Welcome Japan!!!

Welcome to Japan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m in Japan!!!!  I am so excited! It is the home of Nintendo and sushi. Two of my most favourite things.  

Japan is an island in the eastern part of Asia, in the Pacific Ocean and the sea of Japan. 

The capital is Tokyo. The population is 126.8 million people!!! In Canada, the population is 37.06 million.  Canada is 26 times larger in size of Japan.

It doesn’t have any bordering countries because it is an island but the countries that are the closest are South Korea, North Korea, Russia, China and the Philippines.   

The Japanese flag is white with a red circle. The red circle of the flag means the rising Japanese sun. 

When in war, the flag has more red lines coming out of the red circle.

The money here is called Yen.  On the 1000 Yen is Hideyo Noguchi who is a doctor. On the 5000 Yen is a writer named Ichiyo Higuchi. On the 10000 Yen is a writer, a teacher and a journalist  named  Yukichi Fukuzawa. Here are the pictures.

I picked Japan because I love Kirby, sushi and learning about the Sengoku - Jidai! The Sengoko - judai was a 100 year war with ninjas and samurais. It started in 1467 and ended in 1615.  In 1615, is when the siege of Osaka Castle ended.  Also, it was with people like Oda Nobanga, Hatori Hanzo, Togawa Ialso  and Toyetome Tidyhoshi who were all warriors. See below for more information on one of them.

When we got to the Osaka airport, we were greeted by two familiar faces, Mario and Toad, at the Nintendo check in. Osaka is where we are staying. When we got there we dropped of our luggage and got on a subway to Namba. We went for lunch there and saw a store with tons of Kirby and Pokemon stuff. I am in heaven!

Kirbys

Osaka Castle

me walking up to the gates

Osaka castle is a castle right in the middle of the city of Osaka   It was built in 1597. 

It has been destroyed two times in its life time. Once in 1615 and in 1655. 

We saw a lot of samurai stuff and learned about the first builder Toyetome Tidyhoshi.  He was a unifier of Japan who ruled for 62 years (thats more than Cleopatras rule that was 30 years). He was a poor peasant until Oda Nobanga appointed him to a slippers carrier! { who actually carried Oda’s slippers around.) Since it was so cold he would keep his slippers in his clothes to keep them warm. After a battle against the Sato clan Oda appointed him to a warrior and he got to keep some of the Sato land.( who they just defeated in battle). Sadly, Oda was killed by his own general who was killed shorty after by Toyetome Tidhoshi  and he became shogun or ruler  of Japan. Did you know when Oda died  the Oda clan decided to make Oda,s grandson who was 2 the leader of the clan because the oldest son died by the same guy who killed Oda?  That is crazy.

samurai helmets

little toy soldiers of the war

Folding screen art of Osaka Summer war in 1615

Samurai sword

Reading the time line of Toyetome Tidyhoshi.

Dotonbori

We also went to Dotonbori. It is on the Dontonbori canal. It is famous for its street food, restaurants and tons of capsule toys.There are so many lights and things to look at.  

My dad started a game with me. For every Kirby I find I get 1 yen. We also went to play some claw games. I almost won a giant sleeping Kirby and a cooking Kirby. I love Kirby…incase you didn’t know that. 

I’m so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bye Bye. Nate

P.S. Kirby is awesome.