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Imagawa Clan
The Imagawa akatori (今川赤鳥紋) depicts a red bird with six feathers or "teeth" and a hole at the top through which a cord could be passed. It served as the battle standard (馬印) of the Imagawa, but was...
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Imagawa Yoshimoto (1519–1560)
Portrait of Imagawa Yoshimoto at Kotoku-in (高徳院), Aichi)Imagawa Yoshimoto (今川義元, 1519–1560) was a prominent daimyō of the Sengoku period, renowned for both his military campaigns and internal...
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Inuyama Castle
Inuyama Castle (犬山城 Inuyama-jō) is located in the city of Inuyama, north of Nagoya, and is considered to be one of the oldest castles in Japan and the only one that has been in private hands until...
View ArticleEchigo Beer - Japan’s First Microbrewery
While it's common knowledge that Japan's national drink is sake with the highest concentration of individual sake breweries located in Niigata, what to sip on if you're not a fan? Why, a cold frothy...
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Maruoka Castle
Maruoka Castle (丸岡城 Maruoka-jō) is a hilltop castle located in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture. It is famous for its wooden main keep, one of Japan's oldest original castle towers. When Oda Nobunaga...
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Japanese Castles
Himeji CastleMilitary fortifications, initially constructed to defend against enemy incursions, gradually evolved with the rise of feudalism into distinctive architectural structures that functioned...
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Inuyama Castle
Inuyama Castle (犬山城 Inuyama-jō) is a hilltop castle facing the Kiso River in Inuyama City, northern Aichi Prefecture. It is famous for its elegant original castle tower, which has been designated a...
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Nambokuchō Period
The flag of the southern Imperial CourtThe Northern and Southern Courts (南北朝 Nambokuchō) refer to the two competing imperial courts that coexisted in Japan between 1336 and 1392, each asserting its...
View ArticleKemmu Restoration
The Kemmu Restoration (建武の中興), a brief and ambitious attempt to revive direct imperial rule in Japan, was initiated by Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇, 1288–1339) in the aftermath of the fall of the Kamakura...
View ArticleYamana Clan
Rokubun-no-ichi-donoIn the Muromachi Period (1336-1467), the Yamana clan (山名氏 Yamana-shi) was one of the most powerful samurai families of Japan. The Yamana held the position of shugo (military...
View ArticleOta Dokan
The Father of Edo CastleŌta Sukenaga (太田資長, 1432-1486), better known under his Buddhist name Ōta Dōkan (太田道灌), was a daimyō in Musashi Province and the eldest son of Ōta Sukekiyo (太田資清, 1411-1493), who...
View ArticleThe Ōnin War (1467-1477)
The Ōnin War (応仁の乱), which broke out in Kyōto in 1467 and continued until 1477, was named after the Ōnin era (応仁, 1467–69) during which it began. This conflict effectively marked the end of the fragile...
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Abandoned and Empty: Niigata’s Aki-ya Problem
Perhaps you've driven by them, walked past them or even lived next to one without realizing it, but they're there: one of the many aki-ya, or empty-houses, that silently sit and pose a worry to...
View ArticleKaichi School Museum
In the wake of the Meiji Restoration and the subsequent drive to modernise the country, the newly founded Japanese Ministry of Education introduced a revised school system based strictly on the...
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Hosokawa Clan
The Hosokawa (細川) were a distinguished and influential samurai family whose influence spanned from the Muromachi period (1333-1568) into the Edo period (1600-1868). Originating as a cadet branch of the...
View ArticleHosokawa Tadaoki (1563-1646)
Hosokawa Tadaoki (細川忠興, 1563–1646), also known by his artistic name Hosokawa Sansai, was a prominent daimyō of the late Sengoku and early Edo periods, distinguished not only for his military service...
View ArticleHosokawa Katsumoto (1430-1473)
Hosokawa Katsumoto (細川勝元, 1430–1473) was a prominent general of the Muromachi period (室町時代, 1333–1568) and an influential figure within the military and political hierarchy of the Ashikaga shogunate....
View ArticleHosokawa Fujitaka (1534-1610)
Hosokawa Yūsai (細川幽斎, 1534-1610), also known by his earlier name Hosokawa Fujitaka (細川藤孝), was a prominent daimyō (大名) and literary figure of the Azuchi-Momoyama period (安土桃山時代, 1568–1600). Born the...
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Hosokawa Gracia (1563-1600)
Study for "Garasha Hosokawa", Wall Painting in Tamatsukuri Cathedral, Ōsaka, by Domoto Insho (1962).Hosokawa Gracia (細川ガラシャ, 1563–1600), born as Akechi Tama (明智たま), was a Christian convert of the late...
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The Legacy of Jade: Unearthing Itoigawa’s Green Heart
Niigata is a prefecture known for its cultural depth, natural beauty—and as it turns out—precious stones that lie waiting to be discovered on its shores. In particular, jade. This beautifully lustrous...
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