Mathew C Perry came to Uraga in 1853

In 1853, Mathew C Perry came to Uraga; the Commodore of the US navy,

who played a significant role in Japanese history, succeeded in opening Japan

to foreign countries.

Japanese industry was 200years behind European countries at that time,

and Japanese’s industrial revolution started in Saga, Kagoshima, Nagasaki,

Kitakyushu and other places in Japan.

Tulips

The first tulips were introduced to Japan in 1863, at the end of the Edo period, when bulbs

were brought back from France by the Shogunate’s mission to Europe.

Photos are taken at Onga River flower park in Nogata, Fukuoka-prefecture 

Phoenix Seagaia Resort, Miyazaki-prefecture

Phoenix Seagaia is a resort facility located in Hamayama, Yamazaki-cho, Miyazaki-city,

Miyazaki-prefecture.

As of 2024, its official name is “Phoenix Seagaia Resort.” The name is a combination of

“Sea,” meaning the ocean, and “Gaia,” meaning the earth.

It is home to the prestigious golf course “Phoenix Country Club” and Tom Watson Golf Course. 

There is Sherton Grande Ocean Resort which is a luxury Hotel of 154-meter

tower standing within a huge pine forest. 

Udo Shrine, in Nichinan, Miyazaki-prefecture

Beautiful and exciting Shine. Udo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the cave of the cliff side

facing the Pacific Ocean. It is located about 35 km south of Miyazaki city. In legend,

a goddess of sea built a hut to give birth to a great god here. Then it is said that Empress

Suiko (554-628) built the shrine there. The priest of Tendai Buddhism built a Buddhist

temple in 782, on the order of Emperor Kanmu. In the middle ages, this area had been

the training place for mountain priests because of the steep rocky cliffs.

Nagasaki Port was opened to the World in 1859

Nagasaki Port was opened in 1859 for trade with the world.

And a residential areas were created for foreigners in Minami-yamate and

Higashi-yamate where overlooking Nagasaki Port.

And in that place, houses were built for foreigners who came to Japan for

proceeding the international business in Japan.

Nagasaki-cape flower garden

Nagasaki-cape is located at the tip of the Kunisaki Peninsula.

In the past, the vast terraced fields that spread out on the cape were used to

grow tobacco, potatoes, and wheat. Currently here is used as a flower garden.

From March to April, 20 million rape blossoms bloom on the cape, making it

one of the largest in Kyushu.

Summer in Nagasaki-cape comes with sunflowers. The full bloom period is

August and September.

Takachiho-no-Yokagura, in Takachiho, Miyazaki-prefecture

Takachiho-no-Yokagura is a Shinto ritual which has been dedicated to Ujigami-sama

(a local god) from November to February for each settlement since a long time ago.

For the people who cannot enjoy Takachiho-no-Yokagura, leading 4 episodes are

performed from 8pm to 9pm at Takachiho Shrine Kagura-den Hall throghout the year.

First three episodes (The dance of Tajikarao, Uzume, Totori) are based on Iwato

Mythology. The dance of Goshitai is a dance of a married couple (Izanagi and

Izanami) living happily together. It expresses a prayer for a rich harvest, happily

married, smooth delivery and pregnancy.

Japan’s modern Steel industry in 1901

Japanese industry at the end of 19th century was 200 years behind. 

After Mathew C Perry came to Japan in 1853, Japan’s industrial

Revolution was started.

Japan’s modern Steel industry was started as Yawata Steel Works 

at Higashida district in Kitakyushu in 1901. 

Since then, the Steel Works greatly contributed to Japan’s industrial modernization.

And Japan became the world’s leading industrialized country in only 100 years.

Rape blossoms

Rape blossoms (Nanohana in Japanese) is a general term for flowers of the

Brassica family.

Rape blossoms are one of the flowers that herald the arrival of spring, and

the yellow flowers spread all over the place are spectacular.

Sun Messe Nichinan, in Miyazaki

Japan’s own replica of Moai Statues. Enjoy a breath taking panoramic view of the Pacific

Ocean, the Sun Messe Nichinan has replicas of the Moai statues from the Easter Island

placed here and there in the area.

The Sun Messe Nichinan is the only place all over the world that has been permitted to

replicate the Moai statues. There are restaurants and also tourist viewing areas inside

the park.