Yutoku Inari Shrine: Kyushu’s largest shrine dedicated to the god of basic human needs

Japan has been called "the land of the gods" because of its many gods, mostly associated with the Shinto religion. Perhaps one of the most popular, or best known, among these is Inari, a god believed to be dedicated to meeting such basic human needs as food, clothing, and shelter. As a god of food, … Continue reading Yutoku Inari Shrine: Kyushu’s largest shrine dedicated to the god of basic human needs

Kikuchi Castle: an ancient mountain fortress

Seventh century Japan wasn't yet a nation-state, but neither were any of its Asian neighbors. Nonetheless, the most powerful of the various groups on the Japanese archipelago, the Yamato, had regular trade and cultural exchanges with its counterparts on the Korean Peninsula, especially the kingdom of Baekche (southwestern quadrant of the peninsula). So when the … Continue reading Kikuchi Castle: an ancient mountain fortress

Significant snowfall city Sapporo finds ways to keep its streets clear

This year’s most noteworthy snowfall may have been the 1,720 centimeters the fall in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California and Nevada. And that is, indeed, a lot of snow! But the stricken area is relatively sparsely populated. Consider the situation of Sapporo on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. A city with a population of … Continue reading Significant snowfall city Sapporo finds ways to keep its streets clear

Edogawa Commemorative Garden: Japanese beauty under southern skies

A little over an hour north of Sydney, on the edge of Caroline Bay, sits a pretty little Japanese garden that has, for the past 30 years, been a delight to locals and tourists alike both for its authenticity and its relaxing atmosphere. The garden commemorates the sister city relationship between Tokyo's Edogawa-ku and the … Continue reading Edogawa Commemorative Garden: Japanese beauty under southern skies