Eel cuisne, Unagino seiro-mushi, 鰻のせいろ蒸し
The eel cuisine created in Yanagawa.
The grilled eel is placed on the rice sprinkled with special sauce and
steamed in a bamboo steamer.
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Each restaurant has own special sauce.
Causes of the Martyrdom of 26 Saints
In 1596, the Spanish ship San Felipe, heading from the Philippines to Mexico, washed
ashore on the Tosa-Urato coast due to a typhoon.
Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi confiscated the ship’s vast cargo.
At that time, the navigator said that Spain first send Christian missionaries to increase
the number of believers, and then eventually conquer the country.
When Toyotomi Hideyoshi heard this, he was shocked and ordered the capture of
Spanish Franciscan missionaries who were actively carrying out missionary activities
in Kyoto.
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Then, he ordered Ishida Mitsunari to execute Franciscan missionaries and Christians.
This was the beginning of the Martyrdom of 26 Saints in Nagasaki on February 5, 1597.
Dec. 31, 2023
Gyudon, 牛丼
Gyudon is a Japanese dish in which thinly sliced beef and onions are simmered
in sweet and spicy sauce such as soy sauce and placed on top of a bowl of rice.
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The menu on the photo is Gyudon, shijimi kai (fresh water clam) soup and salad at
the restaurant Sykiya which is Gyudon Chain restaurant.
Tonkatsu, 豚カツ
Tonkatsu is the pork cutlet, which is a Japanese dish made of thick slices of pork loin
or fillet coated with flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumbs and fried in cooking oil.
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The dish on the photo are Tonkatu, fried prawn and fried oyster at Hamakatsu
restaurant.
Hamakatsu is a tonkatsu restaurant chain.
Tensho youth mission to Europe
In 1582, four youth boarded a ship bound for Europe at Nagasaki Port.
They were dispatched as representatives of Japanese Christian federal lords,
and departed with Alessandro Valignano who was Jesuit missionary who
planned the Youth mission.
Four youth were Ito Mansho Ito, Chijiwa Miguel, Hara Martino, Nakaura Julian
who were around 13 years old.
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The purpose of the mission is to show the four people who studied at Arima
Seminario about Europe and to convey the greatness of Europe to the
Japanese people.
By introducing the boy raised by the Jesuits to Europe, the mission was to
highlight the achievements of Japan’s missionary work and gain support from
the Pope and the King of Portugal.
Two years and six months after leaving Nagasaki, they finally arrived in Europe.
He first had an audience with Philip II at Rispon, and was subsequently welcomed
in various places.
On March 23, 1585, Japan had an audience with the Pope and made its grand d
ebut on the world stage. After that, they also visited various parts of Italy.
When they returned to Nagasaki in 1590, Christianity was being prohibited.
Therefore, their achievements were suppressed due to the ban on Christianity.
It was not until 1858, when religious freedom was recognized, that their activities
were evaluated.
Dec. 29, 2023
Tonkotsu ramen, 豚骨ラーメン
Tonkotsu ramen is a local dish representing Fukuoka-prefecture.
Meaning of Tonkotsu ramen is pork born soup noodle created in Kurume,
Fukuoka-prefecture.
Toppings include roast pork, wood ear mushrooms, and boiled eggs, etc.
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The restaurant on the photo is Toryuken in Kitakyushu.
Opening the port created Christian town Nagasaki
Nagasaki Port was opened in 1570 by Sumitada Omura, who was the first feudal lord
in Japan to be baptized as a Christian.
At that time, there was a Christian family who immigrated with Figueiredo.
Many of them were people fleeing persecution, coming from Shimabara, Iki, Goto,
Hirado, and Yamaguchi. This was the beginning of the Christian town Nagasaki.
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Sumitada Omura donated the territories of Nagasaki and Mogi to the Jesuits in order
to fend off attacks from nearby enemies.
In 1580, Japan Society of Jesus established its headquarters in Nagasaki.
Dec. 28, 2023
Christian missionary work in Nagasaki
Christian missionary activities in Japan began after Francis Xavier came to
Hirado in 1550.
The Jesuit missionaries who accompanied Francis Xavier carried out missionary
activities in Hirado, Omura, Nagasaki, Goto, Kuchinotsu, Shimabara, Iki,
Amakusa, Bungo, etc. And then many people converted to Christianity.
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main missionaries;
Cosme de Torres (Spanish), Juan Fernandes (Spanish), Luis de Almeida (Portuguese),
Gaspar Vilela (Portuguese), Luis Frois (Portuguese), Melechor de Figueiredo
(Portuguese), Alessandro Valignano (Italian)
Dec. 27, 2023
How was the great nature of Aso created?
Aso possesses the world’s largest Caldera with 18km west-east and 24 km north-south,
created by 4 times of explosive volcanic activity in the ancient time, 3 million years ago.
Surrounding the caldera is the world’s largest outer mountain, and there are 5 mountains
included Mt. Naka which is still active volcano in the outer mountain.
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The 4 times volcanic activities in the ancient time also affected the surrounding area of Aso,
resulting in the formation of the following nature.
Takachiho Gorge, Nabegataki water fall, Harajiri water fall, Keya cave
Dec. 26, 2023
Japanese Religion
Japan’s indigenous religion is Shinto. It is an ethnic religion that has continued from
Japan’s ancient times to the present day, and has permeated all aspects of Japanese
life and culture, and has the energy to accept foreign cultures including religions and
transform them into a Japanese style.
Unlike many religions, it has no founder or scripture, and is based on the idea that God
resides in all things. It is an animistic, ancestral spirit-worshipping folk religion that focuses
on myths, eight million gods, nature and natural phenomena.
Japanese Buddhism was introduced through China in the 5th century and is a religion
that has now been incorporated into Japanese life along with Shinto.