Morris - Traveling Asia: Tokyo, Taipei, and Hong Kong

Traveling Asia:

Tokyo, Taipei, & Hong Kong

Randall J. Morris

INTRODUCTION

This is the second book in my Traveling Asia series. In 2010, after revisiting the Philippines, my family toured Hong Kong, Tokyo, and then Taipei. This will be a little different from Traveling Asia: The Philippines, since I dont speak the languages of any of those countries, know only what Ive read and heard about the culture, and was basically just a tourist.

While this volume will have a different style, I did get some really good pictures with a much better camera and I will elaborate everything I know about the individual sites. I hope you enjoy the second book in my Traveling Asia series and I may eventually publish more from other vacation spots around the world. If you enjoy this picture-based tour of these three cities, feel free to pick up a copy of Traveling Asia: The Philippines if you havent already.

-Randy Morris 2/27/2013

TOKYO, JAPAN

Temple of the 47 Ronin: In March of 1701, Lord Asano Takuminokami of Ako attacked Lord Kira Hozukenosuke at Edo castle after a long period of being treated poorly and disrespected at Kiras hand. Asano was able to leave a mark on Kiras head but failed in his attempt to kill him. Asano was sentenced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) and his title was confiscated with all of his lands. Kira wasnt punished for his provocation of Asanos attack, even though similar disputes had seen both parties sentenced to seppuku in the past. Asanos samurai were returned to ronin and they seemed to assimilate back into society, often taking menial jobs to support themselves. On December 14, 1702, 47 of them, under the command of Oishi Kuranosuke, attacked Kiras estate and beheaded Kira. One of the ronin was sent to tell the tale of what they had done while the remaining 46 returned to their masters grave, washed the bloody head in a well, and presented it before Lord Asanos grave. The 46 were sentenced to seppuku and their gravesite is with their masters (close to Shinagawa.) Following the suicide of the ronin, Asanos title and part of his lands were returned to his family. The following pictures include: the temple, the gravesite marker, statues of Oishi Kuranosuke (leader of the 47 ronin) and Lord Asano, the well where the bloody head of Lord Kira was cleaned, and the gravesites of the 47 ronin.

The Tokyo Towers (Old and New): Another great site we visited in Tokyo was the Tokyo Tower. The tower is a communications and observation tower that looks a lot like the Eiffel Tower in France. The tower was unable to support digital broadcasts, so a new tower was built and finished in early 2012. My pictures of the New Tokyo Tower (called the Tokyo SkyTree) are from two years before the structure was completed. The following pictures include: both Tokyo Towers from the outside and pictures of Tokyo from the top of the Old Tokyo Tower.

Shinto Temple: Shinto practices are recorded in writing as early as the 8 th century. Shintoism mostly connects spiritualism of the early Japanese with folklore and mythology. Many of the people who practice Shintoism also participate in Buddhist rituals. Tens of thousands of Shinto shrines can be found across Japan to worship various kami (a spiritual essence or a god / spirit.) The following pictures include: the path leading to the Shinto temple, the Shinto temple, a prayer altar, and a wall where Japanese hang their prayers and wishes.