This Japan Today article introduces readers to the ruins of Hizen-Nagoya Castle, which was built in the 1590s to support Toyotomi Hideyoshi's planned invasion of Korea. (Archived article, originally published in Japan Today.)
Category: Saga
Ureshino Onsen: Luxuriant waters fit for an empress
This Japan Today article takes readers on a visit to an ancient, and historically significant, hot spring in Kyushu. (Archived article originally published in Japan Today.)
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
Zwinger: A Palace for Porcelains
Augustus the Strong (1670-1733), Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, was an ambitious man who sought to surround himself in the trappings of wealth and power. Perhaps for this reason, he became an avid collector of porcelains from China and Japan, precious and rare in Europe at the end of the seventeenth century, a … Continue reading Zwinger: A Palace for Porcelains
Yoshinogari: Fascinating park of Japan’s prehistoric society
My June 2022 article for Japan Today explores the Yoshinogari archaeological site, at which some structures have been reconstructed based on the archaeological record. Truly a fascinating place. (Archived article in Japan Today)
Kyushu Online Media Center: Stories
Not long ago I was commissioned to work on a major project to promote the island of Kyushu as a destination. I was asked to write fairly long pieces on each of several themes, largely to provide background information to spark interest. Those pieces, listed below, are now an information resource called the Kyushu Online … Continue reading Kyushu Online Media Center: Stories
Historical transit port Hizen Hamashuku
While Japan was fundamentally closed to the outside world during the Edo Period (1603-1868), it still maintained a robust domestic economy. This economy was largely centered on agricultural production that led to production of secondary food products all of which fed the entire nation, allowing other economic activity also to flourish. Central to all this … Continue reading Historical transit port Hizen Hamashuku
A new gallery celebrates Karatsu tea ware
The city of Karatsu in Saga Prefecture has been a center of ceramic production since the end of the 16th century. While all manner of dishes are produced, the Karatsu style of pottery is particularly well known for its tea ware--dishes used for traditional Japanese tea ceremony. On March 10, 2020, a new museum featuring … Continue reading A new gallery celebrates Karatsu tea ware
Jigsaw Japan 