COOL JAPANESE SCENE

Cool Japanese Samurai / Saigo Takamori (西郷 隆盛) / Meiji Restoration

(The Statue of Saigo Takamori, in Ueno Park Tokyo)Saigo Takamori (Takanaga) (西郷 隆盛(隆永）, January 23, 1828 – September 24, 1877) was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history, living during the late Edo Period and early Meiji Era. He has been dubbed the last true samurai. He was born Saigō Kokichi (西郷 小吉), and received the given name Takamori in adulthood. He wrot

Cool Japan / Higashiyama-onsen-bon-odori (東山温泉盆踊り / Higashiyama Hot Spring Bon Dance Festival)

Bon Dance Festival is held from August 13 to 18 in Higashiyama Hot Springs in the suburbs of Aizu Wakamatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture. Higashiyama is a fine hot spring town with a lot of Japanese style hot spring inns lining along the both sides of the Yukawa River. The history of this hot spring town dates back to about 1,000 years ago, when hot springs were discovered by Priest Gyoki. It thri

Cool Japan / Lady Gaga caps off Japan trip with Tokyo Sky Tree visit

(U.S. pop singer Lady Gaga visits the 350-meter-high observatory at Tokyo Sky Tree on May 15.)American pop sensation Lady Gaga reached some new heights May 15 when she visited Tokyo Sky Tree, the world’s tallest free-standing tower located in Tokyo’s Sumida Ward. Wearing a silver sparkly, reflective dress, said to have been inspired by the tower, the pop diva enjoyed a night view from the observat