Nagoya Castle: More Screens and Things

Nagoya Castle: Screens and Things

Nagoya Castle Photos

Nagoya Castle, built in 1615 on the orders or Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Dynasty (1603-1868).

I visited Nagoya last December and will be sharing photos of the castle in posts to follow. As for the golden roof ornaments, they are shachihoko, mythical creatures with the head of a tiger and tail of a fish. Capable of summoning rain, they offer protection from fire. Those atop Nagoya Castle are the largest in Japan.

Vending Machines

Vending machines are ubiquitous in Japan, and 20 years ago, jihanki (short for jidouhanbaiki- 自動販売機) selling alcohol were a common sight. However, the number of such machines has dropped significantly over the years in response to efforts to curb underage sales; the machine pictured is the only one of its kind remaining in downtown Niigata. Conversely, a new breed of jihanki offer a variety of food items, as here and here.

A Disappearing Japanese Institution: The Sento (銭湯), or Public Bath

It's becoming harder and harder to find public baths, with the following photo (taken in downtown Niigata City) illustrative of many sento today:

"- 乃湯", the first character of the name is missing, but the character 湯 , meaning 'hot water', is the giveaway that this used to be a bath (as are the doors separately marked ’女湯’(Women's Bath) and ’男湯’Men's Bath). However, as the plume of steam indicates, いずみ湯 is still in operation.

The number of public baths peaked at 17,999 in 1968. As of 2022, the figure was 1865. By the way, hot springs are indicated by the characters 温 and 泉, or onsen, literally 'hot spring', while the sen (銭)in sento is a trifling sum of money, 1/100th of a yen.

Ramen Kurai

There's always a queue at らーめん倉井, regardless ofthe day ofthe week or the weather. If you are a fan of 'Japan's soul food' and are in Niigata, it is well worth the wait. (Please note that the shop only accepts cash.)

Kayabuki Thatch Roof

The thatch roof is a feature of traditional Japanese farmhouses, of which the most iconic are the gassho-zukuri of World Heritage site Shirakawa-go. While such roofs last 30-40 years, replacing them is labor intensive, besides requiring a local supply of raw materials. Metal sheeting is the practical solution.

Mamoru-kun, Mascot of Miyako

The mascot of Miyakojima (宮古島-in the Okinawa island chain) is Mamoru. 'To protect, defend', also a name for boys, hence the 'kun'- Mamoru, in the guise of a policeman, watches over the roads in 20 locations throughout the island. I attended a wedding on the island a year ago, and one evening some of us repaired to an izakaya where customers are treated to- I'll let the video do the rest.

Basho and Sora in Niigata: Narrow Road to the Interior

A couple of links to short videos regarding the haiku poets' passage through Niigata in early July, 1689. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kveHtuRNMc8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCjueus1cLg

That's a lot of Takoyaki

Pottering Discoveries: Yoshida Inari Shrine, Niigata

Inari is the god of rice in the Shinto 'pantheon'-since the late Edo Era, Japanese have prayed to the god for commercial success as well as agricultural bounty. Given its history as Japan's most productive rice-growing region, it is unsurprising that Niigata should be home to the greatest number of shrines to Inari, of which that pictured offers a fine example of Inari gates. By the way, the fox: as a predator of mice, the bane of rice farmers, a natural choice to be Inari's messenger (not a representation of the god). As everyone knows, foxes are particularly fond of fried tofu, hence: Inari Zushi and Kitsune Udon/ Soba. 

https://youtube.com/shorts/uxObqqa4DVs?si=YaJySIZabxHS0gfo

  

A Showa-style Dagashi-ya Candy Store

 C-57 is the largest Showa-style dagashiya in Niigata, with over 300 varieties of 'low-grade' (the da [駄] of dagashi ) candies, sweets, and sundries. Located in Niitsu, nicknamed 'Railroad Town' because of its long history as a hub for Japan National Railways (until 1987) and its successor, East Japan Railway Company (familiarly, JR East), the shop takes its name from the old steam locomotive 'C-57', pictured prominently above the entrance.  Clink the link below to see a video of the shop's exterior.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptf5g8KaQk0

For videos of the interior:

https://youtube.com/shorts/6vxh5-9fY3k?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5k93LqLW-nM

https://youtube.com/shorts/-UAMhrE-ddQ?si=vcUZXP7X3irMtRX0