Battleship Island: Nagasaki Prefecture

Battleship Island officially known as Hashima and it operated from 1887 to 1974 as a coal mine.  Mitsubishi bought the island in 1890 and began extracting coal from undersea mines.  At it's peak in 1959, the 6.3-hectare island's population reached 5,259 inhabitants with a population density of 83,500 people per km² for the whole island.

As petroleum replaced coal in Japan in the 1960s, coal mines began shutting down and  the Nagasaki Battleship Island mines were no exception.  Mitsubishi officially announced the closing of the mine in 1974 and today it is empty and bare which is why it is sometimes called Ghost Island.


With no industry to support it, the island was quickly abandoned and has remained that way ever since. The eerie atmosphere and well-preserved concrete structures continue to spark the imagination of photographers and filmmakers alike, most recently serving as the inspiration for the villain Silva’s island lair in the 2012 James Bond film SKYFALL.

It was a real ambition of mine to get a closeup of this magnificent structure even though it is crumbling and falling apart as we speak.  To see an island that literally falling into the sea and slowly but surely disappearing from view was an amazing experience that everyone should have the opportunity to do whilst they can still can or better still whilst the island is still there. You had better hurry up while is still exists, barely though!

Please check out Battleship Island on a map:

Please click on the pictures below to enlarge:

Getting closer

close up

Great day for it!

Looks like a Battleship

Popular with tourists

Please click on the video below to view Nagasaki Battleship Island:

Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium: Nagasaki City

The Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium is a place that I have always wanted to visit but for some reason that I am unable to explain it never really came up on my itinerary.  That was until my kids (I have 2) kept pestering me to go until I couldn't take their constant pleading anymore and we jumped into the car and sped to the entrance.

The Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium's main feature is its penguins of course . The aquarium keeps eight species of penguins, including lovable Little Penguins but its highlight being the King Penguin, which can grow to nearly 1 metre in height.   It's pretty funny to see one's youngest stand beside one of these King Penguins and to be challenged by its height and weight I am presume as well!

Another highlight of the Aquarium is to see the penguins in their natural setting swimming freely in Tachibana Bay whereby an area has been isolated by using nets and the penguins are released into this part of the ocean to be observed by visitors. You can watch them behave naturally swimming in the water at high speed to catch feed thrown by the staff, which is a scene rarely observed elsewhere in the Aquarium world.  The cute little guys will come right up to you, waddle past and even take food from your hand.  The is about as close as I have ever come to a real Penguin so yes it was an experience to remember and cherish with my children.

I will be back I am sure!

Check out the Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium on the map below:

 

Please click on the pictures below to enlarge.

Even my kids wants to be Aquarium keepers now

Real King Penguins

In their natural environment

Lots to see and do

Cute lil fella

Feeding the Penguins

Lots of space right on the sea

The Entrance

Miguel Chijiwa Statue : Chijiwa, Nagasaki Prefecture

Miguel Chijiwa`s Statue is displayed in Chijiwa Town, Nagasaki.  He was born in 1569? and died January 23, 1633.  He was a member of the Japanese delegation to European Christendom which is also known as the Tensho Embassy.  


The idea of sending a Japanese embassy to Europe was originally conceived by the Jesuit Valignano and sponsored by the three Christian Daimyo's.  Mancio Itō was chosen to act as a spokesman for the group.  On February 20, 1582, Mancio Itō left Nagasaki in company with three other noblemen:

• Miguel Chijiwa


• Julião Nakaura


• Martinho Hara

The ambassadors arrived back in Japan on July 21, 1590. On their eight-year-long voyage they had been instructed to take notes. These notes provided the basis for "The Mission of the Japanese Legates to the Roman Curia", a Macau-based writing by Jesuit Duarte de Sande published in 1590.

The four were subsequently ordained as the first ever Japanese Jesuit fathers by Alessandro Valignano.

Mancio Itō died in Nagasaki on November 13, 1612.

Martinho Hara was banished from Japan by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1614, and acted in Macau. He died in Macau on October 23, 1629.

Miguel Chijiwa seceded Society of Jesus before 1601 and died in Nagasaki on January 23, 1633. The reason of his secession is uncertain.

Julião Nakaura was caught by the Tokugawa Shogunate, and died a martyr by torture in Nagasaki on November 21, 1633. He was beatified on November 24, 2008.

It is so interesting to have so much Christian history available and right at my doorstep. My neighbouring town, Chijiwa was named after Miguel Chijiwa and his statue is proudly displayed right in front of the Town Hall for all to see and admire.




Christians in the day in Japan


The first Japanese Embassy to Europe, in 1586.
Top, from left to right: Julião Nakaura, Father Mesquita, Mancio Itō.
Bottom, from left to right: Martinho Hara, Miguel Chijiwa.

Check out the Miguel Chijiwa Statue in Nagasaki on a map!

Click on the photos below to enlarge:

Posing

On display at his namesake town of Chijiwa, Nagasaki

A servant of Christianity

Nagasaki Art Museum: Nagasaki City

Nagasaki Art Museum was opened in April 2005 and is located next to the Nagasaki Seaside Park which is just a 400 metre walk from the International Port Terminal.  The Museum's glass walls allow brilliant sunshine to fill the interior, creating a bright, spacious atmosphere.  The Museum's wonderful design and excellent location perfectly represent the concept of the place.

The museum strives to be popular enough to be casually used by almost all age groups, from children to elderly people, and seeks to present possibilities for the future.  Serving as a bridge between human beings and the arts, the museum will promote a wide range of efforts to encourage interaction among nations, regions and age groups, as well as between artists and museum visitors.

Upon my first (but definitely not my last) visit to the Nagasaki Art Museum the thing that most impressed me was the amount of natural light that fills the building even on cloudy overcast days.   It provides the Museum with a pleasant if not radiant feeling of openness that makes one feel comfortable immediately.  The 400 yen entrance fee is very reasonable and one can easily spend 2 to 3 hours here to satisfy their artistic impressions or even a full day to waste some time that they have to spare.  Come and check it out, you will absolutely enthralled by the art work and their coffee shop is pretty impressive too!

Check out the Nagasaki Art Museum on a map!

Please click on the pics below to enlarge:

Even the entrance is cutting edge

Has something for everyone

Great views from every angle

Interesting from the outside too

A great place to walk around

Interesting Statues

Ultra Moden

Hasami Town: Nagasaki Prefecture

Hasami Town and their well known cafes are without a doubt the reason why so many people head to Hasami. The variety of products are amazing with everything and anything that your heart desires available, of course ceramics and porcelain are at the top of the list but table wares, cutlery, accessories, clothing and any type of knick knack possible is at your disposal.

However it is the atmosphere and retro look and feel of the shops and the area as a whole that really creates a strong community vibe that attracts people from all over Japan and the world to its area again and again.  The step back from our real life which is hectic, fast paced and stress related to images from the past and our youth where one can enjoy all there is to offer on show without having to feel guilty about it is where Hasami Town really excels.

There is something comforting about experiencing this sort of shopping style, strolling between shops, enjoying a slow paced atmosphere, not being rushed by the shop attendants and generally enjoying the whole experience is what it should be like all the time.  Its also very interesting just to people watch at this sort of establishment as you expect just to see mostly retirees and elderly customers but realistically there is a huge cross section of the community present and inspecting all things Hasami.

Once your shopping experience has come to the end or just want to take a break between shops, there are numerous cafes whereby a coffee and or cake is calling your name.  The Japanese put all their effort and gusto into everything they do and you can bet that your choice of cake is a gastronomical masterpiece. The only question is whether you can stop at just one piece of cake?

A Private Nagasaki Tour is necessary in order to get to Hasami.  Public transportation in rural Japan is too inconsistent and a group tour will leave you disappointed in not being able to see all the small and very intricate shops that are dotted all over the Town.

Here is Hasami, Nagasaki on a map below:

 

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Simple but tasteful!

Simple designs

Plenty of things to buy

Many different types of porcelain

Very inviting and warm

Has good English Information as well.

Always lots of customers

Check out this video below of Hasami Town and their fabulous Cafes:

Japanese Tea Ceremony: Obama Town, Nagasaki Prefecture

Japanese Tea Ceremonies are without a doubt one of the most amazing and culturally moving experience that you will ever have in Japan.  It goes to the root of the Japanese philosophy of complete perfection, taking years to master a simple art form and to practise until the movements become natural.  It is then and only then that one can be called a master and the years of dedication are seen as a steeping stone to bigger things.

I have had the privilege to see and participate in many Japanese Tea Ceremonies and I can tell you this they are never boring and definitely not tedious.  The attention to detail, the spectacular kimono designs, the calculated movements and the presentation itself are just beyond belief and words definitely can't describe the emotions that course through ones body.  Although I must say that the western body is not designed to sit Seiza style (to sit on one's feet whilst kneeling on a tatami floor) and within minutes the elegant posture associated with Japanese art (martial arts included) go by the wayside and sitting cross legged is resorted to.

However, this isn't frowned upon because us westerners aren't expected to be able to follow all things Japanese but at least we can enjoy the bitterness and healthiness of the green tea which is a more extreme form off green tea that is brewed and we are all accustomed to.  The ochagashi (japanese sweets) served before the tea helps remove some of the bitterness from the palate but just think about the health issues and this bitterness will be the last thing from your thoughts.

The town of Obama, has an amazing cultural center that promotes Japanese Tea Ceremony and given half a chance I would go every week, maybe this will give you the impetus to come and try for yourself?

Click on the Japanese Tea Ceremony Nagasaki photos below to enlarge:

Amazing Kimonos

A thing of Beauty

Colorful

Beautifully presented

Traditional wares

The Tea Ceremony Ladies

Typical Japanese Tea Room

Amazing Japanese Scrolls

Below is a video of my daughters Kindergarten class going through the Japanese Tea Ceremony ritual.

Please feel free to watch.

Flying Carp: Nagasaki and Fukuoka Prefectures

Flying Carp is a scene that everyone should get a view of.  I look forward every year to see the Flying Carp in Nagasaki and Fukuoka fly strongly and proudly in the fresh spring winds. On May 5th every year Japan celebrates Children's Day which used to be known as Boy's day.  The flying Carps are a symbolic sign for the children to be healthy for the coming year and really emphasizes the close knit and strong bonds that are created by the extended family all pitching in to help raise the children together unlike our western nuclear family concept.

The tradition is said to have begun in the Edo period (1603-1868) based on a Chinese legend about a strong brave carp swimming upstream and becoming a dragon.   The Tango no Sekku (Tango Festival) for boys was celebrated on May 5th by putting up carp-shaped streamers made of cloth and other material in their gardens.  Families announced the birth of a boy and wished for his healthy growth.

The Nagasaki flying carps have gradually changed over time.  Originally made only in black, other colors like red and blue were added and baby carps are now flown with the larger ones to symbolize the family.  I am extremely glad that this change has taken place as I couldn't imagine the Nagasaki Flying Carp only being in black as it would feel more like a funeral than a celebration of the Japanese children.

I love to stare and look at all the special feature of the flying carp they are unique and absolutely are a fascinating thing to watch.

Click on the Flying Carp pictures below to enlarge:

Impressive to say the least

Every year in May

Lots of color

Popular with all ages

Can never get to much Carp