Last weekend, I went on a two-hour drive to Obi, an old castle town in the neighboring prefecture. I could've been there before, but it's such a long time ago that I don't remember anything. Anyhow, the thing is that the place was so beautiful and tranquil that I wished to move into the town to live there. The state of preservation was just superb. The gate in the photo was restored some time ago, which is the main entrance to Obi Castle. Unfortunately, the castle itself was destroyed in the midst of radical transformation of our nation, from a samurai-ruled state to an emperor-centered modern state about 150 years ago. But, precisely because it was long gone and invisible, it stirs up your imagination and makes you think of the old days. Well, that is exactly what I did there.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Remembering Samurai Days
Last weekend, I went on a two-hour drive to Obi, an old castle town in the neighboring prefecture. I could've been there before, but it's such a long time ago that I don't remember anything. Anyhow, the thing is that the place was so beautiful and tranquil that I wished to move into the town to live there. The state of preservation was just superb. The gate in the photo was restored some time ago, which is the main entrance to Obi Castle. Unfortunately, the castle itself was destroyed in the midst of radical transformation of our nation, from a samurai-ruled state to an emperor-centered modern state about 150 years ago. But, precisely because it was long gone and invisible, it stirs up your imagination and makes you think of the old days. Well, that is exactly what I did there.
