Origin of Fukushima prefectural name
FUKUSHIMA – Good Fortune Island 福島県 The “Fukushima” name came from Suginome Castle (杉妻城 or 杉目城) after it was renamed “Fukushima Castle” (福島城) by the Gamo Clan castle lord. No…
Origin of “Sato,” Japan’s No. 1 surname
by Philbert Ono, updated: June 17, 2023 “Sato” (佐藤) is Japan’s No. 1 most common family name with about 1.8 million people named “Sato.” This translates to 1.5 percent of…
Colorful Goshiki-numa, Kitashiobara, Fukushima
“Goshiki-numa” means “Five-Color Ponds,” a very appropriate name for these colorful, volcanic ponds near Mt. Bandai (磐梯山) in Bandai-Asahi National Park. An eruption by Mt. Bandai in 1888 created landslides…
Spa Resort Hawaiians
Updated: Oct. 11, 2020 (First posted in June 2012) Spa Resort Hawaiians (スパリゾートハワイアンズ) is a Hawaiian-themed water park and hot spring (onsen) amusement park in the coastal city of Iwaki…
Yae no Sakura, NHK Taiga Drama 2013
This year’s year-long, weekly NHK Taiga Drama TV series will start airing tonight on Jan. 6. Titled “Yae no Sakura,” it’s about a woman warrior named Yae Niijima (1845-1932) from…
Fukushima Prefecture PR fair
Fukushima Prefecture held a PR fair (がんばろうふくしま！大交流フェア) at Tokyo International Forum on March 20, 2012 to promote itself. Lots of stage entertainment, food booths, mascot characters, and talk shows. Famous…
Wakamatsu Tea And Silk Farm Colony at Gold Hill, California
Updated: Aug. 22, 2023 On Feb. 18, 2012 in Yamagata city, we had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Takahashi Yoshio (高橋義夫), a prominent, Naoki Prize-winning novelist whose favorite…
Spa Resort Hawaiians grand re-opening
Spa Resort Hawaiians in Iwaki, Fukushima is a Hawaiian-themed, hot spring and water park that suffered heavy earthquake damage on March 11, 2011. They partially reopened in Oct. 2011. Finally…
March 2011 post-quake Japan travel advice (Updated)
Updated: April 8, 2011 I know people are understandably canceling trips to Japan left and right. It’s unfortunate since the cherry blossom season is here. Obviously, any travel plans to…