Random picture thread for Friday

DESSERTS AT SEA

Link to Video of a soufflé dessert being served on last month's Japan Cruise:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qR3C1p4hmWo

Photos:

Soft Serve in Japan beginning with Japan's unique actual gold topped cones:

Also in Japan:

I see Jeep people like to put ducks on there dash so I put a moose on my Bronco

SOLVING THE MYSTERY BEHIND JAPAN'S DISAPPEARING CASTLES

At one time there were thousands of castles all across Japan. Today there are only twelve original castles that have survived. What happened to those hundreds of other castles? While a few have been reconstructed such as Osaka Castle, most remain lost to history.

In this Playlist videos are shared of two of the remaining twelve, Himeji and Hirosaki along with a video of Kanazawa'a Castle Gate.

The story behind the dessapearance of Japan's castles has more than one chapter. Originally Japanese warlords built wooden fortresses before they began the building of castles. Japan's thousands of castles were constructed during the age of warring states known in Japan as the Sengoku Period which spanned from 1487 to 1615. Even during that span of time there was a change in how they were built after 1543 when the Portuguese introduced firearms to Japan. This led to the addition of stone foundations to protect against the new threat.

The first chapter in the story of the disappearance of castles in Japan incorporated the most seminal event leading to the disappearance of Japan's castles. In 1615 Tokugawa Ieyasu brought an end to the warring states by unifying Japan through conquest and conciliation.

Once Japan was under the control of Ieyasu he took steps to maintain that control which included issuing a law in 1615 that only allowed one castle per providence. With hundreds of castles demolished overnight, there were that many fewer strongholds that could rise up in rebellion.

The fact that Japan enjoyed 200 years of peace under Tokugawa rule was a testament to the effectiveness of his castle destruction efforts effectiveness.

The second chapter in the story of the disappearance of Japan's castles is told from the events that accompanied the fall of the feudal reign with the rise of the Meiji Restoration in 1868 as the Imperial Forces replaced the Samurai. Dozens of castles saw their destruction as the Imperial forces demolished the castles of their defeated enemies, again to insure weakening of any resurgence.

A third chapter in the story of the destruction of Japan's. castles is told by the Allied bombing of Japan during World War II.

When all three of these chapters were concluded, Japan was left with only twelve original castles. In this video playlist see two of them, Himeji and Hirosaki.

Himeji is today Japan's most famous fortress. It is massive and multi stori3d. To visit the interior of Osaka's reconstructed in concrete castle and then to climb inside the Himeji Castle with its original wooden verttical steps is a night and day experience.

In the included video Himeji Castle is seen from the unique vantage point where it is reflected in a castle pond.

Hirosaki Castle has the only surviving original Keep in the northern Took Region.and is also known for its surrounding cherry blossom trees park with over 2,000 Sakura trees. In the included video surrounding cherry blossoms frame Hirosaki Castle.

The third video in the playlist offers views of Kanazawa Castle's Gate as seen above a Koi Pond and cherry blossoms. While Kanazawa Castle was not lost to any of the three chapters of castle destruction as described above, its demise was due to multiple fires, Its reconstruction began in 1996 and continues as part of what is known as Kanazawa Castle Park.

Link to Video Playlist Including Videos of Two of Japan's Remaining 12 Original Castles:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLtb5zi734Bfa91S8npK_EPz2-40ntWvvK

RELATED PHOTOS:

Himeji Castle as reflected in a castle garden pond and as featured in the above linked playlist video:

Hirosaki Castle bordered by cherry trees in blossom and as featured in the above linked playlist video (Note its temporary positioning separate from its stone foundation.):

Kanazawa Castle Gate with sakura and as featured in the above linked playlist video:

Kochi Castle, another of the 12 Surviving Original Castles. It is unique in that it is the only castle in Japan to have both its Main Keep and the Lords' Residences remaining intact:

Matsuyama Castle, another of the 12 surviving Original Castles seen as photographed in years past:

Osaka Castle, one of Japan's reconstructed castles:

Shimabara Castle (in Nagasaki Prefecture), another of Japan's reconstructed castles:

Okayama Castle, although reconstructed has some original structures, a pair of Turrets that survived World War II bombing: With its black exterior is referred to as "The Crow Castle," as contrasted to Himeji Castle with its white exterior for which it is known as the "White Herron:"

Some willrecognize Himeji Castle from the James Bond filmed in Japan movie, "You Only Live Twice" where it was the setting for Tanaka's Ninja School. Of note, in the filming the Ninjas in training were seen throwing Ninja Stars along an exterior castle walkway which led to a public perception (although erroneous) that the castle was being damaged and forced the film crew to complete their filming of the Ninja School scenes at a hotel garden in Tokyo.

Here are some photos juxtapositioning scenes from the movie at Himeji Castle with members of my extended family in the same locations:

The Controversial Ninja Star Throwing Scene and extended family's reenactment:

Sean Connery's James Bond Character Meeting the Ninja Schoolmaster a/k/a Spy Tanaka and Extended family members positioned on the same entranceway:

An interior view of the Original Himeji Castle with its preserved ladder-like stairs that were designed to be pulled up if intruders reached the lower floors:

Added views of Japan's most famous fortress, the Original Himeji Castle as seen with Sakura in full bloom:

Added view of Original Hirosaki Castle as seen with Sakura in full bloom:

Added views of Original Kochi Castle with Sakura in full bloom:

Views of Kanazawa's Castle Park as its castle continues under reconstruction:

Additional Views of the reconstructed Shimabaru and Okayama Castles, respectively:

Seen here is an example of the stone wall foundations that began to be incorporated into Japan Castle construction with the advent of firearms that were imported into Japan in 1543 by the Portuguese. These stones, placed without mortar are here as part of the Original Matsuyama Castle:

And, just for fun, here is a link to the Ninja Star throwing reenactment scene at Himeji Castle in video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aBin9cAvLE

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