11 Mar: The Sad Story of the Hidden Ginkgo from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
In order to reach the main building of the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, you have to climb 61 steps. On the left side, it was impossible not to notice an impressive 1000-year old ginkgo tree, ... »
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36 years ago, on March 9 1974, Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda, from the Japanese Imperial Army Intelligence, surrendered after almost 30 years of hiding on a Philippine island. Hiroo Onoda as a young ... »
Read more » 22 comments » 15 Jan: The Japanese Soldier
38 years ago, on January 24 1972, two residents from Guam discovered Shoichi Yokoi, a Japanese soldier who was hiding in the jungle for... 28 years. Shoichi Yokoi, preparing to return to ... »
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In Kamakura, close to Kamakura Station, you can visit a temple of the Buddhist Nichiren Sect, the Myoryuji Temple. At this temple, in the 15th century, lived the priest Nisshin (1407-1488), a man ... »
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Seijin no hi ( 成人の日 - Coming of Age Day) is a national holiday in Japan since 1948, when it was established on the January 15th. Since 2000, when the Happy Monday ... »
Read more » 22 comments » 08 Jan: Japanese Giant Tombs
From time to time, searching for travel destinations, I stumble across interesting things in Google Maps, like the huge drawing with Earth-kun. This time, browsing the Google Earth near Osaka, my ... »
Read more » 47 comments » 06 Jan: Customs and traditions of Japan - Jinjitsu and Okayu
Tomorrow, on January 7th, Jinjitsu ( 人日 ) - the Human Day is celebrated in Japan, a festival originating from the ancient China. According to the Chinese tradition, the first 7 days ... »
Read more » 19 comments » 22 Dec: From Hotei to Santa Claus, Short History of Santa in Japan (part 2)
Santa Claus was quickly adopted in Japan, even if its legend is not related to the main religions practiced in Japan. However, there is an interesting similarity that, according to some ... »
Read more » 16 comments » 20 Dec: From Samurai to Doraemon, Short History of Santa in Japan (part 1)
The earliest record of a Christmas celebration in Japan was in 1552, when a Jesuit missionary held a mass in Suo, Yamaguchi prefecture. However, it is believed that small Christmas celebrations ... »
Read more » 26 comments » 04 Dec: The Bell of the Chosho-ji Temple
In Asakusa, close to the Sumida river shores, you can find a small Nichiren Buddhist Temple, Chosho-ji. It is a very old temple, the founding date is not precisely known, but it is approx. around ... »
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A third of the steel used for building the Tokyo Tower was obtained by melting 90 American tanks damaged in the Korean War. From this... M46 Patton tank in the Korean War, image via ... »
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Shichi-Go-San ( 七五三 - seven-five-three ) is a festival marking a Japanese traditional rite of passage for 3 and 7 year-old girls and 3 and 5 year-old boys. Because it is not a ... »
Read more » 28 comments » 10 Nov: Sightseeing Nikko - the story of the Sohrintoh Tower
In Nikko, near the Sanbutsu-doh Hall from the Rinno-ji Temple (photos), you can see the Sohrintoh Tower, a bronze tower built in 1643 by the priest Tenkai. 1000 volumes of Buddhist Holy ... »
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Behind the Senso-ji complex in Asakusa, there is a small temple, Zeniduka-Jizo, with a very interesting story, one of those stories that makes you wonder what would you have done in the same ... »
Read more » 16 comments » 27 Oct: Sightseeing Tokyo - Kabuki, Samurai and crying babies
In the park behind the Senso-ji Temple we can see the statue of one of the greatest kabuki actors from the Meiji period, Ichikawa Danjuro IX. The statue represents him playing the role of ... »
Read more » 8 comments » 23 Oct: Japanese garden photowalk - Tsurugaoka Hachimangu ponds
One of the most beautiful places in Kamakura is the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, built in 1180 by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate. There are a lot of ... »
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Approx. 1 km south-east of Kamakura Station, you can find the Jo-eiji Temple, known also as Botamochi-dera. Here, on September 12 1271, a strange drama took place, considered a miracle by ... »
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On the street between the Kamakura Station to the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, you can find a Roman Catholic Church, Yukinoshita. In the light of the sunset, the place looks quiet and calm. ... »
Read more » 5 comments » 12 Oct: Samurai Story - Gongoro Kagemasa
One of my favorite Shinto Shrines is the Goryo Jinja, located approx. 2 kilometers from Kamakura Station. The Shrine is dedicated to the spirit of a samurai with an impressive courage, ... »
Read more » 14 comments » 29 Sep: The Kan'ei-ji five-story pagoda
The five-story pagoda located today inside the Ueno Zoological Garden was once part of the Kan'ei-ji Temple, built by the Tokugawa Shogunate to protect the Edo Castle against evil ... »
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In Tokyo, at the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, there is a statue of Ino Tadataka (1745-1818), who made the first map of Japan using modern surveying. His story is very interesting, because he ... »
Read more » 13 comments » 16 Sep: Samurai story - The samurai enshrined at Kanda Myojin
On the Zuishin-mon gate of the Kanda Myojin Shrine there's an unusual ornament that caught my attention, a tethered horse. The tethered horse is Tiara no Masakado's emblem, a famous and ... »
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I wrote some time ago about the buildings covered with copper plates photographed at the Edo Tokyo Open Air Museum. To my surprise, I've discovered a real-life museum on the streets of Ueno. ... »
Read more » 7 comments » 12 Sep: Did you know... The Hakone Checkpoint - girls and guns
The Hakone Checkpoint (Hakone Sekisho) was build in 1619, to prevent the rebellion of feudal lords against the shogun Hidetada Tokugawa. For 250 years, the travelers were strictly ... »
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On the Senso-ji grounds, near the Niomon gate, there is a small temple, with an impressive story. During the 17th century, in the Senso-ji Temple, there was an old monk named Kume no Heinai ... »
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The first recorded sumo bout took place in the year 23 BC, on September 9th. It was part of a ritual called Karasu-zumo "Crow Sumo", which still takes place every year at Kamo Jinja, the oldest ... »
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During the Edo period, the exact time was marked with bells. One of those bells, named "Bells of Time" (toki no kane), owned by the Kan'ei-ji Temple, can be found today in the Ueno Park. This ... »
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You know, I usually don't write about politics, but today is a historic day for Japanese politics (for the first time, in almost 55 years, the conservative party loses power), and it's an event ... »
Read more » 9 comments » 28 Aug: A Thai corner in Ueno
Inside the Ueno Zoological Garden I found a splendid example of Thai architecture. The pavilion named Sala Thai, is a gift from the Royal Thai Government to mark the 120th Anniversary of ... »
Read more » 4 comments » 06 Aug: Hiroshima Day, 64 years...
64 years ago, Tatsuo Yamamoto went to Hiroshima after the atomic bombing to search for his uncle, but he found only a flame from the bombing burning in the ruins of his uncle's house. He took the ... »
Read more » 7 comments » 21 Jul: Fire protection in the old Tokyo
Ever since the Edo period, solutions were investigated to increase buildings' protection against fire. One of those solutions, developed at the beginning of the 20th century, was the shielding of ... »
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Because of the rapid growth of the population and the frequent fires, during the 18th century, the green areas of Edo were diminishing rapidly. The Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune (1716-1745) solved ... »
Read more » 6 comments » 19 Jul: Marine Day (Umi-no Hi)
On July 20th, Japan celebrates the Marine Day, know also as the Ocean Day (Umi no Hi). The holiday was instituted in 1996 and is established as a day of gratitude for the blessings of the oceans. ... »
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Japan is a country with an important railway history. I wrote before about this year's best train, about the first mountain railroad in Japan. However, my first contact with Japan's railway ... »
Read more » 2 comments » 03 Jul: The Karafuto dogs
The statuary group from the foot of Tokyo Tower was erected by the Japan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Nihon Dobutsu Aigo Kyokai) to commemorate the 15 Karafuto (Sakhalin husky) ... »
Read more » 4 comments » 23 Jun: Manseibashi Koban
The approx 100 years old Suda-cho koban (police box), from the Edo Tokyo Open Air Museum, was built at the end of Meiji Period, at the foot of the Manseibashi in Kanda. It suffered severe damage in ... »
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This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Tokyo's Kokugikan sumo arena. On June 2nd, 1909, the first Kokugikan arena was opened in Tokyo, on the grounds of the current Eko-in temple, where sumo ... »
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Today marks 160 years from Katsushika Hokusai's death, in 1849. However, the exact day of commemoration is not clear, according to some sources Hokusai died on May 10th, but according to others, he ... »
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On the occasion of the Japan-Danube Friendship Year 2009, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko will visit Romania, later this month. foto: www.wikipedia.org The Japan-Danube Friendship Year ... »
Read more » Comment » 04 May: Customs and traditions of Japan - Tango no Sekku (5th May)
As the girls have the Hina Matsuri on March 3rd, the boys have their own festival, Tango no sekku, on May 5th, which was designated as a National holiday, Kodomo no hi (Children's Day), in ... »
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16 Mar: 25 Sakura Songs, 17: Kagrra - Sakura Zukiyo 
25 Sakura Songs: Kagrra - Sakura ... »
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16 Mar: A Japan Photo per Day - A City That Doesn't Sleep 
Night view from Sunshine City, Ikebukuro, Tokyo Nikon D300 Lens: 18-70mm ... »
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15 Mar: 12 Sakura Manhole Covers 
The main role of the relief drawings from the manhole covers is to prevent ... »
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15 Mar: A Japan Photo per Day - Imperial Palace, Otemon Gate 
Imperial Palace, Tokyo Nikon D300 Lens: 12-24mm F/4G Focal Length: ... »
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14 Mar: J-Links 24 - Cool Japan Articles of the Week 
This week, the Japan related web was abundant and I found quite a few good ... »
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14 Mar: A Japan Photo per Day - Guitar Gallery 
Guitar store, Shinjuku, Tokyo Nikon D300 Lens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5G Focal ... »
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12 Sakura Manhole Covers
12 Sakura Manhole Covers
12 Sakura Manhole Covers
A Japan Photo per Day - A City That Doesn't Sleep
The Sad Story of the Hidden Ginkgo from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
The Sad Story of the Hidden Ginkgo from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
A Japan Photo per Day - A City That Doesn't Sleep