RQaCtsqjh_Qx8O_ythK1XC7lOQb66MOmQkcaSLU1hvZalcDSBX8KM7_0URzyyZHQXJl3VQjeSRWTXPlq91cn-I6nvO77G6KI9vP1FaD790PFrIPF5mi/s1600-h/Nishinihon+757.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDu6vj8gc4HvntvZB-H3J3xLN-RQaCtsqjh_Qx8O_ythK1XC7lOQb66MOmQkcaSLU1hvZalcDSBX8KM7_0URzyyZHQXJl3VQjeSRWTXPlq91cn-I6nvO77G6KI9vP1FaD790PFrIPF5mi/s320/Nishinihon+757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754090488406738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2-C47DGFI0wZhl4l6utRj_tEofCNlhQIhlBxllDAv21mx4nH5UVTVLxYViXTjTM9_XqwxEBvZTCy4f_nj_z2YHYZ9vy50oeq2IEjAqjWPjsse_aYrOOeJIwWRWRVrs4d5OmVUrylevWW/s1600-h/Nishinihon+750.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2-C47DGFI0wZhl4l6utRj_tEofCNlhQIhlBxllDAv21mx4nH5UVTVLxYViXTjTM9_XqwxEBvZTCy4f_nj_z2YHYZ9vy50oeq2IEjAqjWPjsse_aYrOOeJIwWRWRVrs4d5OmVUrylevWW/s320/Nishinihon+750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754084487377954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />introduction of the most famous members of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">Kameyama</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">Shachu</span>, some of them later had offices in the Meiji government<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI1XOyNmvsQijjzXOziOZMIkN__sjO-FnBV8BoAomvyT6BeEYaW55E5rL3KmNbOBQD3eagOaVrdnmtp0OoprOqqVhcHLFLNT39aJVTdNaskG_zg8dL_gmyTkCbXGIC1mi4uNkwsPLgeiP/s1600-h/Nishinihon+761.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI1XOyNmvsQijjzXOziOZMIkN__sjO-FnBV8BoAomvyT6BeEYaW55E5rL3KmNbOBQD3eagOaVrdnmtp0OoprOqqVhcHLFLNT39aJVTdNaskG_zg8dL_gmyTkCbXGIC1mi4uNkwsPLgeiP/s320/Nishinihon+761.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754095093219730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />only 60 meters remaining<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) 亀山社中 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">Kameyama</span> Company</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPtIXwuDcV3c_pyCxjkQzDisIjFierbmJdw2JKxXA8SCrIIsS3_UCKPvGnIpP9G8t2URDYkG8D6yd5KvjXNO3uRFTlqgkvOm7UZnuVKb1PHFu-wXg7RyL5OtNWxLaPOdQ0Mgq5WVpybe-/s1600-h/Nishinihon+777.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPtIXwuDcV3c_pyCxjkQzDisIjFierbmJdw2JKxXA8SCrIIsS3_UCKPvGnIpP9G8t2URDYkG8D6yd5KvjXNO3uRFTlqgkvOm7UZnuVKb1PHFu-wXg7RyL5OtNWxLaPOdQ0Mgq5WVpybe-/s320/Nishinihon+777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754840696188866" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The house were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">Ryouma</span> and the others lead the first Japanese company and plotted and dreamed the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">abolishment</span> of the class system and the overthrowing of the Shogunate is still standing. Alas the structure is not safe anymore to enter. I played with the thought of climbing over the fence and looking inside anyway, but that would have been a crime and I was not ready to commit 脱藩 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">Dappan</span> yet ;) ...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRronSDtqvbK2ipPq0PgOCvkbzwxyioQRCZaYdKW3yQh9GHA0EUP_y-mUmMc6cG01x2obJeGwKZ31rx-dSBX_APPMqn5bD8EsLL2_Yq80uKzrUHDN2SQ0gHv3EQf4ScscydgUIkrsfmw-2/s1600-h/Nishinihon+773.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRronSDtqvbK2ipPq0PgOCvkbzwxyioQRCZaYdKW3yQh9GHA0EUP_y-mUmMc6cG01x2obJeGwKZ31rx-dSBX_APPMqn5bD8EsLL2_Yq80uKzrUHDN2SQ0gHv3EQf4ScscydgUIkrsfmw-2/s320/Nishinihon+773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754812371667554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwUvro940e4LCcvBTNxgQgxkhVIteJrYOzNW-u0W85Shs3rNcGrdUgI5xFEGhQ7ConhhchyphenhyphenzopKpA7hzkgmhZAq_MODnVTXmeTF5wq9JomBR0CSvzpUN7ruKJEb6ZjubF9SSgXuGi9t2i/s1600-h/Nishinihon+776.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwUvro940e4LCcvBTNxgQgxkhVIteJrYOzNW-u0W85Shs3rNcGrdUgI5xFEGhQ7ConhhchyphenhyphenzopKpA7hzkgmhZAq_MODnVTXmeTF5wq9JomBR0CSvzpUN7ruKJEb6ZjubF9SSgXuGi9t2i/s320/Nishinihon+776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754822207548674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxun84WiWPVVqDCh2gv_NbFD0TeK9ddrnfCjSrSAPSQeBukmRAFjIocxrC5cHYOFMLPtvoXi5FUHYV5c8o6Vy5_O8uJJHKBjr1fmZaaTYaEf5s9e3mcwfFEADl5sZCX66z10wl7ctR9AK/s1600-h/Nishinihon+773.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxun84WiWPVVqDCh2gv_NbFD0TeK9ddrnfCjSrSAPSQeBukmRAFjIocxrC5cHYOFMLPtvoXi5FUHYV5c8o6Vy5_O8uJJHKBjr1fmZaaTYaEf5s9e3mcwfFEADl5sZCX66z10wl7ctR9AK/s320/Nishinihon+773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754831239169586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGt2V6R-YC2qktItS6knlNcTRt3apRBnAgrfvw-g4-X_wLrZ2qclI4P-reSufy_ZWqYz7eURWh_-Blu-3fInfK5RLgc6A5CbPv_IvCv1zjnhAjyOsb85VcBgFhRlH1NkSmEJwSeT4PdRst/s1600-h/Nishinihon+741.JPG"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(4) 坂本竜馬のブーツ The Boots Of Sakamoto Ryouma</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYvJ8OA570yk4DKH-plsQ7LkSloeNlZcg3noaJncATawlwQAET3TDVAw29gYPuRRpgI4yaWQwIVasv0EuSruE6eQIKVblTLJMuWTuDrFPtHeyzKkO6qAQfCzPajr3PYa7nlgtFFGVxnDo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+781.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYvJ8OA570yk4DKH-plsQ7LkSloeNlZcg3noaJncATawlwQAET3TDVAw29gYPuRRpgI4yaWQwIVasv0EuSruE6eQIKVblTLJMuWTuDrFPtHeyzKkO6qAQfCzPajr3PYa7nlgtFFGVxnDo/s320/Nishinihon+781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754842238561746" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />After the company house you can find a really nice statue of boots and a ship steering wheel. You can go inside the boots and take the steering wheel in your hands and pretend to navigate the ship called Japan into a future without class system, where everyone is equal and democracy of the people, rather than arbitrary feudal lords, rule the country.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhPaJ0LLjVwtOwKMpddNE6wo9sT0h-UF0-qIxVphb7YIm-yXSb5_13AAsnbADM5oQsihtUVvjrjAIRyXix7T5ApYMatswMPYCKR2HOMITvb3gV-w0S7eK82TUnn0_Awem10dSYhMHgLXL/s1600-h/Nishinihon+784.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhPaJ0LLjVwtOwKMpddNE6wo9sT0h-UF0-qIxVphb7YIm-yXSb5_13AAsnbADM5oQsihtUVvjrjAIRyXix7T5ApYMatswMPYCKR2HOMITvb3gV-w0S7eK82TUnn0_Awem10dSYhMHgLXL/s320/Nishinihon+784.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229755976820057090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(5) 亀山社中資料展示場 Kameyama Material Museum</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzY_PlrTwgq6DLJjLqw_dKEcsm14hsFNJ7xhLFiTGmYkkKQrT4vAV6OwePohWDCdVrVSrVOVkUJYC6D5G2sp518cQVKdZNltFIrDgq7Vw1xlQTLLr-OVYf9FTX85XKqQ2TLjcfviTcE3r/s1600-h/Nishinihon+809.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzY_PlrTwgq6DLJjLqw_dKEcsm14hsFNJ7xhLFiTGmYkkKQrT4vAV6OwePohWDCdVrVSrVOVkUJYC6D5G2sp518cQVKdZNltFIrDgq7Vw1xlQTLLr-OVYf9FTX85XKqQ2TLjcfviTcE3r/s320/Nishinihon+809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756861000875538" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The next stop is a museum lead by people who admire Sakamoto Ryouma like me and gathered all they could find about him and the Kameyama Company in Nagasaki. You can find all the pictures taken in Nagasaki, the first city in Japan where people could make pictures of themselves. You can still see many people wearing gloved or hiding their hands. The reason is that it was believed that the camera takes away your soul, and you can prevent it from not showing your hands... ^_^<br /><br />You can also find some of the letters Ryouma wrote to his sister Otome in Tosa Province or to important Samurai. Also his famous eight paragraphs to form a democracy out of Japan are preserved here.<br /><br />The people in the museum are more than willing in starting to narrate about Ryouma and what he has done in Nagasaki and for Japan. With their lead the photos suddenly come alive and tell their stories and interact with other people from other photos.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMB9PhGRL-3bhNtSHtNRaMZI4QFICKjYWLn95CztBcTxIXspcufRKr4prJuvyfYOqatJ6ttLYdbO3gSlTWx4mXQECxqhTsB515Murfpl07Fdg_W49-5wuygPdjTOGUd-zzwbRaYeiol7Q/s1600-h/Nishinihon+811.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMB9PhGRL-3bhNtSHtNRaMZI4QFICKjYWLn95CztBcTxIXspcufRKr4prJuvyfYOqatJ6ttLYdbO3gSlTWx4mXQECxqhTsB515Murfpl07Fdg_W49-5wuygPdjTOGUd-zzwbRaYeiol7Q/s320/Nishinihon+811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756876543679378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf73aHRveN6Qv2MQpkYpIhDgLjI65ik8G2nunuW6Ml8RRwJJb7pBScQ5SR4Xen5SbIMkZFp_zOPXZbrZqyJERQEZa-jAhfEnCH1DrA-UkrdGKuqJ7KkIqG46syt0RP1-h_vNEqA4JhWMZF/s1600-h/Nishinihon+787.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf73aHRveN6Qv2MQpkYpIhDgLjI65ik8G2nunuW6Ml8RRwJJb7pBScQ5SR4Xen5SbIMkZFp_zOPXZbrZqyJERQEZa-jAhfEnCH1DrA-UkrdGKuqJ7KkIqG46syt0RP1-h_vNEqA4JhWMZF/s320/Nishinihon+787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229755982112389410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the most famous photo of<br />坂本竜馬 Sakamoto Ryouma<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijW_EbQujwvOh1Dnw1-QrBa79Z_bcRnDpsKAFwD2VqhGO_iaFVuzhxzvWAhAfGbPqEG88a4Lmu-sWgxrtdwu912Omf1_KmN25fqEviAeoUrHwldvZcrhTGbOdjfXIZlViDUa6edmhfinkm/s1600-h/Nishinihon+795.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijW_EbQujwvOh1Dnw1-QrBa79Z_bcRnDpsKAFwD2VqhGO_iaFVuzhxzvWAhAfGbPqEG88a4Lmu-sWgxrtdwu912Omf1_KmN25fqEviAeoUrHwldvZcrhTGbOdjfXIZlViDUa6edmhfinkm/s320/Nishinihon+795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756468928514802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and his wife, the Ex-Geisha 竜 Ryou<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVusIQL1A2YAhSzLFAx7Hp8hcfWtVLR7swCLwp0mqpPR84j3vfDLWV_M7-WM0odh6RPtThErAupS18GtjQwAkfeQyAxYup-38dfwNjENFI6u2O0aV_THnIzuoXOAGK_J_NqiygRex2a52U/s1600-h/Nishinihon+792.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVusIQL1A2YAhSzLFAx7Hp8hcfWtVLR7swCLwp0mqpPR84j3vfDLWV_M7-WM0odh6RPtThErAupS18GtjQwAkfeQyAxYup-38dfwNjENFI6u2O0aV_THnIzuoXOAGK_J_NqiygRex2a52U/s320/Nishinihon+792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229755994177199778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />She saved his live in 伏見 京都 Fushimi Kyoto, when she noticed an ambush when bathing and run naked to his room and fought side by side with him the way out. Afterwards he decided to marry her.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqvwlO3yOEl3yds7VuEqYb8aFyXhLdUJBrgR1_CFnFyQmW90H6RwpDiQ6B7NmnewUciKX49aPRhsXT8UibgC0G52T8mLElAck9Oispx2-o7pncAzbxLp0wWWVmzi35hZufN0Sc359WrFu/s1600-h/Nishinihon+798.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqvwlO3yOEl3yds7VuEqYb8aFyXhLdUJBrgR1_CFnFyQmW90H6RwpDiQ6B7NmnewUciKX49aPRhsXT8UibgC0G52T8mLElAck9Oispx2-o7pncAzbxLp0wWWVmzi35hZufN0Sc359WrFu/s320/Nishinihon+798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229756480129086050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the banners of the Kameyama Shachu<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(6) 若宮稲荷神社 Wakamiya Inari Shrine</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkXcoe9MG3aNEjHvzRAVB7NHFjJAN9Q_Ia1TD_h1PgBKWJpgpFlrQ4UKrqndexJDRUdNz_sQeVSt5kwemdN3APsU_zOoDwHhTy6kdPu-t0bb69hSLkfQMhSRnZ-LyUphIFnAZDgo-FyaP/s1600-h/Nishinihon+816.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkXcoe9MG3aNEjHvzRAVB7NHFjJAN9Q_Ia1TD_h1PgBKWJpgpFlrQ4UKrqndexJDRUdNz_sQeVSt5kwemdN3APsU_zOoDwHhTy6kdPu-t0bb69hSLkfQMhSRnZ-LyUphIFnAZDgo-FyaP/s320/Nishinihon+816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229757196840039122" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />On the way up the hill, you will come across this shrine. It looks really cool, but the coolest about it is an event in October when two men, dressed as white foxes in honor for the goddess Inari, climb two white poles and perform incredible acrobatics on top.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZvUP5vcCbPupgu5NeBIUjkkn0BkRK_UNUOjfPLmfHUKnLRi-Yia97aEsJupmN3ReM0NIg8_9hRpHF1iSSUPSvidoLjB5ZPStHqyiOvZlSK2z9MoZiu58XR42SYglLQgPXO9hvCdcV38p/s1600-h/Nishinihon+817.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZvUP5vcCbPupgu5NeBIUjkkn0BkRK_UNUOjfPLmfHUKnLRi-Yia97aEsJupmN3ReM0NIg8_9hRpHF1iSSUPSvidoLjB5ZPStHqyiOvZlSK2z9MoZiu58XR42SYglLQgPXO9hvCdcV38p/s320/Nishinihon+817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229757203104313074" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrwSZ6NpTUzZL7UHhIZZCzdjyA05sUgvj_OCe-Y8SgdWTb3NQBD5ZaQSwPQJiY8_V4NFsjwIQz1PWRYUHXGLJr5OtD2cP3hiWLyARv2eXAJtW1jQ9xxbFirtxhsDlDjPm8SM8CY_um0y8/s1600-h/3ad2b3b1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrwSZ6NpTUzZL7UHhIZZCzdjyA05sUgvj_OCe-Y8SgdWTb3NQBD5ZaQSwPQJiY8_V4NFsjwIQz1PWRYUHXGLJr5OtD2cP3hiWLyARv2eXAJtW1jQ9xxbFirtxhsDlDjPm8SM8CY_um0y8/s320/3ad2b3b1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229757952981524322" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />(7) 亀山焼き Kameyama Pottery</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBnE3RwuPqoAprJ82EvkhFY4CYooPpno2zIETN_QUcaC3ppz0Wy4fF-k6vBai4ueD8eCtqOPIR5NO6O4Go3Uq_lSvUyPN67Wl1NjOwSrNQy5apV_VaBWd9pLTrWLvdpwsaLoDBKkk7rqo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+819.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBnE3RwuPqoAprJ82EvkhFY4CYooPpno2zIETN_QUcaC3ppz0Wy4fF-k6vBai4ueD8eCtqOPIR5NO6O4Go3Uq_lSvUyPN67Wl1NjOwSrNQy5apV_VaBWd9pLTrWLvdpwsaLoDBKkk7rqo/s320/Nishinihon+819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229757206106494306" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />As I narrated above, Kameyama Company traded with a lot of typical Japanese things as green tea, silk and pottery. In fact they created their own set of unique pottery, they created not 500 meters away from the company house. Now the house is owned by a different family, but you can find remainders of the Kameyama pottery behind a window and if your lucky and find the new proprietor leaving the house (he is perfectly fluent in English and eager to show it), he will also lead you inside the garage and show you where the pottery has been burned.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KXJlM6rsfL8aOowGzWmSWqZxyFZgJn3pUBwKaHRzIZu2V-fzkL5cl59VvK28uurZdTq-lsUMIA7iWMtBPZrgjyy7xs0KfN-TxJUfsr_VmoL0JamCxVARFLmHtI2SbfrDr4ih-sYLySgc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+824.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KXJlM6rsfL8aOowGzWmSWqZxyFZgJn3pUBwKaHRzIZu2V-fzkL5cl59VvK28uurZdTq-lsUMIA7iWMtBPZrgjyy7xs0KfN-TxJUfsr_VmoL0JamCxVARFLmHtI2SbfrDr4ih-sYLySgc/s320/Nishinihon+824.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229757215983791362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kameyama Pottery<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiz3VwX7yZD_n4Dl1OcHTSPdYNR1xdXlmL__scfbytzeWv0vLh4wHHlXElq97_TjZLNiEI4IkRuKvp83k4Vyo9Uw-egibZSct5eZk3vY4N2ak_D8hDXTK5ESSLLo74dTWi-DuP8aYwre0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+822.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiz3VwX7yZD_n4Dl1OcHTSPdYNR1xdXlmL__scfbytzeWv0vLh4wHHlXElq97_TjZLNiEI4IkRuKvp83k4Vyo9Uw-egibZSct5eZk3vY4N2ak_D8hDXTK5ESSLLo74dTWi-DuP8aYwre0/s320/Nishinihon+822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229757210697379698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The owner asked me inside his house, and showed me where the pottery was made<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KXJlM6rsfL8aOowGzWmSWqZxyFZgJn3pUBwKaHRzIZu2V-fzkL5cl59VvK28uurZdTq-lsUMIA7iWMtBPZrgjyy7xs0KfN-TxJUfsr_VmoL0JamCxVARFLmHtI2SbfrDr4ih-sYLySgc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+824.JPG"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(8) 坂本竜馬之像 Sakamoto Ryouma Statue</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKItK7FMcW7JvsgvxLGZvOiDBUyqCg2F5nJMy1RBhKO3jRq9T-PDDibdxu_Loi8TXqMrtC7Qc-mvIXl3rkTBzSi7X2A5LLvzkFGVAJiDpfrvHopwphIKfrY62jdjlhMsr4RT2yYD4h6oTl/s1600-h/Nishinihon+830.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKItK7FMcW7JvsgvxLGZvOiDBUyqCg2F5nJMy1RBhKO3jRq9T-PDDibdxu_Loi8TXqMrtC7Qc-mvIXl3rkTBzSi7X2A5LLvzkFGVAJiDpfrvHopwphIKfrY62jdjlhMsr4RT2yYD4h6oTl/s320/Nishinihon+830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229757967531294434" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />When you finally reach the top of the hill, Ryouma awaits you clad in bronze. Ryouma is one of Nagasaki's greatest heroes and as such now he stands and watches over the city.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(9) Ryouma Quote Stone</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-HBb3e5N9WEgdsEmANzZay9Nlqbsg6UfKcZ8uQ1aLewkRAN3kj7Oovkyavfr3NXlLXvcvBMMd8vcLUQwW36jsW0AAl8NNjD8ft_Zt-o1IYF5gsk-umOTxS9kRbwv0cbaU3TpMJhgz43a/s1600-h/Nishinihon+831.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-HBb3e5N9WEgdsEmANzZay9Nlqbsg6UfKcZ8uQ1aLewkRAN3kj7Oovkyavfr3NXlLXvcvBMMd8vcLUQwW36jsW0AAl8NNjD8ft_Zt-o1IYF5gsk-umOTxS9kRbwv0cbaU3TpMJhgz43a/s320/Nishinihon+831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229757971555788610" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />On the same place you can find a memorial stone for Ryouma quoting him seeing huge western ships entering Nagasaki harbor:<br />"Nagasaki is the city of my dreams, soon it will become the base for the Japanese revolution."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(10) 上野家墓地 Grave Of Ryouma's Photographer</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qPV_VkkhYYuRD-QV62k8uv-hh8YbmJdjJwSJj0ZqJiFlqYMWa6neoXC4JuP5op3t2aROPeXpKCmvS_0Yhul7tEMTfUs3HeglvyTScvVmf06WnD_rcmOcKjJ3JroeWyp8e35Bmm-mdFpa/s1600-h/Nishinihon+845.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qPV_VkkhYYuRD-QV62k8uv-hh8YbmJdjJwSJj0ZqJiFlqYMWa6neoXC4JuP5op3t2aROPeXpKCmvS_0Yhul7tEMTfUs3HeglvyTScvVmf06WnD_rcmOcKjJ3JroeWyp8e35Bmm-mdFpa/s320/Nishinihon+845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229758356937137122" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />If you proceed downwards again you will come across a graveyard. On it you will find the grave of Japan's first Japanese Photographer, who among else, took photos of Sakamoto Ryouma.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW2sQzJ6pUNbx5_g_Usns23QTjQ5iQZhp4IyLoElFZkzetlbmU4IVzf5KCrNBAylQ0_H83NKQUrleo2aeQVSO1zhh-vLunvG7OmRbwmkEGsgcb8oZZffE8NKd0-Uxcc2bOc-1-cyJ66DY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+836.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW2sQzJ6pUNbx5_g_Usns23QTjQ5iQZhp4IyLoElFZkzetlbmU4IVzf5KCrNBAylQ0_H83NKQUrleo2aeQVSO1zhh-vLunvG7OmRbwmkEGsgcb8oZZffE8NKd0-Uxcc2bOc-1-cyJ66DY/s320/Nishinihon+836.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229758329899213426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-UOI9J1fBmzbKRSZ7KEDFGWbL9YMVVoVDI_XXsp7Zb6YMoZ3ykRWhAv6JVNAFa_xt8HXJgJgRG78i-TTXuukzQj7pV54q6IOKBi72ltReHxcfa0waJ4QbblS_CcMNbg3AgsaCsq2ReSD/s1600-h/Nishinihon+835.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-UOI9J1fBmzbKRSZ7KEDFGWbL9YMVVoVDI_XXsp7Zb6YMoZ3ykRWhAv6JVNAFa_xt8HXJgJgRG78i-TTXuukzQj7pV54q6IOKBi72ltReHxcfa0waJ4QbblS_CcMNbg3AgsaCsq2ReSD/s320/Nishinihon+835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229757979642424594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqLvNzBQjys2VKCi8xivbCZBsJJ0MWRsU7E8YKs9B37Kd4ticSrI7dPMD_nzYxdeq_2gDEpNWkJO0mD6jZkKq7dUWUitFuiqpr7azdH3ixrY53TLcpCcpivRXsMkVFAK9QJqu403Ufrz_/s1600-h/Nishinihon+837.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqLvNzBQjys2VKCi8xivbCZBsJJ0MWRsU7E8YKs9B37Kd4ticSrI7dPMD_nzYxdeq_2gDEpNWkJO0mD6jZkKq7dUWUitFuiqpr7azdH3ixrY53TLcpCcpivRXsMkVFAK9QJqu403Ufrz_/s320/Nishinihon+837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229758334534221794" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(11) 花月 Kagetsu</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSbh23AUTkUelrlSLa9G31ZC2HMoXUSfmDd9vTBn8UxFUg0nHvqB9iFq6dkpCIUpEj6HAHpS0WKqMfM-IL2tHsfti1nBb0na41vjztpHbn5kQ7FJQSeX4F_vgEdMtg24VdCvYSbZZZPs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+997.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSbh23AUTkUelrlSLa9G31ZC2HMoXUSfmDd9vTBn8UxFUg0nHvqB9iFq6dkpCIUpEj6HAHpS0WKqMfM-IL2tHsfti1nBb0na41vjztpHbn5kQ7FJQSeX4F_vgEdMtg24VdCvYSbZZZPs/s320/Nishinihon+997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229765254580253586" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />This is not on the city tour, but was a tip from my Hostel host. In this Geisha establishment, Sakamoto broke into a fight (he was still searched for (wanted) by the Shogunate) and eventually had to flee. The traces of the fight can still be seen in the shop that has now been transformed into a restaurant. Alas eating there is really expensive and starts around 5000 Yen minimum.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbr01ns_hRBlXAaK-oScgq41sJaFlkxKTQrx9xNZGpGl78n3wFJ-7LFUm7duRFRmfaFYlBglTa7XJppoA4tHKfG_Dp5GCmbcBAZVsz4oks9tyg-zjQ1gVxy4GEZOseTKAkxc1q5oOYUk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+999.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbr01ns_hRBlXAaK-oScgq41sJaFlkxKTQrx9xNZGpGl78n3wFJ-7LFUm7duRFRmfaFYlBglTa7XJppoA4tHKfG_Dp5GCmbcBAZVsz4oks9tyg-zjQ1gVxy4GEZOseTKAkxc1q5oOYUk/s320/Nishinihon+999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229764723497155250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0GYJfBM_uuPS2sErr0jU_zNQ_3U1JsTauqDiiDTZAvpBq3IqWgpevHgjM4dMFnyXvCTVcLZldhM3uJNGbDk0linsQFIM18M-8xsNnoKPof3Ky_JmIKexUHS7MSezWWw19w68PiXFLLQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1000.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0GYJfBM_uuPS2sErr0jU_zNQ_3U1JsTauqDiiDTZAvpBq3IqWgpevHgjM4dMFnyXvCTVcLZldhM3uJNGbDk0linsQFIM18M-8xsNnoKPof3Ky_JmIKexUHS7MSezWWw19w68PiXFLLQ/s320/Nishinihon+1000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229764751864639602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">中の茶屋 The Central Tea House</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTDmf_a3pSLyNQzGTkYo7113lADrxLkznOCQQzaHyJgkGYttQ4Jd-4W24NpQpDhyphenhyphensiIMiWwO1eSeDEXIUf7R8gNHSRXdq-I1jaagibqrbbKw6GNWd21oMM6Df-FNDveDAcRIUn7mi5dI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1008.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTDmf_a3pSLyNQzGTkYo7113lADrxLkznOCQQzaHyJgkGYttQ4Jd-4W24NpQpDhyphenhyphensiIMiWwO1eSeDEXIUf7R8gNHSRXdq-I1jaagibqrbbKw6GNWd21oMM6Df-FNDveDAcRIUn7mi5dI/s320/Nishinihon+1008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229765261756132290" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Another remainder of ancient times is the Central Tea House. It was a Geisha Establishment and stands as it stood 200 years ago. It has a wonderful garden and walking through it you can imagine the Geisha playing Shamisen to clients here at night or training their arts during the day. The garden in front of the tea house is really wonderful.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvpJTCMr5NVXXZXuX0AWaZJwKjEC_ARoFVRxpugviJrXPVx7A1s3IVk7SQ9SozFak_RtnER7X-AA6oHcfOwXGwLnVMycd2W1VGqIktxzjjJ8bpLus5Xnr_Adf_qWade4riZCTLlnb_YM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1013.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvpJTCMr5NVXXZXuX0AWaZJwKjEC_ARoFVRxpugviJrXPVx7A1s3IVk7SQ9SozFak_RtnER7X-AA6oHcfOwXGwLnVMycd2W1VGqIktxzjjJ8bpLus5Xnr_Adf_qWade4riZCTLlnb_YM/s320/Nishinihon+1013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229765568491628466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyASDw0BC2nuI-C00y6w4jlCa9EExod0CHciCwoqn2g8Zlj9gE9V1NtIIECdOuo7egpkyNMZnbumgGX7zQHvQvWK23MZ1s5hjrEB3SaZp7_LBl21h3PzatfWuUv-DFvJ2-Fq-NtluirAs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1016.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyASDw0BC2nuI-C00y6w4jlCa9EExod0CHciCwoqn2g8Zlj9gE9V1NtIIECdOuo7egpkyNMZnbumgGX7zQHvQvWK23MZ1s5hjrEB3SaZp7_LBl21h3PzatfWuUv-DFvJ2-Fq-NtluirAs/s320/Nishinihon+1016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229765572747659074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjFuWeONFLAraLBnXcF3ZZbRSBp1bAa1s03iP8HGSCuyqbbMSACDMt366X_CtHoNle_clDpWDJ6Uoql2c-5Qfce-NEuBzElY-UB_jLRRfoEF0DzJnRIBOAN_RikETUUQda1xtoW_Pox8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1010.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjFuWeONFLAraLBnXcF3ZZbRSBp1bAa1s03iP8HGSCuyqbbMSACDMt366X_CtHoNle_clDpWDJ6Uoql2c-5Qfce-NEuBzElY-UB_jLRRfoEF0DzJnRIBOAN_RikETUUQda1xtoW_Pox8/s320/Nishinihon+1010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229765273994009938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N8KH3HAYZdHpq0x6Tc1pfyAbClILuOI-WJpbcFQ5RSevGzHSjxtiZCWwWhSRkZ89u3JTsr41ZFfs5DIANPy8XV_ZlHoc3BEDKth5YPdwEkQmDuc3TGkI5i3PHzEbstbFjroO2RVskpc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1012.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N8KH3HAYZdHpq0x6Tc1pfyAbClILuOI-WJpbcFQ5RSevGzHSjxtiZCWwWhSRkZ89u3JTsr41ZFfs5DIANPy8XV_ZlHoc3BEDKth5YPdwEkQmDuc3TGkI5i3PHzEbstbFjroO2RVskpc/s320/Nishinihon+1012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229765271182191602" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nagasaki Old Town</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwnW_LHXXQ1kF8zcojz5hrqyqFTV1TfyT9XmKR2E3INgz4MeZKkEXarUBnBzJazpZ8MZZ1Gn7PgG9T2jSm3IfXm7VU1WqYncKdNvVndekU2Waopsd4UTT2y9ijVloBBAZ_0TIkagtCpg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1018.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwnW_LHXXQ1kF8zcojz5hrqyqFTV1TfyT9XmKR2E3INgz4MeZKkEXarUBnBzJazpZ8MZZ1Gn7PgG9T2jSm3IfXm7VU1WqYncKdNvVndekU2Waopsd4UTT2y9ijVloBBAZ_0TIkagtCpg/s320/Nishinihon+1018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229765579497447250" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The part of Nagasaki that has not been leveled by the atomic bomb is really wonderful. Especially the riverside near the Hostel Akari caught my eye. Every 200 meters you can see wonderful stone arched bridges across the river. And whenever you proceed towards the hills you will find countless old temples and walk on roads never paved for city car traffic.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHMnzZJC-ng4X5ZdYjJzNsN13hQsOD2XIZHVOjzcwSthF_G8VaNichHQeUYkpseHR7BVMqZof7vKQf4sU_7Ug2MZvU0LXnlIwEEsHb4e6ZyrBpR7tpPXHQebhNLWMLKslmbeqLGYf_zk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1017.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHMnzZJC-ng4X5ZdYjJzNsN13hQsOD2XIZHVOjzcwSthF_G8VaNichHQeUYkpseHR7BVMqZof7vKQf4sU_7Ug2MZvU0LXnlIwEEsHb4e6ZyrBpR7tpPXHQebhNLWMLKslmbeqLGYf_zk/s320/Nishinihon+1017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229784158746740434" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vaiq48EUEiSl0AX_i7B0Ueu-x7-vTWff-9Cxn8AfAg0bxvomDFA3JogaymcEvaxd3Hxk0MI_e65AIoEzJVOnvE7TWpqgOFvMgSebkK_sacTuPuHR3cj6d7ONjIyOCdrDmSlZgFM0WEs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+995.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vaiq48EUEiSl0AX_i7B0Ueu-x7-vTWff-9Cxn8AfAg0bxvomDFA3JogaymcEvaxd3Hxk0MI_e65AIoEzJVOnvE7TWpqgOFvMgSebkK_sacTuPuHR3cj6d7ONjIyOCdrDmSlZgFM0WEs/s320/Nishinihon+995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229764719362044050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />an ancient but still used 交番 Koban (police box)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNCFqCbnemQUX_JYu0ByRA8hJAxwnO_v_LXyUDhUGI7AAEZteFCYlsNnvjOtzYzjMUbs5s6wPcjd1qXCX0VVU5rquqbvqOqu6JwuASp_9cOR5noKXfTTulw1Lc2DavrpZplgflV6bRh5J/s1600-h/Nishinihon+727.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNCFqCbnemQUX_JYu0ByRA8hJAxwnO_v_LXyUDhUGI7AAEZteFCYlsNnvjOtzYzjMUbs5s6wPcjd1qXCX0VVU5rquqbvqOqu6JwuASp_9cOR5noKXfTTulw1Lc2DavrpZplgflV6bRh5J/s320/Nishinihon+727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229752449237194962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBimEBUJOEUdYNaVnssToq-1rBwfeCG9wdnV2GKMtqxFmnjPNeTJjpPy9iYsUwr6KBbud6F0tC5faujqhnrxwaXjcxuli1ks1zDRQKHZhwXeSfAr66OmtaybiNefrcY-mSiy3Pj15h99G/s1600-h/Nishinihon+731.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBimEBUJOEUdYNaVnssToq-1rBwfeCG9wdnV2GKMtqxFmnjPNeTJjpPy9iYsUwr6KBbud6F0tC5faujqhnrxwaXjcxuli1ks1zDRQKHZhwXeSfAr66OmtaybiNefrcY-mSiy3Pj15h99G/s320/Nishinihon+731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229752813443364482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and many cool stone bridges<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9TX9N9SAnwN_2IvGarlUp-G7aLeens2tdg6BRwMyDgYy45R7w61JzUAgvrfWtUbXn6GcFdu0w58lfAsnWujyj106R1nSxipcUzSr3QxHrvWOR2SKIX4sOBgP1L7Rx4OzZMvbwoiye8bd/s1600-h/Nishinihon+735.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9TX9N9SAnwN_2IvGarlUp-G7aLeens2tdg6BRwMyDgYy45R7w61JzUAgvrfWtUbXn6GcFdu0w58lfAsnWujyj106R1nSxipcUzSr3QxHrvWOR2SKIX4sOBgP1L7Rx4OzZMvbwoiye8bd/s320/Nishinihon+735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229752816944756402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhxxlLYpJoiDtg_Rl1DausEy3UIwn74RU5JCBWb_tQe824zTExkwWk-sxlHq0q5NRLIywf_Dj1KH6I9ZTBxyr4JVQMDvj_d1XCny8RdG7ErQjwjl_B1ffemh2Ysl_eyVpRfGHNqAzmMn7/s1600-h/Nishinihon+732.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhxxlLYpJoiDtg_Rl1DausEy3UIwn74RU5JCBWb_tQe824zTExkwWk-sxlHq0q5NRLIywf_Dj1KH6I9ZTBxyr4JVQMDvj_d1XCny8RdG7ErQjwjl_B1ffemh2Ysl_eyVpRfGHNqAzmMn7/s320/Nishinihon+732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229752808981856562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and old temples<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">眼鏡橋 Spectacles Bridge</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeL35-4MZMro5QeHr4vx8nDkXI2k1ADbiJsez_xXMDpBViYKWSM5Y5DDYEOfIUVAeAFclRfrPVt7_6bIRVewgZRl01dHz6PxCWKySX1mcrxZJR5e7wENhCY6C-K0rDuDGGF5fxmo8_p6r/s1600-h/Nishinihon+843.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeL35-4MZMro5QeHr4vx8nDkXI2k1ADbiJsez_xXMDpBViYKWSM5Y5DDYEOfIUVAeAFclRfrPVt7_6bIRVewgZRl01dHz6PxCWKySX1mcrxZJR5e7wENhCY6C-K0rDuDGGF5fxmo8_p6r/s320/Nishinihon+843.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229758350648416194" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />One bridge is especially cool, because with its reflection in the water it looks like perfect spectacles, therefore the name. It is also one of the oldest still standing bridges in town. 8)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">出島 Dejima</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FYBu19ix3RVVCVRJSMd9liUpmWeHlgUxR4tZFZo5ObEkB3jnFKO82YqTINIqI7d0HPWBiMQUZNIhUxQ1VHwCN90mW1j57EcxsOxxJWAluN1AZ2PNUhaWM5-6BsGjgV2T4o4M1TlouvSB/s1600-h/Nishinihon+858.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FYBu19ix3RVVCVRJSMd9liUpmWeHlgUxR4tZFZo5ObEkB3jnFKO82YqTINIqI7d0HPWBiMQUZNIhUxQ1VHwCN90mW1j57EcxsOxxJWAluN1AZ2PNUhaWM5-6BsGjgV2T4o4M1TlouvSB/s320/Nishinihon+858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229758910453672786" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Onwards to the next chapter! We talked about Nagasaki having been the hub to the western world. But in fact during the 300 years of 鎖国 Sakoku (Closed Country) only a tiny little artificial island has been open to the western world or more like only to one country of the western world. The artificial island is called 出島 Dejima and the country was Holland. Before Holland the Portuguese and some other European nations made heavy trade with Japan, but their religion interfered and Japan started getting pulled into the religious struggle of Protestants versus Catholics on the European Continent. Therefore at some point out of political reasons all trade with Christian Nations was forbidden in Japan. With the one exception of Holland who only wanted to trade and make money and had no thoughts for politics or religion.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYscMYcpGwtEx3TBtJo3vfAPIYRI_Dtse7wczPcnHY8O5-hMUvY-2B_krW6SO3Wpg0wRfanoZQHazIxGUE254XH_x2hhauiv9Mq91BCXFx-lsUTlxafWksDorEysa_BwVicWIAZQtyYqE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+906.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYscMYcpGwtEx3TBtJo3vfAPIYRI_Dtse7wczPcnHY8O5-hMUvY-2B_krW6SO3Wpg0wRfanoZQHazIxGUE254XH_x2hhauiv9Mq91BCXFx-lsUTlxafWksDorEysa_BwVicWIAZQtyYqE/s320/Nishinihon+906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229761502419998722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a model of Dejima<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSS1d2ddGKGDgvueO-V-IbSHdmSAVQCJ7ApJy5Ldzw8w1xhVUatvm4zaHWNcdVw1DlJbsN3-ZqAifL6yzb5d3loI_qMmq55MihInqxXXhPd_F0iFxknwo_1gbjUpoET1zjQ8cuoxDOhYG/s1600-h/Nishinihon+870.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSS1d2ddGKGDgvueO-V-IbSHdmSAVQCJ7ApJy5Ldzw8w1xhVUatvm4zaHWNcdVw1DlJbsN3-ZqAifL6yzb5d3loI_qMmq55MihInqxXXhPd_F0iFxknwo_1gbjUpoET1zjQ8cuoxDOhYG/s320/Nishinihon+870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229759356341482594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the captain's reception room<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24ii80a91GIOB8be1mb7qVVn9ZnRzI1mkw_BPd7Uie5LFEtUtlPL-_TveVSSSbPqSz9cyJfu1NEac6Yr-vJ7VRcosF5VJs0xFXE9Tlcu41GCfW7fScwk3eGv0_xrhJ19ilno0BU6R_m07/s1600-h/Nishinihon+871.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24ii80a91GIOB8be1mb7qVVn9ZnRzI1mkw_BPd7Uie5LFEtUtlPL-_TveVSSSbPqSz9cyJfu1NEac6Yr-vJ7VRcosF5VJs0xFXE9Tlcu41GCfW7fScwk3eGv0_xrhJ19ilno0BU6R_m07/s320/Nishinihon+871.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229759797485662578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />this box contained the allowance from the Shogun to trade with Japan, only one existed and was handed on from Dutch captain to captain<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBjP-XSpFwdrCZ1OwkicLMhxFRjghtNtuv3XBrBvZWpshOA8Jb4LCfSTn3Nfve3rSMGGVxuTJhWlDKo-9uK_hSHbKsTKFxmN6072ZpAyD2XZD5YYubu8T4RMtxmg1VYGOQu2cPVtmkgcI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+873.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBjP-XSpFwdrCZ1OwkicLMhxFRjghtNtuv3XBrBvZWpshOA8Jb4LCfSTn3Nfve3rSMGGVxuTJhWlDKo-9uK_hSHbKsTKFxmN6072ZpAyD2XZD5YYubu8T4RMtxmg1VYGOQu2cPVtmkgcI/s320/Nishinihon+873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229759801111915538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Captain's study room<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAA6AjSjKgQdJmYjxZPEd2jVqBH0wgEpsVRIQ9khP6rvLdN-j8nOSCG_kDZWd4-Q2l5rB9jo2fwleWSMuRWidGDcyur9fkMxAWnNTLi27OPMH3-KiMRBLF-7hfqLa6Htg5ds2LTLzVdfH/s1600-h/Nishinihon+875.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAA6AjSjKgQdJmYjxZPEd2jVqBH0wgEpsVRIQ9khP6rvLdN-j8nOSCG_kDZWd4-Q2l5rB9jo2fwleWSMuRWidGDcyur9fkMxAWnNTLi27OPMH3-KiMRBLF-7hfqLa6Htg5ds2LTLzVdfH/s320/Nishinihon+875.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229759803406426946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and the dinning room<br />the guide explained me that the Dutch people in here secretly celebrated "Winter Solstice Parties", since all religious activities were forbidden<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJgbJcITmlYMqbXm1E58Saulo739_1D3DzytdmkX9lSxNLBXUzFKl8MQkR7M2i1j07hq996H8ujy7QnaRvi9UdbDbfY80_P4UtAXwj8lcCUueje3FEyZXT6M9taxNh7T0dFRk97xnYzdK/s1600-h/Nishinihon+878.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJgbJcITmlYMqbXm1E58Saulo739_1D3DzytdmkX9lSxNLBXUzFKl8MQkR7M2i1j07hq996H8ujy7QnaRvi9UdbDbfY80_P4UtAXwj8lcCUueje3FEyZXT6M9taxNh7T0dFRk97xnYzdK/s320/Nishinihon+878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229759808171996834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a Dutch trading vessel<br /></div><br />So throughout the Sakoku Period only trade with Holland was allowed. Todays Dejima is completely reconstructed, because it was leveled with the Atomic Bomb that struck Nagasaki in 1945. It has been built how it looked like during the Sakoku Period, since plans and many pictures remained. Todays you can walk in this really well done reconstruction and meet the old Dutch captains who traded with Japan and walk through their houses and see how they lived in Japan and watch the cultural exchange. This cultural exchange can be followed really nicely when walking through Dejima and seeing how western and Japanese architecture meet and merge, both on the outside and the inside of houses. You can also watch some videos which show some meetings between Japanese and Dutch people. There are also a lot of helpful volunteer guides, which gladly lead you through the houses on Dejima and make the time come back to life by telling stories about it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCfXwufU2Bgow5svAb6y-lz2MoPChzJJXYIdI_OidWSCINVzhbUc3Tlc6xNBATgLvak3RpaMT2yJYbSs32hp1z55rHDTL81vwFjq7c8ETtJht-Eh56RfuHKzQG0jtsxvZSKsTggtkZ4E/s1600-h/Nishinihon+892.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCfXwufU2Bgow5svAb6y-lz2MoPChzJJXYIdI_OidWSCINVzhbUc3Tlc6xNBATgLvak3RpaMT2yJYbSs32hp1z55rHDTL81vwFjq7c8ETtJht-Eh56RfuHKzQG0jtsxvZSKsTggtkZ4E/s320/Nishinihon+892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760279526020242" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQsXfFl9n-0h6yIY3NAU4K7fpK7XgjQaMT3-QcZ1PbGOL9x5M2inyfKDG8M4iZVv4JPBZBgKMF6Adpn7qdYyxXAMq49jru04jk3M2i1ZXKThQwUmOXJ3Ma8tgYz6lF3TMmMGWE3rJTEw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+895.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQsXfFl9n-0h6yIY3NAU4K7fpK7XgjQaMT3-QcZ1PbGOL9x5M2inyfKDG8M4iZVv4JPBZBgKMF6Adpn7qdYyxXAMq49jru04jk3M2i1ZXKThQwUmOXJ3Ma8tgYz6lF3TMmMGWE3rJTEw/s320/Nishinihon+895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760657583996674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />you can find western style rooms<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-ml4PlkVGe7StawZWBXsaNpH48xHWFVViAl24X_wl1lgnDkbCRdZRvjc9GmnO2JYENglEOjmhS15em7jR6wcK9eHh8uLX0lXnJgwcwkJXuHC-80kp-vZn-xB27gXAp0MznykzMhrnuo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+921.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-ml4PlkVGe7StawZWBXsaNpH48xHWFVViAl24X_wl1lgnDkbCRdZRvjc9GmnO2JYENglEOjmhS15em7jR6wcK9eHh8uLX0lXnJgwcwkJXuHC-80kp-vZn-xB27gXAp0MznykzMhrnuo/s320/Nishinihon+921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229761922893369666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and Japanese rooms for Japanese servants on Dejima<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LF4DhcxaJTbUAfuBGiPVhw8SMHla3S7CIp2Ncx2RaZPGW_BupzkYjeswIx-LbTaHUk9dDOM2iLnOB4LVw2ohEX1-VJazdDtdGZN5KB8ed58ilS4s6g5ApKN9z6XVoIg-ASsRQ4g4sZCA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+853.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LF4DhcxaJTbUAfuBGiPVhw8SMHla3S7CIp2Ncx2RaZPGW_BupzkYjeswIx-LbTaHUk9dDOM2iLnOB4LVw2ohEX1-VJazdDtdGZN5KB8ed58ilS4s6g5ApKN9z6XVoIg-ASsRQ4g4sZCA/s320/Nishinihon+853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229758908219939122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and then you can gradually see how the living style mixed<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsm9y2aGy4jVOF6jDmleK0xyazDrfJwU8Cx0NeVDVsmsY-5x5QcElVED9MGgZx_tkX64p94dBxvIPamlY4ydeKLXkT-KayMIVQns-EHTZINt7l8nsvAs4x-2G-ZXW6z1EH0OQ4CjSVluM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+900.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsm9y2aGy4jVOF6jDmleK0xyazDrfJwU8Cx0NeVDVsmsY-5x5QcElVED9MGgZx_tkX64p94dBxvIPamlY4ydeKLXkT-KayMIVQns-EHTZINt7l8nsvAs4x-2G-ZXW6z1EH0OQ4CjSVluM/s320/Nishinihon+900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760666585573266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQ2Zbz2_vG0B43yJPisjDzc7b5g3dghP6oNuHR2_XCqJFhPvDRRp5RCINsUDZz0JGsVwDmKsCrsPTkWYuwBr2q5pNyiARgvJQnr_nGRbKPi-jt0bVDk3ony2AXABuGbKyAt2lSMvHlGQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+901.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQ2Zbz2_vG0B43yJPisjDzc7b5g3dghP6oNuHR2_XCqJFhPvDRRp5RCINsUDZz0JGsVwDmKsCrsPTkWYuwBr2q5pNyiARgvJQnr_nGRbKPi-jt0bVDk3ony2AXABuGbKyAt2lSMvHlGQ/s320/Nishinihon+901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760677038163346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk1zQHcJRnPbpl3dV_dNelblnLtEnvfkd36o5Sdbx2aVzXpXrFwnOjw6L0VagL0PLFnzRZjk1RJhj0QXrEubcaU9WDPL62mx6knaVB4P_QJR_3pYVW3Yoz1krwCjWGh2LEDhJU2q3KCw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+902.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk1zQHcJRnPbpl3dV_dNelblnLtEnvfkd36o5Sdbx2aVzXpXrFwnOjw6L0VagL0PLFnzRZjk1RJhj0QXrEubcaU9WDPL62mx6knaVB4P_QJR_3pYVW3Yoz1krwCjWGh2LEDhJU2q3KCw/s320/Nishinihon+902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760682498560866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />cultural exchange also means that the Dutch showed Japan their games<br /></div><br />One of the most important thing that arrived in Dejima and was carried on throughout Japan was western science. All western science coming from Holland were thus called 蘭学 (dutch science) in Japan. And the intelligent elite in Japan all had to learn dutch to read all the scientific works that reached Japan. Some very clever persons like 佐久間象山 Sakuma Shōzan, how only by reading a dutch encyclopedia where then able to create Japan's first magnet, camera, telegraph, glass, telescope and thermometers. Not surprisingly Shozan became a close friend of both Yoshida Shouin and Katsu Kaishuu, about which I have talked earlier.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdd2k_kbnLiukinDkuiwZceeSZM3jSk0P6w1xydLIwfxSbgnH8iVNVCfHgw4a9xT0xVQKkV3CLcNS-j8bxic00OAM00mOhg5Dw2bp9WDMMrdKih8PJcnGJR159MFjs71aLEsPmYPbGBd5/s1600-h/SakumaShozan.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdd2k_kbnLiukinDkuiwZceeSZM3jSk0P6w1xydLIwfxSbgnH8iVNVCfHgw4a9xT0xVQKkV3CLcNS-j8bxic00OAM00mOhg5Dw2bp9WDMMrdKih8PJcnGJR159MFjs71aLEsPmYPbGBd5/s320/SakumaShozan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229752440013358130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakuma_Sh%C5%8Dzan">Wikipedia</a><br /><br /></span>佐久間象山 Sakuma Shōzan<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_PTwBnPvmdEmAQTzpaIq7TUcb6Vcxtt4HTilmWMY6RKXNiMRsiYAftyYI4BiTP2E9xqbc6zMOEuWvKoJe_U8mb1foRFP82uWNE05RtVKlKcBNck0GTSoVEWQeQxjxRuzYnXzhnCdnJlt/s1600-h/Nishinihon+883.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_PTwBnPvmdEmAQTzpaIq7TUcb6Vcxtt4HTilmWMY6RKXNiMRsiYAftyYI4BiTP2E9xqbc6zMOEuWvKoJe_U8mb1foRFP82uWNE05RtVKlKcBNck0GTSoVEWQeQxjxRuzYnXzhnCdnJlt/s320/Nishinihon+883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760262751495986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />science books<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGlmHL98OQNtcEufFdJbO58NKpTEZCP0tVooxXw-YyrSFy3OolJudXrnnYleILMd9HAYeb-9RDy5Kx7Bk5sQ0EfiMkFD77OvKUEj1mQ3ei9jO4Xzuz4x-H48yek8b6TLnLiA5Wdt5YwxT/s1600-h/Nishinihon+885.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGlmHL98OQNtcEufFdJbO58NKpTEZCP0tVooxXw-YyrSFy3OolJudXrnnYleILMd9HAYeb-9RDy5Kx7Bk5sQ0EfiMkFD77OvKUEj1mQ3ei9jO4Xzuz4x-H48yek8b6TLnLiA5Wdt5YwxT/s320/Nishinihon+885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760271040429266" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnHbKLNnBx7Ue1dftbPI3jeFD0w97uU_AHvAzyH3hhFxg1fMo9WaDuHjPX1hNpgObzlij6Z7Cf7KKKWVsjdCZh03yCuRjEDQhJVeLsK8Yy6vu4daHtrdrp0x6gHPQFobNdbP3BLdDromX/s1600-h/Nishinihon+864.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnHbKLNnBx7Ue1dftbPI3jeFD0w97uU_AHvAzyH3hhFxg1fMo9WaDuHjPX1hNpgObzlij6Z7Cf7KKKWVsjdCZh03yCuRjEDQhJVeLsK8Yy6vu4daHtrdrp0x6gHPQFobNdbP3BLdDromX/s320/Nishinihon+864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229759336578424034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45GABFCAMPQtshwV5BEUFP5FLYi2skIGz6HR19moJvG6GQZY17P6xc3hJz9iHdLEV6xpZ2fw5jp0eSJd2u6ndZChjbaQmBjWmqS12oGzEadNgGJs0i3ef9xXTH8C1DFoLRWRYcJvGE_WD/s1600-h/Nishinihon+865.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45GABFCAMPQtshwV5BEUFP5FLYi2skIGz6HR19moJvG6GQZY17P6xc3hJz9iHdLEV6xpZ2fw5jp0eSJd2u6ndZChjbaQmBjWmqS12oGzEadNgGJs0i3ef9xXTH8C1DFoLRWRYcJvGE_WD/s320/Nishinihon+865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229759341259229874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and tools<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19EQcR1JRTw7J7YEtz67Vje2CeLv10qnp-QS6_kUO3MuO6sn-ijLgnveFP4omLLwsyVBBmt_J1cEaCLf1EU2noRX2ZIvNWIYLb-Rogk6hBcDWhMDaXgkwhzNoGD72HiFuR16pwLL97MQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+917.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19EQcR1JRTw7J7YEtz67Vje2CeLv10qnp-QS6_kUO3MuO6sn-ijLgnveFP4omLLwsyVBBmt_J1cEaCLf1EU2noRX2ZIvNWIYLb-Rogk6hBcDWhMDaXgkwhzNoGD72HiFuR16pwLL97MQ/s320/Nishinihon+917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229761523679756898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />of course also many normal goods were traded, and many buildings on Dejima served as storage rooms<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFciGrbRByAptP-3bgfScVeOtfojyzJsW0A2_F2kEl4ppfT4uLLHS5nFBNnmPHQ7udfkfhzgRmoAzeShI_eP6txMN3VCUf2ybZWyPYQyQrtGGG2MvVQYoRo2t-VM1he1gz05uehMbFLQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+918.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFciGrbRByAptP-3bgfScVeOtfojyzJsW0A2_F2kEl4ppfT4uLLHS5nFBNnmPHQ7udfkfhzgRmoAzeShI_eP6txMN3VCUf2ybZWyPYQyQrtGGG2MvVQYoRo2t-VM1he1gz05uehMbFLQ/s320/Nishinihon+918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229761526178649218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the trade with western weapons was very important<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy31UYLhh5GjjWnnNAeEHwhJcDf3eSCSLwz7vuYocmMixqBwcANSOlUD1_a6O318u0M6ZobU6OLiEiAHx1DtsKRaeofa_G5-28SM-eZbvOyAMggL_zIcl6dJnBtzgQB_XmCQ_p6ev_5pW_/s1600-h/Nishinihon+850.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy31UYLhh5GjjWnnNAeEHwhJcDf3eSCSLwz7vuYocmMixqBwcANSOlUD1_a6O318u0M6ZobU6OLiEiAHx1DtsKRaeofa_G5-28SM-eZbvOyAMggL_zIcl6dJnBtzgQB_XmCQ_p6ev_5pW_/s320/Nishinihon+850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229758903853312930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and things were weighted carefully<br /></div><br />One section of Dejima is made into a garden dedicated to P.F. Siebold who created such a garden in 1826, when he arrived in Dejima to teach Physics in honor to his predecessor E. Kaempfer (who came to Japan in 1690) and C. Thunberg (1775). Those three men significantly contributed to Japan's development and cultural exchange between Europe and Japan.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cycDSRH4AwAIbel0CBLxrGUk9jfdtUGJ-eGr3XkUvTOX1uSXohbw3MgARp3IOW1y0xvo9txtPA1ePhZ6C5l-QLqY6uwnnjrNqyfJVx_aZbTe2CyT5hZ8XuP5DwKfEDoleCWGmwrWFyU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+911.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cycDSRH4AwAIbel0CBLxrGUk9jfdtUGJ-eGr3XkUvTOX1uSXohbw3MgARp3IOW1y0xvo9txtPA1ePhZ6C5l-QLqY6uwnnjrNqyfJVx_aZbTe2CyT5hZ8XuP5DwKfEDoleCWGmwrWFyU/s320/Nishinihon+911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229761506119865810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUsJsL1_pxs4c3Ur8vWpdJEEjjpYVRuHDZQ5htz4yWAurwGZp_Td2AAM3e0ai24FGtkAL-kCPOaZWeVjnSzTBqONSz-ypJywjQIaRpmMgqj0KCKPycrjXpulN1qnxopc218oyfmMuozk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+909.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUsJsL1_pxs4c3Ur8vWpdJEEjjpYVRuHDZQ5htz4yWAurwGZp_Td2AAM3e0ai24FGtkAL-kCPOaZWeVjnSzTBqONSz-ypJywjQIaRpmMgqj0KCKPycrjXpulN1qnxopc218oyfmMuozk/s320/Nishinihon+909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229761509350928002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Impressions of Dejima:<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv52-bqJ1zA1eEfIbn5D3xsEGBhVCg5nsl1V5PeybvqCnltg42H8-s144CwQQ7a3ddSFT7G-DOVwhOhgfDdBoVQjYEx-moUBtxoxAW_5Apy-5ZJjKBaB9W-RUPWajEFm0nkkljjoxsTP4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+898.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv52-bqJ1zA1eEfIbn5D3xsEGBhVCg5nsl1V5PeybvqCnltg42H8-s144CwQQ7a3ddSFT7G-DOVwhOhgfDdBoVQjYEx-moUBtxoxAW_5Apy-5ZJjKBaB9W-RUPWajEFm0nkkljjoxsTP4/s320/Nishinihon+898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760661354384962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Through Dejima the first color reached Japan, the first color used was this blue tone<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv088rUX8qyGMtzJ4ayeE2zhS6c5QXj-WvyoUJYjokryro2HcMQk12j81WKSnHpSdDgUlCqUiU9w6_aKuTNUwmP5d2VQ1GyQbItI93mWyZhBlNaJFMCtVpXc0ho08VdBpY3YnldCgRMLl/s1600-h/Nishinihon+887.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv088rUX8qyGMtzJ4ayeE2zhS6c5QXj-WvyoUJYjokryro2HcMQk12j81WKSnHpSdDgUlCqUiU9w6_aKuTNUwmP5d2VQ1GyQbItI93mWyZhBlNaJFMCtVpXc0ho08VdBpY3YnldCgRMLl/s320/Nishinihon+887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760273539269042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dejima's flagpole where the Dutch flag was hissed<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluHPb-Mt5es9v3tzczKOxYm3RuercnBagLQ6ebQPDzpsz-L46CgLX5mBJB2r3TXebklK1zq6hPOFFVvFeIVA-bZCLQ5eMFhRZZbr56CTcxfzLSBu67Pm3v_i7AQyCpbtfilkyt2pdP959/s1600-h/Nishinihon+888.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluHPb-Mt5es9v3tzczKOxYm3RuercnBagLQ6ebQPDzpsz-L46CgLX5mBJB2r3TXebklK1zq6hPOFFVvFeIVA-bZCLQ5eMFhRZZbr56CTcxfzLSBu67Pm3v_i7AQyCpbtfilkyt2pdP959/s320/Nishinihon+888.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760275742091906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6xs6-vhodXOW6wjcXV8H6zF_IqQGqIPyFEiAbknBbLUvZRFx57B3kzD2byDy6x1Fla06fTJhEMIzHQElJSWyrEAuFRVJoier7_XzuUKdkVkiw1hEYaA4TnGaNWxNf7MLv8NCw8d-wRFG/s1600-h/Nishinihon+868.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6xs6-vhodXOW6wjcXV8H6zF_IqQGqIPyFEiAbknBbLUvZRFx57B3kzD2byDy6x1Fla06fTJhEMIzHQElJSWyrEAuFRVJoier7_XzuUKdkVkiw1hEYaA4TnGaNWxNf7MLv8NCw8d-wRFG/s320/Nishinihon+868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229759343889639362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO1h15GV6bXvtKsdFYO7t4kNVX1kn6HJwO3s_mdmVvQja0YC76q_TRaySVKZTsB2zw-L7nfE-GaeuLrxdXjtAnHd3qlO9sJwBwV49j8ynxqnagn8koeVdbS7FsC5wXee2q78aEtzFVb_X/s1600-h/Nishinihon+859.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO1h15GV6bXvtKsdFYO7t4kNVX1kn6HJwO3s_mdmVvQja0YC76q_TRaySVKZTsB2zw-L7nfE-GaeuLrxdXjtAnHd3qlO9sJwBwV49j8ynxqnagn8koeVdbS7FsC5wXee2q78aEtzFVb_X/s320/Nishinihon+859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229758915316714562" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">オランダ坂 Hollander Slope</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNZRXsesC3O0g0V_PJNOO8uPMDK0wJSNPcyngsBY4NB3uyehkDFCkf7BaN61LqEqrrH-wK8bWelMpdYXF9J_PkidZMf4EVqM38EatoKg-47lC0JYHJ-voWiWArVKWZSdrcql7dtQH1SY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+933.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNZRXsesC3O0g0V_PJNOO8uPMDK0wJSNPcyngsBY4NB3uyehkDFCkf7BaN61LqEqrrH-wK8bWelMpdYXF9J_PkidZMf4EVqM38EatoKg-47lC0JYHJ-voWiWArVKWZSdrcql7dtQH1SY/s320/Nishinihon+933.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229761936644913426" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />In the 19th century when the Sakoku policy was weakened more and more people moved more into Nagasaki and built a settlement on one of the hills close by, afterwards called Hollander Slope. The hill remained largely unaffected by the bomb and therefore you can see a lot of old western style houses built there, including churches and school for the children of the westerners who decided to live there. In the 19th century English started to replace Dutch as the language of the western world in Japan and it thus became the language the Japanese tried to learn to communicate with the people living by trading business in this area.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10iZyXg5DU_awoHAW8Oai3P0TkYLS79Lqh5SqCo9nWaz007gRHab_9N3ncjfv-4_IqRZVpiS3agoZhyphenhyphenfHwaS6hS29ZNJCTjzIKT-MHEB1W_XKAQ_ALoCJel0bLkVpwaxMsYhxISoIyK4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+929.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10iZyXg5DU_awoHAW8Oai3P0TkYLS79Lqh5SqCo9nWaz007gRHab_9N3ncjfv-4_IqRZVpiS3agoZhyphenhyphenfHwaS6hS29ZNJCTjzIKT-MHEB1W_XKAQ_ALoCJel0bLkVpwaxMsYhxISoIyK4/s320/Nishinihon+929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229761927039421522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKcDCYxLQK3eWqcVpCmyeD51ozbHKivbF18qJuibEbsxO_XJ23L0DZl-mW2uX9MPkisn_llGxtOEmwdGiqNi8qp4ReLaHHj3vsTwch9NORyrv0LIlY2PKwBuUKzHWj0SQupx616PZtyE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+930.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKcDCYxLQK3eWqcVpCmyeD51ozbHKivbF18qJuibEbsxO_XJ23L0DZl-mW2uX9MPkisn_llGxtOEmwdGiqNi8qp4ReLaHHj3vsTwch9NORyrv0LIlY2PKwBuUKzHWj0SQupx616PZtyE/s320/Nishinihon+930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229761928836462946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCV9fP7WUJskWTX7ZnvwiHA_LjCwkC-GE1MfnqIoO7beylMBfEAuD7URc9ge6SdnwNGN0TlnTWysuMPCZRSCMaFxFmMRDKoovWwRpW_DOt2yZBQ8hyphenhyphenpUSobTG55SRNDwcW8TbhqZUu2g/s1600-h/Nishinihon+934.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCV9fP7WUJskWTX7ZnvwiHA_LjCwkC-GE1MfnqIoO7beylMBfEAuD7URc9ge6SdnwNGN0TlnTWysuMPCZRSCMaFxFmMRDKoovWwRpW_DOt2yZBQ8hyphenhyphenpUSobTG55SRNDwcW8TbhqZUu2g/s320/Nishinihon+934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229761938520694450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbI4Win4tAcURxTt4tINuJdyfFaIev7KOFrF_xWRTfI-nrsg_PpFFdga6mwwewR4tQ6eB9ZOK33kLCVP5LUDAM7-gJRuXqx3N-K3of2ER1z_8oPoljvSPDAe1rgvjcbHDvgDQcU-heKg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+944.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbI4Win4tAcURxTt4tINuJdyfFaIev7KOFrF_xWRTfI-nrsg_PpFFdga6mwwewR4tQ6eB9ZOK33kLCVP5LUDAM7-gJRuXqx3N-K3of2ER1z_8oPoljvSPDAe1rgvjcbHDvgDQcU-heKg/s320/Nishinihon+944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229762689227391810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe_tE3UNEbBNnMHKszyZK-o5P_T8FrSVdA06sMfK2_oWSOKcGSA4obedb05TK6cnZixeTFXejaXIS12SyAxqejxA_9q4FxcYK3ok6hD0QdjmnGD6QMDbIBQHA0vF-0pe_MaawiiM91Go/s1600-h/Nishinihon+948.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe_tE3UNEbBNnMHKszyZK-o5P_T8FrSVdA06sMfK2_oWSOKcGSA4obedb05TK6cnZixeTFXejaXIS12SyAxqejxA_9q4FxcYK3ok6hD0QdjmnGD6QMDbIBQHA0vF-0pe_MaawiiM91Go/s320/Nishinihon+948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229762700324458930" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The people formed a league or club of gentlemen and were also referred to as Clubbers. The clubbers are the ones who traded the warships and guns to Sakamoto Ryouma's Kameyama Shachuu and later to Choshu, Satsuma and Tosa. The trade and relation with them was an important factor to the revolution. A garden remains, where many of those meetings took place, that can be accessed for a fee. It is confusingly called Clover Garden (Clubber and Clover are pronounced exactly the same in Japanese).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ee3h357W3lBn5Irpu2tNGtDqMiI_wh6F3M5XW4a8xL478U06Jeg1a4UEx6wkJFpXCOICiiOGSw6LZKo61rN1tOE6rfqLY9y7BruT0ez-XNyqesJVFQa3OAbKuougLSqSwUnHL96yqoo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+937.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ee3h357W3lBn5Irpu2tNGtDqMiI_wh6F3M5XW4a8xL478U06Jeg1a4UEx6wkJFpXCOICiiOGSw6LZKo61rN1tOE6rfqLY9y7BruT0ez-XNyqesJVFQa3OAbKuougLSqSwUnHL96yqoo/s320/Nishinihon+937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229762351903477218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHUk1RPHE3TeQjcFZKT7MFzVo-ODNdy_UlZANHlc92A-DUUt-Qo3RTLJv4FRcS7lb-4pSJkDIqstClMqmo5bqnwYbonlIEuzMn4x89h8YMZdcV8KJsHThB_c9ZZ1BelPGvZHg3iPSurA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+938.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHUk1RPHE3TeQjcFZKT7MFzVo-ODNdy_UlZANHlc92A-DUUt-Qo3RTLJv4FRcS7lb-4pSJkDIqstClMqmo5bqnwYbonlIEuzMn4x89h8YMZdcV8KJsHThB_c9ZZ1BelPGvZHg3iPSurA/s320/Nishinihon+938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229762354160201778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk-Y1P2LYyPimfuoIgynhd-oCbw1929VC7Sm-wv33bwcrY4PG71zF4c4nsOU2Bq3oD3YUdtAJCO9XhUNyM_8mcWdweEZruUq7tPnrJQIo7XTktzC0diZlE0QnGhq69oEZ7gtZaQ65rMs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+941.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk-Y1P2LYyPimfuoIgynhd-oCbw1929VC7Sm-wv33bwcrY4PG71zF4c4nsOU2Bq3oD3YUdtAJCO9XhUNyM_8mcWdweEZruUq7tPnrJQIo7XTktzC0diZlE0QnGhq69oEZ7gtZaQ65rMs/s320/Nishinihon+941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229762366032931106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12nhyphenhyphenQbC9IXEEhp795hmTDn2AX1PprnyMgg0ZMxBIQPydBwuxZ8hQtT1Yq93zTzyhoEN97ZXg3lgEsH3A31ZYw1wMIszFYVeXXfAp-HIdBuFnYRl2gQ0VpBHhzegWLlYZIJjacVCDV40/s1600-h/Nishinihon+940.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12nhyphenhyphenQbC9IXEEhp795hmTDn2AX1PprnyMgg0ZMxBIQPydBwuxZ8hQtT1Yq93zTzyhoEN97ZXg3lgEsH3A31ZYw1wMIszFYVeXXfAp-HIdBuFnYRl2gQ0VpBHhzegWLlYZIJjacVCDV40/s320/Nishinihon+940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229762362441770338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I wonder whether the escalator was there at the time of the clubbers<br /></div><br />I also had a nice personal experience, when I entered an interesting looking house here and inside was a horror and trick shop. The owner would show everyone magic tricks, whenever somebody bought something. I bought two pins for my brothers and some other guests bought other two things and we watched three magic tricks. He also made a lot of Japanese pun jokes like:<br />マネ真似はだめ<br />when spoken it sounds like "you can't do it with money money", but mane (money) also means to imitate, and therefore the sentence can also be read as "it is forbidden to imitate money"<br />お知りたいですか? お尻が痛いですか?<br />Next he would ask us if we want to know how a trick of his worked. Oshiritai desu ka? do you want to know? When we said yes, he asked again Oshiri ga Itai desu ka? Suddenly the sentence meant does your ass hurt? and when we fell for it and said yes again, not noticing the change in meaning, he offered us ass medicine.<br />He had a lot more of such jokes in peto ^_^<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPYC43UM5v5BJTfnPsI_V0OUbrIoNQh8AxqhHuoWzrSoVf7Co5QVekoilZFdPdYIIv1h7Z0baj1auW3moM_bGzGtsSkUv-x2wty1XZajgK1Ikn8Lr6rIHhko-Adx2FfEjlstV3JsZL7k/s1600-h/Nishinihon+936.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPYC43UM5v5BJTfnPsI_V0OUbrIoNQh8AxqhHuoWzrSoVf7Co5QVekoilZFdPdYIIv1h7Z0baj1auW3moM_bGzGtsSkUv-x2wty1XZajgK1Ikn8Lr6rIHhko-Adx2FfEjlstV3JsZL7k/s320/Nishinihon+936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229762349246218162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />there were also other interesting shops, like this Sakamoto Ryouma shop<br /></div><br />The significance of Dejima is heavy. Again it is Nagasaki who made an incredible influence in Japan. The people having the knowledge gotten from Nagasaki and the technology and stratagem coming along with it would be able to rule Japan.<br /><br /><br />原爆弾 Atomic Bomb<br /><br />Finally we move to the final historic chapter of Nagasaki. World War 2 and the second Atomic Bomb in history that was used against civilians to end a war. You can find a lot of things dealing with the Atomic Bomb, I visited the Hypo Center, the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Peace Park.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">長崎原爆資料館 Atomic Bomb Museum</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyig-zILZfgz8HtRqw-KW9erXzib3LoK7-V9XaUIj9cW_RNKP7MsJK1PLwIcL2-bIZYiuSikB0rThJ950qVrsqOr8Ayt0E_spDez0ReNtcPAso6aQprn7z04YnWkKFNBpes9XakZ7uk9Y/s1600-h/Nishinihon+951.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyig-zILZfgz8HtRqw-KW9erXzib3LoK7-V9XaUIj9cW_RNKP7MsJK1PLwIcL2-bIZYiuSikB0rThJ950qVrsqOr8Ayt0E_spDez0ReNtcPAso6aQprn7z04YnWkKFNBpes9XakZ7uk9Y/s320/Nishinihon+951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229762703323449890" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I started with the museum. It is partitioned in several sections dealing with different aspects of the bombing. The first shows pictures of Nagasaki prior to the bombing as a thriving harbor town. Then the damage cause by the bomb is illustrated by showing some of the few structures remaining after the impact, like ruins of a cathedral and a bended water tower. In the next section you can compare pictures of Nagasaki before and after the bombing, the impact was devastating, where before a city stood, only flat surface remained. In the same room it is described how the Atomic Bomb works and what effect it has on nature and people. Basically the destruction is caused in three forms: the blast, the heat rays and the radiation. The next section shows how many nuclear weapons are currently stored in which nations of this world and how much more devastating their effect would be. But also how many sides tried disarmament and talking nations into abandoning the nuclear path. In a final section you can see videos and read stories of persons personally experiencing the bomb and its effects.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7gz1oRgNVwv_qWAkvduKhOww-Bn_tInvst0lUTzkEuuYf-LZn8fzdRS8N16IBumpllQEnw8-zrN8UFyegyE3toT1vGLUDZEYObtFPYmcCcOcW25stsS9h5kLSj2ILaMs9TaeI2JqepA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+952.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7gz1oRgNVwv_qWAkvduKhOww-Bn_tInvst0lUTzkEuuYf-LZn8fzdRS8N16IBumpllQEnw8-zrN8UFyegyE3toT1vGLUDZEYObtFPYmcCcOcW25stsS9h5kLSj2ILaMs9TaeI2JqepA/s320/Nishinihon+952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229762702910110626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />gods let this never happen again<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fSJ5wfuReZIomXK2g-M4Co-3w5IFCE4h_Ih6zixFM5PqyuAXYy34ApCC_XzL-O-0b9uTwXQYkuAPPw2130mfqlnuAFPU77-nSFld011vZFTzUkHqQBBft-EeQXGtgTXFtz-5MV6lwUY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+962.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fSJ5wfuReZIomXK2g-M4Co-3w5IFCE4h_Ih6zixFM5PqyuAXYy34ApCC_XzL-O-0b9uTwXQYkuAPPw2130mfqlnuAFPU77-nSFld011vZFTzUkHqQBBft-EeQXGtgTXFtz-5MV6lwUY/s320/Nishinihon+962.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763204372608402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />central Nagasaki before<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51vVTGyDjy72Ta_pNZj2odXX5wqnnFEueuIIOimEpdS3bhtbvRMVVpnxXEOAEg0q3lS-NErdFLGe6OGOeVaY5dbH7r1EiCE316M-V8d_-R0vVaq9R47-ar12s3GE6yorns7wpLtQHrTk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+961.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51vVTGyDjy72Ta_pNZj2odXX5wqnnFEueuIIOimEpdS3bhtbvRMVVpnxXEOAEg0q3lS-NErdFLGe6OGOeVaY5dbH7r1EiCE316M-V8d_-R0vVaq9R47-ar12s3GE6yorns7wpLtQHrTk/s320/Nishinihon+961.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763510810641122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and after<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y2T02UO9MhaQpg4bTM8MbMeykGL2EpPGS08kSdXkyxemAKWLYZRrcd992p-CrY_xUzJENbBv0suRr6QmTB_pc6udcAnSrqMrynR4S3v0Oik0074WqXCeq7Y1zmTSW6r2yDN7O3dsnOs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+957.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y2T02UO9MhaQpg4bTM8MbMeykGL2EpPGS08kSdXkyxemAKWLYZRrcd992p-CrY_xUzJENbBv0suRr6QmTB_pc6udcAnSrqMrynR4S3v0Oik0074WqXCeq7Y1zmTSW6r2yDN7O3dsnOs/s320/Nishinihon+957.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763193382620306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />remnants of the cathedral<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpnoNMl1jujdT4Nw4ZHw0td3zB6uBPVCfBKq2hzPkDMYFEjO5abr05yCmyzjBl7bj3wgesDxJy7KPP7M99-2JrZqLaBdi1wqypDmKGh7owXDPSOUONqvfcywxyfKJw54-Kshj0OVTm3E/s1600-h/Nishinihon+958.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpnoNMl1jujdT4Nw4ZHw0td3zB6uBPVCfBKq2hzPkDMYFEjO5abr05yCmyzjBl7bj3wgesDxJy7KPP7M99-2JrZqLaBdi1wqypDmKGh7owXDPSOUONqvfcywxyfKJw54-Kshj0OVTm3E/s320/Nishinihon+958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763197057172754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the bomb that hit Nagasaki was called Fat Man<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpledtTyVCG3qFFb5AdYvdVhfhczs1ArkZEL1Bxk31Sv5U3Cq-PI1GaWI0OBqni75D7Skz06NwUHbcwRw2VNBDhRjOQNq4ihR5ppSjxBzmF-7qBG3teUwrddTrPOkpO2XPRu2VgDPFCo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+963.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpledtTyVCG3qFFb5AdYvdVhfhczs1ArkZEL1Bxk31Sv5U3Cq-PI1GaWI0OBqni75D7Skz06NwUHbcwRw2VNBDhRjOQNq4ihR5ppSjxBzmF-7qBG3teUwrddTrPOkpO2XPRu2VgDPFCo/s320/Nishinihon+963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763513911659074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the number of nuclear weapons is frightening<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggh2rfHk0nTm0elQjIW08OtAHCRM18Gk9AGcxa8dX52BKush8sGajjsP7tjoCyJgSUJ2Z9v4FR1b0ipZch9UGjcci9kpnZHaurXJaHnmfp_bc2qkMcG6YIDhEOGMzaLFmlCw45pZeqbUU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+959.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggh2rfHk0nTm0elQjIW08OtAHCRM18Gk9AGcxa8dX52BKush8sGajjsP7tjoCyJgSUJ2Z9v4FR1b0ipZch9UGjcci9kpnZHaurXJaHnmfp_bc2qkMcG6YIDhEOGMzaLFmlCw45pZeqbUU/s320/Nishinihon+959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763202347658626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />this wall is tells the sad story of a man and his ladder, who have been evaporated at the time of the blast and served as momentary shadows for the heat ray exposed wall behind...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLn4kqCuAsdgF2ZD1-K5rEygwjvHelmwm7XIXmslcLogmQt3vihzh1bt2kw_OrXEnXX3dAXOMFWyasDAwveDycFrj-pEOJ5Lm6T-8miT5rKPs58eh0sqlQN-jEkxX38NZe8mKX396rYs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+953.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLn4kqCuAsdgF2ZD1-K5rEygwjvHelmwm7XIXmslcLogmQt3vihzh1bt2kw_OrXEnXX3dAXOMFWyasDAwveDycFrj-pEOJ5Lm6T-8miT5rKPs58eh0sqlQN-jEkxX38NZe8mKX396rYs/s320/Nishinihon+953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229762707012149730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKesIQS8d_c8TWvwd1t_Ybv-zYaxXOfZfs3LP_bMXljAQeHUi2vsnxsEjxHlGOKSETEL7XZHG4SbZEaHDFmweWwOounC7aRPmZ0WSpZ0TOwVSZ3kRvOsLwpyZVlArlZEqTQD2qovtXQaQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+954.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKesIQS8d_c8TWvwd1t_Ybv-zYaxXOfZfs3LP_bMXljAQeHUi2vsnxsEjxHlGOKSETEL7XZHG4SbZEaHDFmweWwOounC7aRPmZ0WSpZ0TOwVSZ3kRvOsLwpyZVlArlZEqTQD2qovtXQaQ/s320/Nishinihon+954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763187048277154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />impressions of the disaster<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">原爆落下中心地公園 Atomic Bomb Hypocenter</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZD2NBK50LigATrUR5tA5LuTdKjhvPAE_vNUaUiDoF_-F-qxpGBLMbhjkNMDu5blFIVhxVV9fgCFKI2WmU992imideLZbnodCmFunOpRdYeOzvuNvOc_61Wlw7lWPKRSem7FOJ-AyBsM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+967.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZD2NBK50LigATrUR5tA5LuTdKjhvPAE_vNUaUiDoF_-F-qxpGBLMbhjkNMDu5blFIVhxVV9fgCFKI2WmU992imideLZbnodCmFunOpRdYeOzvuNvOc_61Wlw7lWPKRSem7FOJ-AyBsM/s320/Nishinihon+967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763529653092546" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Hypocenter means the theoretical spot the bomb would have hit the surface. As we have already learned in <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2007/09/hiroshima.html">Hiroshima</a>. The bomb is exploded above the surface to increase the damage it can cause. At the spot of the Hypocenter a little park has been erected with an angel praying for peace and a monolith menacing point upwards where the bomb exploded telling people not to forget.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNO190h-fVpkJyHZCtwhK7vy9sTXhLpC89S3Jo824mH2PxZYNt6B8129XPLTfa6PTlCgFonOKKEGKUsRqhouo438iNhwVbfOq15mbOcsaCEYIhhUj2EEqaRboCi_qioa2NUaJBwLDlwE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+965.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNO190h-fVpkJyHZCtwhK7vy9sTXhLpC89S3Jo824mH2PxZYNt6B8129XPLTfa6PTlCgFonOKKEGKUsRqhouo438iNhwVbfOq15mbOcsaCEYIhhUj2EEqaRboCi_qioa2NUaJBwLDlwE/s320/Nishinihon+965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763524591666210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a mother holding her dead child<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwhpeCrNTekBsvmSmHXfq9JF7QB6hA06c2eiQQRH6HCw_n7M_Jk09dxgVQxC5uKiw1ehfDXLzO-v9LzuWDqZgGixApOhAw1S4lzJleFtX2cvV8hI_ASdBF8yRBsh3H6nX8lZasMAwOCs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+969.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwhpeCrNTekBsvmSmHXfq9JF7QB6hA06c2eiQQRH6HCw_n7M_Jk09dxgVQxC5uKiw1ehfDXLzO-v9LzuWDqZgGixApOhAw1S4lzJleFtX2cvV8hI_ASdBF8yRBsh3H6nX8lZasMAwOCs/s320/Nishinihon+969.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763959366924914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />another remainder of the cathedral<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2DuBA1Zlt7NWpqmYsHx76yD_1xuWkj6GoGWv0CYQckZiKaBXf1uKFhek2e2G6T3TtCEogzzdcZLc_tIeZkjfAF5pNqVpIqRUkrwOZ922rxI38wMwx2LCxcDL_VHnxNS0l-g04dUX8SQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+968.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2DuBA1Zlt7NWpqmYsHx76yD_1xuWkj6GoGWv0CYQckZiKaBXf1uKFhek2e2G6T3TtCEogzzdcZLc_tIeZkjfAF5pNqVpIqRUkrwOZ922rxI38wMwx2LCxcDL_VHnxNS0l-g04dUX8SQ/s320/Nishinihon+968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229767967015847330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a black monolith marking the Hypocenter<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />平和公園 Peace Park</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWilVylKtvbJ_KhHmQNRZJXfwaLidq9VQxZz1d1Jj0jRskqEks_CUuboF_er3DnzFV8sk46eW26hrVSyCcG5_STXOzigaBEH-c8levbRB4zwdRtH8VSkOrhEkS9SZY9V0j4hxecYX4owk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+977.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWilVylKtvbJ_KhHmQNRZJXfwaLidq9VQxZz1d1Jj0jRskqEks_CUuboF_er3DnzFV8sk46eW26hrVSyCcG5_STXOzigaBEH-c8levbRB4zwdRtH8VSkOrhEkS9SZY9V0j4hxecYX4owk/s320/Nishinihon+977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763961639474450" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />My final stop was at the peace park. It is a large park on a small hill. Curiously enough many many nations dedicated artistic statues here as a symbol for global understanding and peace and to symbolize their unwillingness to use Atomic Bombs ever again. A huge blue bronze statue thrones over the park as another symbol for peace and understanding. In its features both Christian and Buddhist beliefs can be read. It meditates calmly but also points to the sky, where the bomb came from, to urge people to action to prevent wars and fight for world peace.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jks19YtFJozXlVqATOHKO-i7ZkWygwnHFlU8xIIU_wZa-MNtowZg4UqBxz9TgmzA66wbY_4sAopPJ0zQkhdQYMq3oSVqXOjGpbyr1-tUiH8e0jhtaNkh_gNJC9XRlVQOsCVgndZByb4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+991.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jks19YtFJozXlVqATOHKO-i7ZkWygwnHFlU8xIIU_wZa-MNtowZg4UqBxz9TgmzA66wbY_4sAopPJ0zQkhdQYMq3oSVqXOjGpbyr1-tUiH8e0jhtaNkh_gNJC9XRlVQOsCVgndZByb4/s320/Nishinihon+991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229764712555893666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Nagasaki's symbol for peace<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEpDOvPJ9WanKWemPOpbJDJ55FwB_TW5uIDEtXgwBa8TFzepbrOVHnKJ0wtRMqXPQnCMWjV-jdMy9ilL36dI_7TO3eSY3g4-0F2kVI6snLyG3q4HHkL0SZF-zDbwr3KuUqryUPMIfMoU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+985.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEpDOvPJ9WanKWemPOpbJDJ55FwB_TW5uIDEtXgwBa8TFzepbrOVHnKJ0wtRMqXPQnCMWjV-jdMy9ilL36dI_7TO3eSY3g4-0F2kVI6snLyG3q4HHkL0SZF-zDbwr3KuUqryUPMIfMoU/s320/Nishinihon+985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229764376601664194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudSoPDMSSsQ_eaiUyFoAJ3a16kVkMAktF75ES_LUoO04Mmgh9kxX_EuTo32ANn2b_DEI-Vw3qPdmY9xMjXDRsos9WN1wcD6nLa9ucRh97n9UX0pUCdFoulzOlRgsLBPXYEwhfH9jGBCg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+986.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudSoPDMSSsQ_eaiUyFoAJ3a16kVkMAktF75ES_LUoO04Mmgh9kxX_EuTo32ANn2b_DEI-Vw3qPdmY9xMjXDRsos9WN1wcD6nLa9ucRh97n9UX0pUCdFoulzOlRgsLBPXYEwhfH9jGBCg/s320/Nishinihon+986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229764386948858002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzia2T8yesPq_uh_ZvHQBrcVnMQiXgVvI9kS2LGovga3ZQN4FyVXiY4NJx_gWWjmatMUlJ_TPfl-18oy56yChUuGr_-8iupoXb4TKeIJqjGNyzs9flo-FyD8tAyXub2fLgzSu9VCA88tw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+987.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzia2T8yesPq_uh_ZvHQBrcVnMQiXgVvI9kS2LGovga3ZQN4FyVXiY4NJx_gWWjmatMUlJ_TPfl-18oy56yChUuGr_-8iupoXb4TKeIJqjGNyzs9flo-FyD8tAyXub2fLgzSu9VCA88tw/s320/Nishinihon+987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229764393775749554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_kME_TPVJdfaZwja5UOkFEmXqB5eeHfqMekT3hZl5u9eVI1dgv56B42Gqms3UYGoPuILfeWaBoPgEmf2S2dPNaqepic0MurfRPAm0wrm0CQ7ZbzskRdWKQGsjxIEBLNX3YLjI-EwHSQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+973.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_kME_TPVJdfaZwja5UOkFEmXqB5eeHfqMekT3hZl5u9eVI1dgv56B42Gqms3UYGoPuILfeWaBoPgEmf2S2dPNaqepic0MurfRPAm0wrm0CQ7ZbzskRdWKQGsjxIEBLNX3YLjI-EwHSQ/s320/Nishinihon+973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763957792084130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZYVd647K8GgZ5miJYOhtm0-WmFLx4sswt-idEH5uFSG5_nibOISmOijmpIfwe29gEE_bNpBhiBWrHfjd5SjLNKDDDecHFWSEyusJswgj7VQaWXjbCsDoejMDOKIoqZNERFnc5L-5nMA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+981.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZYVd647K8GgZ5miJYOhtm0-WmFLx4sswt-idEH5uFSG5_nibOISmOijmpIfwe29gEE_bNpBhiBWrHfjd5SjLNKDDDecHFWSEyusJswgj7VQaWXjbCsDoejMDOKIoqZNERFnc5L-5nMA/s320/Nishinihon+981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763961926487282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrrVdP2PBMxd1_e2r7_wKTjRU-3c5ldr8-9ogRg-NpaSFy5sENa1kgD2HFhX-qGJ0O89TifIHFJhgtMkcMu7qjbQA5ooU6orNuBitstXLJ_BuRHxrUHV2GD9pkJ6Oa0GZfDIoCsgDL8o/s1600-h/Nishinihon+982.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrrVdP2PBMxd1_e2r7_wKTjRU-3c5ldr8-9ogRg-NpaSFy5sENa1kgD2HFhX-qGJ0O89TifIHFJhgtMkcMu7qjbQA5ooU6orNuBitstXLJ_BuRHxrUHV2GD9pkJ6Oa0GZfDIoCsgDL8o/s320/Nishinihon+982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229763972585516546" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The peace park was erected were previously the prison for war prisoners stood. The prisoners were mainly Korean and Chinese, but also a lot of western prisoners were inside when the bomb exploded and blew the prison to ashes. It might be a nice symbolic gesture to built the peace park were the prisoners of wars died, instead of building it were Japanese people died.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIq6TnSe3hgWUIjhg7dcWCvMOZRDgl1r2gmtDn5kiiIpkPwwm74iRxLeOBXzCkxOon8OLbIuCZCWlTmDR7SVEPIIjp72-RAImPpJ2WRMVAJjK9S9PLjcVxGEpa4XBU6a3RvauL_gYUWQg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+988.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIq6TnSe3hgWUIjhg7dcWCvMOZRDgl1r2gmtDn5kiiIpkPwwm74iRxLeOBXzCkxOon8OLbIuCZCWlTmDR7SVEPIIjp72-RAImPpJ2WRMVAJjK9S9PLjcVxGEpa4XBU6a3RvauL_gYUWQg/s320/Nishinihon+988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229764392794788626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />remains of the prison<br /></div><br /><br />----<br /><br />Wow what a city! I stayed two days here to intensely enjoy all the history building up around me and to visit places I have read about and saw in Manga, and of course to follow the heroes of the revolution even further.<br /><br />From here on I originally plant to continue to Kagoshima, center of 薩摩藩 Satsuma Province and home of 西郷隆盛 Saigou Takamori. But my money was slowly running out, and Kagoshima would be at least another 1-2 day trip away at the very southern bottom of Kyushu (while Nagasaki is close to the northern border) so I gave up on that plan and postponed it to a later visit in Japan. Instead I ended my history tour for now and continued to explore Japan's fascinating extraordinary nature heading towards one of the largest active volcanoes in the world...scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-54850382252343409962008-07-22T19:09:00.000-07:002008-08-04T00:49:54.911-07:00萩 HagiAs promised yesterday (http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/07/yamaguchi.html) Kimura-san picked me up in front of the university gate and drove me all the way to Hagi. On the way we talked more about the teachings of 吉田松陰 Yoshida Shouin, Buddhism and Philosophy. Japanese people don't really follow the teachings of Buddhism anymore or have any more interest in it than performing meaningless rites and festivals. They also lack the idealism that drove the 志士 (shishi, rebelling samurai driven by their ideals of a better world, where everyone would be equal). We were both happy to visit a town that produced men, that had all that and revolutionized Japan entirely...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">萩 Hagi</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqI7EYfg4UTel9nPmATpuEkcn-D1SbWvBZl_lILBUweslrENB9C7kYxnQiZUxwjSqmzFaGlmGaOlSFIDxfg6FT-mL3V0YlI-aFYvIh5EY7j77XDXoyKJQ1SViNc4ZqBifDKpSyUlZLuPbN/s1600-h/Nishinihon+679.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqI7EYfg4UTel9nPmATpuEkcn-D1SbWvBZl_lILBUweslrENB9C7kYxnQiZUxwjSqmzFaGlmGaOlSFIDxfg6FT-mL3V0YlI-aFYvIh5EY7j77XDXoyKJQ1SViNc4ZqBifDKpSyUlZLuPbN/s320/Nishinihon+679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229383202459603634" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Hagi is a really small town and its incredible to believe that not only was this the political center of the Choushu Province, but also the place were the revolution started, the place were Yoshida Shouin was born and taught, the place were most of the first Japanese politicians in the Meiji Era including the first Japanese Prime Minister came from.<br /><br />Apart from its heavy history, the town is simply beautiful. Not a lot has changed since the 19th century and most parts of the city look just like back then. The inhabitants of Hagi are very eager to preserve both the look, as well as the history of Hagi and therefore started a guide organization, that takes care of the buildings and offers free guides and explanations throughout the city. Kimura-san knows such a guide personally and asked her, if she could show us around. So I ended up with two guides and many more local guides, my journey to Hagi was really blessed.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">松蔭神社 Shouin Shrine</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief1qpPhZdLhcbcMVh1j6W89qqQUTf1ygR7NW4m-H5JXQD1SF7qfeCQXDvFg0-VFU25roM8OqEwrCbVqtJ2TyNVArwBwsDWriDtRFmOlN0tNhfs2LcvSr1qDCScboGbuzsfKl59NnnzvYw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+642.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief1qpPhZdLhcbcMVh1j6W89qqQUTf1ygR7NW4m-H5JXQD1SF7qfeCQXDvFg0-VFU25roM8OqEwrCbVqtJ2TyNVArwBwsDWriDtRFmOlN0tNhfs2LcvSr1qDCScboGbuzsfKl59NnnzvYw/s320/Nishinihon+642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229380428380745682" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Our first stop was at Shouin Shrine, a shrine entirely dedicated to this remarkable man Yoshida Shouin. The shrine was built around the house, where he taught, inspired and inflamed the 志士 Shishi that carried on his word and ideals throughout Japan. It is incredible to see how tiny the house is. Also the same house was his prison, when he was first punished for improper teachings from the Shogunate. At this time his only outlet were books he got from oversea, which he studied eagerly.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5SOpriSx7OdwAbMoq5orYjALiEO1oTrkBiLRQwTiDdlFry8npaclLP1Nuwg_L41UR4BAn-u6rSTv_GBgAIYWnLG8hqghDlex2MfTCPdjEvr-v84BWzCqXKyiydfsw1_PFKMvQbwS-Ooo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+634.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5SOpriSx7OdwAbMoq5orYjALiEO1oTrkBiLRQwTiDdlFry8npaclLP1Nuwg_L41UR4BAn-u6rSTv_GBgAIYWnLG8hqghDlex2MfTCPdjEvr-v84BWzCqXKyiydfsw1_PFKMvQbwS-Ooo/s320/Nishinihon+634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229378569807391202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2V3DETY735dpEJH78U8aGeCvgsEeDRHY9o-_XCJMQn1y9fzYj3zHq-WfdBN0_5QkNSySi13FegEgsD5eGsvvHBrBQa3hZbAYDF5MfNkzna-KEbDqaukrdIR4Fei0xmFIDwGL0DsFe07U/s1600-h/Nishinihon+639.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2V3DETY735dpEJH78U8aGeCvgsEeDRHY9o-_XCJMQn1y9fzYj3zHq-WfdBN0_5QkNSySi13FegEgsD5eGsvvHBrBQa3hZbAYDF5MfNkzna-KEbDqaukrdIR4Fei0xmFIDwGL0DsFe07U/s320/Nishinihon+639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229378576308728242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />in here Yoshida Shouin teached his wisdom<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNcweVinKgGWftin-s7gomO_5M5HIr17dJazNUu_3Z1i6H9Tym0CJeHC93iLYqHfljBmL2vUXOEPCx7f9LHJdOkx2Y2l5QHexVYGmbR9-XDjsoAveXe3Md4E8uorpXxqnjEsalitpGqcd/s1600-h/Nishinihon+637.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNcweVinKgGWftin-s7gomO_5M5HIr17dJazNUu_3Z1i6H9Tym0CJeHC93iLYqHfljBmL2vUXOEPCx7f9LHJdOkx2Y2l5QHexVYGmbR9-XDjsoAveXe3Md4E8uorpXxqnjEsalitpGqcd/s320/Nishinihon+637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229378575289028562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHXNbwhJAv5Vm8TxMs_LNHlbvyDjg7bss9m5Qjqz-fDGYXD5hmX3FJRXaDzQ7WZXEm7Z4KnLrATBRwhXuT-C-jcCQfehsWyCEy7Z7w7kngFELa6OqWKprjSG3QMBBZ37DXmBNWwN4kU01/s1600-h/Nishinihon+640.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHXNbwhJAv5Vm8TxMs_LNHlbvyDjg7bss9m5Qjqz-fDGYXD5hmX3FJRXaDzQ7WZXEm7Z4KnLrATBRwhXuT-C-jcCQfehsWyCEy7Z7w7kngFELa6OqWKprjSG3QMBBZ37DXmBNWwN4kU01/s320/Nishinihon+640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229378574367272018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and in this small chamber he was confined<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">伊藤博文旧宅地 Old Residence of Ito Hirobumi<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVokKuu1VI-OBjVQdxdEWue_X-09w-qnaXzr0_kjoSSlXSf28h2TyzYCeAOXbtHn_omGbb6vMVkYqp_hC2vq0UT62OwtweXva4ns1tqen07G9VZG8uLS01xkaiOq6uoTdhUOwktzUet9BH/s1600-h/225px-It%C3%B4_Hirobumi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVokKuu1VI-OBjVQdxdEWue_X-09w-qnaXzr0_kjoSSlXSf28h2TyzYCeAOXbtHn_omGbb6vMVkYqp_hC2vq0UT62OwtweXva4ns1tqen07G9VZG8uLS01xkaiOq6uoTdhUOwktzUet9BH/s320/225px-It%C3%B4_Hirobumi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229393914224245378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ito_Hirobumi">Wikipedia</a></span><br /></div><br />Ito Hirobumi was the first prime minister of Japan. In his Youth he was a student of Yoshida Shouin and inspired by his visions. He joined the 尊皇攘夷 Sonnou Joui a league to restore the Tenno in power and expel foreigners from Japan. However he soon realized that Japan is lost without foreign knowledge and relations as Yoshida Shouin predicted and decided to secretly slip out of the country and study western science in London.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUsUanMYIaFYxBwDJ3jP7WjoxnLrdAfa7wSEEjaaIDItX1nlNtjHqUwI3OL5ZJplFuVvdiyeG39j-mSSxSMNSlz2GEV6OyiZmLjGzTgcKqFP4bkSnoLT5uFZ515JyEO6pJcfXz2U-6t95/s1600-h/Nishinihon+649.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUsUanMYIaFYxBwDJ3jP7WjoxnLrdAfa7wSEEjaaIDItX1nlNtjHqUwI3OL5ZJplFuVvdiyeG39j-mSSxSMNSlz2GEV6OyiZmLjGzTgcKqFP4bkSnoLT5uFZ515JyEO6pJcfXz2U-6t95/s320/Nishinihon+649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229380437061396114" border="0" /></a></div> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">長州五傑 Choushu Five</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXkHZAhw9Kfv6w59_n3KT8PlYTOlg93ODx682zsRqCo_DmjEeCxdZABIUasFH5FVP6fdTIYVrQJg5ZNNFU-xfLhu9auWjGn7V4TMZVqHcxVp7IOKA76uConRdspdl5B7EbZQ9MpX7ldp4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+650.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXkHZAhw9Kfv6w59_n3KT8PlYTOlg93ODx682zsRqCo_DmjEeCxdZABIUasFH5FVP6fdTIYVrQJg5ZNNFU-xfLhu9auWjGn7V4TMZVqHcxVp7IOKA76uConRdspdl5B7EbZQ9MpX7ldp4/s320/Nishinihon+650.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229380983013242194" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />All together five clever and courages students were chosen for the trip to London. They were called 長州五傑 Choushu Five. At this time the 鎖国 Sakoku (closed country) was still active and thus leaving the country was a heavy crime punished by death penalty (切腹 Seppuku). Still Ito Hirobumi, Inoue Kaoru, Yamao Yozo, Endo Kinsuke and Nomura Yakichi secretly set out on a ship from Yokohama going to Shanghai and from there to London. All of them studied different fields of western science and returned unharmed to Japan.<br /><br />The five of them brought a gigantic leap to the science state of Japan and most formed important statesman, foremost Ito Hirobumi as the first Prime Minister of Japan. It must be fantastic to secretly study in a foreign country for the revolution in your own one, I admire and envy those five students!<br /><br />Inside his house you can find tables with photo albums from the 幕末時代 (Overthrowing Of The Shogunate Period) and the beginning of the 明治時代 (Meiji Period). Also this being his residence, when he already was appointed prime minister, shows how simple the first prime minister chose to live.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhdrYVEKPEIlrW5kqy591Xp_lE8ubqc4J77kWM-v7Ns4gFPhgue5KwzoGC7qo8tmP0vA8lZuCiZ2YOWT8JKYjRVnj032PvsudC89ODKdWj60SkseZfE61S_CHdjLaiZI5aTosiR8BR2qe/s1600-h/Nishinihon+645.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhdrYVEKPEIlrW5kqy591Xp_lE8ubqc4J77kWM-v7Ns4gFPhgue5KwzoGC7qo8tmP0vA8lZuCiZ2YOWT8JKYjRVnj032PvsudC89ODKdWj60SkseZfE61S_CHdjLaiZI5aTosiR8BR2qe/s320/Nishinihon+645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229380432467713346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />photo albums of the time before and after the revolution<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">吉田松陰誕生地 Birth Place Of Yoshida Shouin</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3qRqbEXjSCw6wYeL10hMtvVe2sBrPGbCnJ0BNZv1QxnSD8zmf0ZCwmbf8FzHcQbGNKggoHCmAAI_zQR2xX-2d0LxLRV-U694dfyNZ2Mw0O8E0nlcLFguNLgAmzfUPst8OxymcAYv_1iz/s1600-h/Nishinihon+656.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3qRqbEXjSCw6wYeL10hMtvVe2sBrPGbCnJ0BNZv1QxnSD8zmf0ZCwmbf8FzHcQbGNKggoHCmAAI_zQR2xX-2d0LxLRV-U694dfyNZ2Mw0O8E0nlcLFguNLgAmzfUPst8OxymcAYv_1iz/s320/Nishinihon+656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229380992952420050" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Yoshida Shouin was also born in Hagi and his family rests here. So our next stop was a little hill outside the town perimeters where Shouin grew up peacefully in a tiny house with a large family. The area is really beautiful and you have a good view over the town from the Shouin house. The house no longer stands and only its perimeters are marked. But the graves of his family still stand, and a statue of Yoshida has been placed next to them. The statue is looking at the ocean seeing into the future, bringing the western world into Japan.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBwzlPYc_xXJec29MSop-RmGKPqRPsx074suh61Q8BaNExKwqgPakBR5Wjnv7qVa-DE82V-BPyffLSbmNYExwPLl_67a4AUHEjsTBCjha3NhW5Sko2K8Lxxx75IwZSiTZvg9lsvGkG4vH/s1600-h/Nishinihon+657.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBwzlPYc_xXJec29MSop-RmGKPqRPsx074suh61Q8BaNExKwqgPakBR5Wjnv7qVa-DE82V-BPyffLSbmNYExwPLl_67a4AUHEjsTBCjha3NhW5Sko2K8Lxxx75IwZSiTZvg9lsvGkG4vH/s320/Nishinihon+657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229380993343405794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the outlines of the Shouin Family House<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbV7LwjxKxe5OqTv5XzB8TGrWbHUqSulsGYtJF3lyqB0rCDJ6-X5JbeEwO5eJj8fVAnlDGRE2NeSKKS7EvGU1QGitXAwWkcOg960nQL66lXcS-TlblbAPsC8nML8lEju7XuhitP4Ga4hD/s1600-h/Nishinihon+654.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbV7LwjxKxe5OqTv5XzB8TGrWbHUqSulsGYtJF3lyqB0rCDJ6-X5JbeEwO5eJj8fVAnlDGRE2NeSKKS7EvGU1QGitXAwWkcOg960nQL66lXcS-TlblbAPsC8nML8lEju7XuhitP4Ga4hD/s320/Nishinihon+654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229380988174439938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />state of Yoshida Shouin<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEyP5E72y30mx4RoJ9QZY1IaWAuyIQJQYY3FIg-B59G8GPR13bMXsvZ2on4ODEeoA0IfrbgafrWqQs35rLF8d_9mdPwt04_4iMuHJ9bPmLR7dij6EwhWiee3c4TU-BAqRelf3yNwtU8dN/s1600-h/Nishinihon+658.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEyP5E72y30mx4RoJ9QZY1IaWAuyIQJQYY3FIg-B59G8GPR13bMXsvZ2on4ODEeoA0IfrbgafrWqQs35rLF8d_9mdPwt04_4iMuHJ9bPmLR7dij6EwhWiee3c4TU-BAqRelf3yNwtU8dN/s320/Nishinihon+658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229381638070619746" border="0" /></a><br /><br />here the Shouin family is burried<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">萩城城下町 Hagi Castle Town</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKLPhzeg4A6VYr2tH1PsJP4h_bjr06dP7We0J3efHM4UJ6x7M14ceSXLa2f9bwDPYiTRg0u3-nnFMXHnw6XNW4nAYi2bByLgZ4oa4Y3dJDciTjY_tDmoQAqEjmizFb7hKyE05nnX3S3Md/s1600-h/Nishinihon+665.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKLPhzeg4A6VYr2tH1PsJP4h_bjr06dP7We0J3efHM4UJ6x7M14ceSXLa2f9bwDPYiTRg0u3-nnFMXHnw6XNW4nAYi2bByLgZ4oa4Y3dJDciTjY_tDmoQAqEjmizFb7hKyE05nnX3S3Md/s320/Nishinihon+665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229381643079283394" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The urban area close to the castle remains relatively intact and offers wonderful aspects into how Japan looked 200 years ago. Many of the old Samurai residences are now open for visits and contain one of the afore mentioned free volunteer guides inside, others have been transformed into (also free) museums for local art.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE12Tu_HLIHX0l7tXV84F-Mn70xsf10sIda5qUEKZhfb2gmgKCWaYsDhSLzx87qkr5ll4vee8ZdsBllDo6hMnyVzmkoTeuGA9B2zMH0FXb_SQpdeoi8FsPSUWfNNJ7J0k9TzAUzPrOFuLZ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+659.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE12Tu_HLIHX0l7tXV84F-Mn70xsf10sIda5qUEKZhfb2gmgKCWaYsDhSLzx87qkr5ll4vee8ZdsBllDo6hMnyVzmkoTeuGA9B2zMH0FXb_SQpdeoi8FsPSUWfNNJ7J0k9TzAUzPrOFuLZ/s320/Nishinihon+659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229389022788896962" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_JqIb17Yx_dpdHtIKzTMsT_p0ehnnAhX8qhF0ZqOyXJCCnS5rNWJo5MmAdeJCp3b2qHeI-r0-jok3qxMpxF5oiPqhYsP7g2yFZ9THVS1UKRVWD-FvoLrNLHo1K-VDFd1uNq2jpQoWz0z/s1600-h/Nishinihon+674.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_JqIb17Yx_dpdHtIKzTMsT_p0ehnnAhX8qhF0ZqOyXJCCnS5rNWJo5MmAdeJCp3b2qHeI-r0-jok3qxMpxF5oiPqhYsP7g2yFZ9THVS1UKRVWD-FvoLrNLHo1K-VDFd1uNq2jpQoWz0z/s320/Nishinihon+674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229382348555419874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jz9AGWhiliKwC9er0esb-B6u2fqEl_8kM-3DrVFWoMm7Nq6V7vG_mUGERQx3yndpkgaEOBLKJXdvVk0kfH24diDs1DCEz-UyjphQ3YKRYzxkgPm2C-esDUDp3iuore7PSAh8TilCEgbX/s1600-h/Nishinihon+664.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jz9AGWhiliKwC9er0esb-B6u2fqEl_8kM-3DrVFWoMm7Nq6V7vG_mUGERQx3yndpkgaEOBLKJXdvVk0kfH24diDs1DCEz-UyjphQ3YKRYzxkgPm2C-esDUDp3iuore7PSAh8TilCEgbX/s320/Nishinihon+664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229389007288505170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHcq5kIduT230unk2m8_IkCAYSIaE-29fEMoeY-HrD181f6a2ZX3dF-Gq60Hp9okJrFjgvdjfrFVbzBbmTJT06gWwaUrLZeJqTEilbPgEq3AymnIgHbZOoPx5je6r9VITWI5FBqf2XPO2/s1600-h/Nishinihon+663.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHcq5kIduT230unk2m8_IkCAYSIaE-29fEMoeY-HrD181f6a2ZX3dF-Gq60Hp9okJrFjgvdjfrFVbzBbmTJT06gWwaUrLZeJqTEilbPgEq3AymnIgHbZOoPx5je6r9VITWI5FBqf2XPO2/s320/Nishinihon+663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229389020397228690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe6VxrgqGMHH_p9jUPTIWrypbKtK6W8YNrI7FFmcl5zh6t6kuGC6SSsHO9P6WCfHAylqisBiKBYeebTADkSBrK8aT9tqBh8gTwykGQiQz7Fo1CdRuU099xhLIGoUsK0-Ntarg8wcBz_9-/s1600-h/6150_01.jpg"><br /></a></div>The small valleys and distinctive houses and high walls are really eye catching, but they also served a purpose. The outline of the Castle Town was constructed to easily repel enemy attacks. For that for example the town contains many 怪曲がり (kaimagari = tricky corners) small alleys surrounded by high walls leading to a key like opening. A enemy approach from the alley can easily be ambushed from both sides (above the walls) and blocked at the key position.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe6VxrgqGMHH_p9jUPTIWrypbKtK6W8YNrI7FFmcl5zh6t6kuGC6SSsHO9P6WCfHAylqisBiKBYeebTADkSBrK8aT9tqBh8gTwykGQiQz7Fo1CdRuU099xhLIGoUsK0-Ntarg8wcBz_9-/s1600-h/6150_01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe6VxrgqGMHH_p9jUPTIWrypbKtK6W8YNrI7FFmcl5zh6t6kuGC6SSsHO9P6WCfHAylqisBiKBYeebTADkSBrK8aT9tqBh8gTwykGQiQz7Fo1CdRuU099xhLIGoUsK0-Ntarg8wcBz_9-/s320/6150_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229380419808016722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />怪曲がり kaimagari a trickery corner<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">木戸孝允 Takayoshi Kido</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoTpJDl9cZTniIAiK7TTo4wWFDkg_US533e_yqOrsAGYp-gxALSA6C-qQdLevn_YZAmyneJ3S6MwGwA7vXm37BhhuwmmfdopHnMV7BpFdYxJccEOVf1_JrvOxbAu8Mg80PmOOYD_F9Fsx/s1600-h/200px-Shougiku_07_kengou_katsura_kogorou_.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoTpJDl9cZTniIAiK7TTo4wWFDkg_US533e_yqOrsAGYp-gxALSA6C-qQdLevn_YZAmyneJ3S6MwGwA7vXm37BhhuwmmfdopHnMV7BpFdYxJccEOVf1_JrvOxbAu8Mg80PmOOYD_F9Fsx/s320/200px-Shougiku_07_kengou_katsura_kogorou_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229393919647821314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kido_Takayoshi">Wikipedia</a></span><br /></div><br />Next we visited the residence of Takayoshi Kido, one of Yoshida Shouin's students, who became a leader of the Meiji Restoration. In his home there is much to discover if you ask one of the nice volunteer guides to show you around. For examples the outer planks around the garden are one of the famous "singing planks", natural wooden planks that make it impossible to walk over them without producing loud sound. Another example is a light show created below the ceiling. There you can find carved wood the produces wonderful shadow plays, when a fire is lit in the room.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gmtoK69UstkNFeFT_zsTYKb9ctR11mf-8a2BdiYDREaTOuR3vrah-a3vXKpv0boLoxdJMXv6otRjJGzISTd87n1xy7mlKQMP9MoQofsz65jFViiS65qp1aHYeoVDh9v-NwOlu1z8yX_d/s1600-h/Nishinihon+670.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gmtoK69UstkNFeFT_zsTYKb9ctR11mf-8a2BdiYDREaTOuR3vrah-a3vXKpv0boLoxdJMXv6otRjJGzISTd87n1xy7mlKQMP9MoQofsz65jFViiS65qp1aHYeoVDh9v-NwOlu1z8yX_d/s320/Nishinihon+670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229382341576066626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02v2MxwGANmQH-MmJAwSlnnG_h9xP1VSbcPoczn9nO1I-COKtBvP3YmBnY1-W1LcGoGtY5nS_lIa7OSMthax9l_4HBlwJ7j0g7goXEaOjTinj2nR64uoLaNQBdRIBqNnCr3kY79Nz5Wbd/s1600-h/Nishinihon+671.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02v2MxwGANmQH-MmJAwSlnnG_h9xP1VSbcPoczn9nO1I-COKtBvP3YmBnY1-W1LcGoGtY5nS_lIa7OSMthax9l_4HBlwJ7j0g7goXEaOjTinj2nR64uoLaNQBdRIBqNnCr3kY79Nz5Wbd/s320/Nishinihon+671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229382347074548722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />to get into the house from these gardens, you have to walk over "singing planks"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4CWIfZPCvCl0OPWi9Y0tWk8j2HtNO8-X7d5mu-VJ-7yk9kdzypNBEToeEnQ7gVSW7tchb3ej0Ei3ADRMp7en_WY3yGaflOYX7VD7TKBtybjmiZ-CFQ5TAnosgJfkmG3kwyIVGoskr7HY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+673.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4CWIfZPCvCl0OPWi9Y0tWk8j2HtNO8-X7d5mu-VJ-7yk9kdzypNBEToeEnQ7gVSW7tchb3ej0Ei3ADRMp7en_WY3yGaflOYX7VD7TKBtybjmiZ-CFQ5TAnosgJfkmG3kwyIVGoskr7HY/s320/Nishinihon+673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229382350782391458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />this carving produced wonderful shadow plays, when a fire is lit<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5qZ6e83Hh1J1ssUGtoWZqQwCuNLkOSdNHTHMTXjDncqJP9iANznBE86IobkmrUKzJkTc3WXDFXTwlCvTc2xR_4w4_yB4neZ5LQnj6V8R4m5Q8xiOXAaaz3mJdkUcXIo60qziDE22R1bC/s1600-h/Nishinihon+668.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5qZ6e83Hh1J1ssUGtoWZqQwCuNLkOSdNHTHMTXjDncqJP9iANznBE86IobkmrUKzJkTc3WXDFXTwlCvTc2xR_4w4_yB4neZ5LQnj6V8R4m5Q8xiOXAaaz3mJdkUcXIo60qziDE22R1bC/s320/Nishinihon+668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229381647440074594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1btAaTHPJd-x83V7opfw1stiDA9CBwpPRLx6QP-UmxfdtarKdgx6RYm2uFcCsu88QKXFCI60yiczR_xcqDsEGdNAKvKgC7kQMSxUE7bqArMT8qwY3rXPoN0wXwQ0YgBSQRnZiYSaI1CtY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+669.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1btAaTHPJd-x83V7opfw1stiDA9CBwpPRLx6QP-UmxfdtarKdgx6RYm2uFcCsu88QKXFCI60yiczR_xcqDsEGdNAKvKgC7kQMSxUE7bqArMT8qwY3rXPoN0wXwQ0YgBSQRnZiYSaI1CtY/s320/Nishinihon+669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229381647405105506" border="0" /></a></div><br />Kido's house is also an example for a house being used as museum. Inside you can find modern screaming sculptures made by Korean students in Yamaguchi Prefecture.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="vcard" id="the_ruins_of_Hagi_castle"><span class="fn org">萩城跡 Hagi Castle Ruins</span></span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaasTeD4FpXI_IAw-bmtVgDMhGelPHLN_eSSgWK6tqYL4AiB5w7KIENp371vSiSkUXHIShfexwh335GfSsDj0ubswqht9U8iosOis06C3Bw9oMj1G5PwKkBsW2CbhJPKbIW6dVANRkvj2/s1600-h/Nishinihon+685.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaasTeD4FpXI_IAw-bmtVgDMhGelPHLN_eSSgWK6tqYL4AiB5w7KIENp371vSiSkUXHIShfexwh335GfSsDj0ubswqht9U8iosOis06C3Bw9oMj1G5PwKkBsW2CbhJPKbIW6dVANRkvj2/s320/Nishinihon+685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229383208779575314" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span class="vcard" id="the_ruins_of_Hagi_castle"><span class="fn org"><br />After starting the revolution, going through several wars and civil wars Choshu and Hagi could no longer afford to sustain a castle. That is why only ruins remain of the castle today. However having seen enough castles on my stay in Japan, seeing the ruins is actually nice for a change.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBwP53e24XbRq47bPOKhb7OtDN1uAyrEn_Dm6usxC3RbkJY6aCQkPLByRJUeOZErUXfACKOAk5pRUpu-TPRTetkWcJoo48qnNJ08jn4IXye2Biomt5Uki3zb-Eb29h32cC4LAbTmFYgc5/s1600-h/Nishinihon+682.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBwP53e24XbRq47bPOKhb7OtDN1uAyrEn_Dm6usxC3RbkJY6aCQkPLByRJUeOZErUXfACKOAk5pRUpu-TPRTetkWcJoo48qnNJ08jn4IXye2Biomt5Uki3zb-Eb29h32cC4LAbTmFYgc5/s320/Nishinihon+682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229383210166236994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK98lQSt-Y8rw4aSjvvJGhPboyH_tDlq5q91pGmWof8hZuAKCFXctkffA3WQ8ZooT6OJ4ZW_BuYMONbH71q6Z7WlbwcVTgu_mIDMxsU_YDzZXGuSQHrEv5DgNXz4Ofnvzoh5C1GSgSjsOm/s1600-h/Nishinihon+687.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK98lQSt-Y8rw4aSjvvJGhPboyH_tDlq5q91pGmWof8hZuAKCFXctkffA3WQ8ZooT6OJ4ZW_BuYMONbH71q6Z7WlbwcVTgu_mIDMxsU_YDzZXGuSQHrEv5DgNXz4Ofnvzoh5C1GSgSjsOm/s320/Nishinihon+687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229383849072352914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaasTeD4FpXI_IAw-bmtVgDMhGelPHLN_eSSgWK6tqYL4AiB5w7KIENp371vSiSkUXHIShfexwh335GfSsDj0ubswqht9U8iosOis06C3Bw9oMj1G5PwKkBsW2CbhJPKbIW6dVANRkvj2/s1600-h/Nishinihon+685.JPG"><br /></a></div><span class="vcard" id="the_ruins_of_Hagi_castle"><span class="fn org"><br />Also the area around the castle now is a really nice park and from the remaining castle walls you can enjoy a wonderful view over the sea, which inspired so many men in this city...<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIPJHINjt9zk2DUlEMIgLgQSwjyrHY12h6aUdptfI7qKOZT4qdf5VZdTzjGD6Mn04etpU1lSk_WU8SG_nusVV31ysacFGs2wUOxrN_mt5eTxP591i2-cu_Qeb9aqcI9SG8tjYM3svg-sE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+691.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIPJHINjt9zk2DUlEMIgLgQSwjyrHY12h6aUdptfI7qKOZT4qdf5VZdTzjGD6Mn04etpU1lSk_WU8SG_nusVV31ysacFGs2wUOxrN_mt5eTxP591i2-cu_Qeb9aqcI9SG8tjYM3svg-sE/s320/Nishinihon+691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229383850054919730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the sea<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5dkFbait23165Q1fesrkyEoi9DEbWt4iDiPmdhVcb3XgjDcsRt4wP9i0CCZU4M0bgirBfndpdeaMPYTA6Rfqr7IglfwTGHi6a7N94oQC8_UOLjDx7UKyOaKzEUtLFyYGDM4ZiInHmk3j/s1600-h/Nishinihon+692.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5dkFbait23165Q1fesrkyEoi9DEbWt4iDiPmdhVcb3XgjDcsRt4wP9i0CCZU4M0bgirBfndpdeaMPYTA6Rfqr7IglfwTGHi6a7N94oQC8_UOLjDx7UKyOaKzEUtLFyYGDM4ZiInHmk3j/s320/Nishinihon+692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229383854024540690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kimura-san<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5MseXowfCqcQGoOvRphJbiJvBeVPbnz_6NvmIdKqzXUHZ4ABHDNDoDJDVVJRhuOQqQVSAwqCQz5ZUufFdYtsIOpvhMtLsraY6jO0iANnBLpZSWf6I4__xYSAx7dt4W6AUhioQ6oTY3Do/s1600-h/Nishinihon+693.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5MseXowfCqcQGoOvRphJbiJvBeVPbnz_6NvmIdKqzXUHZ4ABHDNDoDJDVVJRhuOQqQVSAwqCQz5ZUufFdYtsIOpvhMtLsraY6jO0iANnBLpZSWf6I4__xYSAx7dt4W6AUhioQ6oTY3Do/s320/Nishinihon+693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229383852345580322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />mika<br /></div><span class="vcard" id="Hagi_Museum"><span class="fn org"><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="vcard" id="Hagi_Museum"><span class="fn org"><span style="font-weight: bold;">萩博物館 Hagi Museum</span></span></span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-tgYPesZRChmaxjBOz7XkvNviezvkrgtMn0hyDnVIxhONur5_80RWtA8OMEO9gGF546fIl7-D3Fsu3qfuhpkkv7yA0ctRJv4tYmBiLr7Rg0Vz1UkyqkUhd1p5DakPt2dbIlL8bs23THX/s1600-h/Nishinihon+676.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-tgYPesZRChmaxjBOz7XkvNviezvkrgtMn0hyDnVIxhONur5_80RWtA8OMEO9gGF546fIl7-D3Fsu3qfuhpkkv7yA0ctRJv4tYmBiLr7Rg0Vz1UkyqkUhd1p5DakPt2dbIlL8bs23THX/s320/Nishinihon+676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229382351276092930" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />After we enjoyed some buffet with vegetables grown by farmers in Hagi, we continued to Hagi Museum. The museum is big and you can find many things related to local festivals and flora and fauna. However we were most interested in history and went straight to the history section (Again the museum is also free of charge).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWsW32WowPLcDbOhR6r17g534egvudLQ7IDm2jhuwCr5NTjijnU7WQmIIP-w-j2KY6e4QTyv3BzUPkcqYyrkg0BL37lCU1-j9_iMMzqxb-5CBPpz3_0dGkWfnfH2w1cA6JZBPSq1yROBs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+677.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWsW32WowPLcDbOhR6r17g534egvudLQ7IDm2jhuwCr5NTjijnU7WQmIIP-w-j2KY6e4QTyv3BzUPkcqYyrkg0BL37lCU1-j9_iMMzqxb-5CBPpz3_0dGkWfnfH2w1cA6JZBPSq1yROBs/s320/Nishinihon+677.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229383202418796162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><span class="vcard" id="Hagi_Museum"><span class="fn org"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="vcard" id="Hagi_Museum"><span class="fn org"><span style="font-weight: bold;">高杉晋作 Takasugi Shinsaku</span></span></span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JWHxXDjjztWWX0QEyARFdzQw3AiqbSYm0510zrqEfe9919qH-oDuin3ZrxahZQpkm_zgJ5E8Hp0F8SjzvfnA0Ii-EPTavjbOv_DFkuvJVaUy4IJ9GbsFy_JnWn4IFJxdkqkxcF_Co0Ky/s1600-h/Nishinihon+680.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JWHxXDjjztWWX0QEyARFdzQw3AiqbSYm0510zrqEfe9919qH-oDuin3ZrxahZQpkm_zgJ5E8Hp0F8SjzvfnA0Ii-EPTavjbOv_DFkuvJVaUy4IJ9GbsFy_JnWn4IFJxdkqkxcF_Co0Ky/s320/Nishinihon+680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229383205106228162" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The historic part mainly deals with <b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">高杉 晋作 Takasugi Shinsaku, the hero of Choshu Province. Born in Hagi he was one of the most passion burning students of Yoshida Shouin and soon became his favorite student. Later he tried to help Yoshida to get on board the 黒船 Kurofune (Pery's black ships) and tried to free him later, when he was imprisoned.<br /><br /></span></span></b><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfw6x7o95iT9S4VMUQMaHHwKdyXxk-lnrQ6RUz0oz5J9I4dfjIte0DevoznuOXIWrVIWlFJrRHvqkKao9UguA9hVxSuixQQ3urNlW1M-u7UaKWIhilQw-NqocMN-IS50H7F7nCpoFK4MB/s1600-h/Nishinihon+708.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfw6x7o95iT9S4VMUQMaHHwKdyXxk-lnrQ6RUz0oz5J9I4dfjIte0DevoznuOXIWrVIWlFJrRHvqkKao9UguA9hVxSuixQQ3urNlW1M-u7UaKWIhilQw-NqocMN-IS50H7F7nCpoFK4MB/s320/Nishinihon+708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229393586015488498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />from left to right: Tatasugi Shinsaku, Yoshida Shouin, Kuzaka Genzui<br /></div><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja"><br />Later he visited Shanghai to investigate on the rumors that western powers had turned the gigantic Chinese Empire into a mere colony of slaves. His visit was during the Taiping Rebellion and he witnessed the devastating effects of western power and the state life in China had degraded to. Upon his return he passionately joined the 尊皇攘夷 Sonnou Joui (league to restore the Tenno in power and to expel western occupation from Japan) and became, despite his young age, the most influential military leader in Choshu Province attracting people even from other provinces to join him.<br /><br />His military rule proofed very successful. Following ideals of Yoshida Shouin he treated people equally independent of their society class and upcoming and therefore formed a militia consisting of all the people of Choshu, not only only of Samurai. Later he formed an elite military unit which he called 奇兵隊 Kiheitai. Its consisted of about 300 men, of whom no more than half were Samurai and the rest ordinary people inspired by his charisma and ideals.<br /><br />After the first attack of Choshu Province against Kyoto (御門事変 Gomon incident) failed, Choshu Province leaders temporarily had to imprission him not to interfere in national politics.<br /><br />However only a little later when Choshu's main port 下関 Shimonoseki bombarded western war ships, an invasion of four western powers: France, England, Dutch and American ships destroyed Shimonoseki and invaded Choshu. This invasion proofed even the most stubborn leaders of Choshu that the Japanese army at its current state is no match for western powers. Seeing their defeat they released Takasugi, entrusted him the prime military rule as well as the peace negotiations with all four western powers.<br /><br />His victory however was again short lived when the Tokugawa Shogunate started a punitive expedition against Choshu as revenge for the Gomon incident in Kyoto. Takasugi had to flee the province together with later prominent figures like the first Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi.<br /><br />When the expedition ended, he returned to a defeated Choshu again loyal to the Shogunate. He immediately attacked the conservative forces of Choshu and started the Choshu Civil War. His 奇兵隊 Kiheitai and military tactics proofed far superior than the traditional samurai way of fighting ans he had an easy victory. However Choshu Province was severely weakened after the Civil War.<br /><br />When the Shogunate saw the end of the Civil War in favor of the 尊皇攘夷 Sono Joui they decided to launch a second punitive attack against Choshu and asked the loyal 薩摩藩 Satsuma Province, who helped fighting Choshu in the Gomon Incident to lead it. However 土佐脱藩者 坂本竜馬 Sakamoto Ryouma, who fled his home province (a crime punished with 切腹 seppuku) had good relations both to Yoshida Sounin's students Takasugi and </span></span></b>中岡 慎太郎 Nakaoka Shintaro, as well as to Satsuma warlord 西郷 隆盛 Saigo Takamori (the last Samurai) and was after much effort able to form an alliance between both parties who were archenemies and hated each other to the core to this day. The alliance was called 薩長同盟 Sacchou Alliance. This alliance would eventually proof strong enough to lead the Meiji Revolution to a success.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEw51tU97BvCty9UwxfaX8foqVzgH_L1bOU5jM5fwnS27GYlriWO2UtXbKIGOzG7QNIIF9WZmaAEiaQZjg_NbpCiUzy-Mtdrp8Pz3BTHOX1lLn9LdA6pZp2-rI6gEVtnaf5MW8bQVSEhI/s1600-h/200px-Nakaoka_Shintaro.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEw51tU97BvCty9UwxfaX8foqVzgH_L1bOU5jM5fwnS27GYlriWO2UtXbKIGOzG7QNIIF9WZmaAEiaQZjg_NbpCiUzy-Mtdrp8Pz3BTHOX1lLn9LdA6pZp2-rI6gEVtnaf5MW8bQVSEhI/s320/200px-Nakaoka_Shintaro.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229393582356018770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image from <a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD%E5%B2%A1%E6%85%8E%E5%A4%AA%E9%83%8E">Wikipedia</a><br /><br /></span>the second master mind or revolutionizing Choshu: 中岡 慎太郎 Nakaoka Shintaro</div><br />Alas Takasugi Shinsaku never saw the fruits of his labor. He suffered his whole live under tuberculosis and died only one year before the Shogunate was overthrown. It can clearly been said that without this man, the revolution never would have happened...<br /><br />When his tuberculosis took the upper hand over his health, he appointed one of his most trusted disciples <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">山縣 有朋</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <span class="t_nihongo_romaji">Yamagata Aritomo as his successor in leading the 奇兵隊 Kiheitai. The same Yamagata Aritomo would become the field marshal of the Japanese army and twice Prime Minister of the new Meiji Japan.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4IekUygBdkBjRVBU9zXcwRmbiM1N83nIWsDzF8JkiZVCae5SxiK2N4pZjql55VqUmOVo7Gqd1dq33qq5XgcCYvpZeG-KqExRASD2batf7tE8m8HfbIODkRxFQdqDZ_GehvJ14TfzhbrQ/s1600-h/200px-YmagataA.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4IekUygBdkBjRVBU9zXcwRmbiM1N83nIWsDzF8JkiZVCae5SxiK2N4pZjql55VqUmOVo7Gqd1dq33qq5XgcCYvpZeG-KqExRASD2batf7tE8m8HfbIODkRxFQdqDZ_GehvJ14TfzhbrQ/s320/200px-YmagataA.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229393581954416658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamagata_Aritomo">Wikipedia</a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">山縣有朋</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <span class="t_nihongo_romaji">Yamagata Aritomo</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yoshida Shouin Museum</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt-HbprkgvsHC2Dw6z8njHpqTOJ4GRKAzYPdXex8l805dr5UyEAO8IDEckLKAhQTTwjP-pKmLB38CVnzJD-mw-ekuF9ZL9op7TYylkwAQ2v26VlDCJOhvDEG6R9xTnhUjoCSI9Vhju5Rz/s1600-h/Nishinihon+723.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt-HbprkgvsHC2Dw6z8njHpqTOJ4GRKAzYPdXex8l805dr5UyEAO8IDEckLKAhQTTwjP-pKmLB38CVnzJD-mw-ekuF9ZL9op7TYylkwAQ2v26VlDCJOhvDEG6R9xTnhUjoCSI9Vhju5Rz/s320/Nishinihon+723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229384606367582402" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />At the highway border to Hagi on our way back we crossed the Yoshida Shouin Museum, that had opened recently. It contains a recreation of Shouin's teaching room made a life with figures.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRBJ2pRMDKzdHgmOs-DNuaF-aO9m1T1YscA2MMiBWIepaR0uI40ZKmy_E4M5n4sQgDw1R6v6_9DPzpX-yFARp_4hUb29XsBmajcWVyz3LGA76bK6rmNTqKWFeWJj-GUZIoFcUIbxKQ8U1/s1600-h/Nishinihon+713.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRBJ2pRMDKzdHgmOs-DNuaF-aO9m1T1YscA2MMiBWIepaR0uI40ZKmy_E4M5n4sQgDw1R6v6_9DPzpX-yFARp_4hUb29XsBmajcWVyz3LGA76bK6rmNTqKWFeWJj-GUZIoFcUIbxKQ8U1/s320/Nishinihon+713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229383857953041058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrnV_ZVYojTgxj_ynTR2ueKd-W3mTq52X0VhNsrBjjIHBWa9dVDxS4HJWLNrWlxZ0eUTUTWUcpDKZtjf5HHcEdtD4Rr3XQUD1KtonJvfVoC7Qr_lIKiJ6SiOi4CJxEgK1whY8fzvWhf1w/s1600-h/Nishinihon+715.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrnV_ZVYojTgxj_ynTR2ueKd-W3mTq52X0VhNsrBjjIHBWa9dVDxS4HJWLNrWlxZ0eUTUTWUcpDKZtjf5HHcEdtD4Rr3XQUD1KtonJvfVoC7Qr_lIKiJ6SiOi4CJxEgK1whY8fzvWhf1w/s320/Nishinihon+715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229384312234364514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlh59n8fLiEWUSIJzZ8i62eJnjjr74o2FLyo0iZFalFgpBFrDpKk74wDQ5MEgvC59rfT85NKIwhyphenhyphen7MEcKFlPy9kkjXya-_KEnQQeQHMUtVutiqEWgemotCVKWvs8thDUXxNAe7egCLBQk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+716.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlh59n8fLiEWUSIJzZ8i62eJnjjr74o2FLyo0iZFalFgpBFrDpKk74wDQ5MEgvC59rfT85NKIwhyphenhyphen7MEcKFlPy9kkjXya-_KEnQQeQHMUtVutiqEWgemotCVKWvs8thDUXxNAe7egCLBQk/s320/Nishinihon+716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229384311695214162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />As for afore mentioned Sakamoto Ryouma, this guy has become my personal hero in the Japanese Revolution and we will learn more about him on my next stop: 長崎 Nagasaki...<br /><br />mika</div></div>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-77725146637108193932008-07-21T20:41:00.000-07:002008-07-31T22:12:22.967-07:00山口 YamaguchiMy journey westwards continued to the end of 本州 Honshu, Japan's main island, where you will find the prefecture and city of 山口 Yamaguchi. I choose to mak a stop here, because one of my friends and university colleagues from Erlangen, Germany is doing a exchange term at Yamaguchi University.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">山口 Yamaguchi</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2fur-R2sfDGYx-HCAUZlB50EzXqcqwT02_YP2uLFMcOYK6iqy47XUrdyTkBGtFvr4xtJ7b16AuJDfM8ZUS7AEA_vRLXM3EF8hK7MKUkt_UtBYtJzhZt-vqEyug2USZjcQxRjAO84ZOOM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+576.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2fur-R2sfDGYx-HCAUZlB50EzXqcqwT02_YP2uLFMcOYK6iqy47XUrdyTkBGtFvr4xtJ7b16AuJDfM8ZUS7AEA_vRLXM3EF8hK7MKUkt_UtBYtJzhZt-vqEyug2USZjcQxRjAO84ZOOM/s320/Nishinihon+576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229061247526464242" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Yamaguchi connects 九州 Kyushu, Japan's west most island with 本州 Honshu, the main island. The city itself is small compared to cities like Okayama or Nara, but it has a charming atmosphere and there is a lot to see.<br /><br />Lucky for me Andy offered me to guide me around the city, show me some interesting places and tell me their stories :) We started at ...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">湯田温泉 Yuda Onsen</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_26z_wjs5EpNKCzYihfZz9_12dc6CdPfknyTS5_2Ym3KE_k4PAYkLT8vqF502CgcOCPHQa9d1Mbzs6AdM3NS1LYDh_ZEveY25TDfeUld49NPofZJ1uVvLXwg8v6xS1cHJsTY9M6d6-N1X/s1600-h/Nishinihon+555.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_26z_wjs5EpNKCzYihfZz9_12dc6CdPfknyTS5_2Ym3KE_k4PAYkLT8vqF502CgcOCPHQa9d1Mbzs6AdM3NS1LYDh_ZEveY25TDfeUld49NPofZJ1uVvLXwg8v6xS1cHJsTY9M6d6-N1X/s320/Nishinihon+555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229057754261116850" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The university is not in the center of the city, but in a small town 5 kilometers away called Yuda Onsen (onsen = hot spa). There is a legend about Yuda Onsen, that says some monks saw a white fox taking a bath and curing his wounds there. The Onsen seemed to have healing powers and ever since people from all over the country streamed to Yuda Onsen to cure wounds of diseases.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ps6QRZKMce5dHVdijt9T2TxqLiiIVrFf5Y1YxEnG8cIyg2XbQN7SvxVKqgHjAYCU6Su32_fAvyaBMj-01FzROfUdWXI54nZu1sVHIcdmPAF2BnrEg20dFDweMhyNKVBhro5EUaiOBnDZ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+553.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ps6QRZKMce5dHVdijt9T2TxqLiiIVrFf5Y1YxEnG8cIyg2XbQN7SvxVKqgHjAYCU6Su32_fAvyaBMj-01FzROfUdWXI54nZu1sVHIcdmPAF2BnrEg20dFDweMhyNKVBhro5EUaiOBnDZ/s320/Nishinihon+553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229057749679597394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnSN4kIJiKHPnSAavAh-irghTyGuV_0hDb3lTp6KovadnK5ZzvRkMFRh1ASGsiLhu2SVSxtXnnJCeGhPiEy0nehIAtfxfC7sBAf7nODeFwiajz7YZFUCLxNa8aVS2pTDgtHrVZiCYM0sd/s1600-h/Nishinihon+561.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnSN4kIJiKHPnSAavAh-irghTyGuV_0hDb3lTp6KovadnK5ZzvRkMFRh1ASGsiLhu2SVSxtXnnJCeGhPiEy0nehIAtfxfC7sBAf7nODeFwiajz7YZFUCLxNa8aVS2pTDgtHrVZiCYM0sd/s320/Nishinihon+561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229058846867566786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_26z_wjs5EpNKCzYihfZz9_12dc6CdPfknyTS5_2Ym3KE_k4PAYkLT8vqF502CgcOCPHQa9d1Mbzs6AdM3NS1LYDh_ZEveY25TDfeUld49NPofZJ1uVvLXwg8v6xS1cHJsTY9M6d6-N1X/s1600-h/Nishinihon+555.JPG"><br /></a></div><br />Therefore the symbol of Yuda Onsen is the white fox, and he is towering over the town, right next to the station.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQJoRpeVnxK6AvHfPxhwGHAutwTsj7CLTJ7tB0bJMMkK3YJnyAMpD22gkEXnJnQhTlIrJH3DY5aXSKy3C0e5_eX90K6ONNRKuEQ8j8xBa-XYnGdwazQtQIoIPwXlUNmH0l3Rs_PWhAb5O/s1600-h/Nishinihon+552.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQJoRpeVnxK6AvHfPxhwGHAutwTsj7CLTJ7tB0bJMMkK3YJnyAMpD22gkEXnJnQhTlIrJH3DY5aXSKy3C0e5_eX90K6ONNRKuEQ8j8xBa-XYnGdwazQtQIoIPwXlUNmH0l3Rs_PWhAb5O/s320/Nishinihon+552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229057744867576562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ザビエル記念聖堂 St. Xavier's Memorial Church</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpl8nlMK22Kx6cM-6SNQirTczJwrGWKyp1jP2Z_t2M6Hw1UJ-SQbxZ0a7-DsDAnCiCN0U_iW-lRvwi0lW8OSSSsD6Pj9lgoIMdndLzV4ZY9d3yMxlWroFF4gMXPp35VEPpeKFhaLmrVbC/s1600-h/Nishinihon+572.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpl8nlMK22Kx6cM-6SNQirTczJwrGWKyp1jP2Z_t2M6Hw1UJ-SQbxZ0a7-DsDAnCiCN0U_iW-lRvwi0lW8OSSSsD6Pj9lgoIMdndLzV4ZY9d3yMxlWroFF4gMXPp35VEPpeKFhaLmrVbC/s320/Nishinihon+572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229061242860417954" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />St. Xavier was the co-funder of the Jesuit order and the must successful Christian missionary since the days of St. Paul. He visited Japan and established roots for a Christian community, especially in Yamaguchi. Wikipedia says:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYh5mCFERDYH4KIHcmzbYIshDxQfwfHBhEy9JelkkR5mFAtpZdu9YhT3fFmIISNgUi_D1hyKlKD-0Anlq0mwTlvXu9kATgObxDUWA8KRyyeHXtzUxtb8vZd1Orag6fMbtXWWfe3S_9NTEC/s1600-h/Nishinihon+571.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYh5mCFERDYH4KIHcmzbYIshDxQfwfHBhEy9JelkkR5mFAtpZdu9YhT3fFmIISNgUi_D1hyKlKD-0Anlq0mwTlvXu9kATgObxDUWA8KRyyeHXtzUxtb8vZd1Orag6fMbtXWWfe3S_9NTEC/s320/Nishinihon+571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229061238854325842" border="0" /></a></div><br /><blockquote><p>In December 1547, in Malacca, Francis Xavier met a Japanese nobleman from Kagoshima named Anjiro. Anjiro had heard from Francis in 1545 and had travelled from Kagoshima to Malacca with the purpose of meeting him. Having been charged with murder, Anjiro fled Japan. He poured his heart out to Francis Xavier, telling him about his former life and the customs and culture of his beloved homeland. Anjiro was a samurai and as such provided Xavier with a skilled mediator and translator for the mission to Japan that now seemed much closer to reality. “I asked [Anjiro] whether the Japanese would become Christians if I went with him to this country, and he replied that they would not do so immediately, but would first ask me many questions and see what I knew. Above all, they would want to see whether my life corresponded with my teaching."</p> <p>He returned to India in January 1548. The next 15 months were occupied with various journeys and administrative measures in India. Then due to displeasure at what he considered un-Christian life and manners on the part of the Portuguese which impeded missionary work, he travelled from the South into East Asia. He left Goa on April 15, 1549<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1549" title="1549"></a>, stopped at Malacca and visited Canton<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangzhou" title="Guangzhou"></a>. He was accompanied by Anjiro, two other Japanese men, the father Cosme de Torres and Brother João Fernandes. He had taken with him presents for the "King of Japan" since he was intending to introduce himself as the Apostolic Nuncio<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_Nuncio" class="mw-redirect" title="Apostolic Nuncio"></a>.</p> <p>Xavier reached Japan on July 27<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_27" title="July 27"></a>, 1549, but it was not until August 15 that he went ashore at Kagoshima, the principal port of the province of Satsuma on the island of Kyushu<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABsh%C5%AB" title="Kyūshū"></a>. He was received in a friendly manner and was hosted by Anjiro's family until October 1550. From October to December 1550, he resided in Yamaguchi<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaguchi%2C_Yamaguchi" title="Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi"></a>. Shortly before Christmas, he left for Kyoto<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto" title="Kyoto"></a> but failed to meet with the Emperor. He returned to Yamaguchi in March 1551 where he was permitted to preach by the daimyo<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimyo" title="Daimyo"></a> of the province. However, lacking fluency in the Japanese language, he had to limit himself to reading aloud the translation of a catechism<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catechism" title="Catechism"></a>.</p> <p>Xavier was welcomed by the Shingon monks since he used the word Dainichi for the Christian God. As Xavier learned more about the religious nuances of the word, he changed to <i>Deusu</i> from the Latin and Portuguese <i>Deus</i>. The monks also realized that Xavier was preaching a rival religion.</p> <p>With the passage of time, his sojourn in Japan can be considered fruitful as attested by congregations established in Hirado, Yamaguchi and Bungo<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungo_Province" title="Bungo Province"></a>. Xavier worked for more than two years in Japan and saw his successor-Jesuits established. He then decided to return to India.<br /></p></blockquote><br />He established a church in Yamaguchi, which became the center of Christian life in the town. However under mysterious circumstances the church burned down to the grounds with the fire watch being no 5 minutes away. People say someone even called the fire watch, seeing smoke coming out of the church, and the fire fighters set out, but returned without extinguishing any fire. When they returned to the church later, that fire was so big, that the church could not be rescued any more.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbzfo9EGbemn7aGVjvAzfQzfDKeGfC04Bd3LF_IXJiU2O18GhWy8VbwiqhtSTKROp2hyijbwCfyCGFjTABFLRt79ugux-EcHErD7JGRy7QANnKWKPsk6OzlFQYJvC4JdVnyFsv0OZbYfC/s1600-h/Nishinihon+562.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbzfo9EGbemn7aGVjvAzfQzfDKeGfC04Bd3LF_IXJiU2O18GhWy8VbwiqhtSTKROp2hyijbwCfyCGFjTABFLRt79ugux-EcHErD7JGRy7QANnKWKPsk6OzlFQYJvC4JdVnyFsv0OZbYfC/s320/Nishinihon+562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229058854626097170" border="0" /></a></div><br />Later when the economy was rising and Yamaguchi had a lot of money, the administration decided to built a memorial church for St. Xavier at the same spot where the old church has stood.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodGGnpxqEh_OlRha7kJ1-raa3-T93oXFcXwiUnySu7r8Yzssbnq26vR5regYoMwhnCLdpAnA3R9lWOz6rQff2A92FqLqk_YKlgzAUpZMfM5P-j-XHwjHJL-1QmOEyBwFy0NwsMGMVVV1J/s1600-h/Nishinihon+567.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodGGnpxqEh_OlRha7kJ1-raa3-T93oXFcXwiUnySu7r8Yzssbnq26vR5regYoMwhnCLdpAnA3R9lWOz6rQff2A92FqLqk_YKlgzAUpZMfM5P-j-XHwjHJL-1QmOEyBwFy0NwsMGMVVV1J/s320/Nishinihon+567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229058851516951042" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">一の坂川 Ichinosaka-gawa River</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKnJ3Hnyp9G0hmyls6gOi-FCTA-yuxeUbqWrsJMEAfFn7rG9uhxcGDpEzxtqIqWbePIKcEr5vnTYCeOAViJMDTL2JNAyTtpBeLsPPtutXdxTsWuSSXrUEQIoycWOtTWzfUKgITORn9y_n/s1600-h/Nishinihon+585.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKnJ3Hnyp9G0hmyls6gOi-FCTA-yuxeUbqWrsJMEAfFn7rG9uhxcGDpEzxtqIqWbePIKcEr5vnTYCeOAViJMDTL2JNAyTtpBeLsPPtutXdxTsWuSSXrUEQIoycWOtTWzfUKgITORn9y_n/s320/Nishinihon+585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229062327810045682" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Next Andy brought me to the river side of Ichinosaka river, where we enjoyed some cool drinks and cooled down from the hot day. Watching the beautiful river, he told me that in early summer a lot of fireflies can be seen along the river. And the people here like them so much that they made a festival in honor of the fireflies, the 蛍祭り Hotaru Matsuri (firefly festival). Alas fireflies only gather here for mating, which does not take longer than one or two weeks. But they return every year like fished returning to their birth waters.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxwWq2ElNKcEf1Yv56O6eXo-BmhHFU_ZeTiGOR-C_k3WolpWKKBs3C_8yi2ZXIWvymv_XnEhUSbPM8X_EQi8qb5uEFfLviaBhn45__yp7GhY9UIqcHW1MVRMRF771-IcrOgCLclcEeMyQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+586.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxwWq2ElNKcEf1Yv56O6eXo-BmhHFU_ZeTiGOR-C_k3WolpWKKBs3C_8yi2ZXIWvymv_XnEhUSbPM8X_EQi8qb5uEFfLviaBhn45__yp7GhY9UIqcHW1MVRMRF771-IcrOgCLclcEeMyQ/s320/Nishinihon+586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229062331431998690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5-OZDeoCaD1a5aTsD3oVDaPlRMn4_vDH8PFVALxVs19RhJvhYa4npEVx6ieIeB5GNbTdyU5E4-ZMB7s5jyhdCwRyWDRAVsgzrfMJoRHcmjT86jtab6cwKHPba9jCBe4JWjRLZSiOofN-/s1600-h/Nishinihon+587.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5-OZDeoCaD1a5aTsD3oVDaPlRMn4_vDH8PFVALxVs19RhJvhYa4npEVx6ieIeB5GNbTdyU5E4-ZMB7s5jyhdCwRyWDRAVsgzrfMJoRHcmjT86jtab6cwKHPba9jCBe4JWjRLZSiOofN-/s320/Nishinihon+587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229062331694232146" border="0" /></a></div><br />I imagined seeing fireflies dancing on the water. It must be wonderful festival, with everyone marveling at those little insects and the moon reflected in the water below.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">幽霊の神社 The Ghost Shrine</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAmiXmXmrn8tnbWGUwjnciWgR_VrHeJ25V2tMfPxzPxmgjOK_4l4v-gGPfow3P5I2mWtN2Zu8oiIj4-VjS5yqRBnKo3t48f7zLZa5-xt1bgRkxQAKM76gdQ8ZpjqywvFjHaVryMEOPH4e/s1600-h/Nishinihon+597.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAmiXmXmrn8tnbWGUwjnciWgR_VrHeJ25V2tMfPxzPxmgjOK_4l4v-gGPfow3P5I2mWtN2Zu8oiIj4-VjS5yqRBnKo3t48f7zLZa5-xt1bgRkxQAKM76gdQ8ZpjqywvFjHaVryMEOPH4e/s320/Nishinihon+597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229063979223627074" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />It isn't really called Ghost Shrine, but Andy gave it this nick name, because it sure looks like a Ghost Shrine, and the absence of people undermine this atmosphere. It looks kind of abandoned and yet it isn't, like as the ghosts of the former priests return every night and hold their services here... creepy<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oeru6AC99-EZoO51-1xNGIzWAeuOcYCniBWKVyMKp3WO7AxiRDRHYW81JtO6RMMCXc3_TDjFt6a789sUFEK4SzvNkq7iXOGO6Ud88gO9pYXw3pdmD7WZefSe0IB2PLQT6CAVYLsvmbn9/s1600-h/Nishinihon+598.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oeru6AC99-EZoO51-1xNGIzWAeuOcYCniBWKVyMKp3WO7AxiRDRHYW81JtO6RMMCXc3_TDjFt6a789sUFEK4SzvNkq7iXOGO6Ud88gO9pYXw3pdmD7WZefSe0IB2PLQT6CAVYLsvmbn9/s320/Nishinihon+598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229063980833594738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXT1NOrIW03p8YA23aKqnG0rcZ-Q9TwIfelMYaya7vfMKAmW6BQC3Z82fhUu1FvOPVWwkm0zAp8cAPctszjxTv0uc029J90Z0V7d9WvXTcq2l7cf3T4Y8rqCVEN_FwmM9ngMU3UI7CU08/s1600-h/Nishinihon+590.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXT1NOrIW03p8YA23aKqnG0rcZ-Q9TwIfelMYaya7vfMKAmW6BQC3Z82fhUu1FvOPVWwkm0zAp8cAPctszjxTv0uc029J90Z0V7d9WvXTcq2l7cf3T4Y8rqCVEN_FwmM9ngMU3UI7CU08/s320/Nishinihon+590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229062815147893282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrbuxs5NC9D-5nFTQhA7lSzSiR8MY9Wvafy5FM0R-a4NCfytE7xKZ-WVlxTkWITVb8DkL3LXH_QhAMG12T42yNtlln9dtZSW2LPWyURWqQTyupZ2jt2FEA-ZM3SS3MYQxNRiNWFUb7rN4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+592.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrbuxs5NC9D-5nFTQhA7lSzSiR8MY9Wvafy5FM0R-a4NCfytE7xKZ-WVlxTkWITVb8DkL3LXH_QhAMG12T42yNtlln9dtZSW2LPWyURWqQTyupZ2jt2FEA-ZM3SS3MYQxNRiNWFUb7rN4/s320/Nishinihon+592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229062817607122466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaLumlBib_UeSUORiQO_Ov3yx1X4Z3Cm4AA_Ut8GXtA0tB-7Uu61dJ5Po4PgvWM1zQhnAYpw52sPxSlKjQjNXxju94zvIbB54lDrfNSr1zevjqfb5aix_cfn7CnNP4Xoh4l6c6DxBrifs/s1600-h/Nishinihon+595.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaLumlBib_UeSUORiQO_Ov3yx1X4Z3Cm4AA_Ut8GXtA0tB-7Uu61dJ5Po4PgvWM1zQhnAYpw52sPxSlKjQjNXxju94zvIbB54lDrfNSr1zevjqfb5aix_cfn7CnNP4Xoh4l6c6DxBrifs/s320/Nishinihon+595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229062826676726930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">瑠璃光寺 </span><b style="font-weight: bold;">Rurikōji Temple</b><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9qxg5EtkSAQYp4sJMmalfE2iZfvC5a9lzGziPJOXwIVgiN8af6B1I_FR4yvB1wjhS7pUd6ZTua8s0BflXRZmRD2FoDkMqGF8cIzCtFC0n66RbZTVgBVgYe5dgEy0O3X4hs3sxAPZ8RBo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+609.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9qxg5EtkSAQYp4sJMmalfE2iZfvC5a9lzGziPJOXwIVgiN8af6B1I_FR4yvB1wjhS7pUd6ZTua8s0BflXRZmRD2FoDkMqGF8cIzCtFC0n66RbZTVgBVgYe5dgEy0O3X4hs3sxAPZ8RBo/s320/Nishinihon+609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229070431942810530" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Next Andy showed me his place for meditation and contemplation. He always goes here in times when he needs advice or a problem to overcome. But also when the stress of upcoming exams drain his energies.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxFxrpAMB_6axnF88NpymoaGRtOVd2tvxHQWNPQhyphenhyphen685UWifuZFHWU3ZxlpB3ZqXbZIPQGocp98hyphenhyphenXjNvH_eFCKqDqpHRwfpaFXKN4rYjftcxu9PDjOANLFMz-6kegII-x4pdZfRiIiGV/s1600-h/Nishinihon+578.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxFxrpAMB_6axnF88NpymoaGRtOVd2tvxHQWNPQhyphenhyphen685UWifuZFHWU3ZxlpB3ZqXbZIPQGocp98hyphenhyphenXjNvH_eFCKqDqpHRwfpaFXKN4rYjftcxu9PDjOANLFMz-6kegII-x4pdZfRiIiGV/s320/Nishinihon+578.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229062317724979570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Andreas' resting place<br /></div><br />The temples lies quite high and you can enjoy a nice view over the city. The temple is quite famous for its ancient five storied wooden pagoda, which is standing since ages past. Despite his fame the temple is usually quite and peaceful and it feels refreshing walking around its borders.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOtwFCBuTSqK1INFBTCvLMbYgVy8NHeKG3Smj237ynIO6QsPS8p6nVT_l18rUfeu3kjIwcVXfYpxkJKSvzMdA3WNzT_CgjNaIwaEv-cO7hJSRamuFxouyJp9shf10NL-_PNvbJKzx1lW2/s1600-h/Nishinihon+604.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOtwFCBuTSqK1INFBTCvLMbYgVy8NHeKG3Smj237ynIO6QsPS8p6nVT_l18rUfeu3kjIwcVXfYpxkJKSvzMdA3WNzT_CgjNaIwaEv-cO7hJSRamuFxouyJp9shf10NL-_PNvbJKzx1lW2/s320/Nishinihon+604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229063982881950306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the famous pagoda<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kq6aQROlmmBy4URXAIdtWmSPioDvcjDkobTBwmHLG3mJYe_2KGnrhDLGKIeoUE9cP1YIauPZl83mv6YB0RLbYJj5i3WhHe5eJ-BOhKU9mKIcUlDSkMZYjMNXjpCKx7Mmc3f1LEY2qne7/s1600-h/Nishinihon+613.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kq6aQROlmmBy4URXAIdtWmSPioDvcjDkobTBwmHLG3mJYe_2KGnrhDLGKIeoUE9cP1YIauPZl83mv6YB0RLbYJj5i3WhHe5eJ-BOhKU9mKIcUlDSkMZYjMNXjpCKx7Mmc3f1LEY2qne7/s320/Nishinihon+613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229070442410932610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />temple main hall<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX8LY4MWUqdxto8NQn7RCYUtxNhsAh-eVKkrXWaKNK79Xw4TPuYS-k1vU2b8NjYG6mmvnen8TDEoCWEi9eT7QSdDK5RvYw4k_rfdhYmKo8hLKku1ZXEScY9cFR38u3q91MMqvNBIfexls/s1600-h/Nishinihon+615.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX8LY4MWUqdxto8NQn7RCYUtxNhsAh-eVKkrXWaKNK79Xw4TPuYS-k1vU2b8NjYG6mmvnen8TDEoCWEi9eT7QSdDK5RvYw4k_rfdhYmKo8hLKku1ZXEScY9cFR38u3q91MMqvNBIfexls/s320/Nishinihon+615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229071320362717842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />sacrifices<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZSQrZfCXJxE7P1M6L7d5UWFDwQE9Ewnsl3kT5DWf39EJTm9hLcqRgHan3_Nao6IOaQaX_StlFSKCVE4dYY9eLAM5QysBpsyBILjkElOWIP1yqeoZqBGlZKaPeQUcnD4KRLBf1x2nZ16h/s1600-h/Nishinihon+616.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZSQrZfCXJxE7P1M6L7d5UWFDwQE9Ewnsl3kT5DWf39EJTm9hLcqRgHan3_Nao6IOaQaX_StlFSKCVE4dYY9eLAM5QysBpsyBILjkElOWIP1yqeoZqBGlZKaPeQUcnD4KRLBf1x2nZ16h/s320/Nishinihon+616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229071324845415458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Andreas<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLBleXMAROts0KaTRoN1koEB1UX_Teb2mQvul9AxiJnyRBLHmOw2_YflWdJL76b49CUYkIJAUecWAvP6mAXqxpn6JmJ7S5_f_Bz6A1jQL9rjNsGoXoffe7zbgqY4S-hKfavCvqQFpx18Q/s1600-h/Nishinihon+617.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLBleXMAROts0KaTRoN1koEB1UX_Teb2mQvul9AxiJnyRBLHmOw2_YflWdJL76b49CUYkIJAUecWAvP6mAXqxpn6JmJ7S5_f_Bz6A1jQL9rjNsGoXoffe7zbgqY4S-hKfavCvqQFpx18Q/s320/Nishinihon+617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229071329876917330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnPWDbzwmLoi2c6-TvNul246bdojc61hHkQTpd79Jk-oQ5bnBJ1luExMtEpI-vppuTiyIoGNxEgy_55JQLWN03wrbFwLtCHEvrnIhKIQM7BGm6lBHvpruVVL8gJSKav8OFTlpJhZ27eHW/s1600-h/Nishinihon+607.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnPWDbzwmLoi2c6-TvNul246bdojc61hHkQTpd79Jk-oQ5bnBJ1luExMtEpI-vppuTiyIoGNxEgy_55JQLWN03wrbFwLtCHEvrnIhKIQM7BGm6lBHvpruVVL8gJSKav8OFTlpJhZ27eHW/s320/Nishinihon+607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229070428987789730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-ojYQg9gOg6t7Suf6Si40F8tw4k9F30YBGJejpCAw5hQkoxc9GC64BbLDSlJ8tkd0dHXHErYILjpiaRbaqCqIswRmiPU1kLeoSzWJcnQcspFIHjHVAsjzWrJ5AdfTQsL97MJDnp4uNbC/s1600-h/Nishinihon+610.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-ojYQg9gOg6t7Suf6Si40F8tw4k9F30YBGJejpCAw5hQkoxc9GC64BbLDSlJ8tkd0dHXHErYILjpiaRbaqCqIswRmiPU1kLeoSzWJcnQcspFIHjHVAsjzWrJ5AdfTQsL97MJDnp4uNbC/s320/Nishinihon+610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229070437742281650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a pond with turtles<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDrGv8SNFUE8n1IREFhqHI70_ws7Ipqg30SoWwf4aBjiJA-0Mog4bqgFTN2aI4qAnGQDVpSvuZCyoKKGOl0v9vYNhvPtDXw9aAplgpI-rTUZprZLkyd01hQOBiVkQIks3ieHk9ioztlPB/s1600-h/Nishinihon+612.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDrGv8SNFUE8n1IREFhqHI70_ws7Ipqg30SoWwf4aBjiJA-0Mog4bqgFTN2aI4qAnGQDVpSvuZCyoKKGOl0v9vYNhvPtDXw9aAplgpI-rTUZprZLkyd01hQOBiVkQIks3ieHk9ioztlPB/s320/Nishinihon+612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229070435691680914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />wheel of fortune<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">亀山公園 Kozan Park</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13FoxWS7WP1sqS1imKCFcxCwirT5OOZuLrLDKtpTZ_Q-iuulPADrpWLmqb5tUAp1Fu-Z4HaPdYxC9Ll5Pthqk_WwNMkExcJhUUdFlU3CYE2Bzefy_vrclij30TP5wCbzZrQ8htX1eIvtg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+574.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13FoxWS7WP1sqS1imKCFcxCwirT5OOZuLrLDKtpTZ_Q-iuulPADrpWLmqb5tUAp1Fu-Z4HaPdYxC9Ll5Pthqk_WwNMkExcJhUUdFlU3CYE2Bzefy_vrclij30TP5wCbzZrQ8htX1eIvtg/s320/Nishinihon+574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229061249130127202" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Next to the temple itself you can find burial mounds of the Mori Lords who ruled over Yamaguchi in earlier times. There is a certain spot, which produces strange echoes if you clap your hands and stomp on the ground.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdhFbvftnRw0Vp43Hb8_9lZEfYdAhSc8_tj6ysUH7Fv7AnJaXPKXBpuLwr3JFnh-exLPZJYYhrSeVSw6AAMsxvN-p_QDyvF0DleQ8_j0c-NwsawqkKJ4zRkQqsLfNqJTeQ53yA85_qQqc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+614.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdhFbvftnRw0Vp43Hb8_9lZEfYdAhSc8_tj6ysUH7Fv7AnJaXPKXBpuLwr3JFnh-exLPZJYYhrSeVSw6AAMsxvN-p_QDyvF0DleQ8_j0c-NwsawqkKJ4zRkQqsLfNqJTeQ53yA85_qQqc/s320/Nishinihon+614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229071323288115202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPO5U4y3aDe7gqBu39lBRmfDb3OeexbYLPYuc9u1WBRLh1zkWbIFs92_VobyBy6BhWppkYS-sEX1_naIKmmWS64C91kIGTWJ5OOpt622-aDv1roOCQRK18qfLxCnQ2Q2nP_BExE25oLq0T/s1600-h/Nishinihon+605.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPO5U4y3aDe7gqBu39lBRmfDb3OeexbYLPYuc9u1WBRLh1zkWbIFs92_VobyBy6BhWppkYS-sEX1_naIKmmWS64C91kIGTWJ5OOpt622-aDv1roOCQRK18qfLxCnQ2Q2nP_BExE25oLq0T/s320/Nishinihon+605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229063988974039634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFe6B1JOYR3qjq-Z7DCwESAls9ZUu3n5s6yHt6FJlQJfqulf0jPPGIeat3X7mUdsRfUpmRHIktXfaw2CVdwdy5avL75JZTS4AiZUpP2269xN8LIrutirO7B40gJuBBac7EPIMum2DnnLO/s1600-h/Nishinihon+606.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFe6B1JOYR3qjq-Z7DCwESAls9ZUu3n5s6yHt6FJlQJfqulf0jPPGIeat3X7mUdsRfUpmRHIktXfaw2CVdwdy5avL75JZTS4AiZUpP2269xN8LIrutirO7B40gJuBBac7EPIMum2DnnLO/s320/Nishinihon+606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229063994781222034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />in Kozan park you can find a really beautiful graveyard too<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdddlQsGQxUHOkA7ozZyTfhBR5hvVngv3kHB96SGnLa5OmShB4kwF2k4c63KF96MLYlfif_rogFcMMeGwbbNvqDuCaf8atvFrjtTQ0OzLofn3avJPP6dgE3jgRWun0nbI1oh_fXd9EX0W/s1600-h/Nishinihon+623.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdddlQsGQxUHOkA7ozZyTfhBR5hvVngv3kHB96SGnLa5OmShB4kwF2k4c63KF96MLYlfif_rogFcMMeGwbbNvqDuCaf8atvFrjtTQ0OzLofn3avJPP6dgE3jgRWun0nbI1oh_fXd9EX0W/s320/Nishinihon+623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229071872785994642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPEVVmg41m1F6HcinyCSIwESY5fKCuW-Zaj0zI8zXayVK8eSdMDB2ESgAiQSb4Ucvxe3IhG6as7RYxyNuXIaWoR6WCeXEAVTckSnBUE0rtVIH48r4tP8m6Kr2jr3NfUPdXkalNKv9o04O/s1600-h/Nishinihon+620.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPEVVmg41m1F6HcinyCSIwESY5fKCuW-Zaj0zI8zXayVK8eSdMDB2ESgAiQSb4Ucvxe3IhG6as7RYxyNuXIaWoR6WCeXEAVTckSnBUE0rtVIH48r4tP8m6Kr2jr3NfUPdXkalNKv9o04O/s320/Nishinihon+620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229071337421127346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvrIpsvjkIgwxNZvNOmTLtDMomw5SfO4b-DNhj-wykOLMqlukUtAvtNRx_RaLDPQZlDEbjibBCVZo4vLPbAb5Wr5bGiSsaK8_Or_QvnEFbyvDg1h-PejGFDsOMSUHNZsCDCGPSHcXheTY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+626.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvrIpsvjkIgwxNZvNOmTLtDMomw5SfO4b-DNhj-wykOLMqlukUtAvtNRx_RaLDPQZlDEbjibBCVZo4vLPbAb5Wr5bGiSsaK8_Or_QvnEFbyvDg1h-PejGFDsOMSUHNZsCDCGPSHcXheTY/s320/Nishinihon+626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229071869582508466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />burial mound of a Mori Clan Lord<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzie6HUXQcCw6rv6-XXWyMJIWNqx_4O53qvbetyC2vm5hdnhVV-AUoVMvTfgm-5gJefINTHSQLSsgAbhWpn' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Andreas showing me the clap stomping<br /></div></div><br />This Kozan park next to the temple is also interesting for historical reasons. In a teahouse in the park Saigo Takamori from Satsuma Province and people from the northern Choushu province met secretly, claiming to practice the tea ceremony but in reality planning the overthrowing of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the upcoming successful revolution...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP853haWrBgd1JtU2I6T3V5uah6sACq-hAHY4-ia_pjbZ9TfQKrpOQYhq1P-rxq6VxQdMKd0V_Lt6wLwaWHbsKKzGWQA0DHKt4yRHPWum63JrFmV6b2gnnx5QXuJhChd82tYfx_anbLoU8/s1600-h/6102_02.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP853haWrBgd1JtU2I6T3V5uah6sACq-hAHY4-ia_pjbZ9TfQKrpOQYhq1P-rxq6VxQdMKd0V_Lt6wLwaWHbsKKzGWQA0DHKt4yRHPWum63JrFmV6b2gnnx5QXuJhChd82tYfx_anbLoU8/s320/6102_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229057741186043810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In this little tea house the revolution was plotted<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">維新百年紀年公園 Memorial Park Of The Revolution</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0XbcL5iQpc2vQLjPiMiZoV7p7yP3Cr_uD0MxmtaQPw-MZdRYyR1S6-GgOoNga8IWBsyVAvqziF66-sRbcFo-96eL6ir6R5G4R-ZiRVylFlGCi6fjHUW855jlYj5OyUnWtASEpLOq31hD/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1251.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0XbcL5iQpc2vQLjPiMiZoV7p7yP3Cr_uD0MxmtaQPw-MZdRYyR1S6-GgOoNga8IWBsyVAvqziF66-sRbcFo-96eL6ir6R5G4R-ZiRVylFlGCi6fjHUW855jlYj5OyUnWtASEpLOq31hD/s320/Nishinihon+1251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229073307790019026" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />And here we are, the memorial park of the revolution! It was constructed 100 years after the revolution had successfully overthrown the Tokugawa Shogunate and introduced new ideals of a society of equals open to the world. The class system was abolished and a elected government was slowly created and Japan was transformed into a modern state during the Meiji Period.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTwOT4etziZgOe828A0qDGevrlG0-WbO_j9Bb3ioBKf-55hci7etHd5beYSD8b__FPKwpbJ0b1bGja2QKc0vwmkBZmxFTq-D2sKSutuWgilSVuyfeaNXMP6uC5b86Ld5cqIEpig-iIGMa/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1242.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTwOT4etziZgOe828A0qDGevrlG0-WbO_j9Bb3ioBKf-55hci7etHd5beYSD8b__FPKwpbJ0b1bGja2QKc0vwmkBZmxFTq-D2sKSutuWgilSVuyfeaNXMP6uC5b86Ld5cqIEpig-iIGMa/s320/Nishinihon+1242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229071876996835298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i97WTA1pAH8Er5ts4RJvkv2PDRuTmGWovrabvKEvypoFEfKzer_ifUfXATM5OyTV0pt5WevgtEA1KotQ8ETOynkxmAgoQBZoKLNeYUFZxzLkNPGr5fas1um5vxbPPQbaQKA9ubi9ExIQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1245.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i97WTA1pAH8Er5ts4RJvkv2PDRuTmGWovrabvKEvypoFEfKzer_ifUfXATM5OyTV0pt5WevgtEA1KotQ8ETOynkxmAgoQBZoKLNeYUFZxzLkNPGr5fas1um5vxbPPQbaQKA9ubi9ExIQ/s320/Nishinihon+1245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229071874942911106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2REoyglABtPznB_-sBmL8egU6TIU0FiIVfTfbYc8_Qx5vF1Qc1uzkzmeD4MD8_vK-Pbs2T-A9m7brWCkfKlKqY4qxCvGgLi5F4omhXDgGTtsFYFtb8e0atyeOI31iWwKwxDOS8U__IFG/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1247.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2REoyglABtPznB_-sBmL8egU6TIU0FiIVfTfbYc8_Qx5vF1Qc1uzkzmeD4MD8_vK-Pbs2T-A9m7brWCkfKlKqY4qxCvGgLi5F4omhXDgGTtsFYFtb8e0atyeOI31iWwKwxDOS8U__IFG/s320/Nishinihon+1247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229071878991939650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTJlC5yzxPslK7iJqXDRFLmWpGjqPnR_dm72XIIfQCwCBg57LczMTxpj6SL9qmYH89ch3zjEOENotfxkzZHZeVH0GiE_TJeO5tIBCX2TKWDxfFnjxXrNkXdKKIDolgwgbFdcqYgsuv7pA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1256.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTJlC5yzxPslK7iJqXDRFLmWpGjqPnR_dm72XIIfQCwCBg57LczMTxpj6SL9qmYH89ch3zjEOENotfxkzZHZeVH0GiE_TJeO5tIBCX2TKWDxfFnjxXrNkXdKKIDolgwgbFdcqYgsuv7pA/s320/Nishinihon+1256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229073306463776290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyL5RAI0DZYAe7nSCA_DW_39RRqWwDn0Avd__w0mL-ww_DeWJULG9vDbNXvPnKq4SriRgVhAC5OUDnwN7A1DSBDI6Es9JBcDqJTzk2qqPKDNNvHM5kbtkma9-YBJYrpKmM4aM6VOaGbDc/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1259.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyL5RAI0DZYAe7nSCA_DW_39RRqWwDn0Avd__w0mL-ww_DeWJULG9vDbNXvPnKq4SriRgVhAC5OUDnwN7A1DSBDI6Es9JBcDqJTzk2qqPKDNNvHM5kbtkma9-YBJYrpKmM4aM6VOaGbDc/s320/Nishinihon+1259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229073310059088418" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yamaguchi Center For Arts And Media</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXs1V8Rw7ywBHdWiM6K7W_y3bMGcNc1F7G_Y3Jj8TlbrWZVusbK952CbJiWF81hvOvPuyBf26nhUloVHJbhy_XbQVl1DQrnbbdke9EAL2OFGfCrmDzcjLQvYMxmOW1HXiNApXu1tunb_7/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1267.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXs1V8Rw7ywBHdWiM6K7W_y3bMGcNc1F7G_Y3Jj8TlbrWZVusbK952CbJiWF81hvOvPuyBf26nhUloVHJbhy_XbQVl1DQrnbbdke9EAL2OFGfCrmDzcjLQvYMxmOW1HXiNApXu1tunb_7/s320/Nishinihon+1267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229080045617460578" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />One of the days I was strolling around Yamaguchi by myself looking for interesting things to catch my eye. And indeed the Center Of Arts And Media can hardly evade the eye, since it is so huge and long. I wondered what it would be and approached it slowly looking for an entrance.<br /><br />Inside I realized it is a place for crazy modern art devised by local people. And best of all, you don't need to pat any entrance fee. The exhibition currently running was called "Ensembles": In the ground floor I suddenly found myself surrounded by old record players. When I looked closer I found some of them spinning, but when I approached they stopped. Then I heard a strange noise a<br />plastic clapping started. When I followed the noise I found one record player7s arm hitting against something fixed to the empty turntable. Before I could get a close look a loud noise started and the clapping stopped. The noise came from above, so I looked upwards and realized there are even more record players, I had previously assumed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4H8t_341WcYlJ77VZqvinw3yWVjoBIzMvC6rmZcO_m1LpmP4oYSt9r5p7xCtWT6eIUC8wVwC3J6wHoPBqQrOCRHifABTeFyw-0KM0gLzmgI4d3Il2-ehaQ1zvpD8qBAiHSI6HsvDRRqN/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1263.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4H8t_341WcYlJ77VZqvinw3yWVjoBIzMvC6rmZcO_m1LpmP4oYSt9r5p7xCtWT6eIUC8wVwC3J6wHoPBqQrOCRHifABTeFyw-0KM0gLzmgI4d3Il2-ehaQ1zvpD8qBAiHSI6HsvDRRqN/s320/Nishinihon+1263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229073320532360178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_62mcANVtfPP4H73Gj5whyjlzP_WEgs9SG7Gm3rgiWQP-FUu2BFDc0Jqu8VePO-8InokmLQhNDEWsp_u-5qbgyQcxam13QFeQsnrnv3H6o71TJSkdl8ENW04slKEO8D6OmcrmwLuluot/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1270.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_62mcANVtfPP4H73Gj5whyjlzP_WEgs9SG7Gm3rgiWQP-FUu2BFDc0Jqu8VePO-8InokmLQhNDEWsp_u-5qbgyQcxam13QFeQsnrnv3H6o71TJSkdl8ENW04slKEO8D6OmcrmwLuluot/s320/Nishinihon+1270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229080047848973138" border="0" /></a></div><br />After this I relaxed for a while in a biotop between two walls of this strange building and read some in a book. After that I continued to the second floor and found myself in utter darkness. I had to think of the haunted house in <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/07/kurashiki.html">Kurashiki</a> and turned around in reflex to see if someone was standing behind me. There was nobody there. Where the haunted house was a narrow path, this place was a big open space, which made it harder to navigate, seeing nothing and having nothing to touch but the ground. When my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I realized there are people in the middle of the room playing instruments. But there was no music, only silent noise coming out of their instruments. When I got closer I realized the people were not real, they were only projections on a wall, but they certainly looked real. Even after I discovered the projectors, I wondered if some of them were still real.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQSm5zthBuEuKu1ISo19SubehteTXbtLH8zvJ0i2L41M3RMyK6_GoMLDAEeExSdZuCj-q7MhlB3_clcLuWzWarN50xE0MhYa9PvpLkmhZVitQPJ26FxVJKLfjgK3el891y6MZnhJpWp3G/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1272.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQSm5zthBuEuKu1ISo19SubehteTXbtLH8zvJ0i2L41M3RMyK6_GoMLDAEeExSdZuCj-q7MhlB3_clcLuWzWarN50xE0MhYa9PvpLkmhZVitQPJ26FxVJKLfjgK3el891y6MZnhJpWp3G/s320/Nishinihon+1272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229080049512743746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSoh1oqB9ha8szEGyvXXC3DjnvH2UezBxAATL3OLdvdAvVSwNU0nOu995fuoLNTJlGxFaQ1sPQcstMgmmzZi2U8xatBVUYmg0VQOMDpdjPzJMCR_JIU8eRUcpjxVRl6sBmXWMwbtK6cXR/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1273.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSoh1oqB9ha8szEGyvXXC3DjnvH2UezBxAATL3OLdvdAvVSwNU0nOu995fuoLNTJlGxFaQ1sPQcstMgmmzZi2U8xatBVUYmg0VQOMDpdjPzJMCR_JIU8eRUcpjxVRl6sBmXWMwbtK6cXR/s320/Nishinihon+1273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229080054307399778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzK-7Mt_ymtNoYqmHZvZkkwEiVAPpDbCH5Ks7YpFBsyNDaWEL1W73f8rswKg5nUjXS03P9lsm3F8wzUVr5HXA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />video<br /></div><br />What a great place! I love when you can experience art like this :)<br />Even more the hall also hosts a huge library, where you can even watch movies for free. I was tempted for a moment, but then decided to continue and explore the city.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiUn2WlsF0wxDlC3FIL6WJWaUBVUJkPwbA7iNPMq7ry_zhaUl4M4mD1bs5bijWQlJ_58ZzsIcaO9XnZkQXqEO6NaWMUXtrDHkB4rn-yRGeaybDzOEC2Jt5w1GEkZUD6WD19w7obVyM7Ze/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1274.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiUn2WlsF0wxDlC3FIL6WJWaUBVUJkPwbA7iNPMq7ry_zhaUl4M4mD1bs5bijWQlJ_58ZzsIcaO9XnZkQXqEO6NaWMUXtrDHkB4rn-yRGeaybDzOEC2Jt5w1GEkZUD6WD19w7obVyM7Ze/s320/Nishinihon+1274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229080055859832946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the library<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">たこ橋 Octopus Bridge</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg562SIozJyThGkoksKzF8MmrGJf7ZQ2BSWPtRuoZc5QeU_S8j3mqdaEWd7p-hzdalCX0WHxdDbABwCeHACfaq_oVOrTa8xj2mYBjfCtQEQesva1Y0gr5HpOGBqw_LxeiCY_gGa1UqRxzXS/s1600-h/Nishinihon+1277.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg562SIozJyThGkoksKzF8MmrGJf7ZQ2BSWPtRuoZc5QeU_S8j3mqdaEWd7p-hzdalCX0WHxdDbABwCeHACfaq_oVOrTa8xj2mYBjfCtQEQesva1Y0gr5HpOGBqw_LxeiCY_gGa1UqRxzXS/s320/Nishinihon+1277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229080258733698034" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Yamaguchi's biggest bridge is constructed quite complicated to offer everyone a convenient way of crossing without the use of traffic lights. Therefore now it looks like an octopus with many arms.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">パーティー Parties<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFe4Xhxds16mhJFQ_rcxBHrxCnBgFhH75G8s1nF88d-LTgG-lo3v1ew8vSqqhlF9jkr3Q-AjHq_YK8Ui0r5i1XUwAVdhQfbwamDsq_EfEUh5b33CRDFgk3oDsGmMMrxtVGD0n-Ns153Bu/s1600-h/n700225121_3643818_4444.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFe4Xhxds16mhJFQ_rcxBHrxCnBgFhH75G8s1nF88d-LTgG-lo3v1ew8vSqqhlF9jkr3Q-AjHq_YK8Ui0r5i1XUwAVdhQfbwamDsq_EfEUh5b33CRDFgk3oDsGmMMrxtVGD0n-Ns153Bu/s320/n700225121_3643818_4444.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229094407413232370" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I was lucky to hit a good time for coming to Yamaguchi. On two of the days of my stay in Yamaguchi there were parties in the evening Andreas dragged me in joining. The first was a farewell party for another German exchange student from Marburg and the second a birthday party for a Brazilian guy, which was held all in South America style with people from Peru, Brazil and Mexico.<br /><br />I learned a bit about South America and met some interesting guys, like a young Buddhist monk, who joined the birthday party, and who is planning to visit Brazil and help out at some Buddhist temples there. I was really surprised and questioned his story at first, but he was a real monk and his answers proved beyond doubt, that he is sincere in following the path of Buddhism. For example he told me for him, the meaning of life is to exist for others. He did not only refer to helping people, but his whole existence. Whenever he would talk or interact with someone or do something others might notice, in a way he will influence other people. So if he carefully chooses what to say and do, he can make a positive impact on people and help them grow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">国際公流会館 International Exchange Meeting Hall</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5O1rn7KR1FfncAzeQkhDqnuZqyJFFVij6JWaVWq8d-XkYKLXez4CBSZMC1LHyrVaieboMJ9qBJDVwhlGBP490bwsilVkhqiHGO-N4ZVGJ0NuW3Y9M6Ve6ciIIVKyzBB_9Olp64C9nzOJu/s1600-h/Nishinihon+548.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5O1rn7KR1FfncAzeQkhDqnuZqyJFFVij6JWaVWq8d-XkYKLXez4CBSZMC1LHyrVaieboMJ9qBJDVwhlGBP490bwsilVkhqiHGO-N4ZVGJ0NuW3Y9M6Ve6ciIIVKyzBB_9Olp64C9nzOJu/s320/Nishinihon+548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229057745712033122" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />This promising name simply refers to the dormitory for oversea students and nothing more. Here my friend Andreas has his room. Lucky for me, this place has a big common room with comfortable couches, were I slept three times.<br /><br />There was a family of cockroaches living there: father cockroach, mother cockroach and two children. But surprisingly enough, after my experience of sleeping in a forest I was no longer afraid of cockroaches and had no problems of sinking into a comfortable sleep with the cockroach family crawling below me on the floor.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">吉田松陰勉強会 Yoshida Shouin Learning Class<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7IEQs3KSzBxcx-8tcBGjMyptOk2ynGeoh4NOqtu23u2rObfEsrGbiD146CRW_Ohea_Jz2vUoblCR6NGQ9d9-IMIhpjntl_-kdMiR3xqGQ3XteUqYcGrcHUd9wgPDkR4g8Yk5_818nbO5/s1600-h/Nishinihon+715.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7IEQs3KSzBxcx-8tcBGjMyptOk2ynGeoh4NOqtu23u2rObfEsrGbiD146CRW_Ohea_Jz2vUoblCR6NGQ9d9-IMIhpjntl_-kdMiR3xqGQ3XteUqYcGrcHUd9wgPDkR4g8Yk5_818nbO5/s320/Nishinihon+715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229385029409136498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>On my second day in Yamaguchi Andy and me met Kimura-san, the woman who sold him a flight ticket back to Germany, when we were buying some snacks for the farewell party mentioned above. She talked a little to us and was surprised that I was interested in the Meiji Revolution and the characters involved to make it happen. After hesitating a bit she told me that she was heading to a learning group, which in the spirit of Yoshida Shouin tries to see in to the future and find solutions for the problems of today. And if I would be interested, she would take me with her and we could join together. After hesitating for some moments too, I accepted and told Andy I would the join the party later.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2lLTH_L5r6nFK-6vZM1xSQK6UkiU_kd5UxJ4OIvHxNNgeWFkPVydZxS3qE9_ShqTyJId10DiZlkyepvk7DDLoaF3i6A2c_XS2dk6ggc8-tOf-u3DpgXD_Hi77bjeAek0aDwZXqm4tWru/s1600-h/Nishinihon+716.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2lLTH_L5r6nFK-6vZM1xSQK6UkiU_kd5UxJ4OIvHxNNgeWFkPVydZxS3qE9_ShqTyJId10DiZlkyepvk7DDLoaF3i6A2c_XS2dk6ggc8-tOf-u3DpgXD_Hi77bjeAek0aDwZXqm4tWru/s320/Nishinihon+716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229385035263440610" border="0" /></a></div><br />Yoshida Shouin was an incredible genius who taught himself a lot and started <span style="font-weight: bold;">teaching</span> at the university at the age of 9. He had incredible foresight and predicted the course Japan would have to take not to become a resource colony to the Western World like Korea and China.<br /><br />His intellect and charm attracted many students to his place in 萩 Hagi and following his teachings and spirit he succeeded in basically turning a whole province rebel. 長州藩 Choshu Province was the first to abolish the class system and teach and treat everyone equal. It became a place of idealism, dreams and free thinking. And because of that it had to be stopped and the Shogun sent a punishment force to destroy Choshu. At this time they also noticed that Yoshida Shouin, who was teaching in Edo in the mean time, tried to get aboard the famous 黒船 black ships of American Admiral Pery to establish direct relations and break the Shogun's law of isolation. For that he was imprisoned. However even at prison, he quickly established a school and continued teaching with his vast intellect and memory being all he needed. Eventually the Shogunate decided to execute him.<br /><br />After that Choshu and the 志士 (shishi free thinkers and rebels to reform Japan) were weakened, but the spirits were unbroken. Especially two of his students continued his quest... but we will meet them and Yoshida Shouin in the next post...<br /><br />The learning class' topic today was cell phones, and both me and Kimura-san were quite disappointed. It was about all the bad changed and dangers the cell phone brought to the Japanese society. I could agree on that, but Kimura-san told me usually they would talk about philosophical ideas, Buddhist teachings and how people might be able to change society and the world, like Yoshida Shouin did.<br /><br />After the class before I went to the party, Kimura-san offered me to take me to 萩 Hagi, a own 40-50 kilometers away from Yamaguchi, which has been the intellectual center of Choshu Province. It was also the birthplace and teaching place of Yoshida Shouin, and in fact you can say that the Japanese Revolution started there. So like hell I wanted to go there, especially with a knowledgeable interesting guide striving in the spirits of this great forethinker.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bonus Picture</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEh8UoOGl9i6IymtJoZuIMNKGmzdxFfg21sDnIZFg9EVDJt0yMGZxYB-KQitVgPIE91X5yc4sNujf6ZaJOCoLLIIdVjJs8LT32mVmjkXOh1JUowFohK7VaBYyoYpz0mxUfx6OabJPvum0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+556.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEh8UoOGl9i6IymtJoZuIMNKGmzdxFfg21sDnIZFg9EVDJt0yMGZxYB-KQitVgPIE91X5yc4sNujf6ZaJOCoLLIIdVjJs8LT32mVmjkXOh1JUowFohK7VaBYyoYpz0mxUfx6OabJPvum0/s320/Nishinihon+556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229058838150446514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />it was a really hot day, even children needed to rest<br /></div>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-22690344424396044242008-07-20T03:48:00.000-07:002008-07-30T06:23:29.166-07:00倉敷 KurashikiFrom Okayama, my next stop was 倉敷 Kurashiki. I got a tip from a German travel group in 後楽園 Kouraku Garden as well as from my host family in Atsugi, that Kurashiki has a wonderful old town, that looks just like it looked hundreds of years ago.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">倉敷 Kurashiki<br /></span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vWWB2z5YJdijV7mh6EMYqu3eou4dRSSCf9tg-1iSuS3nQAjIhAQSEI4l3eS4_nM8VsNDM30jpkFdlLd4wt43jZoc2wzgWekVOVkahwQXgpedLSAZOjcjAc0v42q7JHInrEBrUtp-oDzQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+540.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vWWB2z5YJdijV7mh6EMYqu3eou4dRSSCf9tg-1iSuS3nQAjIhAQSEI4l3eS4_nM8VsNDM30jpkFdlLd4wt43jZoc2wzgWekVOVkahwQXgpedLSAZOjcjAc0v42q7JHInrEBrUtp-oDzQ/s320/Nishinihon+540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228772276598278114" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Kurashiki is a fairly small town, and you can go everywhere easily by foot. It is very well known for the popular fairy tale 桃太郎 Momotaro, which I narrated to you in my <a href="http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/02/momotaro.html">fairy tale section</a> earlier.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh27RVkIPL8PQQpjtPjlMEkofkl6Nn82ql8oRxrk357qqlA-vSyuCczlN4vOO8td6m1qi334OdB7XVkvs1LtJjdd7NEHmhYGzM6cNrZxO2MoFr3RYk3VfcvsY4yFOxbQiDjpalZcTXOpOt/s1600-h/Nishinihon+472.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh27RVkIPL8PQQpjtPjlMEkofkl6Nn82ql8oRxrk357qqlA-vSyuCczlN4vOO8td6m1qi334OdB7XVkvs1LtJjdd7NEHmhYGzM6cNrZxO2MoFr3RYk3VfcvsY4yFOxbQiDjpalZcTXOpOt/s320/Nishinihon+472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768050384772898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a statue of Momotaro greets you right in front of the station<br /></div><br />It has some nice arcades with some interesting stores, where I ate a delicious self made pizza in a restaurant maintained by two brothers, but Kurashiki's real charm is its old town.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">倉敷川畔美観地区 Kurashiki Old Town<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGVmK_dSCL4fhcZXf09B1TCMaJCwITDEYeGQocnkYJLpndrO7I9Pev_w1BskVY-VDeAZs2mU6vTD06TCFNUGKKP7xt3uBKqZxkZosXCMK49GVPeMUEp7FsrwKhG3JW46aJRwHh2uadouV/s1600-h/Nishinihon+479.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGVmK_dSCL4fhcZXf09B1TCMaJCwITDEYeGQocnkYJLpndrO7I9Pev_w1BskVY-VDeAZs2mU6vTD06TCFNUGKKP7xt3uBKqZxkZosXCMK49GVPeMUEp7FsrwKhG3JW46aJRwHh2uadouV/s320/Nishinihon+479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228782586382850130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>About 10 minutes away from Kurashiki station, you can find the marvelous well preserved old town of Kurashiki. Once you enter the area, you will immediately feel like in a different time. There are no more cars, no more electric signs and a wonderful river, where you can hire a boat taxi.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVUjy0ULh5I2czgudTx0AVeHDvP_w4v1PoECRA7a98TEO4RmOS4sVDNsc23Z4Q8MM8QQeD0kycfPlw6TXilQHRhEdYiTLJQHhrN253za9JZr67dulxktWbCgwltg1chWfxmPw7nMsRiRj/s1600-h/Nishinihon+488.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVUjy0ULh5I2czgudTx0AVeHDvP_w4v1PoECRA7a98TEO4RmOS4sVDNsc23Z4Q8MM8QQeD0kycfPlw6TXilQHRhEdYiTLJQHhrN253za9JZr67dulxktWbCgwltg1chWfxmPw7nMsRiRj/s320/Nishinihon+488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768378092024450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpW3BMQoQ_-CRKlbhlWlwHqRv6LjU92gqWfHrDNVRI6Rd0RHR57rknCxd1BcPZiX13k2ao_F7AWlojHC2HPlQSqkBjJxxKSRj9lJg82RsXYsvX_0696TrxWdqMtRKH0iHo1qbY_wnyewag/s1600-h/Nishinihon+492.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpW3BMQoQ_-CRKlbhlWlwHqRv6LjU92gqWfHrDNVRI6Rd0RHR57rknCxd1BcPZiX13k2ao_F7AWlojHC2HPlQSqkBjJxxKSRj9lJg82RsXYsvX_0696TrxWdqMtRKH0iHo1qbY_wnyewag/s320/Nishinihon+492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768390909168466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiZUuqdGZ21ocVDgUa_9zXHZ5BR8dYHTd0nbwES4TTbOxmrZXfU4qNj6EI0H133BcjHTW8ZR8vt6qVyKQ9TUIZOluzFVNHEp56rYhTUhyIvdy2M9PguBvzUhmD_HR6IC2mhrvd0G1EAW2/s1600-h/Nishinihon+493.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiZUuqdGZ21ocVDgUa_9zXHZ5BR8dYHTd0nbwES4TTbOxmrZXfU4qNj6EI0H133BcjHTW8ZR8vt6qVyKQ9TUIZOluzFVNHEp56rYhTUhyIvdy2M9PguBvzUhmD_HR6IC2mhrvd0G1EAW2/s320/Nishinihon+493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768387902938946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdetRqrX6hh-hbU9d37FMqKRcPbJeG7Cox4kBFnugIOs6lpUVykVfFjIOI3whcYhvQ3oUoeOgLESc0qcWwuByFcr34UcSMGTI-K4i_Cq5Inrb0lQAisvadZhfJL9l0Gy-FXoURQM5zS07/s1600-h/Nishinihon+489.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdetRqrX6hh-hbU9d37FMqKRcPbJeG7Cox4kBFnugIOs6lpUVykVfFjIOI3whcYhvQ3oUoeOgLESc0qcWwuByFcr34UcSMGTI-K4i_Cq5Inrb0lQAisvadZhfJL9l0Gy-FXoURQM5zS07/s320/Nishinihon+489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768382006695122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlKvUKIfT-kcYfZ0QJzBFLQwe_M4_i7B4kH7gSlVY6vlEC0oZNZgEXQM_HJWSd_2t-Jb2c0Yq-dUIFweYTOLZsDfQ2gP16wCkrt9kThGK5O5yDQKlXY2PjcM-udETB71TR1xlAtKTNXoF/s1600-h/Nishinihon+484.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlKvUKIfT-kcYfZ0QJzBFLQwe_M4_i7B4kH7gSlVY6vlEC0oZNZgEXQM_HJWSd_2t-Jb2c0Yq-dUIFweYTOLZsDfQ2gP16wCkrt9kThGK5O5yDQKlXY2PjcM-udETB71TR1xlAtKTNXoF/s320/Nishinihon+484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768057003976034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>There is a lot of nature next to the river and roads and all houses look individual and from a different time. Inside the shops you can buy your normal touristic things, modern and classic food and sweets, and some local specialties of Kurashiki.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vDmZhHg_pja7IkVJ-pctcXtqVdYSRZ-VQmOP6PpDy2P3nBtnjyPHfa0iPb4FFSLk_fCRTgdnYPxNjBlLULR3iMPZurF58J7TOzlh4aao56woFVtU_4vTK-P8LC2PwlQuvWWfX6OUUT54/s1600-h/Nishinihon+521.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vDmZhHg_pja7IkVJ-pctcXtqVdYSRZ-VQmOP6PpDy2P3nBtnjyPHfa0iPb4FFSLk_fCRTgdnYPxNjBlLULR3iMPZurF58J7TOzlh4aao56woFVtU_4vTK-P8LC2PwlQuvWWfX6OUUT54/s320/Nishinihon+521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228771851323274930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeFUd09PCyzGbeLPQAQW3wSnV-UIDLdgWlu_373XKW2aT4wDHPeDC7fwAbD81YFkcQ2s8Bub4-Ej9hYJfcbsjxQPp2Y6wo-YMnnmLA71Za3RBIfzu1uJm44o667-Ldmx9qdpb7i9Ayn4w/s1600-h/Nishinihon+476.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeFUd09PCyzGbeLPQAQW3wSnV-UIDLdgWlu_373XKW2aT4wDHPeDC7fwAbD81YFkcQ2s8Bub4-Ej9hYJfcbsjxQPp2Y6wo-YMnnmLA71Za3RBIfzu1uJm44o667-Ldmx9qdpb7i9Ayn4w/s320/Nishinihon+476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228782491092011682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2pBXuLHKteZiPjjUV79FKk-prvVuvBBGt70RJRHItTDS_SBlTU23ir0YMpv0do1N5PqWrG0ZxokjxOQiYwxUa6wrdm2032eQT6PvQsaYPPYXRpWbs-J68DKFoe9cBmDbhHWiL6cLGj8b/s1600-h/Nishinihon+490.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2pBXuLHKteZiPjjUV79FKk-prvVuvBBGt70RJRHItTDS_SBlTU23ir0YMpv0do1N5PqWrG0ZxokjxOQiYwxUa6wrdm2032eQT6PvQsaYPPYXRpWbs-J68DKFoe9cBmDbhHWiL6cLGj8b/s320/Nishinihon+490.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768385313684306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbh_si4WpslW9EbMZQ-BWiHjxheI5WZqbnKn1zegCjwNFG_gJRMsBgBupcnGL198JK37V-OcaOWKRM-AhXli8jWbp71_uyoMfo_bDxw9Qm8rOgXzH6dSkRI3zQFaPXC1a-gPvfV3V-y2gq/s1600-h/Nishinihon+481.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbh_si4WpslW9EbMZQ-BWiHjxheI5WZqbnKn1zegCjwNFG_gJRMsBgBupcnGL198JK37V-OcaOWKRM-AhXli8jWbp71_uyoMfo_bDxw9Qm8rOgXzH6dSkRI3zQFaPXC1a-gPvfV3V-y2gq/s320/Nishinihon+481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768053342162770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKpnUAxd254eyYW1taKcJLbjfesO4VihHUCFBafzONH4Ckrd87a3KLo7KmY2_mBwCN4LHOekZVMi5DDmbcBGNEx4oevGe2yfhZ2LzYgga3nX0IegsbrSyQ882epCwEikBDzGbFNr28ul2/s1600-h/Nishinihon+485.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKpnUAxd254eyYW1taKcJLbjfesO4VihHUCFBafzONH4Ckrd87a3KLo7KmY2_mBwCN4LHOekZVMi5DDmbcBGNEx4oevGe2yfhZ2LzYgga3nX0IegsbrSyQ882epCwEikBDzGbFNr28ul2/s320/Nishinihon+485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768063576233602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SLaYqjTp4Cegq226xq1_-jdWx-US9-x7icnfxpf2ag8CvAhyC0Bz12MKkKfC5g_eIe3TMjQpabc4i1x-9U_Fy_b9JZX_6COlyvksljA8r2ciIFrtrEd9d_mc0tFIdZeOJs6jzWbcP6HF/s1600-h/Nishinihon+477.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SLaYqjTp4Cegq226xq1_-jdWx-US9-x7icnfxpf2ag8CvAhyC0Bz12MKkKfC5g_eIe3TMjQpabc4i1x-9U_Fy_b9JZX_6COlyvksljA8r2ciIFrtrEd9d_mc0tFIdZeOJs6jzWbcP6HF/s320/Nishinihon+477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228782491456809906" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />It is a pleasure to walk around the old town and peek into shops now and then, but some sweets and eat them slowly while walking next to the river side. But be careful to stick to your map (you can get one free in the tourist info next to the station exit), otherwise if you strode on too long without paying attention you will be frightened by approaching cars who quickly get you out of your time travel dream.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0Jhqea06CQ0qQ-KTS1quN70TG1nuf5Mh1jmNuvC-X5KlV0MH9GOP3NL_7IWYlUiHqJklrx2ki0voXSp3wJY9vDTdW3JxxEa3Dr02gMsG9pG7BEv-LiS9HqPIZAQJ4gqaGbn8dXQUDHH0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+535.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0Jhqea06CQ0qQ-KTS1quN70TG1nuf5Mh1jmNuvC-X5KlV0MH9GOP3NL_7IWYlUiHqJklrx2ki0voXSp3wJY9vDTdW3JxxEa3Dr02gMsG9pG7BEv-LiS9HqPIZAQJ4gqaGbn8dXQUDHH0/s320/Nishinihon+535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228772268610281906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">アイビー学館 Ivy Academy<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6a_DGUB09EHuU64hwcZ6I00NMnzMaM3m0bdDXUymcJW6L_MdkRuKs0E1aITgMSi9FKZ6w-ltc5i3Zx20r4DWs8xSJ-bdcXOofxHIn0_0fPP0lWAkIvrsKwnIcdrPeiWanFhDW0qeaPRm/s1600-h/Nishinihon+531.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6a_DGUB09EHuU64hwcZ6I00NMnzMaM3m0bdDXUymcJW6L_MdkRuKs0E1aITgMSi9FKZ6w-ltc5i3Zx20r4DWs8xSJ-bdcXOofxHIn0_0fPP0lWAkIvrsKwnIcdrPeiWanFhDW0qeaPRm/s320/Nishinihon+531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228772265322087170" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />One part of the old town you must not miss is the Ivy Academy. It is quite a big part of the old town and it is completely clad in Ivy. It gives you a feeling as being inside a fairy tale, and you expect giant rabbits to come across the corner and look at their pocket watch.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCgIJmFW4iyjhrl3FHnhCH_KLQjQ2gnvNg7UD1RzVFqH_2ZUJRyVORawTZguKrOjvg0mqj7w_IaSrozZh0vNM0ix_-zxXXhlW8I_JAzbKCEQMy_Sxq7IKDfqkaDX9N1z5uEA6DqDAZFHd/s1600-h/Nishinihon+529.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCgIJmFW4iyjhrl3FHnhCH_KLQjQ2gnvNg7UD1RzVFqH_2ZUJRyVORawTZguKrOjvg0mqj7w_IaSrozZh0vNM0ix_-zxXXhlW8I_JAzbKCEQMy_Sxq7IKDfqkaDX9N1z5uEA6DqDAZFHd/s320/Nishinihon+529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228772262599322162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5_4gfD9cx0OFfnmjYzN9BnW6KBfxAOHdwkw5TYJUPhBRw0lh-GdH_pIpf33nX9xeVlz5EO5ILrCVYkBnTFdxXnflnFQ-xu-WMV5TH7gOskLU1nq2MGtuzfhJe4wcLBrQUaRmrDh6xEev/s320/Nishinihon+524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228771857646791618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKAAIdrevxWSk-oUhZ0JT68rmKk08KDi_Tg21nQz7_13iQqhqv-ZhnRwZmK5xP3YNENk0__mcI6jEDQ2A0t4m_9JOOtehQTkuVl4JGybzOxLpPorKf7qGiO4XOivmCpgtOa7YfafwodWD/s1600-h/Nishinihon+525.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKAAIdrevxWSk-oUhZ0JT68rmKk08KDi_Tg21nQz7_13iQqhqv-ZhnRwZmK5xP3YNENk0__mcI6jEDQ2A0t4m_9JOOtehQTkuVl4JGybzOxLpPorKf7qGiO4XOivmCpgtOa7YfafwodWD/s320/Nishinihon+525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228771865361151250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr2qqN6iWc1VnnU6f4RBYBVM_19SrHTjeHE9qjtFTDj0MIKb9BvlwUGPDZM-CvZ18OcepQASiiSKA0ysZyFEZ1YO3lsVrmvCvBdztYq8ZlnSnBuk-di_XVd87qbp1kzSKY8rKIjKPa0AS/s1600-h/Nishinihon+526.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr2qqN6iWc1VnnU6f4RBYBVM_19SrHTjeHE9qjtFTDj0MIKb9BvlwUGPDZM-CvZ18OcepQASiiSKA0ysZyFEZ1YO3lsVrmvCvBdztYq8ZlnSnBuk-di_XVd87qbp1kzSKY8rKIjKPa0AS/s320/Nishinihon+526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228771862461910178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyZkWfDAeBVmEDRFTe4e8Ck2RriU9Bka_Y6Bd4saqL1lmMuwJO9FPBZBD62VIQP91k-Qr8dD-8snYBOfpX5I_oxbJ1TcE3vg-cDf1cK-ibqydWBsbvk2fFC7B969sP1fc6XkpzPY9R5SL/s1600-h/Nishinihon+527.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyZkWfDAeBVmEDRFTe4e8Ck2RriU9Bka_Y6Bd4saqL1lmMuwJO9FPBZBD62VIQP91k-Qr8dD-8snYBOfpX5I_oxbJ1TcE3vg-cDf1cK-ibqydWBsbvk2fFC7B969sP1fc6XkpzPY9R5SL/s320/Nishinihon+527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228772261930443218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love this small shops selling self made art<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6a_DGUB09EHuU64hwcZ6I00NMnzMaM3m0bdDXUymcJW6L_MdkRuKs0E1aITgMSi9FKZ6w-ltc5i3Zx20r4DWs8xSJ-bdcXOofxHIn0_0fPP0lWAkIvrsKwnIcdrPeiWanFhDW0qeaPRm/s1600-h/Nishinihon+531.JPG"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">大原美術館 Ohara Museum Of Art</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwOv47MxE58h2KBhOwPCZtshlpQQZXVTq_8_tFFTf9l7JBbc0Ug8kiE-Uy2LQKeUpCEcdTIH01bSxbinI0pp0pwdaTEJDUYmRTyjREd_dcr4t4Z0T0Z2GFUOiy_c59IXxtEbzauNjLBxM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+486.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwOv47MxE58h2KBhOwPCZtshlpQQZXVTq_8_tFFTf9l7JBbc0Ug8kiE-Uy2LQKeUpCEcdTIH01bSxbinI0pp0pwdaTEJDUYmRTyjREd_dcr4t4Z0T0Z2GFUOiy_c59IXxtEbzauNjLBxM/s320/Nishinihon+486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768060775018322" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />This art museum is located in the old town together with many other museums. It was recommended to me by many parties and indeed it looked quite impressive. It is well known for a world wide exquisite collection of paintings. However the price (around 1500 Yen) for entrance was too much for my budget and I had to pass.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">桃太郎のからくり博物館 Momotaro Museum</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP909FO11CHwqhVQ1_3R-TzsbAJIo92DCbmJr0M9vYXVaxy2XRv0ZVaTQLcqX5oI9j_It76Myy7KC4wZU6GLUqrwB4bO2FiVXiMFuh0ff7c0WIb-ofN-hlyeUvalsoxuZRUIhjCixY2fM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+520.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP909FO11CHwqhVQ1_3R-TzsbAJIo92DCbmJr0M9vYXVaxy2XRv0ZVaTQLcqX5oI9j_It76Myy7KC4wZU6GLUqrwB4bO2FiVXiMFuh0ff7c0WIb-ofN-hlyeUvalsoxuZRUIhjCixY2fM/s320/Nishinihon+520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228771491096166242" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Another museum that should get your notice is the Momotaro museum dedicated to the fairy tale with the same name. I found it merely by chance, as I was peeking into interesting looking buildings while striding through the wonderful old town. Once someone inside saw my peeking, Momotaro personally came out of the house and greeted my with a smile.<br /><br />I had to rub my eyes! Was it really Momotaro? Well he sure looked like him and according to him, this place is in family possession for ages and is passed on from Momotaro father to Momotaro son originating from the original Momotaro. I decided to believe him and let him take me unto a journey through fairy tale land...<br /><br />He said first I must challenge the same perils Momotaro had to challenge and experience the fear and terror he had to face, when meeting the oni (Japanese ogre demons). So he led me to the entrance of the first part of the museum, which is the Haunted House.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCCZxwW8PvY0MUHYj8u6D8gAmRDzwYSo5-zIl1Ud36RcRNupt9U5XpPz5MqO2XngWJZoKc87F3e4Qf5ZSBiEPuPxKiknMEUaDyKqXOjmeBK1ohryTt6EbN2JZ5Yd9ss_As8eMV5ghPQkz/s1600-h/Nishinihon+498.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCCZxwW8PvY0MUHYj8u6D8gAmRDzwYSo5-zIl1Ud36RcRNupt9U5XpPz5MqO2XngWJZoKc87F3e4Qf5ZSBiEPuPxKiknMEUaDyKqXOjmeBK1ohryTt6EbN2JZ5Yd9ss_As8eMV5ghPQkz/s320/Nishinihon+498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768701484932610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />like Momotaro I started as a peach<br /></div><br />The lights faded quickly away and I found myself in utter darkness. Slowly I touched the walls and ground and made my way onwards. What was that scream? I'd seen nothing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_4ubdMJzU7y68Yg6QhJK7-GDYfs5PPUjyyEegzfTvwzdPqU-b7QCqjbUS0ufyXfbKrttpCe5G1f9PeervBf3OxPwzr3pFGHh4fMJnp1AtL-OWsUMByRIVRX_o0Gf_pcQXLVeMxMfc1uZ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+496.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_4ubdMJzU7y68Yg6QhJK7-GDYfs5PPUjyyEegzfTvwzdPqU-b7QCqjbUS0ufyXfbKrttpCe5G1f9PeervBf3OxPwzr3pFGHh4fMJnp1AtL-OWsUMByRIVRX_o0Gf_pcQXLVeMxMfc1uZ/s320/Nishinihon+496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768695369675842" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Ah it was only a cat on the floor, but she surely looks frightened.<br />Oh what is that lady doing in here?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfVSeHTLeOTdsHZItLQrRSV9QXNI6dnaVgZWBr0awSAIrM4Cy8N_D_YWzVzXY8HPcOfDeMSklImhCVi4EuyObKC35P8mWTCSydmjyTSreOZbUuCGtDfNAtqlD4QjguMRVnVy3Rb4ESFET/s1600-h/Nishinihon+497.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfVSeHTLeOTdsHZItLQrRSV9QXNI6dnaVgZWBr0awSAIrM4Cy8N_D_YWzVzXY8HPcOfDeMSklImhCVi4EuyObKC35P8mWTCSydmjyTSreOZbUuCGtDfNAtqlD4QjguMRVnVy3Rb4ESFET/s320/Nishinihon+497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228768697538316578" border="0" /></a></div><br />Fuck, that's no lady, that's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokurokubi">轆轤首 Rokurokubi</a> (a Japanese long necked monster, imposting as human ladies). Let's give a bit of haste and get away.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvArxrgWHB38XpVF1-VYs_2CYgZ9qsiBa-tzME9joGcA7Fcqd9B2CpML12Yu_FS-glXBzxoLa_tMJfAUkpuayoPPmmLjCsdkD8aN-apawmmzqdCuzPzzJ0WnDfXlZTblFaUWj5MSH8Nbmu/s1600-h/Nishinihon+499.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvArxrgWHB38XpVF1-VYs_2CYgZ9qsiBa-tzME9joGcA7Fcqd9B2CpML12Yu_FS-glXBzxoLa_tMJfAUkpuayoPPmmLjCsdkD8aN-apawmmzqdCuzPzzJ0WnDfXlZTblFaUWj5MSH8Nbmu/s320/Nishinihon+499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228779817848436370" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div><br />What's that? Fuck Zombies! They never grant me some rest, good that I have studies the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zombie_Survival_Guide">Zombie Survival Guide</a>; they are no match for me now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfSJlSRX2w1-CgOeaXzwBZhiE5i7e3Dsbs-DikWqMwisVdlD_eR1ZopWsde3JlEoyOnsSNMKdv9KA95-42GWOjzZJUN4rBPg93AwHQVq3pmDl48y81sM-lPbFOVHIX5YXlLk76rZrgfr_/s1600-h/Nishinihon+502.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfSJlSRX2w1-CgOeaXzwBZhiE5i7e3Dsbs-DikWqMwisVdlD_eR1ZopWsde3JlEoyOnsSNMKdv9KA95-42GWOjzZJUN4rBPg93AwHQVq3pmDl48y81sM-lPbFOVHIX5YXlLk76rZrgfr_/s320/Nishinihon+502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228769542920743106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi221wLS4ci6Xhb6FsbnyNZSYk3RqO4iMXwvbEBhcTjylsjxzTe_aQ9HY806dYa9CG4L7Xtw_SpN1682aqTIOQ22cDPSXQDH-R79L8yNCzcvsKkkO2AZ9jFt5jfZgeBHRG2WAW0ZBeirT9P/s1600-h/Nishinihon+504.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi221wLS4ci6Xhb6FsbnyNZSYk3RqO4iMXwvbEBhcTjylsjxzTe_aQ9HY806dYa9CG4L7Xtw_SpN1682aqTIOQ22cDPSXQDH-R79L8yNCzcvsKkkO2AZ9jFt5jfZgeBHRG2WAW0ZBeirT9P/s320/Nishinihon+504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228769545217541762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSpBlJgf_6R4jMNaCDGhyboLWTwUSpTQxA7_n2GDY2FmlKgXpw5-kWydWD4M-39VS4l6JQ8v3r_pOEtX0cXSACwhEuAL0uXyhjHkdleca9P96DmPpSiLhKL9rP0sM-Yto3gJ2a4D8bk5r/s1600-h/Nishinihon+505.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSpBlJgf_6R4jMNaCDGhyboLWTwUSpTQxA7_n2GDY2FmlKgXpw5-kWydWD4M-39VS4l6JQ8v3r_pOEtX0cXSACwhEuAL0uXyhjHkdleca9P96DmPpSiLhKL9rP0sM-Yto3gJ2a4D8bk5r/s320/Nishinihon+505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228769549300080226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />they look way more scary and real in twilight (I used my camera's flash to make the pictures)<br /><br /></div>I faced some more monsters, including the feared oni, and just when I was getting used to the monsters, some monster grabbed my shoulders and gave me the chills.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHDWUnencFMhBbPXVSjQay-2S1Tp70T9tgw1hUGjJj5b2e_codL1Y56aYTJCS6IBQF-xpdL-pg0zZaucOhlSa1ukoISneoDomHpe-5wOD92lUpX9jDos6Hr-33E-SbEDk2OpglxVVYM3J/s1600-h/Nishinihon+507.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHDWUnencFMhBbPXVSjQay-2S1Tp70T9tgw1hUGjJj5b2e_codL1Y56aYTJCS6IBQF-xpdL-pg0zZaucOhlSa1ukoISneoDomHpe-5wOD92lUpX9jDos6Hr-33E-SbEDk2OpglxVVYM3J/s320/Nishinihon+507.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228769548509064770" border="0" /></a></div><br />Fuck! I thought, but don't worry, it's just a plastic figure like the others right, it is not real. Slowly I touched the hands grabbing my shoulders... They were not made of plastic but of flesh and blood. They were real. I screamed and turned around. The monster behind me was a real person. I ran the rest of the track until I was back under daylight.<br /><br />Well the museum apparently had one employee next to the owner, who looked like some kind of rocker or metal head now, but back then inside with his monster costume, he really scared me! I thanked him for the great experience and told him, he is a great monster ^_^.<br /><br />Then I entered the second part of the museum, dealing with the fairy tale Momotaro itself. But Momotaro, I mean the owner, also showed me a lot of traditional Japanese trick art, all of which he built and designed himself. I was really marveled by some of them and couldn't figure some of them out without his help and explanation, like the following "The Bridge To The Oni Wheel", he designed himself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASR0eCcCn2mwvabXBech3YnP7UeF0e3bi0LqdGRRGGJrIuHfkx1mOo5iwr-6arWIdMsDVpF1G8uJRGewbEO5DYHSqNmfL-2UVNlhIcJxLjSa4F9z4962M0KzJOQzfq5-teRmokMdTkc7y/s1600-h/Nishinihon+517.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASR0eCcCn2mwvabXBech3YnP7UeF0e3bi0LqdGRRGGJrIuHfkx1mOo5iwr-6arWIdMsDVpF1G8uJRGewbEO5DYHSqNmfL-2UVNlhIcJxLjSa4F9z4962M0KzJOQzfq5-teRmokMdTkc7y/s320/Nishinihon+517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228771480148454434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />11 oni if you connect the second bridge<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuauMa-zE0sJfQq6V2fnbvT49FqcP77G6P9ilrv2fHgzNSH1higPWnd-8XGkfaKaXfkmnLHVtuRkP5t8eweon2AJL0RInunJUdaBwbTKKN48yP3fBnka_lDE2a74pnetx0EU3qdp2qXmzP/s1600-h/Nishinihon+518.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuauMa-zE0sJfQq6V2fnbvT49FqcP77G6P9ilrv2fHgzNSH1higPWnd-8XGkfaKaXfkmnLHVtuRkP5t8eweon2AJL0RInunJUdaBwbTKKN48yP3fBnka_lDE2a74pnetx0EU3qdp2qXmzP/s320/Nishinihon+518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228771479230941026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />but only 10 oni, if you connect the first one,<br />where does the 11th oni disappear too<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(try to figure it out, and give me your guess in the comments)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtA8A8SOsx2Q6UjdtzSoFTgRxg9-hNzzqURbysfwPSo4hEP3q2Tb39qK6dO1JUENsU_L9KbNNcRefXDR0mN638oStWwAxH0GNTUXUlnc1eV699qpHR_1VifEzASrbbIZB-umTjX_ov-Zhq/s1600-h/Nishinihon+513.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtA8A8SOsx2Q6UjdtzSoFTgRxg9-hNzzqURbysfwPSo4hEP3q2Tb39qK6dO1JUENsU_L9KbNNcRefXDR0mN638oStWwAxH0GNTUXUlnc1eV699qpHR_1VifEzASrbbIZB-umTjX_ov-Zhq/s320/Nishinihon+513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228769957944893186" border="0" /></a></div><br />Upstairs I found many items corresponding to the fairy tale, including enactments and explanations. Oh man I have never seen such a cool museum! Everything was carefully hand made with a lot of love and every exhibition had the owners touch into it. Although it was small it really touched my heart.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKDI1QOJZBUlAW7NjalPVJ-t6Ok6t8eaj06qe5cwebHUZOMCxJJvBnKcLIQQ-FpBbKxVfh0Pm1Yl6Pro0RzIhEi2bgGKAv2UYwpbk2SifQ98_Nk5kmETqmIh9THNFtbUcZ8AiiGKzhMzX/s1600-h/Nishinihon+510.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKDI1QOJZBUlAW7NjalPVJ-t6Ok6t8eaj06qe5cwebHUZOMCxJJvBnKcLIQQ-FpBbKxVfh0Pm1Yl6Pro0RzIhEi2bgGKAv2UYwpbk2SifQ98_Nk5kmETqmIh9THNFtbUcZ8AiiGKzhMzX/s320/Nishinihon+510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228769551153569010" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUD62bt9yihIGELGRfkkSOqJkM8AoeeSXrYAN9axCVSf6MmRogUKZi1KIg6Zf8_CFwqDmn3n748UD8uPIaEcse3oQG82OSXN1ZUJOT36C0In-3AWYqse91Uc5_i-GPA-sOhU02H4fouq1u/s1600-h/Nishinihon+514.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUD62bt9yihIGELGRfkkSOqJkM8AoeeSXrYAN9axCVSf6MmRogUKZi1KIg6Zf8_CFwqDmn3n748UD8uPIaEcse3oQG82OSXN1ZUJOT36C0In-3AWYqse91Uc5_i-GPA-sOhU02H4fouq1u/s320/Nishinihon+514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228769958471730482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzS4J0LSJT9t7vl6v7joeNKaEzPfwyKSNIIf2rPZqLxZfdqxzs29O90mZ-e8IkzBFHxbkyQFiH4pKMK8CanZG3tJpvoTrPdlrQeGb4ntaaYVeH30DtdM-iZKfgixPsAkjRBlYxACUZgxkN/s1600-h/Nishinihon+515.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzS4J0LSJT9t7vl6v7joeNKaEzPfwyKSNIIf2rPZqLxZfdqxzs29O90mZ-e8IkzBFHxbkyQFiH4pKMK8CanZG3tJpvoTrPdlrQeGb4ntaaYVeH30DtdM-iZKfgixPsAkjRBlYxACUZgxkN/s320/Nishinihon+515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228769959832283730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUm9tcMPtZdtfDUu9-KXcTgfdYF7ji-RmEJIxhyYQO4nQg6Rg1OwsVCeG3ddULyak7iJ4HWvQ0Sb3anJ3HIlgsulI1Zy3dgMz7b47zYncV3SdkABSKnHTNqp3_In8trGwDCaMX_RajeJWF/s1600-h/Nishinihon+516.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUm9tcMPtZdtfDUu9-KXcTgfdYF7ji-RmEJIxhyYQO4nQg6Rg1OwsVCeG3ddULyak7iJ4HWvQ0Sb3anJ3HIlgsulI1Zy3dgMz7b47zYncV3SdkABSKnHTNqp3_In8trGwDCaMX_RajeJWF/s320/Nishinihon+516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228769960189422578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUP-KmkwdK7_CTnucVyD-d2aFLpG87nYRnTvdflRucpMX5mJm5rZ2laV_iqR5qineGX3shcN9vKu8UbzS5chvIa0QdebmtD-y88y5LTgYiHHUyTDuLeM_k-U22OUHu7MoYzya9x4VZbvr/s1600-h/Nishinihon+508.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUP-KmkwdK7_CTnucVyD-d2aFLpG87nYRnTvdflRucpMX5mJm5rZ2laV_iqR5qineGX3shcN9vKu8UbzS5chvIa0QdebmtD-y88y5LTgYiHHUyTDuLeM_k-U22OUHu7MoYzya9x4VZbvr/s320/Nishinihon+508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228771489880507202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUjQDDFXjQUWE5qErnL9utwLWM_l04BGP2tCZTHWlvxvXn0i1wYkw5f4xfai81VfwldMbdWey_YoE9EUefjuP5ZBle51jqdFB82tXZuK4Ac3zShua1-KTTt91HyV8I-cQ_vjrRuhYtDEG/s1600-h/Nishinihon+512.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUjQDDFXjQUWE5qErnL9utwLWM_l04BGP2tCZTHWlvxvXn0i1wYkw5f4xfai81VfwldMbdWey_YoE9EUefjuP5ZBle51jqdFB82tXZuK4Ac3zShua1-KTTt91HyV8I-cQ_vjrRuhYtDEG/s320/Nishinihon+512.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228769951194996690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKDI1QOJZBUlAW7NjalPVJ-t6Ok6t8eaj06qe5cwebHUZOMCxJJvBnKcLIQQ-FpBbKxVfh0Pm1Yl6Pro0RzIhEi2bgGKAv2UYwpbk2SifQ98_Nk5kmETqmIh9THNFtbUcZ8AiiGKzhMzX/s1600-h/Nishinihon+510.JPG"><br /></a></div><br />When I was finished dreaming, the owner asked me if he could play me some farewell tune. I gladly accepted and he got some fish roll out of the fridge. He told me "this is a very delicious fish roll" and took a bite of it. Then he started to play on it like on a flute. Apparently he had made some holes into it earlier. He told me he makes himself a new flute everyday, because for dinner he usually eats it up after playing on it. But it sounded really good, no kidding, and he seemed very talented as well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nfAdmgCkg-iAZpbn7aXqYIFEILKsdldDwBz-4x64bt2iTQwG0CTJtLb0gx5iUrSrF4C7EL3AcciSBdvKliCI6RJ3i5KUw4flSNk017nmp3Tx0CHZpSGkxmOzF2fkeQUVLRT_uFp9GcqL/s1600-h/Nishinihon+519.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nfAdmgCkg-iAZpbn7aXqYIFEILKsdldDwBz-4x64bt2iTQwG0CTJtLb0gx5iUrSrF4C7EL3AcciSBdvKliCI6RJ3i5KUw4flSNk017nmp3Tx0CHZpSGkxmOzF2fkeQUVLRT_uFp9GcqL/s320/Nishinihon+519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228771483861448802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />he played on that fish roll<br /></div><br />Oh man what a wonderful place!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">倉敷チボリ公園 Kurashiki Trivoli Park<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6PX7zewUMhNTjPCygzLKG1x8QDwd_fX6_YgrdjSZpUWXvCUxs8WeakJAzlPc1DYHUTFogJShQMiCS9lscnWhR6mKr658ekqKUeEFCNwan2_3c7qv2JbTa3q5PQxEGPWQGnpEK0nM1h5v/s1600-h/Nishinihon+542.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6PX7zewUMhNTjPCygzLKG1x8QDwd_fX6_YgrdjSZpUWXvCUxs8WeakJAzlPc1DYHUTFogJShQMiCS9lscnWhR6mKr658ekqKUeEFCNwan2_3c7qv2JbTa3q5PQxEGPWQGnpEK0nM1h5v/s320/Nishinihon+542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228772605269538962" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Then I went back to the station, cause I wanted to continue westwards and try to reach Yamaguchi, the end of the main island, until the end of the day. But when I reentered the station, I marveled at the other exit.<br /><br />There were quite fantastic buildings inviting me to have a closer watch and a huge letters on one red brick building read Trivoli Park. It seemed like a quite magical place as well, but If I would have given in, I could never have reached Yamaguchi, so unfortunately to my regret now, I did not follow the parks magic trail but dispelled the spell it had cast on me and boarded the next train westwards...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8YmKbk0BiGnXnV_wxNrZ9T3RD-YNCSevYovg39OIpWnmT8cdrBUoqtwlG5bmpzDT5kJWL4GPOXouWQ5gROHpIS6S32NpHHbEadEYNXLgIs2jAQf0OB2hEqOdZxNm-I1iQ9sKnYyA0nTO/s1600-h/Nishinihon+544.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8YmKbk0BiGnXnV_wxNrZ9T3RD-YNCSevYovg39OIpWnmT8cdrBUoqtwlG5bmpzDT5kJWL4GPOXouWQ5gROHpIS6S32NpHHbEadEYNXLgIs2jAQf0OB2hEqOdZxNm-I1iQ9sKnYyA0nTO/s320/Nishinihon+544.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228772610932545698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZMx5Fmy1qklWoa7quINmMGJQAHWA47OeInKF3XmjTVBpRb9JFPruKfZfuAQp1OLbeeNt36Tc7cO9dCoj4F1hG0jiFz7YQziaXmgHm550LnsVgWmHEdvtF7_BUkWKGhi8uV65T6PnqyV3/s1600-h/Nishinihon+543.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZMx5Fmy1qklWoa7quINmMGJQAHWA47OeInKF3XmjTVBpRb9JFPruKfZfuAQp1OLbeeNt36Tc7cO9dCoj4F1hG0jiFz7YQziaXmgHm550LnsVgWmHEdvtF7_BUkWKGhi8uV65T6PnqyV3/s320/Nishinihon+543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228772608966661714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDMlhuqS3U9_WjtlFhNboHQ9kW6NmPWbyXNqPSZ3EpI25IIEtG4EZSR2LlEFYJ078DiqmPkfQncqjKvK3pi_rh8Z1uKuaB5H21G-cCFfuzPX5KW8LC6q2AcnKT8xpd3AEZNXwCS8gIHBP/s1600-h/Nishinihon+545.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDMlhuqS3U9_WjtlFhNboHQ9kW6NmPWbyXNqPSZ3EpI25IIEtG4EZSR2LlEFYJ078DiqmPkfQncqjKvK3pi_rh8Z1uKuaB5H21G-cCFfuzPX5KW8LC6q2AcnKT8xpd3AEZNXwCS8gIHBP/s320/Nishinihon+545.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228772620489194978" border="0" /></a></div>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-23260507720234829332008-07-19T18:42:00.000-07:002008-07-30T06:22:41.960-07:00岡山 OkayamaUnable to find a place to sleep in Himeji, I boarded a train westwards to see where it would get me that night. It eventually stopped at the next major city on the way west: 岡山市 Okayama, the capital of 岡山県 Okayama Prefecture.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">岡山 Okayama</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFPb1BOSfR8gpJQQyPBsy20ZfHvufd4Lo6h0HISaHzm8lhf_-_O4yIe3Zx9fDrLEke3oPP1Dw7TtQUFzN4ypAaHHLbDm4KbPD44_QvW0MkTYMn40oR9BPZaDu5bXtaWA3nWNlwBdDWMx8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+424.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFPb1BOSfR8gpJQQyPBsy20ZfHvufd4Lo6h0HISaHzm8lhf_-_O4yIe3Zx9fDrLEke3oPP1Dw7TtQUFzN4ypAaHHLbDm4KbPD44_QvW0MkTYMn40oR9BPZaDu5bXtaWA3nWNlwBdDWMx8/s320/Nishinihon+424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228667022155135282" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Okayama has historically a strategic point, because it lies in the center of 本州 Honshuu (the main island of Japan) and also because it is very close to the island of 四国 Shikoku and a train bridge leads to it from here.<br /><br />It combines the flavor of a metropolis with the charm of the countryside and is quite unique in Japan. The people are really friendly and sometimes overdo it even a bit, as I got to know when I arrived there.<br /><br />I was looking for a place to sleep and my first waypoint was an internet cafe to do some research about sleeping facilities in Okayama. I eventually found a cafe and found that there is a Youth Hostel with curfew 10:00 o'clock. It was already later than 10, but I decided to give it a try. Sleeping in the internet cafe was another option open to me, but it cost around the same than the hostel and instead of a bed, you only have a chair.<br /><br />So I called the hostel without success and then tried to find it by foot, also without success. So eventually I gave up on that and returned to the internet cafe, when I was short before entering, a man stepped in front of my and screamed in his best English?<br /><br />"Can I help you sir!"<br />"Uhn... Maybe, I was just going to try the internet cafe here for sleep, do you know a better place?"<br />"YES! there are many hotels here!", he screamed.<br />"Uhn... Yes, but I can't afford hotels, I don't have very much money, you know...", I replied.<br />"HAH! I know the perfect place for you! A friend visited me last year, and I let him sleep in the same place! Hah! Follow me!", screamed he and took my hand.<br /><br />He was a bit drunk and over energetic, but I sensed that he was sincere and really wanted to help me, so I followed him for 15 minutes.<br /><br />"HERE YOU GO!", he pointed at a sign on a building wall, it read:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOvHxp1kyEEu73S7Dxh_6CZoPsUT4KlwoqRBjzTOwsFuZIQrRT5di8AZKPqjS5OOiU_AMWYUdKbjVBbeQpa28XVlAQZfwzBWznq6jkV1JYy8IvNP3VkpvRgWY-NNJjiCNJfz1iWaq_uBb/s1600-h/Nishinihon+392.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOvHxp1kyEEu73S7Dxh_6CZoPsUT4KlwoqRBjzTOwsFuZIQrRT5di8AZKPqjS5OOiU_AMWYUdKbjVBbeQpa28XVlAQZfwzBWznq6jkV1JYy8IvNP3VkpvRgWY-NNJjiCNJfz1iWaq_uBb/s320/Nishinihon+392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228662560275714290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />SA U NA<br />KA PU SE RU IN OKAYAMA<br /></div><br />Ahh, I got it, he brought me to one of those infamous Capsule Hotels, which we jokingly call Coffin Hotel in Germany. Well being a fan of Cyber Punk and dark future scenarios, I always wanted to try one of those. So we got in!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">カプセルいイン岡山 Capsule Inn Okayama</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaOS3KW5KsPDhIjMjUtFFOOQAyjeGaAlokHAXoLME01GyCjJnc6Ri7WaaTc8lW0b9W-t0i3vuA7T-9w_E0ZOl1jQu4ARM9L3Gl5nQ9pgmgqBeBrU-vI305t_UejcGi-qiwkDPK45LYLGb/s1600-h/Nishinihon+383.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaOS3KW5KsPDhIjMjUtFFOOQAyjeGaAlokHAXoLME01GyCjJnc6Ri7WaaTc8lW0b9W-t0i3vuA7T-9w_E0ZOl1jQu4ARM9L3Gl5nQ9pgmgqBeBrU-vI305t_UejcGi-qiwkDPK45LYLGb/s320/Nishinihon+383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228661990111307186" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />He entered with me and explained the woman, that I am looking for a place to sleep and that I am from Germany and that she please should give me a place to sleep, because I am very tired (he went on like this for 2 more minutes) and the woman looked really confused. But it wasn't hard to guess what we came for so I paid here 3000 Yen (1000 Yen more than the internet cafe) and she gave me a key for a locker.<br /><br />My friend explained me that since the actual capsule is so tiny, there is no way you and your luggage would both fit in there, so I should put it in a locker first, for what I got the key. The number on the key corresponds both to my locker's as well as my coffin's number.<br /><br />We talked some more and he told me that he is a freight train driver for JR, he is from Okayama and likes the town really much. Then he told me, he hopes I have a pleasant stay in his country and have a lot of good experience. Finally he gave me 1000 Yen as a token of Japanese Foreigner hospitality. I tried to decline, but he wouldn't let me and so I accepted. It is really heart warming how Japanese treat foreign visitors :)<br /><br />So I tried to put my backpack in the tall but narrow locker, but failed. I had to remove everything inside the backpack so that it would fit inside, and then place it on top of the backpack building a tower.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6u4Fx0Wlj5W3xJ03yYfy0tNPJtZBsJEORfvWmC86Ic1AmUHgiLDNDVxe_maL-lcCbA7BbEpHQpruj09fKfaL1voxLwojLf7c9XgHGBkRLoh04kfVDpC6e4n78u-pB6UtbOshTyBNXcOVw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+376.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6u4Fx0Wlj5W3xJ03yYfy0tNPJtZBsJEORfvWmC86Ic1AmUHgiLDNDVxe_maL-lcCbA7BbEpHQpruj09fKfaL1voxLwojLf7c9XgHGBkRLoh04kfVDpC6e4n78u-pB6UtbOshTyBNXcOVw/s320/Nishinihon+376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228660089790629170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />try to fit a fat backpack in here<br /></div><br />Then I explored the Inn and found a marvelous お風呂 Ofuro (Japanese Style Public Bathorm), a whirlpool, a Sauna, a foot massage area, a massage chair and a recreation meeting room. Even a star hotel could not offer better facilities, I was really surprised. What the Capsule Hotels save in rooms, they put into facilities, which makes the stay really pleasant.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXKEjgppr2e3sovykFpi5-CDQ5P3uuFawAJ1QRqiZNn8bQIFdTsCfuXfDeFe0aMS3aPPhe6izBSm_yiNZgnvpMkUXhmt_j0xBDrlRIowhrScF2klPlGEV79kB-4JMhzlZyH_MxhE6KNDb/s1600-h/Nishinihon+391.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXKEjgppr2e3sovykFpi5-CDQ5P3uuFawAJ1QRqiZNn8bQIFdTsCfuXfDeFe0aMS3aPPhe6izBSm_yiNZgnvpMkUXhmt_j0xBDrlRIowhrScF2klPlGEV79kB-4JMhzlZyH_MxhE6KNDb/s320/Nishinihon+391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228662561879639330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />ofuro with whirlpool<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOjf3Ps9PvMWv5g5B42bZVfSy0OkqUliIGeq23uEl1k76aG3KgHKmzYc9EGZp2QjTAKqyKI1uU3AEQcqnjsygAeDtjdDBitolrYbSAko8hVDbKFWkWH40vAP3kMXs4AJLlXrm4Pd8vKJb/s1600-h/Nishinihon+389.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOjf3Ps9PvMWv5g5B42bZVfSy0OkqUliIGeq23uEl1k76aG3KgHKmzYc9EGZp2QjTAKqyKI1uU3AEQcqnjsygAeDtjdDBitolrYbSAko8hVDbKFWkWH40vAP3kMXs4AJLlXrm4Pd8vKJb/s320/Nishinihon+389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228662004214813554" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and foot water massage<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYZoHTnyAOifLFqhta9RqYuTSRo8yl3igdTxxfLcc6ITL6cVVC07MlURW6JjBJ0oGXW3JP-7mbwlz1J5WQOnv_MYMrQ3q2QzjiBF-c6mOO_mFYD-oFGVPJjkhVdti7B4VGqLsGBWKttuZ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+390.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYZoHTnyAOifLFqhta9RqYuTSRo8yl3igdTxxfLcc6ITL6cVVC07MlURW6JjBJ0oGXW3JP-7mbwlz1J5WQOnv_MYMrQ3q2QzjiBF-c6mOO_mFYD-oFGVPJjkhVdti7B4VGqLsGBWKttuZ/s320/Nishinihon+390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228662556960225122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBswzXsdmNgSSQa8n9MVrBszIQZUhtyIoCMX6M_XA1EJsojeGcN9DdX9hwplXpfJrF5XixQR49upXRwyHRwna0BroazN1l1EieojmMCxTy0R5yVUBW-sZPMn_w_sR7AL7aFsO46KnhGMp/s1600-h/Nishinihon+380.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBswzXsdmNgSSQa8n9MVrBszIQZUhtyIoCMX6M_XA1EJsojeGcN9DdX9hwplXpfJrF5XixQR49upXRwyHRwna0BroazN1l1EieojmMCxTy0R5yVUBW-sZPMn_w_sR7AL7aFsO46KnhGMp/s320/Nishinihon+380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228660103950148418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />recreation and meeting room<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ssax7SdzE2Z3PU1NEN-7C9ZGiQJskmefbSfE86t-WGVU5ZVo3xLNNGkUiRAhtQoGrOdMco7kQqeV559CmwKGxwZiMB19Zrr2ApaJX_8lq7xjmwSaG8nXiePZlS05CgG9ruPFKfs0jTJ4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+381.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ssax7SdzE2Z3PU1NEN-7C9ZGiQJskmefbSfE86t-WGVU5ZVo3xLNNGkUiRAhtQoGrOdMco7kQqeV559CmwKGxwZiMB19Zrr2ApaJX_8lq7xjmwSaG8nXiePZlS05CgG9ruPFKfs0jTJ4/s320/Nishinihon+381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228660109959405490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />massage chair<br /></div><br />After enjoying myself in the Ofuro and getting clean after sleeping in the forest and sweating two days through, I looked for my coffin and found it. I barely could hide my excitement, cause it resembled the space shuttles from Star Trek, especially from the inside. All is made with this whitish Star Trek plastic and inside you have a monitor and operation console that makes the space shuttle feeling complete.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOUxttVaId5aRkxQyiaHaAZmWdZEv9EJKpSNDlGaO4QmtpWpWRmKuS7As4M3TMnWuZmCb8TTa4SAYYL70xNTEbcBZXcCJCQ2_mEJ1yliZ65ZW4BVnhwHiXHMrtBnegVLpD-VnIqKvPrRG/s1600-h/Nishinihon+384.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOUxttVaId5aRkxQyiaHaAZmWdZEv9EJKpSNDlGaO4QmtpWpWRmKuS7As4M3TMnWuZmCb8TTa4SAYYL70xNTEbcBZXcCJCQ2_mEJ1yliZ65ZW4BVnhwHiXHMrtBnegVLpD-VnIqKvPrRG/s320/Nishinihon+384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228661995284671954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMuPD0r_fzxU7xO84Ou_9TwLyGU7gZ1JFi4IFzrI7hUimBzKnUesPHU_DVhrAJMLNX_MuXs9Dp2w_rTKtx_ndT6tBKEFsUGHxF0naX3Dd8CDhjaz_VW9L9JIwIxYy8_9HcyFu_LSVVsWL/s1600-h/Nishinihon+386.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMuPD0r_fzxU7xO84Ou_9TwLyGU7gZ1JFi4IFzrI7hUimBzKnUesPHU_DVhrAJMLNX_MuXs9Dp2w_rTKtx_ndT6tBKEFsUGHxF0naX3Dd8CDhjaz_VW9L9JIwIxYy8_9HcyFu_LSVVsWL/s320/Nishinihon+386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228661998141244498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />my space shuttle<br /></div><br />I tried fumbling with the console and found a button for light, television, porn, radio and some other functions. There was also a set of earplugs ready for me and I really needed them. Because the coffins are really close to each other and more than that stacked over each other. And some guy in my vicinity snored really really loud.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2ig9tCci7sVKDXzfG1oy-l6A5HOuRFaQdJaQ50mqR7a-GEwmrOhx7IjyRbAvW0rLE1C_dWBXD-ePlp9t02rapoa7xv75gOBiiIGxUiCOYMXFrVygIIOkq36ywu6fUuNGFi-V4UsjmdrA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+385.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2ig9tCci7sVKDXzfG1oy-l6A5HOuRFaQdJaQ50mqR7a-GEwmrOhx7IjyRbAvW0rLE1C_dWBXD-ePlp9t02rapoa7xv75gOBiiIGxUiCOYMXFrVygIIOkq36ywu6fUuNGFi-V4UsjmdrA/s320/Nishinihon+385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228661993338167122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />my shuttles consoles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMuPD0r_fzxU7xO84Ou_9TwLyGU7gZ1JFi4IFzrI7hUimBzKnUesPHU_DVhrAJMLNX_MuXs9Dp2w_rTKtx_ndT6tBKEFsUGHxF0naX3Dd8CDhjaz_VW9L9JIwIxYy8_9HcyFu_LSVVsWL/s1600-h/Nishinihon+386.JPG"><br /></a></div><br />Anyway it was a great experience, and I recommend you to try it once, when you have the chance!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">烏城 Ujou The Crow Castle</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvCoCx3OOg64MrDDjbsywlYL8IkJulixcPkcXIIuFtcVosMdp61hxLOXVin1ZsSaVv5eY3eoK5KxydbMcioebHV065DxZ0tIo5LB_s6D7v_bu27n-OoAxNHArl_fPv791n3PWOBvxyknl/s1600-h/Nishinihon+397.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvCoCx3OOg64MrDDjbsywlYL8IkJulixcPkcXIIuFtcVosMdp61hxLOXVin1ZsSaVv5eY3eoK5KxydbMcioebHV065DxZ0tIo5LB_s6D7v_bu27n-OoAxNHArl_fPv791n3PWOBvxyknl/s320/Nishinihon+397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228662587036048530" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Well the actual name is 岡山城 Okayama Castle, but it is commonly referred to as The Crow Castle. The reason is that in contrast to the heavenly white Himeji Castle, Okayama Castle is pitch black. There are many legends to it why lord Ukita choose to make his castle black and evil, the most common one says, that he was annoyed with all the fame Himeji Castle was getting, so that he said, well I can as well make my castle pitch black and make it the nemesis of Himeji Castle. So now the two neighboring castles fight an eternal struggle of light angainst shadow, of the famous against the ones living in shadows...<br /><br />Alas during World War 2 Okayama Castle was bomb raided by the Americans and blasted to ashes. However still having the original plans, by which the castle was built, as soon as Okayama prospered again, the castle was rebuilt by the old plans, using the traditional building techniques. However apart from the castle and one gate, nothing else was rebuilt, and most of the area remains flat today.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnUrFNuf50muj7Lx_IgxSjvCe2hONS18GqKA0ostfa8DRUrYuje716TyxOlmxHuds3EdIjZ3TtR0MQbrmtgG3dUr7GQoFsx0PcqtTosWHaeJoCrb7AU_ftkla9Xxu3P90A8UDoYDPil7W/s1600-h/Nishinihon+403.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnUrFNuf50muj7Lx_IgxSjvCe2hONS18GqKA0ostfa8DRUrYuje716TyxOlmxHuds3EdIjZ3TtR0MQbrmtgG3dUr7GQoFsx0PcqtTosWHaeJoCrb7AU_ftkla9Xxu3P90A8UDoYDPil7W/s320/Nishinihon+403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228663627739018162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Oo4VW1kQ6Xns88YdEm1PBpyNmUmd61xK_GOxd_hLgziEWLfXD5jgOHsPg-1t-YLjJqW8-pTf3zENNTlbcBtnAUovEnNKIGIrkVbkz4ahWPsPmkXfUSwnI3byp0C3X-7jI7KlW-barGKW/s1600-h/Nishinihon+404.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Oo4VW1kQ6Xns88YdEm1PBpyNmUmd61xK_GOxd_hLgziEWLfXD5jgOHsPg-1t-YLjJqW8-pTf3zENNTlbcBtnAUovEnNKIGIrkVbkz4ahWPsPmkXfUSwnI3byp0C3X-7jI7KlW-barGKW/s320/Nishinihon+404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228663632110762930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />markers on the ground tell which buildings stood here before the bomb raid<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0DZm3Dblvl6dZq_pLuMVz7q3EK-ygtUWYkwuHjUvhKTT_LIHcZ25QonSGuPPrhVEVjwNkeea9kE1c3Nj5erLUvnsHoKE8bIjHuNim5YECLGJV3Xwl7eeedlEywhMokCv8n5B_NOamXZM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+407.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0DZm3Dblvl6dZq_pLuMVz7q3EK-ygtUWYkwuHjUvhKTT_LIHcZ25QonSGuPPrhVEVjwNkeea9kE1c3Nj5erLUvnsHoKE8bIjHuNim5YECLGJV3Xwl7eeedlEywhMokCv8n5B_NOamXZM/s320/Nishinihon+407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228663647871168786" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />the main gate has been rebuilt<br /></div><br />Inside you will find a really good museum dedicated to Castle and Court life in Japan. You can see many very well displayed recreations of rooms, traditional tools and toys and weapons and armory.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhwyzXJkZPbRhtrzMnVCg4Jvdwa9qqGTY2DjVUy2zx3gzzPWsHE85AnWNAoj03miiGLWTfmqzTGa_43G_ZvH6MEit4uD50Og4Yoqc3s_uJRzoHarS-5qSJTAlxjs6lSPtZa4UWAlb3UZg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+411.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhwyzXJkZPbRhtrzMnVCg4Jvdwa9qqGTY2DjVUy2zx3gzzPWsHE85AnWNAoj03miiGLWTfmqzTGa_43G_ZvH6MEit4uD50Og4Yoqc3s_uJRzoHarS-5qSJTAlxjs6lSPtZa4UWAlb3UZg/s320/Nishinihon+411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228665470885265650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbieXJLvcwoQeNcLuGI7J55GYYVZQGTAkM6uiEPxYSjEx7EWDQ4E_rjJdRR1gYXQdyAIaZeniUN6NZMOZBgyzXBVfnUJKW-f70Swxf4w8rcZfepTWIQXyRQHCy6_gIGFcO-7BUWjM6YkTe/s1600-h/Nishinihon+413.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbieXJLvcwoQeNcLuGI7J55GYYVZQGTAkM6uiEPxYSjEx7EWDQ4E_rjJdRR1gYXQdyAIaZeniUN6NZMOZBgyzXBVfnUJKW-f70Swxf4w8rcZfepTWIQXyRQHCy6_gIGFcO-7BUWjM6YkTe/s320/Nishinihon+413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228665477388934850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrySk6Rn231g_7OSYpT_SO-c68-jqJ8155Dhhp6GHuprLdYqqJNS7xIud6_LiLddDFJgI9ab4dzGmt5zXCAK8Z60_yDRIE_kxgF7uZuvdTLtFGqNFeooWRlIDPYnN61gvj7D-yNhagJw4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+414.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrySk6Rn231g_7OSYpT_SO-c68-jqJ8155Dhhp6GHuprLdYqqJNS7xIud6_LiLddDFJgI9ab4dzGmt5zXCAK8Z60_yDRIE_kxgF7uZuvdTLtFGqNFeooWRlIDPYnN61gvj7D-yNhagJw4/s320/Nishinihon+414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228665476118782818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ezpjqZkVQTSzoWRTK-e7wKwYIBB7QB5jHZFIjxquIYbw55ipFxnZq0Y3qcRhEZ44ikKKs2L6UIe9lzZb7P4jTI8DfVERbdyvRfRypF6PvEGuWDWNN8109JatEMwz6xw5pmqednNzjdf-/s1600-h/Nishinihon+417.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ezpjqZkVQTSzoWRTK-e7wKwYIBB7QB5jHZFIjxquIYbw55ipFxnZq0Y3qcRhEZ44ikKKs2L6UIe9lzZb7P4jTI8DfVERbdyvRfRypF6PvEGuWDWNN8109JatEMwz6xw5pmqednNzjdf-/s320/Nishinihon+417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228665483124313794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdx1noDIjVt8RHe9U35nC1ueBb_zmJ8_WVH-w1_rr_65_0pKL0lWktXiy9CR3BsnquUduDVp-TrpyM1KqVRg4WJ0f0PT0nKz80CHA-OxrqSc6t9i10DK0I4usPoZmqKTjj-CvaHUeHjq0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+419.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdx1noDIjVt8RHe9U35nC1ueBb_zmJ8_WVH-w1_rr_65_0pKL0lWktXiy9CR3BsnquUduDVp-TrpyM1KqVRg4WJ0f0PT0nKz80CHA-OxrqSc6t9i10DK0I4usPoZmqKTjj-CvaHUeHjq0/s320/Nishinihon+419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228666479712909442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnWyioUs4Su7HWgh7XUIuBbY51dendmvesbvPkGkx9h74R71U1BrfyzknatgVBpclPL_rE03nWKSDqu8V1fXA3SO9Ek_mw3tugF2SqJAw-3EZMzmY96FWH3aNOmGesBVNGD-Qq50XBmjE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+418.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnWyioUs4Su7HWgh7XUIuBbY51dendmvesbvPkGkx9h74R71U1BrfyzknatgVBpclPL_rE03nWKSDqu8V1fXA3SO9Ek_mw3tugF2SqJAw-3EZMzmY96FWH3aNOmGesBVNGD-Qq50XBmjE/s320/Nishinihon+418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228666474359860530" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Although lord Ukita had the lion share of building the castle, other lords were also involved in upgrades and maintenance.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrjHJ0mPvsUvPr3d5oAdftjFKtuHsD9s0xT3mudmEEP-8wX4d9VMOmBKcFvb1Pf8MJoICWNbj6PePJBxO62Wiy5nzZl-c7uZp6tnwFkAg7eoJIhtTp0U3tm80hxOzOymd6goz2gpH3YPF/s1600-h/Nishinihon+443.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrjHJ0mPvsUvPr3d5oAdftjFKtuHsD9s0xT3mudmEEP-8wX4d9VMOmBKcFvb1Pf8MJoICWNbj6PePJBxO62Wiy5nzZl-c7uZp6tnwFkAg7eoJIhtTp0U3tm80hxOzOymd6goz2gpH3YPF/s320/Nishinihon+443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228668883838684530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />lord Ukita<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mi5UkAS5iWYGcyfwOT1x6GQYuhzrUW5lURk9Sn_846nL543ShVpM2EzdGjJ6pzPYL4jQyaNN9sAoBPFOsNfHv1gOGLJFFbSIbsPpQF0fiNx-7OX9kEBgP1fNnukC6BzViCAWiDfrMtwf/s1600-h/Nishinihon+398.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mi5UkAS5iWYGcyfwOT1x6GQYuhzrUW5lURk9Sn_846nL543ShVpM2EzdGjJ6pzPYL4jQyaNN9sAoBPFOsNfHv1gOGLJFFbSIbsPpQF0fiNx-7OX9kEBgP1fNnukC6BzViCAWiDfrMtwf/s320/Nishinihon+398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228662586326522482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the lord's clan emblems<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwX-QSNOx8zSF5108KChBrD6YjeHknA14XGF1jlNCABFqSlW0ZOecIocQQ7BCFhD4RtzpRsvZCIku7eoiOnfAxCBa9jAEHeuf1U7Y6XXYS2U17jBibvFCOd7tTXqpXiVfWjl4RwPkwfCw/s1600-h/Nishinihon+420.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwX-QSNOx8zSF5108KChBrD6YjeHknA14XGF1jlNCABFqSlW0ZOecIocQQ7BCFhD4RtzpRsvZCIku7eoiOnfAxCBa9jAEHeuf1U7Y6XXYS2U17jBibvFCOd7tTXqpXiVfWjl4RwPkwfCw/s320/Nishinihon+420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228666482911923346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />which you again could find in roof tiles (before the bombing)</div><br />At the top you can again enjoy a nice view over Okayama and see the beautiful 後楽園 Koraku garden from above.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QXAkEMcrNdbWwz-8f7570nVWSQ7SZKZduuWUNfjoGlAFf2qDJhxihMtRQhPIqEtNf3tdZTIEo7j1VPaUwye9mv_K1e1-GgIyqvHUl_3pYj6hY5hUf-u3-odEvEh6ha82tUZsr4iEk0V1/s1600-h/Nishinihon+425.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QXAkEMcrNdbWwz-8f7570nVWSQ7SZKZduuWUNfjoGlAFf2qDJhxihMtRQhPIqEtNf3tdZTIEo7j1VPaUwye9mv_K1e1-GgIyqvHUl_3pYj6hY5hUf-u3-odEvEh6ha82tUZsr4iEk0V1/s320/Nishinihon+425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228667026309890146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjvfNHxMz1sWqA4P5nyf8ofWZPBM-7Z_rkgWrTPkUmquWM48WbtJM4LDjeQQP6ktNHw9DZxVvZ1RpcSlvtgbAigyQ6lhQhy8RNMPyCLYbad95_NptrSlKSgoJQj9jjkKXgFXLJI99Sc_f/s1600-h/Nishinihon+426.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjvfNHxMz1sWqA4P5nyf8ofWZPBM-7Z_rkgWrTPkUmquWM48WbtJM4LDjeQQP6ktNHw9DZxVvZ1RpcSlvtgbAigyQ6lhQhy8RNMPyCLYbad95_NptrSlKSgoJQj9jjkKXgFXLJI99Sc_f/s320/Nishinihon+426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228667033445555714" border="0" /></a></div><br />Almost to the top, there is a super interesting section with seven legends about Okayama Castle, which are alas only narrated in Japanese, but don't worry, I will narrate them for you:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">烏城のいわれ Origin Of The Name "The Crow Castle"</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUgXKCmHZ8RHKLdrG4dyBBLW8-KEewLowczuZrU6eIzUgrqljscIYAMF_FI0dxBERRjMvN1HIt9aZlHR8hDo7AEa_Lj71vp4WU470WCrL3oTMzIAtNlrWEodbOlUXzGaBO5PFa8AgCwdW/s1600-h/Nishinihon+433.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUgXKCmHZ8RHKLdrG4dyBBLW8-KEewLowczuZrU6eIzUgrqljscIYAMF_FI0dxBERRjMvN1HIt9aZlHR8hDo7AEa_Lj71vp4WU470WCrL3oTMzIAtNlrWEodbOlUXzGaBO5PFa8AgCwdW/s320/Nishinihon+433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228667862399283890" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Okayama Castle has become the nickname "The Crow Castle". The central castle tower and its outside are painted black; this black painted wood was also often referred to as crow wood. Also at the time lord Ukita built the castle, he decided to clad the roof in gold, so that a second name of the castle became "The Golden Crow Castle".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-qA3h6Cwm0pzDWyQDlNdbxeYjaB5IWX9KXGCn0rKGnPyOP-WE67hOtDzk3Xe7Wp6Mrrhbwp1pz7UC0cHUoIht_H-dl0GlX5iUFDNUw0-mpeXxjOmU3ueNi_wiTFKfmIyF6grFBPn_-UB/s1600-h/Nishinihon+421.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-qA3h6Cwm0pzDWyQDlNdbxeYjaB5IWX9KXGCn0rKGnPyOP-WE67hOtDzk3Xe7Wp6Mrrhbwp1pz7UC0cHUoIht_H-dl0GlX5iUFDNUw0-mpeXxjOmU3ueNi_wiTFKfmIyF6grFBPn_-UB/s320/Nishinihon+421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228666483051055714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />now only the fishes on the roof are clad in gold<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">蓮華石 The Lotus Flower Stone</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4BtkEaIzyFmTBhLsV_BbOluWqn6XETXs5EAQCCuqo1z7qD38oFxlT9qTsagZb3g658Cg7mKk0BYOIZEp_ABKQv5oe_Wx08gjjI8v94qGw2_JPbWpmwCd6b66B13uhuEWibsVcQfkU1II/s1600-h/Nishinihon+432.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4BtkEaIzyFmTBhLsV_BbOluWqn6XETXs5EAQCCuqo1z7qD38oFxlT9qTsagZb3g658Cg7mKk0BYOIZEp_ABKQv5oe_Wx08gjjI8v94qGw2_JPbWpmwCd6b66B13uhuEWibsVcQfkU1II/s320/Nishinihon+432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228667038997609666" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Starting from the keep, crossing the iron gate at the southern bridge, you can find a strange stone in the southern wall, which is referred to as the Lotus Stone. It is written in the books from the end of the Edo Period, that when people whose teeth hurt go to this stone and pray in front of it, their pain will immediately cease. The stone is called "Lotus Flower Stone", because by chance he resembles the rare Lotus Flower.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">対面所の怪談 The Ghost Story At The Meeting Room</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuJMAtOcWvL_tLZ38JKaEuCf_8qr8tC4AYqvAZ_4d9dCSkzpKy6PZLbKJ3FsvHeoF3LANrhPIR50258EwWkT5qTqm0teZT-iJuLoAXV1ubJiDJlRmn0qqOTNv_v1vbyMO6vlEG9Ao56KI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+431.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuJMAtOcWvL_tLZ38JKaEuCf_8qr8tC4AYqvAZ_4d9dCSkzpKy6PZLbKJ3FsvHeoF3LANrhPIR50258EwWkT5qTqm0teZT-iJuLoAXV1ubJiDJlRmn0qqOTNv_v1vbyMO6vlEG9Ao56KI/s320/Nishinihon+431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228667036603207762" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />When the night clads the keep's meeting room in darkness, monsters like Kizune (moster fox) and Tanuki (monster raccoon) meet in here. All the people who lived in this room died quickly after such a meeting.<br />When the prince of the castle heard this story, he wanted to see the state of this room. When he entered many strange monsters appeared and started to dance. He, enjoying the dance very much, and started to add some music with his fan.<br />When the monsters were exhausted from dancing, they disappeared gave the room back to the prince and allowed again for people to live inside.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">榎の馬場 The Enoki Horse Racing Track</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHLBoKPADubOhEs12SK_PNCF4id_dGfidqdlHbEZtHiYf_qV1bnQBXkrsXM94yqC58KmLRIJsc-gS2ocsaAgHH35akFug2okw9ox5ZAjgpobP4ZlDqFXbnUGARtXPrAv_3_N6YwAsVCld/s1600-h/Nishinihon+438.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHLBoKPADubOhEs12SK_PNCF4id_dGfidqdlHbEZtHiYf_qV1bnQBXkrsXM94yqC58KmLRIJsc-gS2ocsaAgHH35akFug2okw9ox5ZAjgpobP4ZlDqFXbnUGARtXPrAv_3_N6YwAsVCld/s320/Nishinihon+438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228667875137441426" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />In the history books of Okayama Castle a horse racing track named Enoki is mentioned. From the time lord Ukita built Okayama Castle, a huge Enoki tree was located at the castle area (Enoki is a kind of Japanese tree). People say this tree was even there during the Edo period, when temples of a Bizen Buddhist sect were located at the place the castle is today. That is why the racing track is named after this ancient tree.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Oxdi1HKG5KcaE8OSbBqCbU6Xac9y1J6KOJz8a8Y0wm6-Co-csycFe86lzRJ6ZifHdjcde1yeVPF0GSARRRNnq4ufD3LjjxzijtAsDDOxVpPfhw3B5pEln0-ODPXA50hbtj_Nhsl808TD/s1600-h/Nishinihon+422.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Oxdi1HKG5KcaE8OSbBqCbU6Xac9y1J6KOJz8a8Y0wm6-Co-csycFe86lzRJ6ZifHdjcde1yeVPF0GSARRRNnq4ufD3LjjxzijtAsDDOxVpPfhw3B5pEln0-ODPXA50hbtj_Nhsl808TD/s320/Nishinihon+422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228666484755259314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />even the great Enoki tree did not survive the bombing in World War 2<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">本丸の大火 The Great Fire In The Keep</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFHuR0LKc_vb5TujRd9c_5mUeQD1yNOp0GDc5fIkqwnxVAcdxrN-QART0AIlF_oLdlHM_zpzi_E8x00Ek-VkpHRj_zrw-PsppiFqZ_VuaAQAwL3y6gn9RO9ngHWUabRavHX91tDyVj1BJ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+437.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFHuR0LKc_vb5TujRd9c_5mUeQD1yNOp0GDc5fIkqwnxVAcdxrN-QART0AIlF_oLdlHM_zpzi_E8x00Ek-VkpHRj_zrw-PsppiFqZ_VuaAQAwL3y6gn9RO9ngHWUabRavHX91tDyVj1BJ/s320/Nishinihon+437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228667871770756514" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />in November of the year 1634 the lord of the castle had to leave for a 参勤交代 Sankinkoutai (in this period all daimyo (landlords) had to annually visit the Shogun in Edo and therefore leave their estates at least once a year. This was a clever tactic of the Shogun to keep them both close at hand, and also to weaken their influence in their own provinces).<br />At the time the lord still resided in Edo a huge fire broke out in the keep and burned everything to the ground.Through incredible effort of the vassals the main tower remained partly after the fire was gone. But for the reconstruction of the entire castle many days of hardship were necessary. To prevent disasters like this from happening again, the most important parts like the big front gate were rebuilt fire resistant.<br />Also before the great fire broke out, an arrow with white feathers was found next to the entrance of the keep. People say it was shot by a person who predicated the outbreak of the fire and wanted to warn the people about it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">天守閣の虹梁 The Rainbow Beam</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkmvxY5t4c1erRAuiYVSilPdh_941OK-Im0UE-U6VPMqeH9iYGoSNnqOeun5GWCPEqq99RlhuUUZKL8ZgCrEkxS329q_7a0gpRYjC3ZYWpp9NDTqBUhy1hXDaMg93cj5wBTBFQlOfXdUg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+439.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkmvxY5t4c1erRAuiYVSilPdh_941OK-Im0UE-U6VPMqeH9iYGoSNnqOeun5GWCPEqq99RlhuUUZKL8ZgCrEkxS329q_7a0gpRYjC3ZYWpp9NDTqBUhy1hXDaMg93cj5wBTBFQlOfXdUg/s320/Nishinihon+439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228667877183582306" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Before the outbreak of the great fire there was a fresh timber beam, which's bark had just been removed. The beam was colorful like a rainbow and was called rainbow timber. It has been the characteristic of Okayama Castle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">抜け穴の正体 The Truth About The Secret Passage</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTzSTNWWiWVny_e0jvsEdQzUNHnTu4Ynb1hXCderMxQDPS8D8N-jf2HhV_88rxOybnVcPXxYI-34NjnpqSk2lnlragZ1w223axdr0Opvbab9qLbYSQek3Kpx-JQ4epp1CSaZqvucrH-tU/s1600-h/Nishinihon+441.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTzSTNWWiWVny_e0jvsEdQzUNHnTu4Ynb1hXCderMxQDPS8D8N-jf2HhV_88rxOybnVcPXxYI-34NjnpqSk2lnlragZ1w223axdr0Opvbab9qLbYSQek3Kpx-JQ4epp1CSaZqvucrH-tU/s320/Nishinihon+441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228668877933480962" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Many Japanese castles had secret passages into or out of the castle. In the case of Okayama Castle, the secret passage was hidden in the base floor of the keep. It was thus possible to leave the castle though the underground, through a secret passage leading under the 旭川 Asahi River to the 後楽園 Kourakuen garden.<br /><br />The castle from the outside:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyTvNaQwERwiSwnkZ3TOMFejO8sxWBRPHnbL__9VEfVKqS0iLDXRW0wzmjM12JDtrA6nQnRBhNLIL3RCSfJMLeX5GAYl5eL0ZufB-JjrJ7wqFx_Sq8b2vxBH89TfFUJNetd0yOzzOBvXA/s1600-h/Nishinihon+444.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyTvNaQwERwiSwnkZ3TOMFejO8sxWBRPHnbL__9VEfVKqS0iLDXRW0wzmjM12JDtrA6nQnRBhNLIL3RCSfJMLeX5GAYl5eL0ZufB-JjrJ7wqFx_Sq8b2vxBH89TfFUJNetd0yOzzOBvXA/s320/Nishinihon+444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228668892629926306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-4TxUAyDUEM3IsAGbgDikkLo208KdxIMBiqxaB4sGqEmGzs7ThxuRILXZB9ijNOVRoFUTZgI2YPOFkuTlxr1sKORROscsj5Qnu82Car7kpocZPXWr3VFMQ0oRv6pAR0UYsG8V_7Rq7-o/s1600-h/Nishinihon+446.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-4TxUAyDUEM3IsAGbgDikkLo208KdxIMBiqxaB4sGqEmGzs7ThxuRILXZB9ijNOVRoFUTZgI2YPOFkuTlxr1sKORROscsj5Qnu82Car7kpocZPXWr3VFMQ0oRv6pAR0UYsG8V_7Rq7-o/s320/Nishinihon+446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228668898698847490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4Ju4H-owBp6v_4jI_PS1kxE28cgq74ABuAiZbgcLK0BZfNKuWS2Uyzn-eXyErGE-sf1Mrdhq7QQiSWrkzZMfo2Qd1ZMbLjsORcg-2bhpUJCtrJOkzH-AYpad0ikLHRe6fj4HxWdMH4iY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+408.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4Ju4H-owBp6v_4jI_PS1kxE28cgq74ABuAiZbgcLK0BZfNKuWS2Uyzn-eXyErGE-sf1Mrdhq7QQiSWrkzZMfo2Qd1ZMbLjsORcg-2bhpUJCtrJOkzH-AYpad0ikLHRe6fj4HxWdMH4iY/s320/Nishinihon+408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228665464760362146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">and the inside of the castle walls:<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nitN3dZ7Rnp-pSRp-qZNv8Wc5xBnVb4cOOGp4iUlKo6XxkfftQae82KIKkj1GgXwZFUOeRCOBYtybg6GZ6uJBH09ePo6wtbYAoaudMUdkAhnAnCfvUz9h8_Ne83jzAlmw7njipPooga7/s1600-h/Nishinihon+405.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nitN3dZ7Rnp-pSRp-qZNv8Wc5xBnVb4cOOGp4iUlKo6XxkfftQae82KIKkj1GgXwZFUOeRCOBYtybg6GZ6uJBH09ePo6wtbYAoaudMUdkAhnAnCfvUz9h8_Ne83jzAlmw7njipPooga7/s320/Nishinihon+405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228663635748657362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyoar2grag8BNPAdxOYP3FbkJ-GqpEmTONggLGVorrKpP2Nuc0lBMYzxDYslI5SD1tDw1RHEWmSXH-sNLJf4OhZ9gdd3NUprgvLYv9srEP3H_x39ksIZ6g09aahNgQW-cdJN9VIT25vXi/s1600-h/Nishinihon+406.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyoar2grag8BNPAdxOYP3FbkJ-GqpEmTONggLGVorrKpP2Nuc0lBMYzxDYslI5SD1tDw1RHEWmSXH-sNLJf4OhZ9gdd3NUprgvLYv9srEP3H_x39ksIZ6g09aahNgQW-cdJN9VIT25vXi/s320/Nishinihon+406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228663644120991218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mi5UkAS5iWYGcyfwOT1x6GQYuhzrUW5lURk9Sn_846nL543ShVpM2EzdGjJ6pzPYL4jQyaNN9sAoBPFOsNfHv1gOGLJFFbSIbsPpQF0fiNx-7OX9kEBgP1fNnukC6BzViCAWiDfrMtwf/s1600-h/Nishinihon+398.JPG"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">後楽園 Kouraku Garden</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgx_ZNCXmHXjjsjwuADF-X43cuJ_CkTIP7hbeZzLDMX4LA5hXZqJJOI0dB2JA0hZkuFI5B5uT2XDAiFL1KM27aV0_BNo36aVYaqJ826OEgUrygWi7bj4j77lFcf8TdsbCuGdzGur2pl8D/s1600-h/Nishinihon+460.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgx_ZNCXmHXjjsjwuADF-X43cuJ_CkTIP7hbeZzLDMX4LA5hXZqJJOI0dB2JA0hZkuFI5B5uT2XDAiFL1KM27aV0_BNo36aVYaqJ826OEgUrygWi7bj4j77lFcf8TdsbCuGdzGur2pl8D/s320/Nishinihon+460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228671979018004706" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Kouraku Garden is said to be one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens. It is located right next to the Crow Castle, only separated by a river and a bridge. If there really is a secret passageway I could not verify, but I could verify that the garden is beautiful.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxqLlYiq4vC3VBhYp_wYGvxKEIzXt8RgJBAQsq9RipU_T1xPHO9S36Q58bAnUiANgszZhAxVALcdegiUx5cXYvc5CIOgxHaCgcUUSLbc-iig4VOZY3vrS22K4e2fl6NONv3t6JsOoLJS3/s1600-h/Nishinihon+445.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxqLlYiq4vC3VBhYp_wYGvxKEIzXt8RgJBAQsq9RipU_T1xPHO9S36Q58bAnUiANgszZhAxVALcdegiUx5cXYvc5CIOgxHaCgcUUSLbc-iig4VOZY3vrS22K4e2fl6NONv3t6JsOoLJS3/s320/Nishinihon+445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228668893911200626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the bridge to 後楽園 Kouraku Garden<br /></div><br />Now you cannot compare Japanese garden to European ones, because where European ones boast with rare flowers, fountains and marvelous statues, Japanese gardens stick to nature and simplicity and try to form and use the existing nature, rather than to create it. This is why Japanese gardens are always a place for contemplation and meditation and harmony. It is a pleasure to slowly walk through them and let the environment have its effect on you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3u_sWoVnajPWBwJJmM23FRXVoEYe5a1AF3YiC5Z9XwkAVdt6jSVWGIKV-6ANewwtG9oIzdvIWKEwV9fRMPIF8B5V2gPir8ehJWIgXzBLIrYUvauEbs52-4Ie7jT-WxIVZM4oAB4dT9-4/s1600-h/Nishinihon+447.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3u_sWoVnajPWBwJJmM23FRXVoEYe5a1AF3YiC5Z9XwkAVdt6jSVWGIKV-6ANewwtG9oIzdvIWKEwV9fRMPIF8B5V2gPir8ehJWIgXzBLIrYUvauEbs52-4Ie7jT-WxIVZM4oAB4dT9-4/s320/Nishinihon+447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228670712236885570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRee5lVEXFjcTx3T_nUNSDXCY51tgYi5R1p1byZaDUraoc4MlkqR_gCmHkPTeuefOm5CMSa3lf6x38zVV5tMEkPOjm5SdGFUGpRvMAuaZYHJZVRAhAUsyZ8ERKo55VTc_myV6RI6_4hLH/s1600-h/Nishinihon+451.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRee5lVEXFjcTx3T_nUNSDXCY51tgYi5R1p1byZaDUraoc4MlkqR_gCmHkPTeuefOm5CMSa3lf6x38zVV5tMEkPOjm5SdGFUGpRvMAuaZYHJZVRAhAUsyZ8ERKo55VTc_myV6RI6_4hLH/s320/Nishinihon+451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228670718695468994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjfazWzPvO5EkubD9VaE8qf6XClukE84lQvaC8C_-FKV-hincZ1FZf2rdmx-AZYXxLn0yeI7M3-eZ1sEAp30Lj70JnYBB1PcTsjGP18x6oj4tIiGZRsiwMTK9anGPuSEmZ4u6J6DydAQ5/s1600-h/Nishinihon+453.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjfazWzPvO5EkubD9VaE8qf6XClukE84lQvaC8C_-FKV-hincZ1FZf2rdmx-AZYXxLn0yeI7M3-eZ1sEAp30Lj70JnYBB1PcTsjGP18x6oj4tIiGZRsiwMTK9anGPuSEmZ4u6J6DydAQ5/s320/Nishinihon+453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228670718522353202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgrivxPuxjh7z7uQ6apbV1u6ZV7DV_X3YuCPatGuzQ14YSh7ulSp73Eo0TGPejltidKqoipfoqNXrwYwyMi14ZFjhnkiBIhptPG_GP3fDfFxOrKosN7fFbUbS5u5Swl_1kOw7TQgQzLk6/s1600-h/Nishinihon+454.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgrivxPuxjh7z7uQ6apbV1u6ZV7DV_X3YuCPatGuzQ14YSh7ulSp73Eo0TGPejltidKqoipfoqNXrwYwyMi14ZFjhnkiBIhptPG_GP3fDfFxOrKosN7fFbUbS5u5Swl_1kOw7TQgQzLk6/s320/Nishinihon+454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228670722905376530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNUjymjzmVhUOgB2S8m0dF9kUxYMEUmhw6FFgFV8p6AEFsiyjK_8UhmOrSYwJtZGb-HToKCwhoMGDBlL1iBfvKWk7xGphY6sbQtEGA0XIaapKZmehryUTA5tn2hhMSdF5pA8gGwpR_JHp/s1600-h/Nishinihon+456.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNUjymjzmVhUOgB2S8m0dF9kUxYMEUmhw6FFgFV8p6AEFsiyjK_8UhmOrSYwJtZGb-HToKCwhoMGDBlL1iBfvKWk7xGphY6sbQtEGA0XIaapKZmehryUTA5tn2hhMSdF5pA8gGwpR_JHp/s320/Nishinihon+456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228670719908662706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKRVb0auPHfwpi0tyCz0P58zEozwKShmDC_j0LVysy_o4lpeIb-bgRobKSsGhHpiszBFarMyZEmn6NT7LoDTW9UcPcFVuDnc04w-sSMugtdgUPyGKoldPrRmdvXncI8GaVnq6HsnHULdJ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+458.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKRVb0auPHfwpi0tyCz0P58zEozwKShmDC_j0LVysy_o4lpeIb-bgRobKSsGhHpiszBFarMyZEmn6NT7LoDTW9UcPcFVuDnc04w-sSMugtdgUPyGKoldPrRmdvXncI8GaVnq6HsnHULdJ/s320/Nishinihon+458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228671973745037090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oTH8PP9G_PMpRTUbq8yrnX2zYfNrhGFZHJOdOoRIsqEdq6NbbDcHny1_UP6NKX_WMEDjHkZIUmxnJXgY2COp8JHzII7y7H46NhxXYhyUb-MjMvxJ_mkB9uQjJ-iWKzxZ9Opt8Zhu_RzL/s1600-h/Nishinihon+464.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oTH8PP9G_PMpRTUbq8yrnX2zYfNrhGFZHJOdOoRIsqEdq6NbbDcHny1_UP6NKX_WMEDjHkZIUmxnJXgY2COp8JHzII7y7H46NhxXYhyUb-MjMvxJ_mkB9uQjJ-iWKzxZ9Opt8Zhu_RzL/s320/Nishinihon+464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228671989468637394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivE70S5W1tfF1OwejhGhs4vwErgDQqZVYjXgqB4d3osyExnFYuedN0WUHvCohm_ykhrZwWXtRiYwxUeU23Fm83HFaRdoRHvc0l0vZuKc2uiG19E63HatkLa5R4uHaH0jXB8n99g2vRpYgM/s1600-h/Nishinihon+467.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivE70S5W1tfF1OwejhGhs4vwErgDQqZVYjXgqB4d3osyExnFYuedN0WUHvCohm_ykhrZwWXtRiYwxUeU23Fm83HFaRdoRHvc0l0vZuKc2uiG19E63HatkLa5R4uHaH0jXB8n99g2vRpYgM/s320/Nishinihon+467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228671989804178466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />there is an area with some bird cages<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoIj-FzosgTT5PCj6LAYdYy4VSDi6eUN3Ci5ZgZtqWHEyORWI2Yrda7mNeSwmDT1JUbQkV41J6HZT2JFMHVXz6kq_dMcp0e8PzndT4p5ImbjSMhoKb8xR2WwSJalexSF5RZSBnMIRVgqB/s1600-h/Nishinihon+461.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoIj-FzosgTT5PCj6LAYdYy4VSDi6eUN3Ci5ZgZtqWHEyORWI2Yrda7mNeSwmDT1JUbQkV41J6HZT2JFMHVXz6kq_dMcp0e8PzndT4p5ImbjSMhoKb8xR2WwSJalexSF5RZSBnMIRVgqB/s320/Nishinihon+461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228671982798589858" border="0" /></a><br /><br />even farming rice can be aesthetic<br /></div><br />...<br /><br />That was my trip to Okayama, I hope you enjoyed the stories.<br />There was one more thing I would have liked to see, which is Japan's oldest still standing school, which was open for nobles and commons alike already in the 18th century. Alas the school is actually quite far away from Okayama and you need a lot of time and money to visit it, so I forfeit and continued westwards to the next town: 倉敷 Kurashiki.<br /><br />mikascallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977736363562144015.post-77583787937483581542008-07-17T01:28:00.000-07:002008-07-29T18:43:51.963-07:00姫路 HimejiMy next stop was at Himeji. In Himeji is well known for Japan's most famous castle 姫路城 Himeji Castle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">姫路 Himeji<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7V0zdaKhWz4bquqF3CgpP7SiFaIndgfu2fBeurFQ25j_ORxdSPn2xsoFxPqs9kCbWBOanLEOPiERAVxTu9usivqNrPf7BW0T3Ahb1CKQ9oWmBFSYAELF-HBFhyaW0IxBsfGMPq0mLHw8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+333.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7V0zdaKhWz4bquqF3CgpP7SiFaIndgfu2fBeurFQ25j_ORxdSPn2xsoFxPqs9kCbWBOanLEOPiERAVxTu9usivqNrPf7BW0T3Ahb1CKQ9oWmBFSYAELF-HBFhyaW0IxBsfGMPq0mLHw8/s320/Nishinihon+333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228609568247904818" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I was surprised by the size of the city, because I expected something smaller, the size of a town or so, but Himeji is a metropolis with more than 500.000 inhabitants.<br /><br />I originally planned to use my tent here, but since I didn't expect such a large city, I was surprised by the size of the urban area. In fact I walked with my heavy luggage for 2-3 hours out of the city, until I gave up trying to find a place to camp...<br /><br />Himeji is a thriving town which lured many rich people into its city borders. The prices of accommodations are accordingly. Also there are no Youth Hostels or something similar, so it is really hard to find something cheap to sleep. For me I eventually decided not to sleep in Himeji but see how far the trains would take me this day...<br /><br />Anyway Himeji is famous for its really wonderful castle, but that's basically it. There are some nice gardens around and you can climb on of the surrounding hills to get a nice view on the castle from afar, but apart from that there is nothing much to do in this town.<br /><br />One thing I found quite nice is the huge road leading from the station directly to castle has many interesting statues on the sides.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0de401K5xuYa0Q0ftMNDOMbYHFMj_MILQKd-nvIjBztiX7lrPyBGzblwH8z0zku7KHwJFGZWtx8nSVJduqixp71824Siyi_b0PQCppEDf1ZsG-AVz4D6mp8t1vA3KM_eNuUbFWfF8ooL/s1600-h/Nishinihon+334.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0de401K5xuYa0Q0ftMNDOMbYHFMj_MILQKd-nvIjBztiX7lrPyBGzblwH8z0zku7KHwJFGZWtx8nSVJduqixp71824Siyi_b0PQCppEDf1ZsG-AVz4D6mp8t1vA3KM_eNuUbFWfF8ooL/s320/Nishinihon+334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228364589719530434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the huge road from station to castle<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XlDZot3pMEfKK4vMRRZhHha7ZppjQwgyJQAy_4ivNZ1GR1C0_n4AmZ91_E2GoMsaJq6FqPg-ZsKPOAefHO3QNtaeMsKijS-1hCyEHyEKtQkKynwdcHJ88BZ1IvaexAY_0BJVWj_Gt1mb/s1600-h/Nishinihon+255.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XlDZot3pMEfKK4vMRRZhHha7ZppjQwgyJQAy_4ivNZ1GR1C0_n4AmZ91_E2GoMsaJq6FqPg-ZsKPOAefHO3QNtaeMsKijS-1hCyEHyEKtQkKynwdcHJ88BZ1IvaexAY_0BJVWj_Gt1mb/s320/Nishinihon+255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228360232824049666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZ4hAq5_1anRHeR2i44oetCZ96CcTy43GGA1CcheJqcWpMyLAWi5gxJG1AsFIX4CdNaQr54PBQ2qJ5KnnXj0C8jo0U1YrdnM8R97dyLYrr-4_2xNc3dRsVSYBsQLtIpcuwgQ4HLPi9wmg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+260.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZ4hAq5_1anRHeR2i44oetCZ96CcTy43GGA1CcheJqcWpMyLAWi5gxJG1AsFIX4CdNaQr54PBQ2qJ5KnnXj0C8jo0U1YrdnM8R97dyLYrr-4_2xNc3dRsVSYBsQLtIpcuwgQ4HLPi9wmg/s320/Nishinihon+260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228360232813191618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurr-P_KwpGHuPgOoC-AYd5zHeWsejCLtGR9bVL_Up9d0No5d0pQszxjb_N1-XN5J_yR8zi1ofqrIAwibjW7plReLrda1axX4ZiCAAzCcLLVg5zmsyFd0JT_ReOSX2nYRP2eyaR5Y-PJZm/s1600-h/Nishinihon+259.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurr-P_KwpGHuPgOoC-AYd5zHeWsejCLtGR9bVL_Up9d0No5d0pQszxjb_N1-XN5J_yR8zi1ofqrIAwibjW7plReLrda1axX4ZiCAAzCcLLVg5zmsyFd0JT_ReOSX2nYRP2eyaR5Y-PJZm/s320/Nishinihon+259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228360236375525970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and some of the statues on its side<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">姫路城 Himeji Castle</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXuMWqSP_sGHG8H0uln7DB35rFsYuAbT7RfSLakUhRx5s5iXy9B726yXIBn9MZ-zf4VKrBcL9GT0V4HQq-SkyTbTHkglxcEZ4yDDufp07A_v-XMJ3hayV0ilLy2htkSirauxd9rSv7iXn/s1600-h/Nishinihon+270.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXuMWqSP_sGHG8H0uln7DB35rFsYuAbT7RfSLakUhRx5s5iXy9B726yXIBn9MZ-zf4VKrBcL9GT0V4HQq-SkyTbTHkglxcEZ4yDDufp07A_v-XMJ3hayV0ilLy2htkSirauxd9rSv7iXn/s320/Nishinihon+270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228360821423461362" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I was finally able to see the much spoken about Himeji Castle and I guess I can say it stands up to its fame. It is a marvelous structure which succeeded in combining the height of art, beauty and architecture with practical usage and impossibility to take the castle by force.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganGx6QiJ5nHZ5MCApk7t7I4vClAFqvSp6AokxWyaFcvTDNId45Wi_q233_EgjJUkb-ODmwJkMjdTnBgd7QJGyAfJV9pVgREUEhg45WwS8LrLv5UTDF72HX2fj9lZX3ueFZB0QzJXmJBaz/s1600-h/Nishinihon+300.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganGx6QiJ5nHZ5MCApk7t7I4vClAFqvSp6AokxWyaFcvTDNId45Wi_q233_EgjJUkb-ODmwJkMjdTnBgd7QJGyAfJV9pVgREUEhg45WwS8LrLv5UTDF72HX2fj9lZX3ueFZB0QzJXmJBaz/s320/Nishinihon+300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228362444438005186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps6LIToDGX0oOq2XXyG7M1pg9twVs4lsQqkZov2l21y722F9Hpg7Ck-eJf1bW2hKhKoVR1Pvl5sr8gUh9VGVBiOjrh4-rFS3vS2VXAmVo9f_sxUNSVanGprMgy8wl9b9AJaCQhkuEn3ll/s1600-h/Nishinihon+276.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps6LIToDGX0oOq2XXyG7M1pg9twVs4lsQqkZov2l21y722F9Hpg7Ck-eJf1bW2hKhKoVR1Pvl5sr8gUh9VGVBiOjrh4-rFS3vS2VXAmVo9f_sxUNSVanGprMgy8wl9b9AJaCQhkuEn3ll/s320/Nishinihon+276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228361272030289762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P1kvB9XtHXoNecv9SPIenMAJUSoPaNbtohuuaMjkJOqEKmskh3bADpLzXtleXKWbJRkUpSyMPl6n5ixCDRdLcII22wsRE4MugNvvFbA-KIkN7ScTpzQh3OSDRKRhX2lBzreaiYDfjnGp/s1600-h/Nishinihon+287.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P1kvB9XtHXoNecv9SPIenMAJUSoPaNbtohuuaMjkJOqEKmskh3bADpLzXtleXKWbJRkUpSyMPl6n5ixCDRdLcII22wsRE4MugNvvFbA-KIkN7ScTpzQh3OSDRKRhX2lBzreaiYDfjnGp/s320/Nishinihon+287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228361291630617618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />three pictures from inside the inner castle walls<br /></div><br />One incredible aspect of the castle are its four sides. Depending on the direction you are looking on the castle it changes its shape and looks completely different. This almost magical achievement makes it impossible for an enemy to plan a proper attack, since he can not guess how the castle actually looks like.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9Zy_GqsCbqtc7IYgSaVt4g_2XGUMOBvRp4qo2loOCZJSWvdW9Uvy-v_MJquibHaAT_jwsHSUBhjUWste2yeb5n1zMhU5-qfF8GsPZ8b2wVedyuq5MFnNmkld6YfF3JkPZORGbvVGM6q8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+370.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9Zy_GqsCbqtc7IYgSaVt4g_2XGUMOBvRp4qo2loOCZJSWvdW9Uvy-v_MJquibHaAT_jwsHSUBhjUWste2yeb5n1zMhU5-qfF8GsPZ8b2wVedyuq5MFnNmkld6YfF3JkPZORGbvVGM6q8/s320/Nishinihon+370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228366159251551410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuVvB4jDZXrfo2P-XoVeDfQguZ32Xp6Cp5AwYa1B6MH4l0Yjz87FYSZKrSoeY7xp3LNGJSlflLwvAlK2N7W92WD3aGHAJ2NDXeLhGRLxeMQkB-weQTCpa43zPKuBFoNVRxB7QyTHfZFY9/s1600-h/Nishinihon+345.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuVvB4jDZXrfo2P-XoVeDfQguZ32Xp6Cp5AwYa1B6MH4l0Yjz87FYSZKrSoeY7xp3LNGJSlflLwvAlK2N7W92WD3aGHAJ2NDXeLhGRLxeMQkB-weQTCpa43zPKuBFoNVRxB7QyTHfZFY9/s320/Nishinihon+345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228365431437732578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdTcPUF2TpGXgtgAhir99oO9F3WciCjZ91606qkwFKB2pLBWkDJno3JDdFNZxGb2xhJPBEzzWSFlj1Yli8-2rVcJt5xw9rgsvpOdnZJl2_Gv5ua9oDVdoL7qeI7U2TYSW6Me5TGMqxoIK/s1600-h/Nishinihon+349.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdTcPUF2TpGXgtgAhir99oO9F3WciCjZ91606qkwFKB2pLBWkDJno3JDdFNZxGb2xhJPBEzzWSFlj1Yli8-2rVcJt5xw9rgsvpOdnZJl2_Gv5ua9oDVdoL7qeI7U2TYSW6Me5TGMqxoIK/s320/Nishinihon+349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228365435066518274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyqRFDPEYOhmwmM7DLxYms9_rPJvkOyj0UNq4r1H1UR1lHJSJ_ystErUj12EOqOn4X8QPc72lfaKdLLLC2_W4QzpnLokOOZPoAbqzCK2p8sBxQ-ZJ_V9k0hDopzcm1bUVUBtBWM-NALvn/s1600-h/Nishinihon+357.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyqRFDPEYOhmwmM7DLxYms9_rPJvkOyj0UNq4r1H1UR1lHJSJ_ystErUj12EOqOn4X8QPc72lfaKdLLLC2_W4QzpnLokOOZPoAbqzCK2p8sBxQ-ZJ_V9k0hDopzcm1bUVUBtBWM-NALvn/s320/Nishinihon+357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228365445241913090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_UIBO3UGON_MYs8ECAXH35bqMEPsR8xQod9pqKcFhV_GwrpPNfVhAd7qax8__9e2MssSGyUfKjakItao41mxKAeB0c-TELYa89NG0gG8KeKHzqIxHn8HoO0Ju0TKrlxQ2q6T9_P36A13/s1600-h/Nishinihon+343.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_UIBO3UGON_MYs8ECAXH35bqMEPsR8xQod9pqKcFhV_GwrpPNfVhAd7qax8__9e2MssSGyUfKjakItao41mxKAeB0c-TELYa89NG0gG8KeKHzqIxHn8HoO0Ju0TKrlxQ2q6T9_P36A13/s320/Nishinihon+343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228365051964365474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIf3KUFQhaVtQqEoGP1iKi1_cAA9RRWYosNubjzBfhv9PUfAcRmWdZx0SPfzW5MZLuYh6w2WNG4Z4wKqz7jA3Xop_EWzhBH5IcbipYfsR5r6gxRseb4EstNQxEOyLm5qhQKm7IiYDSCoUK/s1600-h/Nishinihon+269.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIf3KUFQhaVtQqEoGP1iKi1_cAA9RRWYosNubjzBfhv9PUfAcRmWdZx0SPfzW5MZLuYh6w2WNG4Z4wKqz7jA3Xop_EWzhBH5IcbipYfsR5r6gxRseb4EstNQxEOyLm5qhQKm7IiYDSCoUK/s320/Nishinihon+269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228360817297026962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the ever changing shapes of Himeji Castle<br /></div><br />But the magic does not cease here. When you enter and follow the huge road the seems to lead to the castle, you suddenly realize that it does not lead to the castle, although it looked like that when entering the huge gate. Instead it leads to many well armored gates and walls, which enable the defenders to take out almost any size of army.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7oKDfV-OZn1e6IK89Y65SrJbzgNKv79OyrThSq3vxa7m7-ZN0JWVBGcJoLhnqJabOArzX6qDkOSmUWXcYeESb_lOBsuXYasFV-_6HRhN98qonZgQnVvMBvgbv54VoKzxMk0JNnXyOsd8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+265.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7oKDfV-OZn1e6IK89Y65SrJbzgNKv79OyrThSq3vxa7m7-ZN0JWVBGcJoLhnqJabOArzX6qDkOSmUWXcYeESb_lOBsuXYasFV-_6HRhN98qonZgQnVvMBvgbv54VoKzxMk0JNnXyOsd8/s320/Nishinihon+265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228360244156525298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />after you enter you will be tempted to follow the straight road leading directly to the castle... or is it?<br /></div><br />The true way to the castle is not obvious too find, and people who doesn't know that way won't find it. I have seen a documentary about the genius in Himeji's architecture, so I was able to find it. But it is like an optical illusion, you won't find it, if you don't know where to look.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxRsBmMjXqSEAqb0bE5wNoPyTNvoOXb6sO0BNsx1uqGsdxO4883hxumFXzdNJuv_EASBsVGnN_NMbeYOAzBibHmS8jCZT6bRt84vvaYp8z2TJZt3rXTK2ERgMtPDIr4fZOuE_qWg-Ufbo/s1600-h/Nishinihon+273.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxRsBmMjXqSEAqb0bE5wNoPyTNvoOXb6sO0BNsx1uqGsdxO4883hxumFXzdNJuv_EASBsVGnN_NMbeYOAzBibHmS8jCZT6bRt84vvaYp8z2TJZt3rXTK2ERgMtPDIr4fZOuE_qWg-Ufbo/s320/Nishinihon+273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228360825998774130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />on your right, you might spot this hole in the ground<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIA6nkp0zZnyax6bw41ZlaQjq-Y9lv-_rjmHOvqS8b7WZVcNWGQ-g9CtwhrA442g5poNUvP4xvSe_lj95wZpPNxfMEPCdtib_nfoDzFCzvXc2gMmjtbNyD5fN7L-d6vGRmU9hY513lf50M/s1600-h/Nishinihon+274.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIA6nkp0zZnyax6bw41ZlaQjq-Y9lv-_rjmHOvqS8b7WZVcNWGQ-g9CtwhrA442g5poNUvP4xvSe_lj95wZpPNxfMEPCdtib_nfoDzFCzvXc2gMmjtbNyD5fN7L-d6vGRmU9hY513lf50M/s320/Nishinihon+274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228360835041597122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a closer look reveals, that this hole hosts in fact stairs<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDhOMEIsIwllnQriMAMgoZONuPMZe0MiuEu_wreA37swsTGGh8s_9LFUIGleD-rYUS_n1sjGb1nAQoLmrTghqV8tNFxjS6KlwOzNxpdWOEecgvr_-KYno0wjNpbLjKO_bv8fIH6pUnr1g/s1600-h/Nishinihon+348.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDhOMEIsIwllnQriMAMgoZONuPMZe0MiuEu_wreA37swsTGGh8s_9LFUIGleD-rYUS_n1sjGb1nAQoLmrTghqV8tNFxjS6KlwOzNxpdWOEecgvr_-KYno0wjNpbLjKO_bv8fIH6pUnr1g/s320/Nishinihon+348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228365436199264738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />leading to the real entrance of the castle<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoUR0skjYwgAqIxc3t0IQrZheYnJ03dRR-vyEDC89nMmajIpTX2WEllok4BMxWrcgKEdNDB58V_dQWDXqLEHx-XN_aexRGt9NP3kGvCuNu4u-l-5spFW7TOmY1y8vzl03_8r-RSHKBPgz/s1600-h/Nishinihon+285.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoUR0skjYwgAqIxc3t0IQrZheYnJ03dRR-vyEDC89nMmajIpTX2WEllok4BMxWrcgKEdNDB58V_dQWDXqLEHx-XN_aexRGt9NP3kGvCuNu4u-l-5spFW7TOmY1y8vzl03_8r-RSHKBPgz/s320/Nishinihon+285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228361292173003266" border="0" /></a></div><br />The inside of the castle is less ornamented and more practical, as it was common in Japan. So the interior is quite simple, but still bear some aesthetic in simplicity, I think. Also notice that the inside, the castle top, is completely made out of wood.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzvnkPGPeJqnQQ4lmhqmcNSfv0JHAqqERAwhoJH4F22BwXjwEkXpFP8pz6rNcJIuwFbi6wTO7c93VWNu62RsQdtyugh_9BV9X0EFkRi2PM-uBD4tK9GST7mJzVCiMZ4uqSGo8tevyTG3X/s1600-h/Nishinihon+327.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzvnkPGPeJqnQQ4lmhqmcNSfv0JHAqqERAwhoJH4F22BwXjwEkXpFP8pz6rNcJIuwFbi6wTO7c93VWNu62RsQdtyugh_9BV9X0EFkRi2PM-uBD4tK9GST7mJzVCiMZ4uqSGo8tevyTG3X/s320/Nishinihon+327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228364110169871522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj408r_9ZM7KdzMGwrGLqVcIhaGkNFQqfonPLqpWfL2Rj56CMT_XbQnmFgllOFB859jwiAKs-HNcXS4NQto1Zu0zbn8z-S5vvzMA09Bb44fvlVB3pI_XG01YLe4G9AUT68dDsQfH4dqEKTE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+313.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj408r_9ZM7KdzMGwrGLqVcIhaGkNFQqfonPLqpWfL2Rj56CMT_XbQnmFgllOFB859jwiAKs-HNcXS4NQto1Zu0zbn8z-S5vvzMA09Bb44fvlVB3pI_XG01YLe4G9AUT68dDsQfH4dqEKTE/s320/Nishinihon+313.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228363223147655266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the castle from the inside<br /></div><br />The castle itself bear more magic. It seems to have 5 levels but inside you are surprised to find more than that, including hidden floors and strategic floors, which allow to defend the castle from the outside as well as the inside.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdoEoFnMjlzebMVr4EHzsYmhVPNhvPT0B3jtThLSqx2t7cg71iveyzZzE7MTCxG2v_98skMurWZGmyZifkSPMIivdsp0Hy9KXCujtOFhW8gCz6iDUIg54QI4tZsFKziRa-Z3ISuta5mqY/s1600-h/Nishinihon+337.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdoEoFnMjlzebMVr4EHzsYmhVPNhvPT0B3jtThLSqx2t7cg71iveyzZzE7MTCxG2v_98skMurWZGmyZifkSPMIivdsp0Hy9KXCujtOFhW8gCz6iDUIg54QI4tZsFKziRa-Z3ISuta5mqY/s320/Nishinihon+337.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228365044333622466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a hidden floor<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOBPcjyokbR629_RxqhQ0MKADKxUDdSyWA8ODM9_7lo5zCiACyJ3QSYJyaNPf79PzR2x0ty-T0oxbdiCF2YEnRg_40Oyxn1UE525SxrNkHZj9it14abyoL4iTVaFZr90YbHoAXjinv2Rq/s1600-h/Nishinihon+329.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOBPcjyokbR629_RxqhQ0MKADKxUDdSyWA8ODM9_7lo5zCiACyJ3QSYJyaNPf79PzR2x0ty-T0oxbdiCF2YEnRg_40Oyxn1UE525SxrNkHZj9it14abyoL4iTVaFZr90YbHoAXjinv2Rq/s320/Nishinihon+329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228364580254067266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a strategic floor for defense<br /></div><br />During the construction of the castle also a lot of stories have gathered.<br />One of the problems for the constructors was to get stone for the castle, and it needed a lot. So they ran out of stone very quickly. At some point an old woman donated her only mill stone for the castle, which please the lord very much. Following her example many people including temples and shrines donated stone to the lord. That is why if you look carefully within culprits the castle's foundations and walls, you will be able to find many strangely shaped stones, like mill stones or temple stone lanterns.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzsf3Gc7kkg0AksxoiNRa0xhYHMNXXuCeb6NoI2RBcMaS-VmPRm58x7bgsI3KEURBYiT8M7_vd4CZv7Oxhhq_BXLbSpUi-waLuKwZY7ZnOsYVdOXVYWcZUMx1v2TFg5DKT6v6Rf4furqC/s1600-h/IMG_8119.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzsf3Gc7kkg0AksxoiNRa0xhYHMNXXuCeb6NoI2RBcMaS-VmPRm58x7bgsI3KEURBYiT8M7_vd4CZv7Oxhhq_BXLbSpUi-waLuKwZY7ZnOsYVdOXVYWcZUMx1v2TFg5DKT6v6Rf4furqC/s320/IMG_8119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228608667074617954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />remainder of the little mill stone<br /></div><br />Another story is about a female servant who overheard the plotting against the lord of two court people. She told the lord about it and the plot failed. As a revenge the two culprits charged her with theft and threw her into a castle well. From that point on people said to have heard her voice at night coming from the bottom of the well. Eventually the two plotters were convicted and the lord decided to enshrine the soul of the courageous servant. From that point on, no more voices could be heard at night.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2g-L5GTGH9Ve0Y3fYHkSuHsYqlTTMy-cj4n0SMzkgkZn7h-Q84b3oqTh6uDqxIdXf_u516mBgC0SNPDkaGKYrZewA1vRXOs8zICZ_2QeMKfCjhtCLmFq_DjlcwDkoimz5-9NTVyJEL-vn/s1600-h/Nishinihon+281.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2g-L5GTGH9Ve0Y3fYHkSuHsYqlTTMy-cj4n0SMzkgkZn7h-Q84b3oqTh6uDqxIdXf_u516mBgC0SNPDkaGKYrZewA1vRXOs8zICZ_2QeMKfCjhtCLmFq_DjlcwDkoimz5-9NTVyJEL-vn/s320/Nishinihon+281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228361285045420754" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGgovMk0ivpRNAZph_n4ZMDfpCjcJc4G1AZzoGT-WKZDEbdvRtYPnAlsohA0maIgvcjfOgm0RGdM_6t9NkTOKDE9etpRW-pW2oUnqpBx2lTA77o-zazjxGoPpKq4d-TgpntjjEPWL-k0p/s1600-h/Nishinihon+279.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGgovMk0ivpRNAZph_n4ZMDfpCjcJc4G1AZzoGT-WKZDEbdvRtYPnAlsohA0maIgvcjfOgm0RGdM_6t9NkTOKDE9etpRW-pW2oUnqpBx2lTA77o-zazjxGoPpKq4d-TgpntjjEPWL-k0p/s320/Nishinihon+279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228361271384812002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />can you hear her voice?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2g-L5GTGH9Ve0Y3fYHkSuHsYqlTTMy-cj4n0SMzkgkZn7h-Q84b3oqTh6uDqxIdXf_u516mBgC0SNPDkaGKYrZewA1vRXOs8zICZ_2QeMKfCjhtCLmFq_DjlcwDkoimz5-9NTVyJEL-vn/s1600-h/Nishinihon+281.JPG"><br /></a></div><br />Himeji Castle was not built at once but in fact in 8 steps under 8 different lords of 7 different clans. Every lord would improve the castle or fortifications a little more and add his own touch to it. Some were more talented and some less. One very artistic lord Sakai added a lot to the aesthetic of the castle and painted a lot of pictures, which can still be seen inside.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne3I6-DBwJwpepE1bM8Q_KnKBeI9TanpHrwdVEst5PfO-dEXj1lYY1DY6O8bQcSd5Q0lGaBJWrbyVhf33GIsDiovixTox4BK6y6iN9GetkNuletmZVI5oyfKq1-TB6jXcnRHgpznC3izQ/s1600-h/Nishinihon+298.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne3I6-DBwJwpepE1bM8Q_KnKBeI9TanpHrwdVEst5PfO-dEXj1lYY1DY6O8bQcSd5Q0lGaBJWrbyVhf33GIsDiovixTox4BK6y6iN9GetkNuletmZVI5oyfKq1-TB6jXcnRHgpznC3izQ/s320/Nishinihon+298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228362443526769442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the eight lords who built Himeji Castle<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWjbqenQIm6z5kiD19vcgdCGdDrLAeee7JLSuN6Pt7aW2GN6VFX_YU9MGZwTq694_iXgmHKI2wbCwbmbAqyeSY0cbM-y4GmyDbtiG-0MgJey7388D8DNjlKsFDNV_tJH4E7pg70takckI/s1600-h/Nishinihon+308.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWjbqenQIm6z5kiD19vcgdCGdDrLAeee7JLSuN6Pt7aW2GN6VFX_YU9MGZwTq694_iXgmHKI2wbCwbmbAqyeSY0cbM-y4GmyDbtiG-0MgJey7388D8DNjlKsFDNV_tJH4E7pg70takckI/s320/Nishinihon+308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228363214261256338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ugiv5ohyphenhyphenogpV_XNyUt13nOURlxAT8rWNXYndMSssj-4a3f6P2epJ_VsyZs-eWz8SOKA-5gty19WloQcvgztddoXsRp9D_QeR36MtoJOaD61k2ZtOK56lAp8zfn9bjkZfYqQPq8bkT2Qj/s1600-h/Nishinihon+309.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ugiv5ohyphenhyphenogpV_XNyUt13nOURlxAT8rWNXYndMSssj-4a3f6P2epJ_VsyZs-eWz8SOKA-5gty19WloQcvgztddoXsRp9D_QeR36MtoJOaD61k2ZtOK56lAp8zfn9bjkZfYqQPq8bkT2Qj/s320/Nishinihon+309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228363220404917666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCMwDYJOT7OUKXSw7qeYek7E1Wb1nVRJO__8oe3YSgcQI_v-NN_AKfEK7wF_6E7pKL-wAUWPChvMfDSOd76BXQ4hFpdBK8aq3950oqCLWC0Hq-NSQlmoQgy5a6-dshzhKIZSD9RvRHZIe/s1600-h/Nishinihon+311.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCMwDYJOT7OUKXSw7qeYek7E1Wb1nVRJO__8oe3YSgcQI_v-NN_AKfEK7wF_6E7pKL-wAUWPChvMfDSOd76BXQ4hFpdBK8aq3950oqCLWC0Hq-NSQlmoQgy5a6-dshzhKIZSD9RvRHZIe/s320/Nishinihon+311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228363220483163378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />three of lord Sakai's pictures<br /></div><br />As is Japanese custom the lord making upgrades or repairs to the castle would use his clan emblem in every roof tile. Therefore keep your eyes open, when you walk around, depending on the emblem on the tile, you can tile which lord built this part of the castle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rk0dCg9R9VonpNhiwp6YRsWmr8eKCN6vfM-mOUl7WQUT9bcL9-Xw0r0WxS9J4HObo2oyHiH5IihlhWEpGjL0BTwDSNQIcICFtn7rLDGt0YH5QZpfbYpYf8PK_phad1NaF2T7jzsKXBMF/s1600-h/Nishinihon+304.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rk0dCg9R9VonpNhiwp6YRsWmr8eKCN6vfM-mOUl7WQUT9bcL9-Xw0r0WxS9J4HObo2oyHiH5IihlhWEpGjL0BTwDSNQIcICFtn7rLDGt0YH5QZpfbYpYf8PK_phad1NaF2T7jzsKXBMF/s320/Nishinihon+304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228362450586070610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSmFHo4YTDLMOZZtLNjuV2mkzM55v9NaWCOcQlSITh6_v7cSGa65CV6MaR7qrQi-LTcZvcQ9KLCZ1SBH9mEvgeLskWjuPHA79c7GJf1gRftpZGHe4nlI81XPES0qJxvzGy4nChWlo4lFE/s1600-h/Nishinihon+307.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSmFHo4YTDLMOZZtLNjuV2mkzM55v9NaWCOcQlSITh6_v7cSGa65CV6MaR7qrQi-LTcZvcQ9KLCZ1SBH9mEvgeLskWjuPHA79c7GJf1gRftpZGHe4nlI81XPES0qJxvzGy4nChWlo4lFE/s320/Nishinihon+307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228363210596318242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DX7OaurEQ8EmYbP8K84_HxtjcdNKgnPspKZhota4C6-kUaew5OzGn5CHJEbV4O4BrO90yZE-2WBXrdlDGVaQ7vn0r2KIs-ttMTFbXr6lHitAy0EG47rLpzWUQfIXjP5cTyfh8S5fukjb/s1600-h/Nishinihon+372.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DX7OaurEQ8EmYbP8K84_HxtjcdNKgnPspKZhota4C6-kUaew5OzGn5CHJEbV4O4BrO90yZE-2WBXrdlDGVaQ7vn0r2KIs-ttMTFbXr6lHitAy0EG47rLpzWUQfIXjP5cTyfh8S5fukjb/s320/Nishinihon+372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228366376486067746" border="0" /></a><br /><br />now you know where the Sharingan comes from ;)<br /></div><br />The castle was build on a hill, where there was a prior Shinto shrine. After the first castle has been built, people started to get afraid, because they demolished a sacred shrine and superstition grew among the people. So it was decided that the topmost floor of the castle should contain the ancient shrine and be used as such by Shinto priests. This calmed the superstitious people down.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogyPleSMebvCfysV89AWuBXCDw5lFNrTQXbkTxxpCI4jOKy_CKS4mcDO20HF4TmQB8EJe-nM-Bvk0d_5S81JwGlFWwdKbK9f_s3bws_adoTiSlmOnVpQE7k4Q-DRzutYzyVbrI6sFHUuT/s1600-h/Nishinihon+330.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogyPleSMebvCfysV89AWuBXCDw5lFNrTQXbkTxxpCI4jOKy_CKS4mcDO20HF4TmQB8EJe-nM-Bvk0d_5S81JwGlFWwdKbK9f_s3bws_adoTiSlmOnVpQE7k4Q-DRzutYzyVbrI6sFHUuT/s320/Nishinihon+330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228364582928353522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIK4lIHeQ4WubnbWpg_FDhILg7g8wjEDD47luCJJyYwVvllAt60H_pIPsyS3fzcF5W8rDrO-fiy9CkdQpU25cFV33ta9B778PDpLjUIqzpvcIcaOI8HDHoCTg0hBdCfBzCoePxZvHwW97N/s1600-h/Nishinihon+331.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIK4lIHeQ4WubnbWpg_FDhILg7g8wjEDD47luCJJyYwVvllAt60H_pIPsyS3fzcF5W8rDrO-fiy9CkdQpU25cFV33ta9B778PDpLjUIqzpvcIcaOI8HDHoCTg0hBdCfBzCoePxZvHwW97N/s320/Nishinihon+331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228364587992406338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the shrine at the top level of the castle<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8d1HwtCZdrJg3utQn1tGCicTk9K2uCF_9dTFPM4Fub2q3emxG-w5AqJdbFsvcFEkNNX2HSeYKyg2VFEMrmMC_Bm1bobSiakTJ_oXtkUoZHvEdldwdyNgC9vBMCXrceimOncV2TI1v4Ni/s1600-h/Nishinihon+335.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8d1HwtCZdrJg3utQn1tGCicTk9K2uCF_9dTFPM4Fub2q3emxG-w5AqJdbFsvcFEkNNX2HSeYKyg2VFEMrmMC_Bm1bobSiakTJ_oXtkUoZHvEdldwdyNgC9vBMCXrceimOncV2TI1v4Ni/s320/Nishinihon+335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228364591145944866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpMsVvuw3NYLwruJs1FM4WZBOR5Udkcycf_xaG28vDKlo5aYXKaPSDuA-7nSnAsmkdt98LLZXh5h1S1_xuxPGaLc3vfhtaYoY6hpya0hCv1G9ek3fVIrfFLnpUMXN3yvU48fgHpz45_4D/s1600-h/Nishinihon+336.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpMsVvuw3NYLwruJs1FM4WZBOR5Udkcycf_xaG28vDKlo5aYXKaPSDuA-7nSnAsmkdt98LLZXh5h1S1_xuxPGaLc3vfhtaYoY6hpya0hCv1G9ek3fVIrfFLnpUMXN3yvU48fgHpz45_4D/s320/Nishinihon+336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228365046190440418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and the view from the top<br /></div><br />As if not strong and fortified enough, Himeji Castle also has a large ditch, that makes it impossible for people to access the castle without the bridge.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGXJ9LWyen5NwfxU3Vn60-4jp5PAkS2rgN0sZja34RWl3QPTb_aN2DX9dmMl2ofesw3bIzkBj86db24digGHUB2gsbDbSYN_uzjXAGWhQwW2dUl8-qpIyhpcmTZXuLdskXS9t6JEAgrqK/s1600-h/Nishinihon+262.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGXJ9LWyen5NwfxU3Vn60-4jp5PAkS2rgN0sZja34RWl3QPTb_aN2DX9dmMl2ofesw3bIzkBj86db24digGHUB2gsbDbSYN_uzjXAGWhQwW2dUl8-qpIyhpcmTZXuLdskXS9t6JEAgrqK/s320/Nishinihon+262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228360242976434050" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g4P7KKWl2xon_I1eFZIH5_TcSnJWgvSjLwZPAfIFHfcVNvSw0fmyimgnu8nbi8X6uCdOqbwv5A8rWi8OpNer7TEQerwN6V-rtNXQI9IoIvd3SAkmblsO-iLi15dho__mW7LDEIqNYxlG/s1600-h/Nishinihon+371.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g4P7KKWl2xon_I1eFZIH5_TcSnJWgvSjLwZPAfIFHfcVNvSw0fmyimgnu8nbi8X6uCdOqbwv5A8rWi8OpNer7TEQerwN6V-rtNXQI9IoIvd3SAkmblsO-iLi15dho__mW7LDEIqNYxlG/s320/Nishinihon+371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228366385403996306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIXXaeoOiAGblRinVPgE5JNTOpJiNp-Is2triGIRjO-0h0n4Mpg72XpWCkBi6gBa1B2kZ0QrAifi_01IP1YvUpDXIT-oCMIFVgg97rTkXj8np917F6cHAg0xbOy6Mc1-cbKNIeHt7G8f8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+373.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIXXaeoOiAGblRinVPgE5JNTOpJiNp-Is2triGIRjO-0h0n4Mpg72XpWCkBi6gBa1B2kZ0QrAifi_01IP1YvUpDXIT-oCMIFVgg97rTkXj8np917F6cHAg0xbOy6Mc1-cbKNIeHt7G8f8/s320/Nishinihon+373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228366386601506402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The lords family lived within the castle,the nobles within the inner wall and samurai and rich merchants within the outer wall. The rest lived outside the walls.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdesTBWKbFdNawEW8L9DmG5EIFuzqAy9QlikbaLRxBFAdTaCXpVuRtoKRjyxMjmEeCJAECnVl3G7VWCdAJqsJoytAHbFbqRkGHlkQxXc3-fJ0Pbw3bXDKyiIg8LB_3JaKFdn_cMJvvzWpk/s1600-h/Nishinihon+339.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdesTBWKbFdNawEW8L9DmG5EIFuzqAy9QlikbaLRxBFAdTaCXpVuRtoKRjyxMjmEeCJAECnVl3G7VWCdAJqsJoytAHbFbqRkGHlkQxXc3-fJ0Pbw3bXDKyiIg8LB_3JaKFdn_cMJvvzWpk/s320/Nishinihon+339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228365048027752546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the three city walls of Himeji Fortress<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK0EZun1FwIsaD53Tny82U8zhnB3YHcPWYlI_SQiddnp9NR7l_MH-8Caj_RNs2r0oiZosAX5eTmL0sX_34EuRQ3y53hGlGkJFmKIWpf8JBcjxRsgKg4LrTI_Wb01L8zD3crDlRnLNEtv0/s1600-h/Nishinihon+340.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK0EZun1FwIsaD53Tny82U8zhnB3YHcPWYlI_SQiddnp9NR7l_MH-8Caj_RNs2r0oiZosAX5eTmL0sX_34EuRQ3y53hGlGkJFmKIWpf8JBcjxRsgKg4LrTI_Wb01L8zD3crDlRnLNEtv0/s320/Nishinihon+340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228365048850761666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the castle alone is huge<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The castle always hosted a large amount of weapons including swords, spear and fire arms, as well as armor. Luckily they were never used, as the castle was never involved in the atrocities of war.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsct7bOzkthMNOP0pvjhsxAmWybLcq3sXyIguh2HxLpoBoqMrgoCOcXAWiDuKHkyI7uRg7pdBrF08DsmUbHfxypmlWk_0dfySeHBWZ3H8FiLOSPz2WarEzKchtvU6FJpkfg1fX7jqvcGr/s1600-h/Nishinihon+314.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsct7bOzkthMNOP0pvjhsxAmWybLcq3sXyIguh2HxLpoBoqMrgoCOcXAWiDuKHkyI7uRg7pdBrF08DsmUbHfxypmlWk_0dfySeHBWZ3H8FiLOSPz2WarEzKchtvU6FJpkfg1fX7jqvcGr/s320/Nishinihon+314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228364066352461314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Samurai Armor<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqIyN_QOeamenbX6I1Ng9Iipe2vU5beofl42Q9-gg45ldh0dLQseHLzp4e0o4TCviWaQvAjh1jaeFa1oy_yBQ6hrnPOxIFLLibP4wMUTyVOLIPsx1H1t-weea0H1KXfB_4T9IO1-3CbVg/s1600-h/Nishinihon+318.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqIyN_QOeamenbX6I1Ng9Iipe2vU5beofl42Q9-gg45ldh0dLQseHLzp4e0o4TCviWaQvAjh1jaeFa1oy_yBQ6hrnPOxIFLLibP4wMUTyVOLIPsx1H1t-weea0H1KXfB_4T9IO1-3CbVg/s320/Nishinihon+318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228364062876373042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EDRZShecd2NMyrx8aLt9rM7YNY-KQ3uqgE19nw0ldiOV_JCguXuipW1JF9VUsJqLkChiSyW4VvnNqD0m4Q9arvZ2RE5d0k1OHG_aSguqgMa1NxDAgu6Kc7Ot9CAhAktCD0sNw5hloLD7/s1600-h/Nishinihon+320.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EDRZShecd2NMyrx8aLt9rM7YNY-KQ3uqgE19nw0ldiOV_JCguXuipW1JF9VUsJqLkChiSyW4VvnNqD0m4Q9arvZ2RE5d0k1OHG_aSguqgMa1NxDAgu6Kc7Ot9CAhAktCD0sNw5hloLD7/s320/Nishinihon+320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228364068082084914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rLM3pmVp5Z7CMPWPOk-C2dbnuObGn0MB0iU2rYk7kFAdEcHygrpZPYhHadD2KT97oTsLeu-ha2kTO6ySrwtof1soeDd_PukGGDeAasgdOC8f-JTxOVurDkdsl0RWNJx2uhsdEybL7XJ5/s1600-h/Nishinihon+325.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rLM3pmVp5Z7CMPWPOk-C2dbnuObGn0MB0iU2rYk7kFAdEcHygrpZPYhHadD2KT97oTsLeu-ha2kTO6ySrwtof1soeDd_PukGGDeAasgdOC8f-JTxOVurDkdsl0RWNJx2uhsdEybL7XJ5/s320/Nishinihon+325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228364073343071538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and weaponry<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">姫路城公園 Himeji Castle Garden</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09GMkZJeucsiG8HnmjpAU_q85RgMU7jH-RqF-EaQ6GaK3fEIEX_Yviatiy4gAliemcpvq4t30peXB-94dXQartkXTZYvLqvOGLYSd7Od1ny4PsfLkPUZm13sx_ys0sEEEkXd1wWvHXVq8/s1600-h/Nishinihon+355.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09GMkZJeucsiG8HnmjpAU_q85RgMU7jH-RqF-EaQ6GaK3fEIEX_Yviatiy4gAliemcpvq4t30peXB-94dXQartkXTZYvLqvOGLYSd7Od1ny4PsfLkPUZm13sx_ys0sEEEkXd1wWvHXVq8/s320/Nishinihon+355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228366155254977026" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />After visiting the castle, I strove along the nice garden next to it. It is a nice place to recover from what you have just seen and learned and meditate a little about it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xz-T8Z-_YkAcCr1Oc2XIqZzAer_CRhXP-UDN4zpiufWrUtMLnPj-zruR7z2D9TQjgyhp27mqzdhax5oriCAXz-JToeiPftDQtbO1IrwnWxivXiluvGQQejz37_Y2QSlcEDXDTFhuwmTH/s1600-h/Nishinihon+364.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xz-T8Z-_YkAcCr1Oc2XIqZzAer_CRhXP-UDN4zpiufWrUtMLnPj-zruR7z2D9TQjgyhp27mqzdhax5oriCAXz-JToeiPftDQtbO1IrwnWxivXiluvGQQejz37_Y2QSlcEDXDTFhuwmTH/s320/Nishinihon+364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228366159504877922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1WPuPOwnXyzccB3ljU7gQ5bWChp_2Y0AbOab32KHhXD4yMoJyFqpCMfUpZxHcMmDXC1nUifnTswrHJsfJZOX9KJIQBO2-9xXKxvzyG1KeeunOnUS_FFGZNMMT3HFzNZ6qnZi5wCagAli/s1600-h/Nishinihon+363.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1WPuPOwnXyzccB3ljU7gQ5bWChp_2Y0AbOab32KHhXD4yMoJyFqpCMfUpZxHcMmDXC1nUifnTswrHJsfJZOX9KJIQBO2-9xXKxvzyG1KeeunOnUS_FFGZNMMT3HFzNZ6qnZi5wCagAli/s320/Nishinihon+363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228366163308054722" border="0" /></a></div><br />...<br /><br />Alas the garden closes together with the castle at 5:30 pm, so that I could not sleep there. As I wrote above I tried for many hours to find a suitable place, until I eventually gave up, took a bus back to the station, entered a train west wards and saw how far it would take me this night.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1hdOeVucDp6bC99bZ8Ksfird31yQzv-RYf6x6KkKxzzQYh6jfLVbK_rrtQqOYoTSZqPIotyyvodXfNKlRUcpGaxq0MzurYLj1bfSRVmgxMTpYkFxrXp0txQ2WUXR7bAZbasSmF3_21Jd/s1600-h/Nishinihon+374.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1hdOeVucDp6bC99bZ8Ksfird31yQzv-RYf6x6KkKxzzQYh6jfLVbK_rrtQqOYoTSZqPIotyyvodXfNKlRUcpGaxq0MzurYLj1bfSRVmgxMTpYkFxrXp0txQ2WUXR7bAZbasSmF3_21Jd/s320/Nishinihon+374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228366170424252978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />as you can isee I walked quite far... can you see Himeji Castle at the horizon?<br /></div>scallywaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852418777451876750noreply@blogger.com2