school trip!

Went to Aizuwakamatsu on Tuesday with my eighth grade. Aizuwakamatsu is on all the road signs because it is the next big city going east from Agamachi. When I first came to Japan I found this name extremely long and completely unpronounceable typically calling Aizu blah blah blah but now with the vast amounts of Japanese I have acquire I can pronounce it loud and proud! Anyhow, finally went to the mysterious city beyond my town and was a little disappointed. The train station was pretty small and unassuming but I had great hopes for the castle. Tsurugajo (Crane castle) is the first Japanese castle I have had the chance to view and ... it was small. Pretty much the whole castle is a rebuild because the Meiji emperors tore it down and the inside is a museum. It is a pretty castle but I appreciate the real thing. Most Japanese castles were built out of wood and thus not as long lasting as their European counterparts.

The unfortunate fate of the Byakkotai of Aizuwakumatsu is extremely interesting, though. The Byakkotai (White Tiger corps.) were a group of young samurai between the ages of 14 and 17. A group of twenty Byakkotai were on a nearby mountain preparing for battle during the Boshin war 1868-1869 when they saw smoke billowing from Tsurugajo castle. Thinking that their castle had been taken and their daimyo (leader) killed; they all committed seppuku (ritual suicide). What makes the tale even more tragic though is that the castle's defenses had not been breached; the smoke was but a fire in the courtyard.

My English teacher and school nurse by what is probably the oldest part of the building.

In the castle they had a kimono people could try on. Apparently this type of kimono would be worn by the daughter of the daimyo. When I put the kimono on this cute little old lady took it upon herself to make sure I was presenting the kimono in the appropriate manner and adjusted, tucked and folded it until it met with her approval. I don't think she realized I understood when she told her friend that I was too tall.

We also went to a samurai residence as well and I found this the most interesting part of the trip though the students all said it was boring. I was surprised at the lack of obvious wealth. The rooms were mainly tatami floors with sliding doors. To decorate they would add a colourful folding screen or a few choice pieces of furniture. It was the location of another tragic event in Aizu history. The head of the house and all the samurai had left for battle during the Boshin war and the women of the house had heard news that they may have been captured so they all committed suicide before the enemy could capture them. One woman was unable to kill herself, due to fear I think, but fortuitously a man entered the house. She asked if him if he was a retainer of her lord. He said he was and he helped her complete her task. The man had lied however and was a scout for the enemy. The Japanese commend this man for his great mercy.