irbis

Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle is a castle in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, and is known by the locals as Tsuruga Castle.
Speaking of the Aizu Domain that governed Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle, it is well-known that Shinsengumi and Byakkotai fought intense battles with the new government army in various places as former Shogunate forces.
Hajime Saito became the captain of Shinsengumi in place of the injured Toshizo Hijikata, but they lost to the new government army, which was superior in number.
The next year, Hijikata Toshizo died in battle in Hakodate and Shinsengumi met its end along with the age of the samurai.
Hajime Saito, one of the few survivors of Shinsengumi, became a sword instructor in his later years. It is said that he never lost his skill and no one was even able to touch his shinai.

Expo ’70 Commemorative Park is located in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, and is the former site of the Osaka Expo held in 1970.
It has been selected as one of the 100 best places for cherry blossoms in Japan, and also has a Japanese garden and a rose garden.
The park is also home to the Tower of the Sun, a work of art and symbol of Osaka, created by artist Taro Okamoto.
It is a place of relaxation for the local people.
In 2025, the Japan International Exposition will be held again at Yumeshima in Konohana-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture.

In the 2021 version of the “Travel and Tourism Development Index Report” released by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Japan was ranked in the top spot for the first time ever. The “Travel and Tourism Development Index Report” is a report published biannually by the WEF, which ranks 117 countries and regions of the world based on a variety of factors.
Incidentally, the USA was ranked 2nd, with Spain 3rd, France 4th, and Germany 5th.

Japan’s government will resume accepting foreign tourists as of June 10, having stopped as a coronavirus prevention measure.
In order to maintain measures to prevent contagion, at first only tours with guides will be allowed.
It is expected that in the future approval will be widened also to tourists traveling privately.

Дадзайфу Тэммангу – это святилище в Дадзайфу, префектура Фукуока.
Когда речь идет о первом посещении святыни в году, многие паломники со всей Японии главным образом посещают Кюсю.
Как святилище, это самое большое место на Кюсю, которое наряду с Китано-Тэммангу в Киото известно как штаб-квартира святы ньТэммангу по всей стране.
На подходе, который простирается от станции Дадзайфу, расположены рестораны и сувенирные магазины, и гости могут насладиться оживленной атмосферой.

The Japanese government has announced that it will allow displaced persons from Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia, to enter Japan even if they have no guarantor, such as a relative, in Japan.
To facilitate smooth transition, the documents required for visa applications will be simplified.
The government also intends to allow those who wish to switch to a work visa after entering Japan to do so.

Last week, Russia invaded Ukraine.
The G7 nations, including Japan, will work together to support Ukraine.
In Japan, daily anti-war protests are being held. Ukrainians, Japanese, and even Russians are participating.

In addition to the Japanese government, many Japanese individuals are donating to Ukraine as well.
There was even a Japanese individual who donated one billion yen.
We strongly hope that peace returns to Ukraine as soon as possible.

Mount Fuji is an active volcano that extends over Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture. With an altitude of 3,776 meters, it is the highest mountain in Japan.
Its beautifully sublime appearance is widely known as a symbol of Japan, and it has also become the theme of many works of art.
Together with a group of related cultural assets, Mount Fuji was registered in 2013 as a cultural site in the World Heritage List under the name “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration.”
Around the foot of Mount Fuji are many sightseeing spots. Places such as Lake Kawaguchiko, Lake Yamanakako, and Fuji-Q Highland are especially popular.

On December 12, the final race of the 2021 Formula One season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was held.
Japanese fans of F1 watched the race with a special emotions.
Honda was withdrawing from F1 in 2021 and they were competing with Mercedes for the Constructors’ and Drivers’ titles in the final round.
The race was led by Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes from start to finish, but the safety car was came out n the final part of race and Max Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the final lap to win the race.
Thus, he won the Drivers’ title and became the F1 World Champion.
The constructors’ title went to Mercedes, but it was a great day for Japanese drivers, as Japanese driver Hiroki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri Honda achieved a personal best result of 4th place in the final race.

Kumamoto Castle was built in the closing years of the Warring States period by Kiyomasa Kato, a daimyo of that period, who was known as a castle construction expert.
During the Meiji period, it became a battleground of the Satsuma Rebellion. The government forces holed up in the castle and survived the fierce attack of the Saigo forces.
It is also known as a famous place for cherry blossoms. It has been selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Sites.
Kumamoto Castle suffered damage due to the Kumamoto earthquakes that occurred in April 2016. Even today, restoration work is underway.