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“Higo Kodai-no-Mori” is one of 16 the “Fudoki-no-Oka” open-air museums focusing on the remains of ancient civilization in Japan.

“Higo Kodai-no-Mori” is one of 16 the “Fudoki-no-Oka” open-air museums focusing on the remains of ancient civilization in Japan.

Kumamoto Prefecture built a museum on the theme of decorative ancient tombs as the central facility of Higo Kodai-no-Mori open-air museum stretching along the Kikuchi River running through Yamaga City and Nagomi Town.  Higo Kodai-no-Mori is designated as one of the Fudoki-no-Oka open-air museums.  Fudoki-no-Oka is a quasi-national open-air museum focusing on the remains of ancient civilization to preserve and utilize important historical remains and documents.  About 200 of 700 decorative ancient tombs across Japan have been found here, so this area is thought to be the mother place of them.  Japan’s first decorative ancient tombs were born here utilizing the pigment from the iron oxide produced by the volcanic activity of Mt. Aso.  The inner part of the tombs here were painted with red pigment in the 5th to the 7th century, then this way of decoration was developed to the east of Japan.  On the stone walls of burial chamber in particular, weapons animals and human figures are beautifully depicted.  The first photo shows Iwahara cluster of ancient tombs built in the 5th century, which is dotted with 13 decorative ancient tombs.  The second one is the central museum facility designed by a world-famous architect, Tadao Ando. Jason Hardy http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

Yachiyo-za in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture, is one of the oldest existing playhouses in Japan.

Yachiyo-za in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture, is one of the oldest existing playhouses in Japan.

This playhouse with about 700 seats was built in 1910 and was designated as an important cultural property.  Yamaga City, as of the 19th- 20th century, enjoyed economic prosperity thanks to a key base of logistic as well as a hot spring resort in central Kyushu.  Some wealthy merchants there jointly invested a lot of money to build the playhouse as a popular amusement base for the locals.  A local merchant, Kimura Kametaro, who was locally known as a person of many talents for architecture, painting, lantern making for the local festival and the like, was commissioned to design it.  He also drew the round posters on the ceiling as shown in the second photo.  Yamaga is far from Tokyo and Osaka though, the very well-known stars in Japan at that time were invited to the playhouse and it was always packed with the locals accordingly.  In 1960s when Japan’s amusement changed to movies and TV, thereafter, the playhouse was obliged to close in 1973.  As of now, this is utilized for a leading tourist attraction of Yamaga.  From Kanamaru-za playhouse in Kagawa Prefecture built in 1835 down, these kinds of the oldest existing playhouses in Japan count just six. Jason Hardy http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

Bancho is a leading high-class residential area in the heart of Tokyo.

Bancho is a leading high-class residential area in the heart of Tokyo.

Present time Bancho was the area where many Hatamoto, direct retainers of the Tokugawa shogun, used to live as guards in the case.  The area between the inner and outer moats of Edo Castle, present time Imperial Palace, was allocated to Shinpan (the relative daimyo families of the shogun), and Fudai (the old and trustworthy daimyo families of the shogun) for the shoguns living inside the inner moats.  In the western part of the castle in particular, which is most important area against the possible attack by the powerful western daimyo, many Hatamoto families were ordered to live to protect the shogun in case.  This area was present time Bancho.  There were many big houses of Hatamoto which were thickly covered with garden trees in those years, so it looked dismal even in daytime and quite dark in the night. That’s why famous horror stories such as Bancho-sarayashiki and Yoshida-goten were written setting in Bancho.  Present time Bancho has turned into a high-end residential area. Because of the expensive land price, no houses but condos here.  The photo shows a street in the area named Bancho-bunjin-dori, along which Japan’s first-class writers and artists lived before the Second World War.  They were Fujita Tsuguji (painter), Shimazaki Toson (writer), Izumi Kyoka (writer), Arishima Takeo (writer), Kikuchi Kan (writer), Yosano Akiko (poetess), Ichikawa Utaemon (actor) and the like.  Jason Hardy http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

Matsuyama Castle in Ehime Prefecture is one of the 12 castles in Japan, whose castle tower is the original.

Matsuyama Castle in Ehime Prefecture is one of the 12 castles in Japan, whose castle tower is the original.

There were about 300 castles in Japan in the golden age of the Edo period, but most of them were destroyed at the end of the 19th century when Japan’s modernization started.  Because the castles were regarded as a symbol of the feudal age.  Only 12 castles in Japan including this castle, accordingly, still survive.  The castle tower with 21 affiliated buildings of the castle still remain intact and are designated as important cultural properties.  In addition, other 22 buildings were rebuilt thereafter following the original design, so the external appearance of the entire castle may show the original distant view.  The main enclosure on the top of the hill and the secondary enclosure as well as the outermost enclosure at the foot of the hill were built at the beginning of the 17th century taking 25 years.  As Japan was not completely pacified at that time, the castle was designed putting importance on a defense against actual enemy attack.  A variety of defensive structures such as the moats, earthwork, elaborate stone walls and twisting passages with many gates to the main enclosure are still found.  It is said that the defensive power of the castle is better than well-known Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture. Jason Hardy http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

Uchiko Town in Ehime Prefecture is a leader of the promotion of local development following the cases of European rural communities.

Uchiko Town in Ehime Prefecture is a leader of the promotion of local development following the cases of European rural communities.

Many stores and warehouses with white plastered walls stand side by side in the old town of Uchiko located 40km southwest of Matsuyama City, the provincial capital of Ehime Prefecture. This town used to flourish by the manufacturing and trading of Japan wax (Mokuro) as well as Japanese paper (Washi) from the 17th to the beginning of the 20th century.  Japan wax particularly was highly reputed in Europe for the raw material of high-end cosmetics.  Uchiko’s Japan wax accounted for 30% of entire production of the country in its zenith.  As Japan wax, however, was also used for Japanese candles, the amount of output has decreased since the 20th century.  The locals, accordingly, began to tackle the practical use of the traditional town scape for the important attraction of agritourism.  The old center of the town as shown in the first photo was designated as an Important Traditional Building Preservation District in 1982.  The second photo shows a set of old manufacturing tools for Japan wax from the seeds of wax trees.  In this connection, Uchiko Town and Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany are sister cities.  Jason Hardy http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

Arita Town in Saga Prefecture is well known for Arita ware, one of the most important traditional craftworks in Japan.

Arita Town in Saga Prefecture is well known for Arita ware, one of the most important traditional craftworks in Japan.

Located in the westernmost part of Saga Prefecture and adjacent to Nagasaki Prefecture, Arita Town is mostly forested but has a narrow urban area along the Arita River running through the center of the town to Imari Bay.  This small town with a population of less than 20,000 is well known as the birthplace of Japan’s white porcelain in the 17th century.  Many potteries and stores of Arita ware stand side by side along the meandering street beside the Arita River.  The street runs from Izumiyama Quarry that was found by Lee Sanpei, a Korean master potter, and was essential for Arita ware as it supplied quality kaolin for longer than 400 years, to the west for 5 km long.  This long area, called Okawa-Uchiyama district as shown in the first photo, is designated as a Traditional Buildings Preservation District.  Thanks to the gentle slopes formed by the Arita River, it was easy for the potter to build a climbing kiln, and the river was helpful for water transport of the products.  Unique walls, called Tonbai-bey, are found along the backstreets of the area as shown in the second photo.  These walls are made of scrap firebricks from the periodical maintenance and renewal of the climbing kilns.  They are found only in this area throughout the country. Jason Hardy http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

Arita ware is white porcelain produced in Arita Town in Saga Prefecture.

Arita ware is white porcelain produced in Arita Town in Saga Prefecture.

Since the beginning of the 17th century, the ceramics produced in Arita and its vicinity had been called Imari ware, because they were shipped from nearby Imari Port.  In the 19th century, as the means of transportation changed from sea to train and truck, the porcelain produced in Arita came to be called Arita ware.  Arita ware is dating back to the 17th century when a master ceramist from Korea, Lee Sanpei, immigrated to Arita.  He produced Japan’s first white porcelain in Arita under the protection of the Nabeshima clan, the daimyo feudal lord of present time Saga Prefecture.  The locals in Arita still admire him as a father of Arita ware enshrining his soul at Sueyama Shrine which was built by them.  The Nabeshima clan monopolized the production of the white porcelain by strictly confining the ceramists and other specialists in the area.  In the middle of the 17th century, thereafter, Sakaida Kakiemon the First created the Kakiemon-style which is characterized by pictorial patterns with refined red glaze leaving an ample blank on milk white base called Nigoshide.  The Kakiemon-style was produced mainly for the export to Europe and America having good reputation.  It greatly dedicated itself to the establishment of Arita ware’s fame in the world.  The first photo shows Sueyama Shrine for Lee Sanpei.  The torii gate lantern and other settings are made of porcelain of Arita.  The second one is flower base, the pattern of which was drawn by hand by Sakaida Kakiemon the 14th. Jason Hardy http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

The art of swordsmanship in Japan greatly developed during the Edo period in the 17th-19th century.

The art of swordsmanship in Japan greatly developed during the Edo period in the 17th-19th century.

Swords are one of the most basic weapons in the world in that they have been made and used since ancient times.  The material and shape of them have been improved with the times throughout the world, and after the 11th century when samurai warriors appeared in Japan they began to be developed as katana, Japan’s unique designed swords.  Different from other ones, a Katana has a light, strong and tenacious body as it is made of special steel.  It is slightly curved with a single sharp edge.  In accordance with the increasing number of battles a Katana had become a more effective weapon with repeated improvements.  In the Edo period, when Japan was completely unified by the successiveTokugawa shoguns and no battle happened, a Katana became no more than a symbol of samurai.  Shinai bamboo swords were invented accordingly, because the Tokugawa government banned people from using the dangerous real Katana and heavy wooden sword.  The art of swordsmanship with a shinai bamboo sword and protector was born at that time.  More than 700 schools were established all over the country not only for samurai but also for commoners.  On the other hand, the art of swordsmanship using real Katana has developed for the competition for the better shape and agility of movement while ensuring the safety of the contestants. Jason Hardy http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

Takahashi Korekiyo Memorial Park in Minato-ku, Tokyo, stands at the site of his big house.

Takahashi Korekiyo Memorial Park in Minato-ku, Tokyo, stands at the site of his big house.

Takahashi Korekiyo, the 26th prime minister of Japan, was known as an expert in the economy, so he also served as the Governor of the Bank of Japan and the Minister of Finance.  As he energetically propelled the reduction of military expenditure, he was killed in an attempted military coup called the February 26th Incident in 1936, when he was an 81-year-old Minister of Finance.  The place where this park is lying is the site of his house where he was killed.  The park covering an area of 5,300 square meters is directly across the street from Togu-gosho, the Crown Prince Palace.  To be more precise, the original area of his house extended to the present area of the Canadian Embassy, ambassador’s official residence and officers’ apartment house.  Present area of the park is one-third of the original house area.  His wooden house building was dismantled and was reassembled in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Mitaka City, Tokyo. The first photo standing in the park shows the statue of him.  The second one is the promenade in the park. Jason Hardy http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

Mifune-yama Rakuen in Saga Prefecture is a historic Japanese garden with a path around a pond and woods.

Mifune-yama Rakuen in Saga Prefecture is a historic Japanese garden with a path around a pond and woods.

Nabeshima Shigeyoshi, a chief retainer of the Nabeshima clan who was the daimyo feudal lords of the Saga domain, built this garden in 1845.  He was entrusted by the Nabeshima clan to supervise the management of Takeo district, an important part of the Saga domain.  Benefitting from the cliff of Mifune-yama hill, a symbolic landscape of Takeo, this garden with a path around a pond and woods is designed to be characterized by the different attractions from season to season.  Prior to the landscaping, he invited a noted Japanese-style painter from Kyoto to draw a conceptional appearance of the garden as its completion. A teahouse, 170-year-old wisteria arbor, 200 cherry trees, so many azaleas, 170-year-old maple tree and 300-year-old camphor tree are standing along the meandering mountain path from a pond at the foot of the hill to the hillside.  These different kinds of flowers and trees add seasonal color to the garden. The first photo shows Mifune-yama hill and the second one is the central pond at the foot of the hill. http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

British Embassy Tokyo originated from British legation established in the grounds of Tozen-ji Temple in Tokyo in 1859.

British Embassy Tokyo originated from British legation established in the grounds of Tozen-ji Temple in Tokyo in 1859.

Japan accepted reluctantly the opening of the country to the West due to gunboat diplomacy by Western countries in the second half of the 19th century.  Then Tokugawa samurai government concluded the Ansei Five-Power Treaties in 1858 with the United States, Great Britain, Russia, Netherlands and France to set forward the specific diplomatic procedures.  Based on the treaties, the five countries established a diplomatic agency respectively in Edo, present time Tokyo, in 1859.  British legation built in the grounds of Tozen-ji Buddhist Temple in present time Minato-ku, Tokyo, was one of them.  The officers of the legation, however, were repeatedly attacked by excessive samurai exclusionists, it once was relocated to Yokohama accordingly.  Since the inhabitants in Yokohama were mainly merchants, Yokohama was thought to be safer than Tokyo the inhabitants of which were mainly samurais.  Shortly after that, an era of samurai came to an end and an era of Japan’s modernization began.  The many mansions of daimyo feudal lords in Tokyo (Edo) were not needed anymore.  Several mansion sites of daimyos adjacent to Edo Castle, 35,000 square meters in total, were allocated to Britain for its new embassy in Tokyo, which is the present site of British Embassy Tokyo. The first building built here in 1905 was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and the second one was built in 1929, which is the present time building.  This is the greatest embassy building among other ones in Tokyo in terms of the size as well as the location, matching Great Britain, the super power of the world at that time. http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

St. Francis Xavier Church, the so-called Catholic Kanda Church, is one of the oldest churches in Tokyo.

St. Francis Xavier Church, the so-called Catholic Kanda Church, is one of the oldest churches in Tokyo.

When Japan’s modernization started in the second half of the 19th century, the long lasted prohibition order of Christianity was abolished and the churches for Japanese believers were built one after another in Tokyo.  Together with the Catholic Tsukiji Church which was built mainly for Westerners, this church is one of the oldest churches in Tokyo and has originated from a seminary in Yokohama.  The seminary was built in 1872 by the seminarians who returned to Japan from the seminary in Penang, Malaysia.  They had fled Japan under the prohibition order of Christianity to study theology in Penang.  After several relocations, thereafter, present time building was erected in 1928.  The building survived the fierce air-raids during the Second World War, and once was the Tokyo Cathedral from 1953 to 1964. As the building was designed right after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, a reinforced concrete structure was employed for its superior earthquake resistance.  Later, the second floor was extended to house a big pipe organ. http://tour-guide-japan.jp/

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Guide - Jason Hardy

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2-14-3 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0031   Phone +81 90 5326 1565

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