After Ari and Dad’s first Shinkansen, we arrived in Osaka and located our hotel, then set off for Nanba to meet with friends Akiko and Yuka, whom Ani and I met while at Shitennoji Daigaku three years ago. It was so great seeing them! And they were really accommodating. Akiko works at an information station in the gigantic shopping district, so she knows her away around. First we tried (maybe) Osaka’s most famous food — takoyaki. Octopus fried in dough. We all ate octopus!!!
Then they took us to lunch at an awesome udon place, where we ate from gigantic bowls:
We went into a making-fake-food shop, that was fun. Here are some fake yakitori roasting over fake flames:
In a land where all food is on display in the front of the restaurant in the form of fake food called 'samples' (if you’ve seen the Big Bird movie, you understand), the art of creating these fake dishes is quite important. Kids do crafts in school relating to it, then you can take fun classes at places like these and create your own fake parfaits or whatever. Or go to college and study it. See another example of food art in the opening credits of this anime.
Later we saw an old kabuki theater,
then we met up with Kazu, another friend from the time. Karaoke and kushikatsu followed, then it was time to head to sleep!
It was lots of fun seeing these guys and I’m really grateful they took the time.
Friday August 16:
After realizing it would be almost impossible to cram 2 events into this day, and taking into account how tired everyone was, we decided to scrap the day trip to Kyoto in favor of two non-rushed days.
We still did plenty! Today we met up with another friend, Asuka, and went to Osakako, where the first stop was the aquarium, or Kaiyukan. We timed our visit to coincide with feeding times.
Watch out....
I love this aquarium, but it was super crowded, like a never-ending line. So it was a bit draining. But fun nonetheless!
Then we visited this Ninja Training School.
Ok, not really.
Once the appropriate amount of darkness had descended, we took a ride on the Tenpozan Ferris Wheel, one of the largest ferris wheels in— yeah whatever.
We got home at a decent hour!
Words We Learned:
kawauso = river otter
unagi = eel
ei = stingray
jinbeizame = whale shark
Saturday August 17:
We walked to Osaka castle. Yeah!
I’ve been studying some Japanese history, especially the period relating to the castle, so I was really excited for this part. I was even able to explain some of the history to my family — like a real tour guide!! (Except not that good.)
In order to show my newfound knowledge, I will give you a short* history lesson.
Basically, Oda Nobunaga (Bubbles’ namesake) united most of Japan through brutal but effective tactics, only to be assassinated by one of his underlings, Akechi, who was then slain in revenge by another underling, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Born to a peasant family, Toyotomi couldn’t even try to fake having the heritage to qualify for a powerful ruling title, so he wasn’t a Shogun — but basically he was, and he continued the unification of Japan. He took all swords from farmers then melted them down to make nails, he spent quite a bit of effort in failed attacks on Korea, and he also built Osaka castle.
Unable to have children for a long time, Hideyoshi adopted a few kids, only to have them all executed (along with his mistresses and wife) when at last one of his mistresses bore him a son. This son was Toyotomi Hideyori, who was about 5 years old when his father died of (maybe) natural causes. To ensure the survival of his son, Hideyoshi had elected a council of 5 elders to serve as regents, and he chose 5 men who were powerful and smart enough to keep each other in check, but men who weren’t friendly enough to combine power against any of the others.
Or, that was the idea, but eventually the regents split into 2 factions, those following Ishida, those following Tokugawa Ieyasu, and at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Ieyasu won out. Probably breaking whatever oaths he swore, he declared himself Shogun, and the kid emperor Hideyori was basically put to the side... but there were those who insisted he was the rightful ruler, and eventually Tokugawa couldn’t risk letting him be. There was the Winter Siege of Osaka Castle in 1614, but this didn’t solve things, and it came down to the Summer Siege in 1615, depicted in this famous and detailed 2-part folding screen.
(this is only a tiny part of the screen)
Ieyasu had maybe 155,000 troops, led by his sons and grandson. Hideyori had maybe half of that, mostly led by the famous general Sanada Yukimura, who put up a good fight despite the odds.
(I can’t find anything definite on the numbers. Some places say 400,000 warriors, elsewhere I saw 155,000 and ~70,000 which is closer to what I remember from the museum.)
Hideyori actually never got a chance to enter the battle. The castle burned, and Hideyori and his mother committed seppuku. His wife, Tokugawa’s granddaughter, was one of the few survivors.
Afterwards, because he liked it, Tokugawa’s son Hidetada restored Osaka castle.
Sadly, the main tower burned down again in the 1660s (lightening), again in the late 1800s during the fall of the Bakufu, and then it was bombed during WW2. So main tower is a replica, a working museum on the inside.
(By the way, Tokugawa Ieyasu successfully united Japan, and the country went on to enjoy an unusually long period of peace. This is known as the Tokugawa or Edo period. The Tokugawa Shogunate lasted until the Bakumatsu and Meiji Revolution in the late 1800s following the coming of Commodore Perry.)
*This is me, remember?
So yeah. That’s where we were.
Then we went on over to Shitennoji. Natsukashii!!
We spun the wheel for luck.
And enjoyed the Obon decorations.
This was our last day in Osaka. Osaraba~
I like the making-fake-food shop! Making fake food sounds fun.
ReplyDeleteI, of course, knew all that history stuff. I just can't generally remember it in order...
It did look fun! Maybe someday :)
DeleteI knew you knew it, as a matter of course :P
(The order got me too -- until I finally got it *yatta*)
What was the name of the fake food shop that you visited in Osaka?
ReplyDeleteHello! Thanks for visiting. I like your website.
DeleteI did not know the name of the shop, but the souvenir I got says 'morino-sample' on the packaging :)
Well, Rich and Mia aren't the only ones to read your blogs! Although the others may know all about Osaka Castle, it's good to have it reinforced (do you think Dad remembers? Or Ari? or even Ani?) I know I've read it before a few times, but it's still fascinating when you're looking at a relic of the Castle. It really takes you back in time.
ReplyDeleteNow you make me want to see it! Awesome. (I don't care about the fake food!)
When you return, we'll have to watch Shogun together again, and see what your reaction is. : )