Mori Ranmaru's official artwork from Samurai Warriors 4 Mori Ranmaru is one of the most famous figures to come from the Sengoku Jidai, almost as famous as the lord he served, Oda Nobunaga. Much like others from this era, his life is shrouded in mystery, with a lot of what we know coming from Edo … Continue reading Mori Ranmaru and Wakashudō
Culture
The Controversial Naoe-jo
Naoe Kanetsugu's official artwork from Samurai Warriors 4 The Battle of Sekigahara is one of the most well-known battles in Japan’s history. It is an impressive and important battle, yet much of the history that surrounds it tends to be forgotten at times, especially by those who study the battle for military strategy only. The … Continue reading The Controversial Naoe-jo
Christmas in Sengoku Japan
"Merī kurisumasu"! It is undisputed that Christmas is the number one most celebrated holiday worldwide. While it is a staple for many Christians, the holiday is also celebrated in areas where Christianity is not as prominent. Japan is one of these examples. While there is a Christian population in the country, Christmas actually looks more … Continue reading Christmas in Sengoku Japan
Sengoku Hauntings: Hitobashira
Monument to the victims of hitobashira at the Jomon Tunnel On May 16, 1968, the Tokachi Earthquake hit northern Japan, registering as an 8.3 magnitude on the Richter scale. It caused a significant amount of damage and triggered a tsunami. One of the structures that was damaged by the earthquake was the Jomon Tunnel, which … Continue reading Sengoku Hauntings: Hitobashira
Sengoku Hauntings: Oiran Buchi
Oiran Buchi Bridge Daytime Just outside the city Tokyo is the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. It has eight peaks and spans over 2,000 miles. This beautiful park covers over four prefectures in Japan: Saitama, Yamanashi, Nagano and Tokyo.(1) In Yamanashi Prefecture, in between the city of Kōshū and the village of Tabayama, just off of an old road … Continue reading Sengoku Hauntings: Oiran Buchi
Sengoku Hauntings: Hachiōji Castle
Entrance to Goshuden at Hachiōji Castle Just west of Tokyo lies the town of Hachiōji, now a town for commuting workers who want to get away from the metropolis. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the town of Hachiōji seems like a great town to rest in after spending time in a busy city like Tokyo. … Continue reading Sengoku Hauntings: Hachiōji Castle
Hiragumo and Matsunaga Hisahide
https://youtu.be/3UtuyZdv0Wc YouTube version of this article Hiragumo on display at the Hamanako Kanzanji Art Museum in Hamamatsu, Japan. In every culture, there are items that have become quite famous. They all become famous for many reasons. They were owned by someone famous, became destroyed or lost, or are thought to have existed and thus becoming … Continue reading Hiragumo and Matsunaga Hisahide