week7 Construction

In the Meiji period, Himeji Castle was about to be destroyed. In 1868, new an emperor started new politics. Sakai Tadakuni who was the final lord of a castle lived in Tokyo. So Himeji Castle was property of the nation. Period of samurai was finished. Many castle it was to make war was an unless object. The government of meiji destroyed many castle.  Fortunately, Himeji Castle was left. But the government thought that they use Himeji Castle as a barracks and a training school of the army. So, many building in the premises were broken. There were no people who funded to repair Himeji Castle, so Himeji Castle was dilapidated.

Some people pay attention of beauty as castle. Some people said to keeping idsn good repair. One of the people who say was Nakamura sigetou. He was resort eagerly to keeping in good repair. Nakamura said “now, well-know castle will break. We must keep well preserved.” Nakamura said to Yamagata Aritomo who was the minister of the army,” we must repair the castle quickly by expenses of the army ministry to keep a thing permanently. ” As a result, the government decided to repair Himeji Castle in 1879. Praising his work, a stone monument was built.

Himeji castle was decided to repair, but the new government had sort of funds. Only a prop include. Weeds grew on the roof. The roof tiles fell. The wall collapsed. When people see this state, people took action to save Himeji Castle. One of them raised a fund for take up collection. In 1908, a town hall meeting was held, and people did a grass-roots movement. The nation finally made up their mind to go to work. In 1910, full-scale construction started.

In 1945, world war Ⅱ finished. Fortunately, Himeji Castle remained. But Himeji Castle was damaged. A repair and keeping stopped by the war. But, in 1950, it resumed．　It cost one hundred million to have Himeji Castle repaired in those days. In this construction, they found that a castle tower leaned. It weighed heavily on stones in the southeast. Stones cracked. Now, a castle tower was toppled, so they though it must be repaired quickly. In 1956, a repair and keeping started again. This construction was largest scale they have never experienced. The person in charge investigate the structure of Himeji Castle. They made a model of castle tower, and they devised way of construction.

In 1964, construction finished. It took eight years. Two hundred and fifty thousand people had to do with this.  It cost five hundred and fifty million to repair only a castle tower. The total come to ten million. This construction called “syouwa-no-tikujo(昭和の築城)”, because it the biggest construction.

In 2009, “heisei-no-daisyuri(平成の大修理)“started. It will take five years.It cost twenty and eight million.　Himeji Castle would be remake earthquake-resistant construction. We can inspect a construction site. It is a rare chance to inspect.  I suggest going to Himeji Castle!

Thank you for your reading!

See you next week.

week6 structure

Hello, today, I would explain Himeji Castle’ structure.

Big castle, when it was built to make war, we think it has a secret passage or street to protect a lord and princess.

A well was though a secret passage or street. In the old day, Himeji Castle had 33 wells. In the present time, Himeji Castle has 13 wells. One of them was called a secret passage.

Especially, we think that the well nearest a castle tower is a secret passage. A  TV station and a newspaper company researched many times. But, as a result, this well is a drain.

A well as a secret passage was used by a ninja.

Himeji Castle has many systems to make war. The best things of Himeji Castle is if an enemy attacked, they could not go to a castle tower, because the route to a castle tower is a maze. Himeji Castle looks very beautiful like kind of woman, but a roped-off area never be attacked.

Let’s take now, I talk about a castle tower. A castle tower develop from a watchtower, it is building to see distance. For the first time, a castle tower put a watchtower like a palace on a tower. A tower of a lower and a upper were different design, so it was lost balance. This style is called “a watchtower model castle tower”

Later, A castle tower became keeping balance like a five-storied pagoda. This style is called “layer tower model castle tower ”

Lengh of Himeji Castle’s castle tower is 30 meter. It was put on a stone wall of tower units its lengh is 15 meter. When we watch Himeji Castle from the outside, A castle tower is five layers. But to tell the truth, watchtower of three layers are put on tower of two layers.

The inside of a castle tower is different of five layers of outside. It is one stories below and six above the ground. The stone of tower units see from outside is the basement.

A castle tower is battle place at the end of war. They stay indoors. Any flower is devised to make war. Only the top floor, it is six, is made like a Japanese –style drawing room, because the top floor is watchtower to see distance and a palace.

Himeji castle has many stones. Stones make the castle looked castle. Stone was called a fort. Way of pile is different in any place. There are three kinds of it.

First it is “Nozurazumi(野面積み)”. Size of stone is irregular, so it could pile up high. Small stones are into an opening to keep balance.

Second, it is “Uchikomihagi(打ち込みはぎ)”. They beat natural stones with a hummer to shave a corner of stones. This way can pile up high and steepness.

Third, it is “Kirikomihagi(切り込みはぎ)”. They shave stones to make a quadrangle. This way can pile up with no opening. This way is new style.

Do you understand about Himeji Castle’s structure?

See you next week!

week5 Event

Himeji Castle held many festival and events. “Oshiro-matsuri” is one of festival. First, I explain about origin. In 1948, when Japan was the postwar period, But Himeji Castle was left miraculously. So people made Himeji castle symbol of revive from war.  “Oshiro-matsuri” was held to make people cheerful and to toward new Himeji city.

“Oshiro-matsuri” is the real feeling of summer. It would be held for three days.

In 2012, The first day, in the morning, ”tournament of sketching Himeji Castle ” was held. Participant was under high school students. They enjoyed sketching Himeji Castle. Win a prizing pictures were displayed at the gallery. In the afternoon, “takigi-nou(薪能) of Himeji Castle” was held to enjoy a Noh play in free. This event was an established custom. Especially, it was held to make young people feel close to a Noh play. 2800 people visited, and they feel traditional entertainment of Himeji. In this event,  a small dram, a flute, and dress, they were used in a Noh play, ware explained. Then for the first time, 14 children who were chosen by inviting public participation appeared “Kurama-tengu(鞍馬天狗)”.

Second day, the big parade was held at o-temae street. 27 resident group took part in the resdent parade, and they took the lead of this parade. 3 lady who were the 44^th queen of Himeji Castle appear in the history parade. This parade took hour and a half hours. This parade made resident and suburb people exited. In Sou-odori(総踊り)、people danced “bansyu-ondo(播州音頭)”

Third day, “Himeji-yoki-koi-matsuri(姫路よさ恋まつり)” was held. Many dancer of Yosakoi　took part in this festival.

Yosakoi-bushi(よさこい節) and Yosakoi-naruko-bushi (よさこい鳴子節)was called Yosakoi-matsuri(よさこい祭り). This festival was born in Kochi in 1950.

In 1992, students of Hokkaido put Yosakoi-bushi of Hokkaido in Yosakoi-bushi of Kochi.

This harmonized festival called “YOSAKOI so-ran matsuri(YOSAKOIソーラン祭り)”was held. Later, Yosakoi-matsuri spread throughout the whole nation.

Yosakoi-matsuri was an energy dance that people use a clapper and move violently with music and dress. In Himeji, in 2000, Yosakoi-matsuri called “Himeji-yoki-koi-matsuri(姫路よさ恋まつり)” began with slogan of “an exchange between person and person”.

In summer, “Yukata matsuri” was held. It was real feeling of summer. This festival was biggest in the west Japan. There were 800 street vendor’s stalls.

week4 legend

Today,I explain about legend in Himeji castle.

There is the old well called “Okiku-ido(お菊井戸)”　this well have a famous ghost story.

450years ago, Aoyama Tessan who is regency of Himeji Castle tried take over it. Aoyama consulted with Tyonotsubo Danshirou to kill Kotera Noritomo who was the lord of castle.

Kinugasa Motonobu who was a faithful follower of the lord of castle noticed plot. So Kinugasa sent Okiku to Tessan’s house to investigate a state.

By the way, Kogoro who was Tessan’s son was locked up in a house, because he noticed father’s plot and tried stop. Kogoro loved Sirotae-hime so he wanted to make her sad. Okiku pitied him and kind. When Okiku Knew Kogoro loved shirotae-hime, she said, ”Do you have anything you said her? I am on good terms with her. So I can tell her”

Kogoro was moved by her kind, so he talked about father’s plot.

Motonobu herd news from Okiku.  Motonobu tryied to kill Tessan. But Tessan was garded from followers. And Tessan run away Ieshima.

As a result, Tessan became the lord of Himeji castle.

Later, Okiku stayed Tessan’s house. Okiku keep investigating a state of Tessan for Motonobu. Finally Danshiro noticed Okiku’s plot.

But Danshiro thought that he have wanted to marry Okiku, so he said. ”If you marry me, I would keep silent.” Danshiro’s opinion made Okiku fearful. Okiku loved Notonobu, so she rejected. Danshiro feel hateful to Okiku.

One day, Okiku put away plates called “Komogaenogusoku-sara” it was a family treasure of an antidote. Normally, there were ten plates. But one plate was shorted. Okiku counted from one to ten many times with trembling. However, there are nine plates.

In truth, Danshiro hide one plate without noticing anyone.

Danshiro made a big fuss about one plate. Danshiro took Okiku to his house. Danshiro hanged Okiku on a pine tree. Danshiro beat Okiku by a bamboo sword and blame her.

But Okiku would not listen to Danshiro. Danshiro got angry, so he killed Okiku. And Danshiro threw Okiku away in the wall.

Since then, any one herd weak woman’s voice.

“one… two… three…nine. ” it was sadly Okiku’s voice with sobbing. When it counted nine, it stop. And Okiku counted again from one.

Later, tessan was destroyed by Motonobu. Norimoto got again Himeji castle.

Norimoto lamented the death of Okiku. So Norimoto pray for Okiku in the shrine called “junisyo-zinja”

After 300 years since okiku was death, the eerie insects grew in the Himeji Castle. The figure was like human who is hang on tree. People said that a deep-seated grudge of Okiku became the eerie insects. People called this insects “Okiku-mushi”

The wall Okiku was threw away is gossiped “Okiku-Ido” in the Himeji Castle.

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How do you feel “Okiku-ido”? it is very terrible story. I think you were so scared you had goosebumps !  love between man and moman is troublesome in present day. Did you enjoy reading this story? I wish you make good use of time!

Thank you for your reading! See you again!

week3 kokoen

Today, I will explain Kokoen. Kokoen is a Japanese park in Himeji Castle.

In 1992, Koukoen built to commemorate a centenary of municipal organization. Koukoen was spent three years to complete. Kokoen is has both keeping cultural assets and practical. Koukoen is new culture aria.

Excavations took place in 1985. The garden consists of nine different look of making use the allotment of land, its area is about 10,000 square meters there.

Plan of the garden was supervised by Professor Nakamura Hajime of Kyoto University.

The garden is arranged "Sou-ju-an" supervised by Mr.Sen Soushistu who is the main branch of a family of Urasenke .

This garden is a circuit style garden linked by a pond or flow of water. The biggest feature is that it against the background of Himeji Castle

Garden is against the rich virgin forest in the west Himeji Castel. It created a graceful landscape it is history and nature are in harmony.

Kokoen is recreated building of the Edo period. So Kokoen is a location aria of a costume drama, saga. For example, Mito-komon, Abarenbo-Shogun, O-oka-etizen, and Rurouni-kenshin.

 Kokoen has many highlight arias.

Kassuiken: we can eat and drink watching beautiful yard.

A passage connecting two building: when we walk ,we can hear sound of like a drum. 
And view of right and left is an impressive scene.

Cho-on-sai: we can enjoy a nice view of beautiful moon in autumn.

Yard of residence: it is the biggest yard with the background of Himeyama natural forest.

Nae-no-niwa: This is a traditional Japanese garden.it stationed a tea-ceremony room.

Souju-an: It is a real tea-ceremony room. In the real tea-ceremony room build to a castle tower of Himeji Castle, we can taste a powdered green tea.

Nagare-no-hira-niwa: this garden is free and easy, bright.

Natsukinoniwa: in this garden, a deciduous tree is planted. So we enjoy watching fresh verdure and colored leaves.

Matsu-no-miya: this yard is imaged Akamatsu woods.

Hanano-miwa: the garden of the Edo period are grown in this garden.

Tukiyama-chisen-no-niwa: this is a traditional style japanease garden with maple and pine trees.

Takenoniwa: 15 kinds of bamboos is planted. It imagines a Japanese umbrella.

Koukoen holds various events. For example, “an evening of firefly” is one of events. The best time to see the fireflies is middle July to late May. many Fireflies fly 11 pm from getting dark after dusk. Fireflies fly around when no moonlight cloudy, sultry weather and no wind. When the temperature is low, strong wind and the rain, a bright moonlight night, fireflies do not fly much. Fireflies fly in the garden is very beautiful.

Are you interested in Kokoen? I want you to have a little interesting and to go to Kokoen.　I have been to Kokoen many times. There are beautiful garden. Beautiful garden make us feel at home. We are busy to study, work, hausework, and so on. We are tired, so we could not feel natural. We should listen to the sounds of nature.

Thank you for your reading.

See you again!