Japan Unveiled: Late-Blooming Culture

  Koshin-zuka refers to a stone pagoda that originated from the Genshen faith and was introduced from China. It exists outside the realms of both Buddhism and Shinto. Throughout Japan, these pagodas are scattered in abundance. In my Tokyo neighborhood, I encounter at least one of these structures during a random 30-minute walk. Let me share my observations. (a) (b) (c) (d) Fig. Koshin-zuka Koshin-zuka Varieties: Fig. Koshin-zuka (a) - (c) showcase some of these pagodas in my vicinity. The kanji characters inscribed on the stones signify “ Koshin-zuka .” Behind these stones lie descriptions detailing when each Koshin-zuka was erected. Many of them trace their origins back to the Tokugawa period. Beyond Pagodas: Within the Koshin-zuka family of statues, we also find other figures. Among them are the Koshin-To and the Dohyo (sign post) shown in (d) . These too hold significance. Fig. (d), a captivating object, bears the inscription “ Kuhonbutsu: Left. ” Kuhonbutsu ref...

  In my neighborhood of Setagaya, Tokyo, stands an old house—a relic of bygone eras. The photograph captures the passage of time. Within this unassuming structure lies a history, woven with threads of honor, survival, and legacy. Fig. Old house in my neighborhood, Setagaya, Tokyo   Fig. Setagaya, Tokyo source: google earth modified by the author   Centuries ago, during the 16th century, the family of this house was samurai. Their ancestral roots were 55 kilometers away from their current abode. But fate dealt them a harsh blow—the Hojo clan, a formidable force, clashed with their lineage in battle. Defeated and displaced, they fled to their present location, seeking refuge and anonymity. When a samurai family faced downfall, their destiny diverged along various paths: 1.      Annihilation: Some met a grim end—every member of the family perished. 2.     Selective Loss: Only the men suffered, leaving the women and c...

  Asakawa Kan’ichi (1873 –1948) was a Professor of History at Yale, peace advocate, and a curator at Yale Library. He was born in Japan as the son of a samurai, however, he spent most of his time in America. Fig. Asakawa. Depicted person: Kan'ichi Asakawa – Japanese historian Date   1940 Source https://web.archive.org/web/20120220021809/http://www.city.nihonmatsu.lg.jp/history/jinbutu/hito3.html Author         Unknown author This is in the public domain. When the war ended, he was 73 years old. His wife Miriam had gone long time ago. They had no children. His hometown Nihontasu is more than 10000 km away from New Haven. (see Fig. Nihonmatsu-New haven ) Fig. Nihonmatsu-New Haven Source: Google Earth modified by the author In 1948, the year he passed away, he wrote to his friend Takeuchi who was a Nihonmatsu Highschool as well as Waseda classmate [1] (translation by the author): My interpretation of he being “ so busy ” is that ...