Viaggio nella Storia del Giappone – Ep.1: Fukuoka

Viaggio nella Storia del Giappone – Ep.1: Fukuoka

For centuries, Japan has fascinated Europe with its perfect balance of tradition and innovation. Until the Edo period, European intellectuals and artists were enchanted by the refinement of Japanese art. This fascination has been renewed over time, continuing to this day in new and engaging forms. But in recent decades, Japanese pop culture has conquered the world. Anime, manga, video games, and Japanese music have shaped and influenced entire generations. This diffusion has fueled curiosity about the land of the Rising Sun, prompting more and more people to discover its culture, language, and, of course, its history. And it is precisely history that is at the heart of this new video series. Today, we begin a fascinating journey that will lead us to explore the history of Japan through its cities. Our story will be enriched by the experiences of our last trip to Japan. This will therefore not only be a history lesson, but also a suggestion for planning your next itinerary. Let yourself be inspired; between maps, stories, and images, Japan will seem closer than ever. After a long flight of over 12 hours, including a stopover at Shanghai Pudong Airport, we arrived in Japan, specifically in Fukuoka, in Kyushu, the southern region of Japan. In addition to Fukuoka, Kyushu has several interesting places to visit, such as Nakasagi, a city sadly known for being the target of the second atomic bomb, but which also has a long history and was an important point of contact with Westerners during the modern era. It’s no coincidence that it’s also the city with the highest number of Christian churches in the country. Since we didn’t have the opportunity to visit Nakasagi, but that doesn’t mean we won’t want to in the future, let’s return to Fukuoka. The city is Japan’s gateway to continental Asia, connected via its port to Korea and China. The first Buddhist missionaries arrived from Fukuoka, and it likely originated from here as well, in the 5th century. The connection between Asia and Japan isn’t limited to these cultural aspects alone. After conquering China and founding the Yuan Dynasty, Kublann attempted to invade Japan through the port of Fukuoka in 1274. But it wasn’t his only attempt; he attempted to invade the island again in 1281. On both occasions, strong typhoons prevented the ships from landing. These providential winds were named Shimpu or Kamikaze, a divine wind sent from heaven to protect the land of the Kamikaze. A term that has since taken on a different meaning in Western culture. In fact, Japan remained the only country not conquered by the Mongols. One of the most beautiful temples in the city of Fukuoka is also linked to this event: the Kushita Shrine. This large tutelary shrine in Akata is well known and popularly called Okushidan. It is dedicated to the deities of Oatanushi Nomikoto, Amaterasu Mikami, and Susanowo no Mikoto, if you’ll pardon the pronunciation. According to tradition, in 757, when Emperor Koken was in office and Tairan Kiyomori designated the port of Akata as a base for trade between Japan and China, the shrine was built by the emperor’s order to share a Dioni, the Gushida shrine, in Iese province, which is now Mier prefecture. In 1585, during the restoration of Akata, Toyotomi Deoshi, the famous general, helped rebuild the shrine’s current main building. In its courtyard grows a large symbolic shiba tree with two monumental tablets commemorating the failed Mongol invasion. The city, as we know it today, is relatively young, having only been effectively established in 1889, when the two distinct parts, once truly separate cities divided by the Naka River, later merged into one. The two parts were called Akata in the north and then Fukuca itself which was the city of the Kuroda clan in the south. This clan played an important role at the end of the 10th century, when Yoshitaka was a close collaborator of Toyotomi de Yoshi, A general we’ve already talked about before, and if you’d like to learn more about his history, let us know in the comments. Agata is still the city’s liveliest and most modern neighborhood, centered around the vital station that connects Fuguca to the rest of the country. Here, there are several places to eat, including the very famous dish, toncotsu ramen, a unique variety that we’ll discuss shortly. Returning to our story, the city and its metropolitan area are among those with the highest concentration of Japanese Buddhist and Shinto religious sites. Among the most significant temples is undoubtedly the Sumiyoshi, one of the oldest, and next to it is the Tochoshi, also located in the Akata area. This temple appears to have been founded as early as 806 AD, so in the 9th century, by Tobo Kaishi, who had just returned from China. We are inside the Tokoi temple, which dates back to the 9th century, but the architecture, as you can see, is modern. The most interesting aspect is what’s preserved inside. Unfortunately, you can’t take photos, but if you enter for 50 yen, you can see one of the largest Buddhas in Japan, 10.80 cm tall , made of cypress wood. It’s beautiful to look at, so come see it. Among the most famous festivals in Japan and Fukuoka is the Gion Yamakasa Festival, which is also one of the largest in the country. This ancient celebration dates back to the 10th century, when a Buddhist monk put an end to a serious epidemic by sprinkling holy water through the city streets. He traveled on a float called Segakidana, which was later built by the citizens. In commemoration of this event, floats are paraded today, some of which can be seen around the city. But if you’re not tired of seeing temples and giant Buddhas, all you have to do is head outside of downtown Fukuoka to reach Nanzoin Temple, home to the largest reclining Buddha statue in the world. The bronze statue is 41 m long and 11 m high, truly imposing. The temple that was erected here in 1899 was originally located on Mount Coia in Vacayama Prefecture. However, it was at risk of destruction due to certain anti-Buddhist policies, which led the monks to want to move the temple and themselves to a safer area. Over the decades, the temple has developed and expanded into various chapels, shrines, and statues. The Buddha statue is actually very recent, completed in 1995 and built to house the ashes of the Buddha and two of his disciples, which were donated to the temple by the Myanmar Buddhist Council as a sign of gratitude for the temple’s longtime support. The reclining position symbolizes the Buddha’s peaceful passing and his message of spiritual liberation. Returning to Fuku-Oga, we talked about ramen. Ramen, as we know it today, seems to have originated here. As mentioned, the signature dish is tonkotsuuramen or akataramen, whose broth is made by simmering pork bones for a long time, giving it its characteristic white color. Like many other Japanese dishes, ramen appears to have Chinese origins. Its arrival in Japan is unclear, and many believe the first versions of ramen, as we know it today, originated in Fukuga, Japan. Various establishments prepare ramen, but the most interesting experience is undoubtedly at the so-called yatai. These are small, mobile wooden carts parked throughout the city. During the day, they’re often found closed in corners, but in the evening, they open up and become fully-fledged streetside restaurants. They’re mainly found in the Tenjin and Nakasu areas along the river. The owners don’t speak much English, at least where we went, but they’re very friendly, and the menus are often in two languages. We ate at several yatai during our trip, and we were thrilled by the dishes’ simplicity and truly unique flavor . The prices are absolutely affordable and if you are interested in a dedicated video on places to eat and other useful travel tips, let us know. in the comments. Due to unforeseen weather conditions, we missed some of the city’s other attractions, including the Momogi Promenade along an artificial beach with the Fukuoga Tower, built in 1989 to celebrate the centenary of the city’s union. Also worth seeing are the ruins of Fukuoga Castle, in Maisuro Park. Built in the 10th century by the powerful Daimyokurod Nagamasa, it was the residence of Fukuoga’s ruling nobility until 1868, the beginning of the traditional Meijigi period. Between that date and 1957, when it was recognized as a historic site by the Japanese government, much of the original structure had already been lost or severely damaged, and for this reason it is not possible to see it in its entirety. Particularly interesting are the walls, among the strongest in Japan. Finally, if you want to relax, the beautiful Hori Park, not far from Tenin Station, is also worth seeing nearby . In short, Fukuoga was a wonderful discovery. A vibrant city , full of temples, charming corners, a unique atmosphere, and food. But like any good trip, this was just the beginning, a small appetizer before we head even further north. In the next episode, we’ll talk about Hiroshima and its surroundings. See you soon.

Ma tu la conosci la storia del Giappone? Ebbene si uno dei paesi più scelti come meta turistica, è conosciuto solo per la sua cultura pop e per il suo delizioso cibo, ma molti non conoscono minimamente la sua storia! Daimyo, Shogun e Samurai sono solo alcuni dei protagonisti di questo paese, e viaggiando in lungo e in largo per le varie isole si possono scoprire dettagli spesso nascosti o meno “turistici” che ci raccontano una storia millenaria e avvincente. In questa nuova serie proviamo a scoprire il Giappone e la sua storia una tappa per volta, ripercorrendo quello che è stato il nostro ultimo viaggio nella terra del sol Levante. Siete pronti a partire?

Inizia il nostro viaggio nella storia del Giappone con la prima tappa: Fukuoka, antica porta del Kyushu e cuore culturale del sud del paese…
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