Himeji Castle, a treasure from the past
Japanese castles are one of the nations’ most popular tourist attractions amongst foreign travelers. Of all the castles in Japan, only…
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu was the first of the Tokugawa Shogun. Born January 31 1543 at Okazaki Castle in Aichi Prefecture, the…
Nagoya Castle
For over 350 years, Nagoya Castle stood as the biggest, the best designed, the most gorgeous, and well preserved of…
The 47 Ronin Story
On the night of December 14, 1703, the legendary 47 Ronin led by Oishi Kuranosuke made their attack on…
The Battle of Mitagahara
6 January 1573 Takeda Shingen (28,000) VS Tokugawa Ieyasu (11,000, including 3,000 Oda troops) The Battle of Mikatagahara almost changed…
Japanese Swords, Tachi
Tachi are an early type of Japanese sword, worn by the nobility and warrior classes of feudal Japan. From the…
The Martial Art Of Aikido
Aikido is a mentally and physically demanding modern martial art that teaches methods of unarmed defense while preventing the attacker…
Maeda Toshiie
Maeda Toshiie was one of the leading generals of the Sengoku period under Oda Nobunaga and later Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Born…
The Battle of Okehazama
On the outskirts of Nagoya City, 2,500 samurai trounced an army of 35,000 in what became known as the Battle of…
Old Kumano Road World Heritage Site
There remains a mystical aura along the Old Kumano Road（Kumano kodo / 熊野古道） as it winds its way through ancient…
Heian Period（794 to 1185）
With the rising influence on Buddhism on politics, the Emperor Kanmu founded a new capital at Kyoto in 794. This…
Honda Tadakatsu
Honda Tadakatsu (also known as Heihachiro) was born in Okazaki, Mikawa (Modern day Aichi Prefecture) and was one of the…
Tokyo Station, Gateway to The Nation
Tokyo Station is a major commuter hub servicing some 380,000 people on average daily, and one that attracts many visitors…
Oda Nobunaga (June 23 1534-June 21 1582)
The first of the three Unifiers of Japan, Oda Nobunaga was born in 1534 during the height of the civil strife…