#Famous places in the Chugoku region

[summary-trivia-jp]

日本のトリビアまとめ #0011

[trivia-jp]

倉敷美観地区 中国地方の名所

倉敷美観地区（くらしきびかんちく）は、岡山県倉敷市に位置する、江戸時代の町並みが現存する歴史的地区で、美しい風情が残る観光地です。 この地区は、倉敷川沿いに広がる町並みで、明治時代に保存活用された歴史的な建造物や白壁の蔵、商家が立ち並ぶ風景が特徴です。古い町並みや細い小道が続き、昔ながらの雰囲気が残る一帯が、多くの観光客に愛されています。 倉敷美観地区には、美術館やギャラリー、カフェ、工芸品のお店なども点在し、伝統工芸品やアートなど様々な文化が楽しめます。また、倉敷美観地区の観光名所として、各家屋の蔵に保存されている���史資料や説明板も見どころの一つです。 さらに、地区内を運行する倉敷観光周遊船に乗船することで、水辺からの景観を楽しむこともできます。また、季節によってはイベントや催し物も開催され、観光客に楽しい体験を提供しています。 倉敷美観地区は、日本の伝統的な風景や文化を存分に楽しめる場所として、国内外から多くの観光客に愛されています。

♪♫♬🎤🎹🎶♪♫♬🎤🎹🎶♪♫♬🎤🎹🎶♪♫♬🎤🎹🎶

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter Famous places in the Chugoku region

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter (Kurashiki Bikanchiku) is a historical district located in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, where the townscape of the Edo period still exists, and is a tourist destination with a beautiful atmosphere. This district is a townscape that stretches along the Kurashiki River, and is characterized by historic buildings preserved and utilized during the Meiji period, white-walled storehouses, and merchant houses. The area is loved by many tourists because of its old townscape and narrow alleys, which retain a traditional atmosphere. The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is dotted with museums, galleries, cafes, and craft shops, where you can enjoy a variety of culture including traditional crafts and art. Also, as a tourist attraction in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, the historical materials and explanatory boards preserved in the storehouses of each house are one of the highlights. Additionally, you can enjoy the scenery from the waterside by boarding the Kurashiki sightseeing cruise that operates within the area. Events and entertainment are also held depending on the season, providing a fun experience for tourists. The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is loved by many tourists from Japan and abroad as a place where you can fully enjoy Japan's traditional scenery and culture.

[language-education-and-exam]

6 Must-Visit Places in Japan.

Planning a trip to Japan? Here are 6 must-visit places:

Tokyo: The capital of Japan, Tokyo is a bustling metropolis with something to offer everyone. From the iconic Shibuya Crossing to the ancient Sensoji Temple, there is no shortage of things to see and do in Tokyo.

Kyoto: The former capital of Japan, Kyoto is known for its beautiful temples and shrines. Some of the most popular include Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple, and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

Osaka: The second largest city in Japan, Osaka is known for its lively food scene and vibrant nightlife. Don't miss trying the city's famous takoyaki (octopus balls) and okonomiyaki (savory pancakes).

Nara: Nara is a city in the Kansai region of Japan that is home to many ancient temples and shrines, including Todai-ji Temple, which houses a giant bronze Buddha statue.

Hiroshima: Hiroshima is a city in the Chugoku region of Japan that was devastated by an atomic bomb during World War II. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum commemorates the victims of the bombing and the importance of peace.

Mount Fuji: The tallest mountain in Japan, Mount Fuji is a popular destination for hiking and camping. The best time to see Mount Fuji is during the spring or fall when the weather is clear.

These are just a few of the many amazing places to visit in Japan. With its rich history, culture, and natural beauty, Japan is a country that has something to offer everyone. For more information about Japan visit us here! Tokyo International Education Institute

[neonpiegon]

Japan

Research Essay - missing some pictures from the original document.

Japan is an archipelago on the eastern edge of Asia, formed by 4 main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, plus nearly 4,000 other smaller islands. It has a population of 126,168,156 people, and its area is comparable to that of California or Germany. As a country, it is completely sea-locked, with its nearest neighboring countries being the Siberian region of Russia to the north, North and South Korea and China to the southwest. Almost four fifths of Japan’s land is covered with mountains and forests – the largest mountain range being the Japanese Alps. Japan has about 200 volcanoes, 60 of which are active, with Mt. Fuji being the most famous one and the highest mountain.

Japan has 47 prefectures contained within 8 regions: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

Humanity in the Japanese archipelago can be traced back to 30,000 B.C. However, the country’s history in itself would rather be explored some time before the 2nd century, during the Jomon and Yayoi Periods, where communities first begin to establish and see the appearance of metallurgy and agriculture. This is the foundation of Japan. The Kofun Period, before the year 538, was when the Yamato clan had great control of the island of Honshu. From 538 to 710 came the Asuka Period, in which the history was enriched with and influenced by the already established Chinese civilization. This period saw the introduction of Buddhism, writing, architecture and sculpture. After that, with the Nara Period came the affirmation of the central power of the emperors, plus the construction of the first capital in Nara and its great temples. The Heian Period came after Nara, from 794 to 1085. The capital was relocated to what is today known as Kyoto. Japan was heavily influenced by China and adopted its style of power, where the clan Fujiwara ruled. With the Kamakura Period, which ran until 1336, the imperial court’s power faded to give place to the samurai clans and the first government of warriors. The Muromachi Period (1336-1491) introduced Japanese feudalism and the fusion of the culture of the samurai and the court, resulting in arts such as the tea ceremony and Noh theater. However, the central power disappeared in The Sengoku Jidai (1491-1603), due to repeated civil wars. Here appeared the Daimyo Warlords, the first contact with Europeans and the introduction of Christianity. In the Edo Period, from 1603 to 1853, Japan was unified under the 3rd Tokugawa Shogunate (government of warriors) and the power was installed in Tokyo. The borders of Japan were completely closed to foreigners and Christianity was prohibited. The country was urbanized and rich merchants developed, just like the Kabuki theater and Nihon printmaking. At the end of Edo, The Bakumatsu (or Late Shogunate, 1853-1868), Japan was forced to open its borders by the Americans, leading to the overthrow of the Tokugawa. This began modernization and industrialization in Japan. The Meiji Era, from 1868 until 1911, restored imperial power and relocated it to Tokyo (previously known as Edo). That is when electricity and the railway first arrived. Japan conquered Korea and Taiwan and was victorious against the Russian Empire and China. In the Taisho Era (1911-1926), the democratic system was first implemented. The Showa Era (1926-1989) began the imperialistic politics and military government and the expansion policy towards China, which involved Japan’s entry in WW2. After its defeat in 1945, the reconstruction of the country was managed under American trusteeship. The Heisei Era (1989-2019) is marked by economic crisis and natural disasters, but also the influence of Japan over the rest of the world. On May 1st, 2019, Emperor Naruhito acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne, beginning the Reiwa era.

Logically, the official language of Japan is Japanese. The language is based on writing syllables in Hiragana, the traditional set of symbols, and Katakana, mainly used for words that do not exist in traditional Japanese (for example, the word “television” is written as “terebi.”). Japanese also uses Kanji, which is a set of thousands of Chinese characters that have been imported to the Japanese language. Most of the meanings remain the same, but their pronunciation has been adapted to being read in Japanese syllables. Kanji is used to “simplify” Hiragana (i.e. instead of writing two or three characters in Hiragana, you would write only one character of Kanji,) and for proper names.

The most predominant religions are Shinto and Buddhism, respectively. Buddhism was introduced through mainland Asia in the 6th century, but Shinto is almost as ancient as Japan itself. Even though these are the two major religions in Japan, religion on its own does not play a heavy role in the everyday life of Japanese people. Shinto literally means “the way of the Gods;” Japanese gods are called “Kami.”

The core of Shinto are beliefs in the mysterious creation and harmonizing power (musubi) of the kami, and the truthful way or will (makoto) of kami. The nature of kami cannot be fully explained in words because the kami transcend the cognitive faculty of humans. Parishioners of a shrine believe that kami are the source of human life and existence. Each kami has a divine personality and responds to truthful prayers, and may reveal makoto to people and guide them to live in accordance to it. In Shinto, it is commonly said that “man is kami’s child.” First, this means that people are given life by kami and that their nature is therefore sacred. Second, it means that daily life is made possible by kami, and, accordingly, the personalities and lives of people are worthy of respect. Individuals must revere the basic human rights of everyone (regardless of race, nationality, and other distinctions) as well as their own. The concept of original sin is not found in Shinto. Purification is considered symbolically to remove the dust and impurities that cover one’s inner mind.

In Shinto, all the deities are said to cooperate with one another, and life lived in accordance with a kami’s will is believed to produce a mystical power that gains the protection, cooperation, and approval of all the particular kami.

Notable kami revered at Shinto shrines include: Amaterasu Omikami (the Sun goddess), Inari Okami (god of rice and agriculture), Izanagi (the first man), Izanami (the first woman), Tsukuyomi (the Moon god), Raijin (god of lightning, thunder and storms), and many more.

Shinto is also described as a religion of tsunagari (continuity or communion). The Japanese, while recognizing each human being as an individual personality, do not take each to be a solitary being separated from others. On the contrary, one is regarded as the bearer of a long continuous history that comes down from one’s ancestors and continues in one’s descendants.

In practice, Shinto does not have a weekly religious service like in Christianity. People may visit shrines at their convenience. Some may go to shrines on the 1st and 15th of every month, and on rites or festivals (matsuri) several times a year. Devotees may pay respect to the shrine every morning. The Japanese usually have their wedding ceremonies in Shinto style and pronounce their wedding vows to kami. Shinto funeral ceremonies, however, are not popular. Most of the Japanese are Buddhist and Shintoist at the same time and have their funerals in Buddhist style. A traditional Japanese house has two family altars: one, Shinto, for their tutelary kami and the goddess Amaterasu Omikami, and another, Buddhist, for the family ancestors. Pure Shinto families, however, will have all ceremonies and services in Shinto style.

Each Shinto shrine has several major festivals each year, including the Spring Festival (Haru Matsuri), Autumn Festival (Aki Matsuri), Annual Festival (Rei-Sai), and the Divine Procession (Shinko-Sai).

At festivals, Shintoists may perform different types if rituals at the shrine, such as: Purification, Adoration, Offerings, Prayers, Sacred Music and Dance, Feast (naorai), etc.

As history has shown, Japanese people are very proud and respectful in their everyday life, as such many customs and manners have been developed that many foreigners may think of them as strange or unnecessary. At the start of a meal, it’s common to say in a brief prayer pose “itadakimasu” (I humbly receive). When eating dinner, it is inappropriate to eat directly from common dishes (where everyone can grab a portion of food), as you should put your portion on your plate first, and to reach for the item closest to you and at the top of the plate. If someone else is picking food from a common dish, give them some space. Also, playing with chopsticks, or using them for anything other than eating, is considered disrespectful, because the chopsticks may contain your saliva or traces of food and so they should be flung around in the air as little as possible; use chopstick holders whenever you’re not eating. Do not try to stab food with your chopsticks. If a chopstick is messy, let it be messy, and do not try to pass food chopstick-to-chopstick, as it resembles a funeral. At dinner parties, it’s somewhat rude to pour your own drink. As such, you should pour everyone else’s drink except yours, someone will notice and pour your drink. Walking and eating is seen as sloppy. “Gochisosama Deshita” (It was a feast) is used to thank someone for preparing a meal or for paying the bill (someone else paid) and compliment good service (paid yourself). The traditional Japanese diet consists of minimally processed, seasonal foods served in a variety of small dishes. This style of eating emphasizes dishes’ natural flavors rather than masking them with sauces or seasonings. The diet is rich in steamed rice, noodles, fish, tofu, natto, seaweed, and fresh, cooked, or pickled fruits and vegetables but low in added sugars and fats. It may also contain some eggs, dairy, or meat, although these typically make up a small part of the diet.

Keigo (honorific language) is a polite level of speech that includes different levels of humble, formal and respectful terms. It is complicated to master this level of speech, even for native speakers of Japanese, as some situations may not require it or the incorrect term was used. However, it is considered very rude to avoid using keigo. It is most appropriate to address someone by their last name followed by the polite suffix “-san.”

Oseibo and Ochugen are winter and summer gifts respectively given at year-end and around Obon (Festival of the Dead) given to relatives, neighbors and anyone who has helped you out in the past year, such as a doctor or teacher.

When greeting, the Japanese understand that foreigners tend to shake hands; nonetheless, shaking hand is more usual for business introductions. The usual way to greet is a bow, the deeper the bow, the higher the respect given… or the higher the shame felt by the person bowing, according to the situation. Bowing can go from just slightly nodding your head downwards, to being in a 90 degrees angle directly looking down, and a lazy bow is considered disrespectful. Getting on your knees (seiza) with your head down is used in deep prayers or when begging for forgiveness, as if you are experiencing intense shame. Bowing and shaking hands at the same time is seen as awkward. The formal bow is usually 45 degrees.

Try not to touch another person, as the Japanese are generally uncomfortable with physical interaction. Pointing is also considered rude and threatening. Instead, people tend to indicate directions with an open hand or even avoiding gestures at all. When feeling uncomfortable, the Japanese tend to be indirect and try to avoid conflict where possible, dropping subtle hints about their feelings rather than direct, bold statements. Japanese people are very patient and resist honking at other drivers out of irritation. Brief honks and light flashing is most often used in friendly gestures, such as warnings. When accepting a call, try to be discrete and very quiet, and not to talk on the phone on a train or in a café. In an elevator, the person closest to the buttons operates the doors and should help people select their floor. The person nearest to the door should also be the last one to get off. It is customary to take off any backpack on a crowded train and hold it in your hands. Many taxi doors in Japan are automatic, and the driver will get a little upset if you operate the door yourself. Tipping servers at restaurants or taxi drivers can be considered insulting or at least confusion. Walking and smoking is viewed as dangerous and inconsiderate, being the idea that you could accidentally burn someone on a crowded street. In Japan this is taken very seriously, and it might even be illegal to walk and smoke in some areas.

When entering a home and many establishments where you can rest, the entrance will have a space to change your shoes for indoor slippers. This is done as to not to bring the impurity and uncleanliness of the world into your home. Tatami floors (made from rice straw or compressed wood chips) are common on traditional households, and no kind of slippers or shoes should walk upon them. Bathroom slippers are exclusive for use in washrooms and bringing them into other rooms in considered shameful. In Japan, bathing is seen as a relaxing leisure activity rather than an act of cleansing. One must completely shower with soap before entering a bath; this applies for home baths and public hot springs (onsen). There may also be available garden slippers for balcony, garden or outside use. Japanese cultural activities, such as theatre and tea ceremony tend to require formal wear. Restaurants and office work usually do too.

Because the Japanese have a deep philosophical approach to graphic designs of all kinds, they value their national flag for its simplicity, striking contrasts, and appropriate symbolism. The “hot” red of the sun symbol contrasts with its “cool” white background, and the circle of the sun contrasts with the rectangle of the flag itself. The pole on which it is to be officially hoisted is rough natural bamboo, while the finial at the top is a shiny gold ball.

It is considered extremely racist and disrespectful to compare a Chinese person, or any other person of Asiatic features, to a Japanese person, as it is done so by so many ignorant people. One of the main reasons for this comes from an event during World War II, when the Japanese army invaded the village of Nanking (or Nanjing), resulting in the mass murder, burning, looting, and rape of its villagers. This event is infamously known as the Nanking Massacre or Rape of Nanking.

After World War II, Japan had a radical change to its whole country and people. All large cities (except for Kyoto), the industries and transportation networks were severely damaged. Japan basically lost all the territory acquired after 1894. In addition, the Kurile islands were occupied by the Soviet Union, and the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, were controlled by the USA. Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972. Over 500 military officers committed suicide right after Japan surrendered, and many hundreds more were executed for committing war crimes. A new constitution went into effect in 1947: The emperor lost all political and military power, and was solely made the symbol of the state. Universal suffrage was introduced and human rights were guaranteed. Japan was also forbidden to ever lead a war again or to maintain an army. Furthermore, Shinto and the state were clearly separated. Especially during the first half of the occupation, Japan's media was subject to a rigid censorship of any anti-American statements and controversial topics such as the race issue. With the peace treaty that went into effect in 1952, the U.S. occupation ended. Japan's Self Defense Force was established in 1954. After the Korean War, and accelerated by it, the recovery of Japan's economy flourished. The economic growth resulted in a quick rise of the living standards, changes in society and the stabilization of the ruling position of the Liberal Democratic Party. Japan's relations to the Soviet Union were normalized in 1956, the ones to China in 1972. The 1973 oil crisis shocked the Japanese economy which was heavily depended on oil. The reaction was a shift to high technology industries.

After previous bans for publishing and censorship from the fascist period of WWII in Japanese media were lifted, the animated film industry and manga (basically, Japanese comics) began to flourish, but not before having to deal with the repercussions of the war. Gojira (Godzilla) was created as a metaphor to represent the use of nuclear weapons against the Japanese at the end of World War 2 and has now developed to be recognized as an official citizen of Japan. Osamu Tezuka, creator of Astro Boy and known in Japan as the God of Manga and Godfather of Anime, led the manga explosion of what would one day become one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world. Animation mainly took off in the 60’s and 70’s, when technology made it more accessible to produce the shows and to consume them. In contrast to western animation, which is generally directed to be “family friendly,” Japanese animation and manga can virtually explore any theme imaginable, from daily life as a middle school student to the psychological repercussions of war crimes while attempting to kill God to cleanse yourself of all sins and restart the universe.

In the modern day, Japan is known for being one of the most technologically advanced and civilized countries in the entire world, with even the crime rates being virtually null. Japan is naturally beautiful, with enough forests, mountains and lakes for a lifetime, and the metropolises of Japan are no exception to being astonishing, vibrant, and adventurous. Just the history of the country and learning its language are enough reason to gain interest in this wonderful land. After someone experiences the land that brought to life Godzilla and Mobile Suit Gundam, nobody would think about leaving. It’s the nest of the whole anime industry, with the most kawaii (cute) of souvenirs and , which I would one day want to visit myself.

Bibliography

Toyoda, Takeshi; Notehelfer, F.G.; et al. (1998-2020). Japan, history. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan/History

Hirai, Naofusa. (1999-2019). Shintō. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shinto

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (1998-2020). Nanjing Massacre. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Nanjing-Massacre

Spacey, J. (2009). 50 Japanese Manners and Customs. Japan Talk. https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/japanese-manners-and-customs

Lonely Planet. (n.d.). History. Lonely Planet. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/japan/narratives/background/history

Japan Experience. (2020). Timeline of Japan’s History. Japan Experience. https://www.japan-experience.com/to-know/the-history-of-japan/history-of-japan-timeline

Petre, A. (2019). What Is the Japanese Diet Plan? All You Need to Know. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/japanese-diet

Japan Guide. (n.d.). Geography. Japan Guide. https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1000.html

Japan Guide. (n.d.). Religion in Japan. Japan Guide. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e629.html

Japan Guide. (n.d.). Japanese Language. Japan Guide. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e621.html

National Geographic. (n.d.). Japan. National Geographic Kids. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/japan/

Japan Rail Pass. (n.d.). Regions of Japan. Japan Rail Pass. https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/regions-of-japan

[travellerfufi-blog]

Hiroshima - The Center of Peace in Japan

Situated in the Japanese locale of Chugoku Hiroshima will be perpetually referred to the world as the city where the main nuclear bomb was dropped Whats more despite the fact that the arrival of the nuclear bomb is a shocking occasion ever today the city helps us to remember the savageries of war and the vast estimation of harmony After the citys profound injuries from the World War II recuperated Hiroshima took on another job over the previous decades The Japanese city presently remains as a worldwide harmony focus and is one of the top spots to visit in the nation

The Peace Memorial Park is the most well known place of interest in Hiroshima The recreation center can be found at the core of the city and it possesses a huge zone Encompassed by green scene the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park has a predominant serene air and is home to in excess of 300 wonderful cherry trees It additionally houses significant structures and landmarks that honor the general population who kicked the bucket during the war

These structures incorporate the Memorial Cenotaph the Statue of the A-Bomb Children the Peace Memorial Museum and the A-Bomb Dome The A-Bomb Dome is an extremely emblematic structure in the city This is an uncommon spot where thousands come to offer petitions of harmony The structures an incentive to the city and to the world has turned out to be extremely valuable along these lines it is assigned as aUNESCO World Heritage Site arches national park

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was worked to speak to the world as far as disposing of atomic weaponry The gallery has two primary areas the east structure and the fundamental structure When you head over toward the east structure you will discover movies shows and reports which feature how Hiroshima managed the A-bomb result The fundamental structure then again grandstands the obliteration left by the nuclear bomb in the city related article

Another unmistakable World Heritage Site in Hiroshima is the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island Initially worked during the sixth century Itsukushima is the main hallowed place on the planet which highlights a torii-entryway and sanctum building directly in center of the ocean Due to its exceptional engineering this grand sanctum on the island is one of most captured destinations in all of Japan You can without much of a stretch discover a postcard that highlights this milestone Other visitor locales to visit incorporate the Mazda Museum Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden Both the château and greenhouse were wrecked during the nuclear bomb assault Be that as it may they were reproduced radiantly to be appreciated by the new ages

While in Hiroshima remember to visit its dynamic downtown region particularly the Hondori Street This a large portion of a kilometer walker arcade is continually clamoring with its huge number of shops and cafés It is additionally in a helpful area as it is exceptionally close-by the Peace Park Simply parallel to Hondori is another famous road named Aioidori (Aioi) which is the primary traffic road but at the same time is home to enormous retail establishments

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[hakuouki-history]

Okada Izo - 2010 Japanese Wiki Entry

From the Japanese-English Bilingual Corpus of Wikipedia’s Kyoto Articles . This is a translation from Okada Izo’s Japanese wiki entry, exactly as it was in 2010. It is taken from PNM02538 in that collection.

For information on the database and how to use it, please check this post.

Just like English wikipedia, none of this information is guaranteed to be accurate. It’s not a current version of the Japanese article either.

This entry is really long, and it refers to a lot of people, groups, and places that you might not be familiar with. Still, I’d suggest any Bakumatsu/Shinsengumi fan to take a look at this entry. 

Why? The second part is a list with descriptions of nine different incidents, eight of which happened in Kyoto, in which Sonnou Joui shishi, including Okada Izo, murdered or publicly humiliated their enemies. These include details of gruesome murders, so please be aware of that before reading. This list shows in detail how bad the situation was in the Kyoto of 1862-1863. It’s in this context that the Shinsengumi came to exist. The founding members arrived in Kyoto in early 1863.

The translated sentences used in this service contain English contents which are translated by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) from Japanese sentences on Wikipedia. My use of these translated sentences is licensed by the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Please refer to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ or http://alaginrc.nict.go.jp/WikiCorpus/ for details.

Izo OKADA

Izo OKADA (1838 - June 3, 1865) was one of the Bakumatsu Shidai Hitokiri (Four famous assassins of Bakumatsu, end of the Edo Period) who joined the Tosa kinnoto (loyalist clique of Tosa) in his hometown, Tosa Province. He was referred to as 'Hitokiri Izo' (Izo the killer).

His imina (real name) was Yoshifuru.

Biography

He was born in Iwamura, Kami County as the eldest son of Yoshihira OKADA, who was a country samurai that earned 20 koku 6 to 4 sho 5 go in rice. He had a younger brother named Keikichi OKADA who also joined the Kinnoto. 

In 1848, his father Yoshihira was enlisted as the domain's ashigaru (common foot soldier) to guard the seaside against ships from overseas that appeared off the coast of Tosa; he continued to live in Shichiken machi inside the castle town, and Izo himself succeeded the status as ashigaru.

He became a pupil of Zuizan (Hanpeita) TAKECHI and studied under Onohaittoryu school. Before becoming a pupil of TAKECHI, he was self-taught in swordplay, but was quite skilled. Following TAKECHI, he went to Edo and studied Kyoshin Meichi ryu at Shigakukan, which was the training hall of Shunzo MOMONOI.

In 1860, he followed TAKECHI and practiced martial arts in the Chugoku district and the Kyushu region. On their way, he stopped at the Oka Domain in Bungo Province, and studied the swordplay of 直指 ryu. Afterwards, he joined Tosa kinnoto which was organized by TAKECHI. For some reason however, he was later crossed off from the name list.

It is not known whether if it was TAKECHI's idea or not, but Izo voluntarily went forward to the scene of the assassination following the instruction of TAKECHI. It is also said that TAKECHI used uneducated Izo merely as an instrument in the assassinations.

Starting with Saichiro INOUE, who was the shita metsuke (low class inspector of foot soldiers) of the Tosa Domain, Izo assassinated, in the name of heaven's punishment, Seiichiro HONMA who was his comrade, Daigaku IKEUCHI, Magoroku MORI, Juzo OGAWARA, Kinzan WATANABE, and Jonosuke UEDA, who were government officials and yoriki (police sergeants) that belonged to the Kyoto City Magistrate, Tatewaki TADA who was the son of Kazue MURAYAMA (she was tied to a bridge and made a public display alive), a mistress of Shuzen NAGANO (who commanded Ansei no Taigoku [suppression of extremists by the Shogunate]). With Shinbei TANAKA of Satsuma Province, he was referred to as 'Hitokiri Izo' and was feared.

After the Coup of August 18, the Kinnoto lost its momentum. When TAKECHI returned to Tosa, Izo changed his name to Tetsuzo DOI, and concealed himself alone in Kyoto. However, around June of 1864, he was captured by a shogunate official, and on being tattooed, he was banished from the capital Kyoto; at the same time, an official of the Tosa Domain captured him, and deported him to his hometown.

In the Tosa Domain, all his comrades of the Tosa kinnoto were arrested for the assassination of Toyo YOSHIDA and the series of assassinations that took place in the capital Kyoto, and with the exception of Zuizan TAKECHI, who was a Joshi (superior warrior) rank, they underwent severe torture. Izo endured severe torture, but he finally made a full confession and was beheaded on May 11 1865, and his head was put on public display.

His death haiku read 'My mind that served for you came to nothing, and will only clear up after you've gone.' 

His grave is the family grave in the mountains near Azo Station at Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture. He was buried in his secular name, Yoshifuru OKADA.

Documents from the same period or letters written by Izo himself that tell the achievements of OKADA are scarce, but several documents tell about his personality and disposition. According to "Tosa Ijinden" (Lives of Great People of Tosa) (Masamichi TERAISHI), he was 'courageous, fond of martial arts, and a giant with an extremely robust body.' 

It must be added that there was a bit of a sense of glorification, for this book was written in 1921, a time when loyal supporters of the Emperor at the end of the Edo Period were extolled owing to the historical view that Japan was peerless as a country under the eternal reign of a ceaseless line of "living-god" emperors.

According to recent studies, he was in fact rough, and loved sake and women; especially in his later years, he was treated coldly even by his comrades of the Tosa kinnoto. Hanpeita TAKECHI, who learned of Izo's arrest, wrote in a letter to his home, 'it is better for such a fool to die soon, and how his parents would lament over him for returning unashamedly to his hometown,' which indicates his ill feeling towards Izo. Letters which were considered to be written by Keikichi TAUCHI (TAKECHI's real younger brother) and so on tell that since his house stood in Shichiken machi, Izo was also disdainfully referred to as '七以.'

According to one theory, on learning of Izo's arrest, TAKECHI became afraid that Izo's confession may put his comrades on line, and he even tried to poison Izo through a jail keeping government official who was devoted to TAKECHI. There is an episode widely known through novels and so on that is interpreted in many ways; according to versions of this episode, TAKECHI was anxious that a weak natured Izo may easily give into torture; or that Izo may go under a far more severe torture than his other comrades due to his frivolousness; or that Izo received the poison and drank it (not knowing that it was poison), but did not die and confessed for not being able to withstand the torture; or he confessed in anger in finding out that it was poison. These show why, through the eyes of TAKECHI, Izo was considered 'merely as an instrument for assassination.'

According to some books, the reason why TAKECHI treated Izo coldly in his later years was, for example, from the discriminative feeling for Izo who had low social standing and no education compared with the other comrades, a sense of danger that exposure of many of the assassinations that Izo took part in may have unfavorable effects to his fellow comrades, and resentment and anxiety toward Izo for not taking his own life although those exposures could be prevented if he had committed suicide; furthermore, even if he had been a member of the Tosa kinnoto that aimed for "Sonno Joi (19th century slogan advocating reverence for the Emperor and the expulsion of foreigners) and overthrowing the Shogunate", he became a bodyguard to Kaishu KATSU (to be explained later) who was "a member of the open country wing and a vassal of the shogun"; Izo was disdained, for "although skillful in swordplay, he was a man with no resolute ideas and beliefs."

Later, a pistol which was thought to have belonged to Izo OKADA was found, and from July 1, 2006 to August 31, it was put on display during the event 'The end of the Edo period for Ryoma, Hanpeita, and Izo' at the Kochi Prefectural Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum. According to the explanation by this museum, the pistol was made in France, and was a gift from Kaishu KATSU. A 'pistol' by the way, was a name applied for the public display, and in the strict sense, it was actually a handgun. Further, this pistol was put on public display by borrowing a personal belonging.

Apart from this, it was also transmitted that when Manjiro NAKANOHAMA tried to give his pistol to Izo, Izo had refused. However, there is no record that Izo had used these pistols and the details are not known.

Assassination of Saichiro INOUE (August 26, 1862)

Saichiro INOUE was a shita yokome who was investigating the case of the assassination of Toyo YOSHIDA that took place on May 6th of the same year. The Kinnoto, which regarded him dangerous, summoned INOUE at first to a fancy Japanese-style restaurant called 'Daiyo (otherwise written as 大與) and intoxicated him; then on the Shinsai-bashi Bridge, the four men Izo, Kiyoma HISAMATSU, Hachinosuke OKAMOTO, and Kinzaburo MORITA, restrained and strangulated INOUE, and threw his corpse over the bridge into the Dotonbori-gawa River. Yataro IWASAKI, a colleague accompanying Saichiro INOUE on this occasion who had escaped this ordeal, later became the founder of the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu.

It was said that there was an interrogation when Izo and the others were finally arrested, and only Kinzaburo MORITA, who remained silent, survived, and took part in the Boshin War. Later, MORITA told this story to Takayuki IGARASHI, who left behind a record called "An incident of the assassination of Saichiro INOUE."

Assassination of Seiichiro HOMMA (October 13, 1862)

Seiichiro HONMA was one of the supporters of the pro-Imperial from Echigo Province, but since he was a disputant who did not belong to a particular domain, patriots from each of the domains, who thought his attitude frivolous, began to hate him.

Meanwhile, there was a dispute between Imperial Prince Kuninomiya Asahiko and Yodo YAMAUCHI over the imperial envoy to demand expulsion of foreigners, and when there was a confrontation between HONMA, who went forward with Imperial Prince Kuninomiya Asahiko, and the Kinnoto, who supported YAMAUCHI, HONMA cast doubt that he was communicating secretly with the bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun).

According to "Documents of the Ito family, "HONMA was surrounded by a couple of men when he came out drunk from a fancy Japanese-style restaurant, and although both of his arms were pinned down and his long and short swords were taken away, he furiously fought against them and made some of them shrink back; however, in an unguarded moment, he was stabbed in the ribs, and was beheaded when he was on the verge of dying. There was however, a different opinion, for there was a testimony by a person inside the house who heard a sound 'like throwing coals' when HONMA and the assassins were fighting with swords. HONMA was also thrown into the Takase-gawa River (Kyoto Prefecture) after being killed. 

The criminals included Izo, as well as Shujiro HIRAI, Ekichi SHIMAMURA, Shinzo MATSUYAMA, Magozaburo OBATA, Kenta HIROSE, Gojiro TANABE and Shinbei TANAKA, who was known as the Hitokiri of Satsuma.

Ugo Genba no Kami (Director of the Bureau of Buddhism and Aliens) (October 15, 1862)

Shigekuni UGO (Ugo Genba no kami) was a shodaibu (fourth and fifth rank official) to the former chancellor Hisatada KUJO, and he suppressed the patriots with Sakon SHIMADA during Ansei no Taigoku, and because he was also involved in the set up of Kazunomiya koka (the marriage of Imperial princess Kazunomiya to an ordinary person), he was hated by the patriots of Joi (principle of excluding foreigners) group.

Since the assassination of Sakon SHIMADA (August 16 of the same year), UGO, who sensed danger, was moving from place to place, but he was found hiding in the Kawaramachi Palace of the Kujo family, and while sleeping, he was suddenly attacked by Izo OKADA, Hachinosuke OKAMOTO, Chuzaburo MURATA, and Matsuzaemon TSUTSUMI from Higo Province. He was slain by Izo when he tried to escape by jumping out of bed, and his son was also killed by TSUTSUMI. UGO's head was thrust into a spear, and with a document explaining why he was killed, it was put on public display on the riverbank of the Kamo-gawa River.

What is described above were recorded in "Kanbu Tsuki" (Records on civilian and military men), but there were different opinions regarding the criminals, and Izo's involvement was being questioned.

Murder of Mashira no Bunkichi (October 23, 1862)

Mashira no Bunkichi [Also known as 'Bunkichi, the Meakashi (hired thief-taker)] was an okappiki (a hired thief-taker) who, as an agent of Sakon SHIMADA, disclosed many patriots during Ansei no Taigoku. Naturally, many royalists hated him deeply.

Three men, Izo OKADA, Harunosuke KIYOOKA, and Tashima ABE, took Bunkichi to Sanjo-gawara Riverside, and strangulated him with a cord, since 'cutting him would leave a stain on the sword.'

Bunkichi also helped with SHIMADA's money lending, and since the people also hated him, he was stripped of his clothes and tied to a stake at the riverside; a bamboo stick had been pierced through his body from the anus to the head, and there were those that threw rocks at his corpse which was made a public display. Furthermore, because 'inu' (dog) was written on the notice board on this occasion, it is theorized that the expression 'one's dog' was created as a derogatory term for 'one's tesaki' (one's agent).

Assassination of the four yoriki (November 14, 1862)

All of the four men, Kinzaburo WATANABE, Magoroku MORI, Juzo OGAWARA, and Sukenojo UEDA, were yoriki of the Kyoto City Magistrate, and they had also exposed patriots with Shuzen NAGANO and Sakon SHIMADA during Ansei no Taigoku; after the heaven's punishment against Ugo and Bunkichi, they were transferred from Kyoto to Edo in order to avoid being targeted. On the evening of their arrival to Ishibe-juku (the 51st post station of the Tokaido Road), more than thirty members of roshi made an attack on the posting station, and in the uproar, these four men were murdered.

It had said in a note that described their crimes, that this was heaven's punishment for arresting many patriots and making them a felon. It was considered that many of the patriots from Tosa, Choshu, the Satsuma Domain, and the Kurume Domain took part in this raid.

In "A diary while staying in Kyoto" written by Hanpeita TAKECHI, the names of the twelve of those from Tosa who took part were listed, but Izo was not included. However, it was generally viewed that Izo took part in this raid.

Living public displays of Saburo HIRANOYA and Hanbei SENBEIYA (November 30, 1862)

Although merchants, Jusaburo HIRANOYA (?) and Hanbei SENBEIYA ?) were raised to a samurai class when Shigetomi OHARA left Kyoto for Edo as an Imperial Envoy in May of the same year (old calendar), and they had attended to him, they had a bad reputation for accepting bribery and embezzlement. Since such men were appointed to accompany the Imperial envoy that month, patriots from Choshu and Tosa Domains that became anxious for the loss of prestige in the Imperial Court stood together and decided to provoke heaven's punishment.

Izo OKADA, Toranosuke SENYA, and Kinosuke IGARASHI from Tosa, and Chuzaburo TERAJIMA joined from Choshu, and they split up to take both of the men in and kill them, but they did not kill because of the pleas of their family to spare their lives, and because of their class as townsmen; the two men were put on public display alive, by being tied naked on to a stake which was used for exposing cotton on the riverside of Kamo-gawa River.

Assassination of Tatewaki TADA (January 4, 1863)

Tatewaki TADA was a son of Kazue MURAYAMA (otherwise written as '可寿江'. Some documents describe her as Taka MURAYAMA), who was a mistress of Shuzen NAGANO, and he was a terazamurai (samurai who performed administrative functions at temples) at Rokuon-ji Temple (Kinkaku-ji Temple), but was made a target since he also took part in the suppression of patriots during Ansei no Taigoku.

On the night of the 14th, roshi (masterless samurai) conducted a raid on Kazue's house near Shimahara yukaku, and pulled her out of bed and made her a public display alive at the foot of Sanjo-ohashi Bridge; on the next evening, they brought TADA, who was taken in by a threatened owner to the Keage scaffold, and murdered him. His head was on public display at Kuritaguchi. It was said that Kazue was on public display alive for three days and three nights.

A total of twenty men took part in this raid, and it is believed that Izo participated with Yasozuchi NARASAKI of Choshu, Magozaburo OBATA, Masuya KONO, Uzumaro YORIOKA, and Toranosuke CHIYA from Satsuma. Among them, YORIOKA lived until the Taisho era, and told of this incident.

Daigaku IKEUCHI (March 11, 1863)

Daigaku IKEUCHI was formerly a Confucian scholar who belonged to the townsmen class, and was one of the Sonno Joi ha (supporters of the doctrine of restoring the emperor and expelling the barbarians). Since he devised stratagems for the problems on imperial sanction on treaties and the Shogun's successor, he was severely interrogated from the bakufu during Ansei no Taigoku, but because he surrendered voluntarily, the charges against him were relatively light. Because this had appeared as a 'betrayal against the Bakufu' to the eyes of the patriots that belonged to the Sonno Joi ha, he was made a target. 

Daigaku changed his name and hid himself in Osaka, but just at that moment, he was invited to a banquet of Yodo YAMAUCHI, and was attacked on his way home. His head was put on public display at Naniwa-bashi Bridge, and on the 24th of the same month, his ears were thrown inside the house of Sanearu Ogimachi-SANJO and Tadayasu NAKAYAMA with a ransom note, resulting in resignation of both of the court nobles.

Only the name of Izo was mentioned for this incident, and the exact number and the organization of the others who were considered present at the scene were not transmitted.

Assassination of Hajime KAGAWA (March 18, 1863)

Hajime KAGAWA was a vassal of a Court noble Arifumi CHIGUSA, and was made a target because he had cooperated with Sakon SHIMADA and others, and joined the suppression of the patriots during Ansei no Taigoku. When the roshi made a raid and stepped into his house, KAGAWA went upstairs and hid himself; but on seeing his young children who unfortunately came home and were cruelly questioned by the roshi that had captivated them, he went downstairs on his own will, and was beheaded.

This incident was generally thought as the crime of Shinbei TANAKA from Satsuma, but it was conjectured that Izo also joined him. On the other hand, there was a different opinion that it was the crime of Toraroku HAGIWARA from the Himeji Domain.

Izo OKADA is thought to have been involved in the nine incidents described above. However, there is a theory among the researchers that consider him as 'not necessarily involved in all of the incidents.' 

On the other hand, there is also a viewpoint that states 'between 1862 to 1864 when assassinations were rampant, there were many assassinations for which even today criminals are not identified (only that they were Sonno joi ha is known from notes describing their crime).'

Kaishu KATSU (1863)

According to 'Hikawa seiwa' (Quiet talks at the Hikwa mansion), which is an autobiography of Kaishu KATSU, Izo OKADA became Kaishu KATSU's bodyguard owing to the mediation of Ryoma SAKAMOTO. Three assassins attacked Kaishu, but when Izo cut one of them down and gave a roar, the remaining two assassins ran away.

On that occasion, KATSU said "You should not be fond of killing people. Such actions taken a few days ago are better to be mended" and tried to persuade him, but Izo said in return "But Mr. Katsu, if it weren't for me, your head must already have been slain."

As might be expected, KATSU seemed to have had no words to say in return, for he said 'I had no a single word to this."

John Manjiro

According to the family tradition of the Nakahama family [("Manjiro NAKANOHAMA - A Japanese that told about 'America' for the first time" (Hiroshi NAKAHAMA, 2005)], Izo OKADA was also a bodyguard of John Manjiro. Kaishu KATSU, who was confident in OKADA's skill as his own bodyguard, made him become a bodyguard of Manjiro.

When they went to a western style grave that Manjiro had built, four assassins tried to attack Manjiro, but Izo had sensed the two ambushes that were hiding, and told Manjiro not to escape impulsively but to stay put with his back against the gravestone, and slew the two attackers down. The remaining two attackers made an escape.

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日本のトリビアまとめ #0010

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出雲大社 中国地方の名所

出雲大社（いずもたいしゃ）は、島根県出雲市に位置し、日本屈指の歴史的な神社であります。出雲大社は、古くから縁結びの神様として知られる神、大国主命（おおくにぬしのみこと）を祀っています。 この神社は、日本の国内外から多くの参拝客を魅了する名所で、特に縁結びや家族の結びつきを祈るために訪れる人々が多いことで知られています。出雲大社には、参拝客がお参りする「本殿」のほか、日本最大級の木造建築物である「奥宮（おくみや）」があります。 出雲大社では毎年、10月に「神在祭（かみありさい）」と呼ばれる祭りが行われ、この時期は出雲地方の最大のお祭りとして知られ、多くの観光客や参拝客で賑わいます。また、年末には「大晦日大祓式（おおみそかおおはらえしき）」と呼ばれる神事が行われ、その年の厄除けを祈るために多くの人々が訪れます。 出雲大社は歴史的な価値や神話に由来する神秘的な雰囲気を持ち、神話や日本の古代文化に興味を持つ人々にとっても興味深い場所となっています。また、神社周辺には美しい自然が広がっており、歴史や文化を学びながら、自然の癒しも感じることができるスポットです。

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Izumo Taisha Shrine Famous places in the Chugoku region

Izumo Taisha, located in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, is one of Japan's most historic shrines. Izumo Taisha Shrine is dedicated to Okuninushi no Mikoto, a god known since ancient times as the god of marriage. This shrine is a famous place that attracts many visitors from within Japan and abroad, and is especially known for its large number of people who come to pray for marriage and family ties. In addition to the main shrine where worshipers visit, Izumo Taisha Shrine also has the Okumiya, which is one of the largest wooden buildings in Japan. At Izumo Taisha Shrine, a festival called "Kamiarisai" is held every October, and this time of year is known as the largest festival in the Izumo region, and is crowded with many tourists and worshipers. Also, at the end of the year, a Shinto ritual called ``Omisoka Oharaeshiki'' is held, and many people come to pray for warding off the bad luck of the year. Izumo Taisha Shrine has a mystical atmosphere derived from its historical value and mythology, making it an interesting place for people interested in mythology and ancient Japanese culture. In addition, there is beautiful nature surrounding the shrine, and it is a spot where you can feel the healing power of nature while learning about history and culture.

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宮島 中国地方の名所

宮島（みやじま）は、広島県廿日市市に位置する美しい島で、厳島神社（いつくしまじんじゃ）を中心とした歴史と自然が融合した観光地です。その厳島神社の大鳥居が海に建ち、干潮時には歩いて参拝できることから、「浮かぶ鳥居」の風景が有名です。 厳島神社は、日本屈指のパワースポットであり、広島県内でも重要な神社として知られています。厳島神社の拝殿や社殿は、建築様式や風景との調和が美しく、特に潮の満ち引きによって海中に浮かぶ大鳥居は絶景として有名です。 宮島は自然豊かな島であり、厳島神社周辺には緑豊かな山々や散策路、展望台があり、ハイキングや散策に最適なスポットです。また、宮島には美しい桜の名所も多く、春には桜の花が島を彩ります。 島内には飲食店や土産物店も多く、広島名物のもみじ饅頭や牡蠣料理などの地元の美味しい食事を楽しむこともできます。 宮島は、歴史的な神社と自然の美しさが調和した景観で、四季折々の風景や文化に触れることができる観光スポットとして、国内外から多くの観光客に愛されています。

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Miyajima Famous places in the Chugoku region

Miyajima is a beautiful island located in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and is a tourist destination that combines history and nature, centered around Itsukushima Shrine. Itsukushima Shrine's large torii gate is built in the sea and can be visited on foot at low tide, making it famous for its ``floating torii'' scenery. Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan's leading power spots, and is also known as an important shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture. Itsukushima Shrine's worship hall and main building harmonize beautifully with the architectural style and landscape, and the large torii gate, which floats underwater due to the ebb and flow of the tide, is particularly famous for its spectacular scenery. Miyajima is an island rich in nature, and the area around Itsukushima Shrine has lush mountains, walking trails, and observation decks, making it the perfect spot for hiking and strolling. Miyajima is also home to many beautiful cherry blossom viewing spots, and cherry blossoms decorate the island in spring. There are many restaurants and souvenir shops on the island, where you can enjoy delicious local meals such as Hiroshima's famous maple manju and oyster dishes. Miyajima is a landscape where historic shrines and natural beauty are in harmony, and it is loved by many tourists from Japan and abroad as a tourist spot where you can experience the scenery and culture of each season.

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岡山城 中国地方の名所

岡山城（おかやまじょう）は、日本の岡山市に位置する歴史的な城で、別名「烏城（からすじょう）」とも呼ばれます。岡山城は、戦国時代の戦国大名である毛利家の家臣であった羽柴秀吉（後の豊臣秀吉）によって築城されました。 岡山城は、水堀や石垣、天守閣などが特徴的な城郭で、特に美しい石垣が有名です。秀吉の命を受けて築城され、その後も幾度かの改修や再建が行われ、現在の姿は明治時代に再建されたものです。 城内には、天守閣や二の丸御殿、三の丸御殿などの歴史的建造物や庭園があり、岡山の歴史や文化を感じることができます。また、城内には岡山市立美術館があり、重要文化財や国宝を含む美術品の展示が行われています。 岡山城は、城自体の美しさだけでなく、周辺には桃太郎伝説ゆかりの地である桃太郎神社や後楽園など、観光スポットが集まっています。岡山城自体が観光客に人気のある場所であり、歴史や文化を学ぶ場として訪れる人々に愛されています。

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Okayama Castle Famous places in the Chugoku region

Okayama Castle is a historical castle located in Okayama City, Japan, and is also known as ``Crow Castle.'' Okayama Castle was built by Hideyoshi Hashiba (later Hideyoshi Toyotomi), a vassal of the Mori family, a feudal lord during the Sengoku period. Okayama Castle is a castle with distinctive features such as a water moat, stone walls, and castle tower, and is especially famous for its beautiful stone walls. The castle was built on orders from Hideyoshi, and has been renovated and rebuilt several times since then, and its current appearance dates back to the Meiji period. Inside the castle, there are historical buildings and gardens such as the castle tower, Ninomaru Palace, and Sannomaru Palace, where you can feel the history and culture of Okayama. There is also an Okayama City Museum of Art within the castle grounds, where works of art including important cultural properties and national treasures are exhibited. Okayama Castle is not only beautiful, but also has many tourist attractions nearby, such as Momotaro Shrine and Korakuen, which are the places related to the Momotaro legend. Okayama Castle itself is a popular place for tourists, and is loved by visitors as a place to learn about history and culture.

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鳥取砂丘 中国地方の名所

鳥取砂丘（とっとりさきゅう）は、日本の鳥取県に位置する、日本最大級の砂丘地帯であります。日本海に面したこの広大な砂丘は、その広がりと美しい砂の風景から観光客に人気があります。 鳥取砂丘は、東西約16キロメートル、南北約2.4キロメートルにわたり、その全域が美しい砂浜に覆われています。砂丘は風によって形成された砂の丘が連なり、時には高さが20〜50メートルにも達する見事な景観が広がります。 特に、夕日が沈む時間帯には、夕焼けに染まる砂丘が美しい風景となり、多くの観光客が訪れます。また、砂浜には遊歩道やキャンプ場、アクティビティ施設も整備されており、砂遊びやパラグライダーなどのアウトドア活動を楽しむことができます。 鳥取砂丘は、日本の自然景観の一つとして国の天然記念物に指定されており、また、映画やテレビドラマのロケ地としても利用されることがあります。その広大で美しい景観は、多くの観光客に大きな魅力を持っています。

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Tottori Sand Dunes Famous places in the Chugoku region

Tottori Sand Dunes is one of the largest sand dunes in Japan, located in Tottori Prefecture, Japan. This vast sand dune facing the Sea of ​​Japan is popular with tourists for its expanse and beautiful sandy landscape. Tottori Sand Dunes stretches approximately 16 kilometers from east to west and approximately 2.4 kilometers from north to south, and the entire area is covered with beautiful sandy beaches. Sand dunes are a series of sand hills formed by the wind, sometimes reaching heights of 20 to 50 meters, creating a spectacular landscape. Especially when the sun sets, the dunes become a beautiful sight, attracting many tourists. The beach also has a promenade, campground, and activity facilities where you can enjoy outdoor activities such as playing in the sand and paragliding. The Tottori Sand Dunes are designated as a national natural monument as one of Japan's natural landscapes, and are also sometimes used as a filming location for movies and TV dramas. Its vast and beautiful scenery is a big attraction for many tourists.

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島根松江城 中国地方の名所

島根松江城（しまねまつえじょう）は、日本の島根県松江市にある歴史的な城です。日本の国宝の一つに指定されており、その美しい姿と歴史的価値から観光客に人気の観光スポットとなっています。 松江城は、江戸時代初期の1611年に松江藩初代藩主・松平忠吉によって建てられました。城の特徴としては、石垣や天守閣が美しい姿を誇り、周囲には立派な堀や広大な敷地が広がっています。 特に松江城の天守閣は、全国的にも珍しい4層6階建ての構造を持つ重厚な建築物で、城内には当時の様子を伝える資料や展示物もあります。また、城内には茶室や武具、歴史資料などが展示されており、城の歴史や文化に触れることができます。 松江城周辺には、美しい庭園や桜の名所があり、春には桜の花見客で賑わいます。また、城内では伝統的な文化イベントや武者行列などのイベントも開催され、訪れる観光客に楽しい体験を提供しています。 島根松江城は、その見事な建造物と歴史的な価値から、日本の歴史文化を学ぶ場としてだけでなく、風光明媚な庭園や季節ごとの風景を楽しむ観光地としても人気があります。

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Shimane Matsue Castle Famous places in the Chugoku region

Shimane Matsue Castle is a historical castle located in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. It has been designated as one of Japan's national treasures and is a popular tourist spot for tourists due to its beautiful appearance and historical value. Matsue Castle was built in 1611 during the early Edo period by Tadayoshi Matsudaira, the first lord of the Matsue domain. The castle is characterized by its beautiful stone walls and castle tower, and is surrounded by a magnificent moat and vast grounds. In particular, the castle tower of Matsue Castle is a stately building with a four-layer, six-story structure, which is rare even in Japan, and there are materials and exhibits inside the castle that tell us what it was like back then. In addition, there are exhibits of tea rooms, weapons, historical materials, etc. inside the castle, allowing you to experience the history and culture of the castle. The area around Matsue Castle is full of beautiful gardens and cherry blossom viewing spots, and is crowded with visitors in spring. In addition, traditional cultural events and events such as warrior parades are held within the castle, providing a fun experience for visitors. Due to its stunning architecture and historical value, Shimane Matsue Castle is popular not only as a place to learn about Japanese history and culture, but also as a tourist destination where you can enjoy the scenic gardens and seasonal scenery.

[trivia-jp]

広島原爆ドーム 中国地方の名所

広島原爆ドーム（ひろしまげんばくドーム）は、広島市中心部の平和記念公園内にある建造物で、第二次世界大戦中に原爆投下を受けた際の爆心地に近い場所に位置しています。この建物は、原爆投下の被害を象徴し、平和と核兵器廃絶への願いを伝える象徴的な存在となっています。 かつては広島県産業奨励館として使用されていた建物で、原爆投下の際に建物の一部が破壊された後、そのままの姿で残され、現在は被爆直後の様子を伝える貴重な遺構として世界遺産にも登録されています。 原爆ドームは、爆心地からわずか160メートルほどの場所に建っており、爆風や放射線を直接受けたために壁や柱が崩壊し、屋根も損傷しました。しかし、建物の中心部分が一部残り、その姿を今もなお留めています。 広島原爆ドームは、戦争と核兵器の惨禍を後世に伝え、平和への願いを訴える記念碑的建造物として、多くの人々に訪れられています。平和記念公園内には他にも原爆資料館や平和の像など、平和を願う様々な施設があり、訪れる人々に歴史的な教訓と平和への思いを伝えています。

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Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome Famous places in the Chugoku region

Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome (Hiroshima Genbaku Dome) is a structure located in the Peace Memorial Park in the center of Hiroshima city, close to the epicenter of the atomic bombing during World War II. . This building symbolizes the damage caused by the atomic bombing and has become a symbol that conveys the hope for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons. This building was once used as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, and after part of the building was destroyed when the atomic bomb was dropped, it was left in its original state, and is now known around the world as a valuable relic that shows what it was like right after the atomic bombing. It is also registered as a heritage site. The Atomic Bomb Dome was located only 160 meters from the hypocenter, and was directly exposed to the blast waves and radiation, causing its walls and columns to collapse and its roof to be damaged. However, part of the central part of the building remains and its appearance is still preserved today. The Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome is visited by many people as a monumental building that conveys the devastation of war and nuclear weapons to future generations and appeals to the hope for peace. There are various other facilities in Peace Memorial Park that pray for peace, such as the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Peace Statue, which convey historical lessons and a desire for peace to visitors.

[trivia-jp]

岡山後楽園 中国地方の名所

岡山後楽園（おかやまこうらくえん）は、岡山市北区に位置する日本三名園の一つで、美しい庭園と歴史的な建造物が特徴的な観光地です。 後楽園は、江戸時代中期に岡山藩主である池田家の第7代藩主、池田継政によって造営されました。園内には大きな池や大小様々な石垣、緑豊かな庭園が広がり、季節ごとに変化する美しい風景が楽しめます。特に桜の時期には、園内が満開の桜で彩られ、花見客で賑わいます。 後楽園の中心には「岡山古書院」と呼ばれる茶室を中心とした建築群があります。この茶室は、当時の茶道文化や庭園の美意識を体現した重要な建造物であり、国の重要文化財に指定されています。 また、園内には日本庭園の他にも洋風の庭園や菖蒲園、茶室、歌舞伎舞台など様々なエリアがあり、散策する楽しみも豊富です。 後楽園は、岡山市内にありながら都会の喧騒を離れ、自然と歴史に触れながらリラックスできる場所として、多くの観光客や地元の人々に愛されています。園内の趣ある景観や文化財を通じて、日本の伝統的な庭園文化を楽しむことができます。

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Okayama Korakuen Famous places in the Chugoku region

Okayama Korakuen is one of Japan's three famous gardens located in Kita Ward, Okayama City, and is a tourist destination characterized by beautiful gardens and historical buildings. Korakuen was built in the mid-Edo period by Tsugumasa Ikeda, the seventh lord of the Ikeda family, the lord of the Okayama domain. The park has a large pond, stone walls of various sizes, and a lush garden, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons. Especially during the cherry blossom season, the park is filled with cherry blossoms in full bloom and crowded with visitors. In the center of Korakuen is a group of buildings centered around a tea room called ``Okayama Koshoin.'' This tea room is an important building that embodies the tea ceremony culture and garden aesthetics of the time, and has been designated as a national important cultural property. In addition to the Japanese garden, the park also has a variety of other areas such as a Western-style garden, an irises garden, a tea room, and a kabuki stage, making it a lot of fun to stroll around. Although Korakuen is located in Okayama City, it is loved by many tourists and locals as a place where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and relax while experiencing nature and history. You can enjoy traditional Japanese garden culture through the quaint landscape and cultural assets within the park.