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| Japanese map and the red zone is my home town Shiga :) |
My home town is Hikone city in Shiga prefecture. Do you know Shiga? Shiga is located on the center of Honshu(Japan is composed of four mass. Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu. Of course, there are many tiny islands too). Shiga is next to Kyoto prefecture. And Shiga is not faced sea, is surrounded by four prefectures.
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| This is Biwako! |
If Japanese are asked about Shiga, I think most of them would answer the lake named Biwako. Biwako is the biggest lake and in Japan and has long history in the world. It has one sixth area of all Shiga . A lot of people enjoy canoeing, water-skiing, camping, and so on. Surprisingly, Biwako is the source of drinking water for more than 13 million. Biwako has played an important role from old time.
For my experience, I had gone around Biwako with my classmates when i was six grade student. It is a good old memories.
My home town Hikone has castle. It was constructed 400 and a few years ago. It has long history too! And part of it is desighnated for a national treasure! In spring, cherry trees make Hikone castle more and more beautiful.
There is a cute mascot of Hikone. It is a white cat named "Hikonyan".
She is popular among the people. She has a lot of fans all around Japan. maybe :)
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| This is a donjon with cherry blossoms, and Hikonyan |
Hi Teruaki!
ReplyDeleteI think Lake Biwa is very beautiful. I have only seen it from the train on my way to Kyoto. At first, I thought it was the ocean! But it was on the wrong side of the train. Before I saw Lake Biwa, I knew about it because I like the Tale of Genji. In the stories, it was always described as very beautiful. But when I look at your picture, I think it really does not look like a biwa at all!
Your castle is very beautiful. Who lived there? When I moved to Joetsu, I heard that Joetsu has a very old castle that Uesugi Kenshin lived in. I thought it would be very exciting. But there's no castle! It's just grass.
I'm surprised that you know the Tale of Genji and Biwa that is one of the instrument like guitar.
DeleteOnce, Ii Naosuke lived in Hikone castle.
I think it is Kasugayama Castle that is the ruins of the castle now!
I don't think I've ever been to Shiga. I'd really love to go there someday, and maybe you can show me around! It looks like a beautiful city, and the mascot is very cute!! Do you know Kumamon from Kumamoto? I heard Kumamon is pretty popular all over Japan, too. I wish my hometown (Seattle) had a city mascot, like the cities in Japan do.
ReplyDeleteYeah!I know Kumamon, of course.
DeleteMascot attract many people to visit their town or city or prefecture! They play an important role.