Monthly Archives: August 2013

Traditional Japanese sword making area, Osafune, Okayama

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Inbe town of Okayama Prefecture is well-known as a Bizen-Yaki producing center,which is one of the Six old Kilns in Japan. Within easy driving distance, thereis a traditional Japanese sword making area, called Osafune. Since the area havebeen producing high-quality iron sand for steel and red pine tree for charcoal
making. Osafune sword has been designated as one of the five traditional swordmaking areas. To complete a Japanese sword making, many specialists likeswordsmiths, metalwoekers, scrabbard makers and the like are involved. In thephoto, a sword polisher sharpen and polish a sword.

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Ashikaga Gakko of Japan’s oldest school

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Ashikaga Gakko is known as the oldest academic institution in Japan which is located in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, in the north of Tokyo. There are several theories when the school was founded, from Nara period to Kamakura period. It was restored in 1423 by Duputy Shogun Ueshugi Norizane who donated the many books which are designated as national heritages now. The school had become the greatest institution in Japan, with about 3,000 students from all over the country. The pioneering Roman Catholic missionary, St. Francis Xavier noted in 1549 that the school was the largest and most well-known one of eastern Japan.

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