Carbon Footprint

For my freshmen students' final presentation, groups of three were made and the groups had the freedom of choosing a social or environemental problem, and then to do research on their topic. They were given the guidelines of 3.5~5 minutes and 3~5 slides per individual. The reason being for limiting the number of slides is to get students to give an oral presentation rather than just a visual one. More specifically, students were to do the 3-step method when presenting each slide, i.e. (1) introduce the picture/data, (2) explain the picture/data, and (3) emphasize the picture/data following the principle of "If you write it, talk about it; if you show it, explain it." This following presentation was given by Park So Mi, Kim Ji Hyun and Oh Chan Ho, and is published here by their permission. This was one of the best presentation of the semester so I asked to share it and they were delighted that others would be interested in their well-organized research. Very phenomenal job, guys!

[ originally printed in my blog Anthroscopes on February 11, 2013, also under "Carbon Footprint" ]

Long-forgotten WWII POW Camps in Korea

As an (unwilling) part of the Japanese Empire, Korea was involved in World War II. We have all heard of the conscripts, the forced labor, and the comfort women. However, fighting did not actually occur on Korean soil. WWII was effectively over as Soviet forces arrived in Korea from Manchuria in mid to late August 1945, and US troops made landfall in Incheon on September 8, 1945 to receive the Japanese surrender and disarm and demobilize Japan’s military.

One aspect of Korean history during that period, however, that has been forgotten – seemingly by all sides – is the approximately 1,500 Allied Prisoners of War who were held in Korea from September 1942 until their release in 1945, only a couple of months after the last non-Axis foreign civilians had been forcibly deported from Korea by ship. The first Allies to be imprisoned here were British and Australian troops from the fall of Singapore. They were joined towards the end of the war by American soldiers captured in the Philippines, after they were initially held in the notorious “hell ships,” as well as in Japan. In all, three camps were operated, run by Japanese officers and staffed by Korean conscripts and civilians. A few POWs died, but most were rescued and brought home in September 1945.

(click to enlarge)

With the fall of Singapore on February 15, 1942, 80,000 British soldiers surrender. This was the largest surrender of the British forces in the history. 3,000 of the men were sent to Changi Prison in Singapore. 50,000 were placed in the British Army's Selarang Barracks. Others were sent on hell ships to perform forced labor: Siam-Burma death railroad, and the Sandakan Airfield in North Borneo. On August 16, 1942 1,000 prisoners boarded the Fukkai Maru, staying on board for four solid days with the hatches tightly closed till they sailed on August 20 for Takao Harbor, arriving August 29. Two weeks were spent in loading the ship with bauxite, whereupon on September 15, the ship set sail for Busan, arriving seven days later. On September 24, POWs disembarked, marched and boarded trains bound for Yongsan, where they were marched into the Yongsan Garrison for temporary keeping.

Yongsan Garrison had once been the site of Seoul's public cemetery; that is, until Japan bought it during the Russo-Japanese War. Approximately one-third of the buildings date to Japanese colonial period. This place functioned as the site for the Chosen Army Garrison until September 1945, and Itagaki Seishiro was the Commanding General of the Chosen Army.

Yongsan Garrison (?)

When POWs arrived in Busan on the hell ships, they were fumigated, inspected and then forced to march, fed somewhat, and loaded on trains to Yongsan, where they again were inspected, forced to march to wherever they were to be held, and lectured on POW camp rules upon arrival.

Yongsan Garrison appears to be where POWs were sent after arriving in Korea. Upon their arrival, their POW camp was decided and the POWs were sent out to their respective new prisoner camp locations. The camp with one of the worst reputations was Konan, in present-day North Korea. 230 men were sent to Konan, a relatively small camp but one that required forced hard labor in a carbine factory. It seems that men weren't sent directly to this camp but were first interred in Camps Keijo and Jinsen, before being relocated. This camp is the location of a secret atomic weapon program, but knowing to what extent is difficult to say as the camp fell into Soviet hands on August 15, 1945.

Konan POW camp (in present-day Hungnam, North Korea)

There appears to be a lot of movement of POWs in Korea. Some were sent on to Mukden, beyond North Korea into Manchura, some were sent to Japan. Mukden was another notorious POW camp (but won't be discussed here as the focus is on WWII POW camps with the Korean peninsula).

POW camp in Mukden, Manchuria

Then, on April 9, 1942 Bataan fell, shortly followed on May 6, 1942 by the fall of Corregidor. The infamous Bataan Death March took its toll on many captured soldiers. Hell ships were loaded with prisoners as well as weapons. These ships were sometimes bombed by US planes and sunk. Those POWs who made it to the shores of Japan were forced into labor ... but there were few survivors. One example is the Brazil Maru. It arrived in Japan with 581 living prisoners and 550 dead men. 73 more died within a month. Only 372 of the initial lot survived the war.

With the US bombing of Japanese islands being stepped up, approximately 150 US POWs were moved to Korea in the spring of 1945. Americans held prisoner in Korea required the US military to investigate. On September 6, 1945 Captain Stengel is in Korea and makes arrangements to meet British Lt. Col. Elrington, the highest officer in Camp Keijo, one of the three POW camps in Korea. Col. Yusuru Noguchi, who is in charge of the POW camps in Korea, is in the party also. A list of camps, prisoners and deaths is given to the Americans. The following day (September 7), Captain Stengel visits both Camps Keijo and Jinsen. Of interest, he finds that the men have made an American flag out of a parachute dropped by a B-29. That evening all men held retreat. On September 8, 24 Corps ships made harbor in Incheon, and three of the ships were made available for POW evacuations.  By September 9, all Jinsen and Keijo POWs had boarded evacuation ships.

However, the single remaining POW camp was Konan, which presented a problem as it was in the north above the 28th parallel and now occupied by the Soviets. To ensure that the POWs there got a more balanced diet than prisoner fare until they could be rescued, and to give them medical and other supplies, three aerial drops were made over the camp. In one of these drops, the plane "Hog Wild" was shot down and forced to land in Soviet territory. [For more on this camp and the interment of POWs there as well as the atomic program discovered, read "The Flight of the Hog Wild: The Day the World Went Cold" by co-authors Bill Streifer (American journalist) and Irek Sabitov (Russian journalist) and reference this site.] The flight crew was held for two weeks after which the Soviets apologized and on September 21, 1945 the POWs and Hog Wild crew were sent to Seoul by train. They arrived in Seoul on September 22 and by that afternoon were loaded on the Mercy hospital ship for medical care in their repatriation journey.

Four days after the release of POWs in Korea, on September 12, Itagaki Seishiro, Commanding General of the Chosen Army, surrendered all his Japanese forces in SE Asia to the British Admiral Mountbatten in Singapore. Many charges were made against Itagaki. One of note is his decision to send 2,000 Allied POWs to Korea so that they could be publicly humiliated for the purpose of improving civilian morale. However, the prosecution does not enter into evidence data regarding treatment of POWs in Korea, but despite that, Itagaki Seishiro was found guilty of war crimes on eight other counts, and he was hanged on December 23, 1948.

This historical presentation of discovery was given by Jacco Zwetsloot, who describes himself as a “Jacco of all trades, master of some.” In the past year he has worked as a business English teacher, translator, interpreter, simulation facilitator, corporate trainer, documentary cameraman and cataloguer, cultural lecturer, souvenir evaluator, radio commentator, magazine writer, voice actor, researcher, copy editor and tour guide. He is currently seeking a publisher interested in releasing translations of several North Korean comic books. He has a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in Korean Studies from Monash University, and has lived in South Korea for over 12 years. Matt Van Volkenburg assisted Jacco in rediscovering these forgotten POW camp sites.

Adding some notes:

The Japanese goal was to hold at least 2,000 white prisoners: 1,000 British and 1,000 American. The point was to intern the white people in the camps as a psychological tool to break the (Koreans?)

Keijo, Seoul, was the largest POW camp. The main building was an abandoned silk-winding factory, and it was located very close to where Sookmyung Women's University is today. The prisoners were made to carry bags of grain (predominantly millet), load and unload trucks at Keiji Station, tie and untie rice ropes, and carry and "bale" hay.

Jinsen (the Japanese name) was the second camp located in Chemulpo (Incheon today). It was located on land that had been reclaimed from the sea in 1930s and 1940s.

Konan (the Japanese name for the present-day 흥남) in the far northeast of North Korea opened in September 1943, also on reclaimed land. This was a work camp, and the 350 people were expected to work 15 hours/day, 7 days/wk. There work comprised tending the lime kilns, blacksmithing, stoking the carbide furnaces (which was the hottest and most dangerous job, especially as workers stoked for 20 minutes and recovered for 40).

Shamans: At the East Sea

A book, a breeze and some Shamans

Kangneung is my getaway place. Several times a year I do my grand escape from Seoul to just relax on the Kangneung beaches and walk around the adjacent lake park. Sometimes the weather cooperates for a lot of beach-walking, and other times like today, the cold icy wind strikes and prevents me from lounging too long with a book.

Today for some unknown reason there were a lot of shamanic rites in progress along the beach. Some had more elaborate tables of food prepared, a couple were just older people beating the timpani (drum) while bowing continuously over wafting incense as they faced and hid their faces from the Buddhist shrine just feet away. One particular family had rented a large low-platformed house, threw the floor-to-ceiling windows open wide and spread a very complicated arrangement of food - fruits, meats, fish, nuts and candies - on the open verandah-floor and were conducting a less sandy ceremony on the polished false-wood floors.

The best arrangement was a beach setting. A low table carefully spread with colorful fruits and two dried fish and faced the ocean. A tent was set up to protect the drummer and the mudang during the long two to three hour ceremony. Tea and hot coffee were brewing to offset the briskness blowing in from the ocean.

This particular gut might have been to thank the water gods for their abundance during the summer. If the gut had been held in spring, I would think it would be more likely for the appeal for spring and summer fishing blessings and overall abundance for the coming year.

Central to the shamanic rituals are mudang (females who function as intercessors between the physical and spirit world) presiding. They preform a gut (loosely translated as 'exorcism', as in an exorcism to rid one of a bad spirit, bad luck, etc.) And to perform the gut they offer sacrifices to the gods and consider their own ancestors and the ancestors of those they are performing the ceremony for. Through rhythmic dance movements, songs, prayers and spirit encounters the rites are thought to create a connection between the spiritual and mundane world to re-establish harmony, confer blessings, and promote welfare. This particular gut was soon to start, and since it's a private affair to appeal to the spirit world, I moved quickly on.

Along the secluded walk along the beach and getting further away from the several Shamanic rituals was my own peace - gulls frolicking above the waves, peaceful sandy spots for digging my toes in, and a quiet place to hear myself think and escape into my book.

The beach got a bit cold so I left the beach scene to go to the adjacent but more protected Kyungpo Lake, where I walked the four kilometer circumference trail around the lake. And wahlah! I've been to Kangneung many times but this was the first to see 해파리 (jellyfish) in the lake. And there were tons of jellyfish, but only along the western shores where the water was warmer and furthest from the ocean. Koreans really love to eat jellyfish - jellyfish salad, jellyfish in stews - so wasn't surprised that many Koreans were getting all excited about seeing the clouds of jellyfish off the menu and probably thinking about how to put them on.

Chinese Teas & Their Effects on the Body

There are many kinds of Chinese teas, but this presentation concerns six of them, classified by their color: Green tea, White tea, Yellow tea, Blue (ulong) tea, Red tea, and Black tea. Each of the teas are comprised of different ingredients - well, different leaves or preparations of leaves - and each tea has a specific effect or effects on the body.

Green Tea

Ingredient: made with unfermented green leaves

Effects: good for skin care, relieves hangover, inhibits the growth of cancer cells and reduces high blood pressure, promotes higher good cholesterol in the body

White Tea

Ingredient: young tea leaves with fuzz

Effects: has health benefits such as weight loss and cooling the body of excessive heat

Yellow Tea

Ingredient: unfermented tea leaves

Effects: promotes digestion (good for indigestion and lack of appetite), helps with weight loss, helps prevent cancers [effects are very similar to those of green tea]




Blue (ulong) Tea

Ingredient: lightly fermented tea leaves

Effects: has anti-cavity qualities from the blue enzymes, removed active oxygen which affects the aging of skin, relieves skin allergies, and strengthens the immune system by discharging alien substances from the body

Red Tea

Ingredient: fermented tea leaves

Effects: has anti-aging qualities primarily with helping to prevent aging of skin, has anti-cavity qualities because of polyphenols, helps with fatigue recovery and boost metabolism, helps discharge heavy metals from the body, helps with weight loss

Black Tea

Ingredient: fermented tea leaves

Effects: increases metabolism, strengthens the immune system with its polyphenols, helps break down fats, sterilizes many germs coming into the body



OTHER TEAS - THESE ARE FOR GENDER SPECIFICS

Rubus coreanus miguel Tea
(복분자 - very similar to the raspberry)

Ingredient: rubus berry

Effects: improves eye sight and memory, increases sexual stamina, induces urination

Cautions: possible allergic reaction, should not be consumed by people with hot body types as the tea increases heat, do not overeat

Cultural comments: Viewed as a men's tea, or at least is considered especially for men. Also for people with low "heat". This tea supposedly originated in a Korean fairy tale in which an old man takes a pee in a chamber pot and pee-ed and pee-ed and pee-ed. This pee-ing business is based on Korean traditional belief that pee-ing a lot symbolizes virility and man's ability.

Samul Tea (four medicine tea)

Ingredients: dong quai (당귀), boiled foxglove (숙지황), cnidium (천궁), white peony (백작약)

Effects: good for anemia, supports the uterus, prevents cramps, promotes healthy skin and a slim body

Cultural comments: best for women as it promotes good blood flow and for those with a "shortage of blood" (anemia). The 동귀보검, an historic 25-volume set of books compiled on health and medicine originally referred to samul tea as samul tang, suggesting it was more for medicinal purposes originally and not really something to enjoy with a meal.

Some Comments

(Comments in regard to the 6 types of Chinese teas) The present trend in the health world is to discuss the positive aspects of a marketed item, and teas and other beverages in Korea (like coffee and sports drinks and more) have become heavily discussed as to their "health" benefits. What is hardly ever mentioned is the fact that all these drinks have side effects on the body with some teas adversely affecting people with some diseases ... just an observation. The presentation was considered very good as a cultural presentation of traditions, but would lacking if the assignment were based on health aspects ... many people confuse these two aspects of judging/evaluating a presentation. Purpose of the presentation must be clear, and here the purpose was to give a cultural representation of something in a "food" category.

The information in this presentation (actually two separate presentations) was the research of notes and pictures from my students Oh Eun Jung and Eom Yun-sik (the six kinds of teas based on color) and Baek Ki Tae and Kim Woo Hee (teas for genders). Their presentations were very interesting and provided a lot of "food for thought".

Military Propaganda in North Korea

Yeongye kunin - "disabled / honorable veterans" - and North Korean national identity 

Through "military games" North Korea is projecting themselves to be mighty and valorous. And there seems within propaganda - media like books, comics, cartoons, movies, TV programs and other broadcasts - that there is a "desperate readiness to die [for the leader, the country, the party]".

(pretty rude! something like "the military plays with the f~~ American" ... but have to say
my translation is pretty lame although I certainly got the "f~~ American" part right)

The lauding of the soldier and his greatness targets even the young and tender of age. For example, a piece of North Korean children's poetry reads:

The whole world envies us
The whole world is afraid of us
We are the nation of the sun
The nation which shines under the slogan of juche (self-reliance)
We are the sons and daughters of guns and bombs.

And as one observant analytical mind of the North Korean society wrote: "The North Korean military is an embodiment of North Korea's national identity. Without the military, the regime is simply not viable." John (???)

Some observers tend to link contemporary North Korean passion for arms and bellicose international rhetoric with the official announcement of seongun or "military first" era, making its nationwide debut in 1996-1998. Seongun is often perceived as a departure from the previous juche course.

Constant features of NK society and propaganda

• Prioritization of the military in all aspects of DPRK life
• Preferential allocation of resources to the army
• Constant call for involvement and support from the public for the army, rhetoric of "mutual love" of the army and the people

State militarism in 1950s - late 1980s relied upon:

• recent memories of the Korean War
• real episodes of military confrontation with the enemy
• genuine endeavors of the government to keep the DPRK's armed forces mobilized for another offensive
• militarism was an essential part of official ideology which had not yet exhausted its credibility
• relative material stability was ascribed to efforts of the Korean People's Army
• efficient isolationist policy barred citizens from access to any contesting information

In the 1950s - 1980s, the enormous standing Korean People's Army had not been involved in any military activity. However, since the late 1980s, changes have been clearly noted:

• attrition of the state distribution system and decrease of living and material standards
• North Koreans naturally became more concerned with personal welfare, rather than with reciprocal protection of their state
• the gradual erosion of the iron curtain
• North Koreans exposed to challenging discourses

There followed a creation of a quasi-military society. Women were given rankings and participated in military activities. And the military was given a softer, more sentimental overtone - in propaganda smiles and joy were on the faces of soldiers and soldiers were provided with much vied for creature comforts. 

Since the late 1980s the major goals of the militarist propaganda became:

• a stimulation of North Korean society by creating a sense of false urgency
• an illusion of common goals
• a distraction of popular attention from the faults of the economic and political strategy promoted by the ruling elite
• a justification of material deficiencies and harsh anti-democratic policies of the state leadership
• stimulation of national pride in moments of actual national disgrace

and at the center:

• the idea of the innate self-sacrificial spirit of military people, as the best part of the NK society
• counterbalance to the unwanted spread of consumerism and mercenary spirit among the "overtly liberalized" civilians
• reciprocal pattern of self-sacrifice relationships between the military and the civilians

Yeongye kunin "honorable / disabled veterans"

With a push for military expansionism and the driving need to have soldiers in the army, the soldiers who have been disabled - the yeongye kunin - are lauded for the commendable sacrifice to nation building.

The yeongye kunin are officially revered as heroes - in contrast to non-military handicapped people who are widely discriminated against and ignored. Civilians, therefore, are summoned to commit reciprocal self-sacrifice - to similarly join the army and fill the place of the injured or to become the "honorable veteran's" spouse cum nurse, basically turning one's self into his or her legs/eyes/arms and at the same time receiving the blessings of the government.

Romances of yeongye kunin proliferate - they are a popular theme of North Korean culture. Films such as "Traces of Life" (1987) and "Girls in My Hometown" (1991) by playwright Ri Ch'un-gu are wildly popular. Literary fiction like "Mirror" (2009) written by Cho Hyang-mi and based on actual events is also widely read.

Tropes of yeongye kunin paradigm:

• yeongye kunin as canonized saints and therefore entitled to public admiration 
• yeongye kunin entitled to loyalty of the trophy spouse
• yeongye kunin entitled to a bright future

No matter what the yeongye kunin did or how they achieved their status, they are to be honored. The sensibility, or human and material costs, of their exploits are never debated. And yet to the non-North Korean, some of the cases of their being honored seem rather dubious:

Example 1: "Mirror"

In 1998 17 male and female soldiers saved "sacred" trees on Baekdu Mountain from a fire. The trees' bark was presumably covered by indigenous sayings of the Kim Il Sung's guerrilla troops, and as personal troops of the Great Leader, the sayings were considered "sacred". In saving the illustrious trees, however, some soldiers perished while others received severe burns. The injured and departed soldiers were instantly transformed into heroes. They became highly praised yeongye kunin. In the picture below, the saved "sacred" trees have been encased in glass to protect them from further harm. These "sacred" trees (as can be seen by North Korean tourism to the "holy site") as well as the yeongye kunin are highly idolized within North Korean society.

Example 2: Exploit of yeongye kunin in "Girls in My Hometown"

A handsome squad officer Shin Song-chol loses his sight during an industrial accident. He is extolled as a hero. Evidently wearing a uniform and working for the party is what is deserving of the honor of public recognition and esteem, not apparently what he was doing at the time of the event.

Theme: Yeongye kunin are entitled to trophy spouses

The "honorable veterans" are deserving of trophy spouses in payment for their sacrifice. The trophy spouses, who are physically and spiritually perfect, are to make reciprocal sacrifice as "romantic partners". The not so subtle message is that a "prince" or "princess"  appreciates the moral perfection of the yeongye kunin and are broadminded and accepting in regards to his or her disability.

The trophy spouses, therefore, can be seen not only as lovers but as "forced heroes". Any retreat in the course of loyalty to yeongye kunin is treated as political misconduct and betrayal of the lover's revolutionary status. Rejection of the yeongye kunin is shameful, and "traitors" are socially ostracized and permanently unhappy. Therefore, the lovers or trophy spouses have little choice - either they are a hero for marrying and being faithful and self-sacrificing to the yeongye kunin or they become a criminal.

Example 1: "Traces of Life"

P'ilsuni abandons Kilnam who has lost his leg during some unspecified incident. Shinju, the chairperson of the collective farm convenes a meeting where she condemns the disloyal P'ilsuni and proposes that she be expelled from the collective farm. P'ilsuni regrets her behavior. Together with Chinju, she goes to ask Kilnam's forgiveness. The entire village celebrates their wedding party.

Example 2: "Girls in My Hometown"

Eunha is dating a handsome squad officer Shin Song-chol whose troops are helping farmers with the construction of an irrigation channel. When Shin loses his sight during an industrial accident, she abandons him, and people are outraged by this "selfish" act. Eunha's best friend Sinae proposes to the blinded officer and is extolled as a heroine by everybody, and most particularly by a high officer who says, "Comrade Sinae! Your true and noble comradely love set a fine example for Korean women to all of us officers and men. Women like you encourage us to give our lives unhesitatingly for the country and the revolution!" Sinae's response, "I will love him with a sincere heart. This is my vow to the Party."

Betrayal is portrayed as an act of selfishness and material greed which are incompatible with the spirit of socialism, not as an act of self-defense and endeavor to avoid life-long ordeal. Eunha has remorse for her abandonment. "I betrayed my love and friendship for my own self. Girls like me can betray a Party and the country. I thought you'll never forgive me. I make a vow to you. Like Sinae and her husband I'll give my all to the country and the revolution. If occasion calls, I'll dedicate my whole life to a disabled soldier. I swear before you."

In North Korean rhetoric, the yeongye kunin are entitled to a bright future. Marriage is the outcome, and the narrative to such an end is heavily idealized. There is no mention of material or physical challenges which care-giving implies. The romanticized, fairy tale picture of the yeongye kunin is contrasted to the allegedly gloomy, ostracized existence of those with consumerist and individualistic tendencies. Heroism is obligatory - the soldier is obliged to be a hero, and in the event that he or she is hurt, a trophy spouse is obliged to be equally self-sacrificing. In the narrative the heroes life is full of appreciation and support of the entire society - beautiful men and women hurry to propose to them out of the appreciation of the nobility of their acts. In North Korean paradise, duty and self-sacrifice are obligatory; they are portrayed as aesthetically attractive, socially appreciated and free of pain, sweat and blood.

___________________________________________________

Professor Tatiana Gabroussenko, PhD in East Asian Studies, presented this insightful lecture at the Royal Asiatic Society. She is a highly knowledgeable presenter as well as the author of a number of article devoted to contemporary North Korean culture, literature and propaganda.

Visa Run to Fukuoka, Japan

The Process

The process is pretty straightforward. Day 1 - Drop off your forms and passport at the Korean consulate in the morning (before 11:00), and then Day 2 - pick the passport back up after 11:00 - 12:00 or early afternoon (after 13:30). Two pieces of advice are:

u  Get to the consulate as early as possible (9:00 or 10:00) on Day 1, so you don’t miss getting your application in and so you can spend the rest of the day touring around.

u  Prepare all your documents in Korea - then you can jump the lines at the consulate and also know you have everything.

Once you get back to Korea, you have 90 days to go to Korean immigration in Korea and apply for your Alien Registration Card (ARC).

Documents required:

ü  Passport

ü  Completed application form (picked up at the Korean Consulate or downloaded online)

ü  Certificate for confirmation of visa issuance (a blue form from your employer in Korea)

ü  2 color passport photos (3cm x 4cm)

ü  Application fee: 6,000JPY (about 70,000KRW)

The Korean Consulate in Fukuoka

u  Address: 1-1-3, Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Japan 810-0065

u  Phone: 092-771-0461

u  Office Hours: M-F, 10:00-12:00 & 13:30-15:30. Closed Sat-Sun. Closed both Korean & Japanese holidays

Directions to the Korean Consulate (Fukuoka)

1.     Take the subway to Tojin Machi Station

2.     Take exit 1 (follow the signs to the Korean Consulate)

3.     Walk straight for about 5 minutes

4.     Reach a T-intersection, cross the road and turn right

5.     Walk straight for about 5 minutes and look for the consulate

For information concerning getting your visa, see Visa Runs from Korea to Japan.


While in Fukuoka, look around. There is a gorgeous lake (Ohori Park) with bike lanes around it, and just east of it massive and diverse water lily gardens,  a castle wall (which was undergoing some archaeological excavations), and more than a couple large Shinto shrines. A walk to the ocean from the consulate is also possible. Explore!

Fukuoka Castle ruins - the castle was built in the Edo Period (17th - 19th century)

Fukuoka Castle was one of the largest castles in Japan with four floors, 47 turrets, and a samurai quarters spanning over 2.46 million square meters. The east gate provided access between the second and third baileys, and it was part of the main route to the second bailey, the castle keep, and to the castle tower. The third bailey contained the residences of the chief retainers to the feudal lord.

Shintoism - Shinto, "the way of the Kami (gods)", is such a widespread practice in Japan and, along with Buddhism, creates quite the mix of philosophical rather than religious beliefs. There are various forms of Shintoism: Koshito - the Shinto of the Imperial House, Jinja (shrine) Shinto - the largest group, Kyoha (sectarian) Shinto aka Shuha Shinto, and Minzoku (folk) Shinto. It is guestimated that about 84% of the Japanese population believes in some kind of Shinto and/or Buddhism. How this percentage is arrived at is unknown, but with most Japanese attending shrines and/or temples at key moments in their lives, then perhaps this number reflects the number of "Christians" in the US, as that  number often counts the "Christians" who go to church twice a year - Easter and Christmas - and therefore term themselves as "Christians".

In any regard, I rented a bicycle for about a dollar a day and peddled around in Ohori Park, around the lake. To the east and southeast of the lake are large Shinto shrines with massive pillars. The first had such huge tree trunks holding it up that it would take three adults to circle their arms around the massive supports!

wooden structure - absolutely massive!

cement structure

In China the color red symbolizes the ridding of evil spirits. That's why the color is so heavily employed (the hanging of red lanterns, the wearing of red clothes, the giving of red New Year's cards) at the beginning of New Year's along with the explosion of red fire crackers. In China it is also an elemental and directional color for it symbolizes the element fire and the direction south.

In Japan, red symbolizes auspiciousness and happiness. Red is a powerful color in Japan, and is heavily a part of both Shinto and Buddhist rituals. Not only is it for auspiciousness and happiness but represents strong emotions rather than ideas; it connotes energy, vitality, heat and power. In more modern times it represents love, intimacy and sexual desire, but most importantly, and this applies heavily to the religious underlying principles, it represents life force and the energy of the people.

Water - purifying to the body and the spirit and therefore its presence within all Shinto and Buddhist temples alike. This spring is at the center of one of the largest Shinto shrine areas I entered.

And back to Ohori Park and the beautiful lake. The first day I was in Fukuoka the weather was hot, steamy but very gorgeous. The second day, however, cooled down very quickly as the clouds began to roll in. Yep, typhoon season. I returned my bike and the majority of the second day was spent in a tea shop reading a book and waiting for the time to pass so I could go to the airport and return on the evening flight to Korea. (click on pictures to enlarge)