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SoraNews24
22-07-2025
- General
- SoraNews24
This traditional Japanese castle keep is home to a branch of government
Ruling the land from inside a Japanese fortress. As we enter a brave new world, where AI rapidly continues to permeate society, we're now being fed recommendations based on algorithms that analyse our interests, narrowing our view of what's really out there. That's not necessarily reason for despair, though, as it actually highlights the importance of human interaction and conversations, which are now more vital to broadening our horizons than ever before. With everyone seeing a completely different version of the Internet based on their interests, conversations can introduce us to surprises that would otherwise be completely hidden to us, and that's what happened when a friend told us about a place we absolutely had to visit — the Fukui Prefectural Government Office. Government offices are usually low on the list of places we'd ever think to visit for fun, but the reason for this recommendation became clear after taking a look at the location on a map. ▼ As you can see, this government office is surrounded by a moat. That's right — this site of bureaucracy sits on the site of a former castle, complete with moat and stone walls intact. The fortified site may come as a surprise to castle lovers, even in Japan, but those who know about it like to cheekily describe it as the strongest branch of government in the country. It certainly looks imposing from the road on the other side of the moat, and things get even more interesting when you cross over and enter the grounds. During the Edo period (1603-1868), this site was the headquarters for warriors belonging to the Matsudaira clan, and their spirit hangs in the air today, with the moat and stone walls being authentic remnants of the castle that date back to the 1600s. In addition to the original features there are some modern additions like a wooden castle gate, which helps to keep the government building secure. ▼ We don't know any other prefectural office that's protected by a castle gate. No original wooden buildings remain — the main castle tower was destroyed by fire in 1669 and never rebuilt — but with a lot of the stone features still standing from the time of the original castle, it's easy to feel like you've stepped back in time. ▼ This view would've looked somewhat different in the feudal area. While other castle sites in Japan are overrun with tourists, this little-known spot remains deserted a lot of the time, except for the presence of office workers, the modern-day samurai, so you can really connect to the history and beauty of the site in a special way. It's easy for the imagination to run wild in the quiet serenity here — so much so that we could easily imagine a fallen warrior taking refuge in the shade of this mossy, sloping wall. ▼ If these walls and lawns could talk, what stories would they tell? With Japan being prone to earthquakes, it's amazing that this site has survived several centuries. One close call came with the 1948 Fukui Earthquake, though, when some walls shifted, causing them to visibly tilt, as seen in the photo below. ▼ Another little-known but impressive site here is the well that gave Fukui its name. Called Fukunoi, or 'good luck well', this life-giving water source inspired the name of the castle and the surrounding area, making it an important historical site for the city. ▼ It's also a fascinating site for visitors. The good luck seems to have rubbed off on Fukui's residents as the prefecture was ranked the happiest in Japan in 2024 by the Japan Research Institute's 'Happiness Ranking of All 47 Prefectures'. Fukui has maintained this ranking for 12 consecutive years, proving its residents are doing well in terms of income, health, education, employment, and community connections. Then again, when you have your government looking out for you from a castle fortress, there's a strength and security in that knowledge that's bound to leave you feeling content. So perhaps this really is the strongest branch of government in the country! Site information Fukui Prefectural Office / 福井県庁 Address: Fukui-ken, Fukui-shi, Otemachi 3-17-1 福井県福井市大手3丁目17−1 Open: 8:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Closed: Saturdays and Sundays Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Japan Forward
03-07-2025
- General
- Japan Forward
Yasukuni Shrine and the Religious Spirit of the Japanese People
Yasukuni Shrine celebrated its founding anniversary on June 29. Soon it will host the vibrant Mitama Festival, held from the evening of July 13 to July 16. Timed to coincide with the modern Obon season, the festival draws large crowds of worshippers. It stands alongside the annual spring and autumn festivals (April 22 and October 18) as one of the shrine's most significant annual events. Over its three-week period, which also includes Okinawa Memorial Day on June 23, public attention naturally renews on the many issues surrounding Yasukuni Shrine. On a more personal note, July 10 marks the anniversary of the death of the shrine's sixth guji (chief priest), the late Nagakuni Matsudaira. Matsudaira once observed that "Yasukuni is a shrine under intense political pressure." This reflection was born from the many political storms he faced and steadfastly navigated during his tenure as guji. Fortunately, the details of these struggles are preserved in Seiron Extra No. 33: 150 Years of Yasukuni Shrine – Spirits of the Fallen and the Emperor's Worship . The Sankei Shimbun published it in December 2018, and it stands as an invaluable historical record. Even seven years after its release, the volume remains an authoritative resource, virtually an encyclopedia on Yasukuni Shrine. It provides clear and comprehensive answers to the wide range of questions readers continue to raise. Most notably, it includes an annotated reprint of Matsudaira's post-retirement testimony, "The Real Reason Why the Emperor's Visits to Yasukuni Ceased." Many regard this as the most nuanced and definitive account of one of postwar Japan's most politically sensitive issues. Thanks to the dedication of those who have long revered Yasukuni Shrine, it has weathered numerous challenges in the postwar era. A closer look at its outward form and its spiritual core reveals the shrine's striking consistency in upholding its identity, even through times of great upheaval. This enduring constancy serves as a powerful symbol of the original essence of Japanese religious sentiment. At its core, the Japanese sense of religion is rooted in ancestor worship and the veneration of ancestral spirits. Many believe that through reverent rituals, these spirits transform into protective deities watching over their descendants. This vertical bond, between the living and their deified forebears, eventually extends horizontally into community life. In turn, this gives rise to the ujigami (local guardian deities) and ujiko (parishioners) system, which is the spiritual foundation of villages across Japan. It was in this rich soil that Japanese religiosity took firm root. From the late Heian period (794-1185) to the early Kamakura era (1185-1333), the idea of enshrining guardian deities on a national scale emerged from the warrior clans and feudal domains. By the mid-16th century, Japan engaged in increasingly complex diplomacy with Portugal, Spain, and Ming China. Out of this emerged a new awareness, a sense of Japan as a nation situated within the broader world. Visitors queue up in the summer heat to pay their respects. Yasukuni Shrine, August 15, 2024 (© JAPAN Forward by Daniel Manning) In the mid-19th century, Western ships from the United States, Russia, and Britain began pressing Japan to open its ports. Many in Japan viewed these demands as a national crisis. In response to the upheaval that followed, officials established the Shokonsha (literally 'soul-inviting shrine'). It enshrined those who died fighting for the imperial restoration in the Boshin War (1868–69). From the outset, its purpose was clear: to honor these fallen as "martyrs to the nation." Following the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, which resulted in even greater casualties than the Boshin War, the number of enshrined spirits exceeded 10,000. This prompted growing discomfort with the name Shokonsha, which implied a temporary resting place. The shrine's mission evolved into something more enduring: to permanently enshrine the spirits of those who gave their lives for the nation. In recognition of this, a new name was chosen — Yasukuni Shrine. Nearly 150 years have passed since the founding of Yasukuni Shrine. In that time, Japan faced numerous overseas conflicts. From the First Sino-Japanese War to the Russo-Japanese War, there were approximately 130,000 war dead. Including the casualties of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Greater East Asia War, Yasukuni Shrine has enshrined more than 2.32 million souls. These individuals gave their lives in the noble service of defending the homeland. As such, the Japanese people revere them as guardian spirits of the nation. Their memory is honored not only by ordinary citizens. The Emperor himself also honors it, and has long offered sincere reverence as one protected by these spirits. This relationship of respect and devotion has endured, unchanged even after Japan's defeat in World War II. If one were to ask what defines the religious spirit of the Japanese people, a question of academic depth, Yasukuni Shrine offers one of the most profound answers. The shrine's evolving relationship with the public reveals shifting perspectives within Japanese society. Views on war, the world, life and death, Shinto, Buddhism, and even monotheistic religions have all intersected through this relationship. Seen through this lens, religion in Japan is not an isolated domain, but one deeply woven into the fabric of everyday life. (Read the Seiron essay in Japanese.) Author: Keiichiro Kobori, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo
The Mainichi
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Entertainer Ken Matsudaira samba dances to celebrate Showa era at Tokyo-area amusement park
TOKOROZAWA, Saitama -- A glittering samba event recently kicked off the Golden Week holiday season at the Seibuen Amusement Park in this city just northwest of Tokyo in a tribute to Japan's Showa era, which lasted from 1926 to 1989. The "Golden Matsuken Matsuri (Samba)" was held April 26 as part of the "Showa 100-nen Daisaiten" grand festival, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Showa era, at the theme park's Yuhino-oka Shopping Street -- immersed in the "Showa retro" aesthetic. The dance event featured 71-year-old actor and musician Ken Matsudaira, known by the nickname Matsuken, in a luminous golden outfit. As gold-colored confetti fluttered through the air, Matsudaira and the performers danced to the rhythm of his 2004 hit "Matsuken Samba II," filling the shopping street with excitement and cheers from the crowd. After the event, Matsudaira commented, "It was my first performance at an amusement park. I was moved by how enthusiastic the visitors were. If I stay healthy, I want to continue singing until I am 80." Various Showa-themed events will be held at the theme park in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, during the Golden Week holidays through May 6, including the "Showa-priced grand sale" which allows shopping at 1960s prices, the "Showa 100-year grand fireworks" and the participatory show "Golden Boogie-Woogie festival." (Japanese original by Koichiro Tezuka, Photo Group)
