Woodland Flag in Japan > Rexroad.com

Charlie-San really did it this time. Here is a picture of a City of Woodland flag in Japan.

Here is some information about the gate where the flag is being pictured. It is up to you to guess which one of the people holding the flag is Yolo County's own Charlie Schaupp.

The flag is at the Shurei Gate to the Shurijo Castle. The ' Geishas' are dressing in traditional Okinawa Costume. The Ticket is my entrance fee, 800 Yen (about $6.80) and by chance the visit and flag was taken on Memorial Day in Okinawa (we are a day ahead of you)

Here is the details on the Shurijo Castle and Okinawa: Nestled deep in the heart of Okinawa's busiest city (Naha) lies a beautiful tribute to the island's ancient culture; Shurijo Castle and the Shurei Gat, fully restored monuments to Okinawa's past.

Shurijo Castle dates back to the 14th century where it served as both a royal residence and the center of government and religion. Nearly all important government and religious ceremonies were held at the castle, such as the ceremony Chou-hai-o-ki-shiki, held the first morning of the new year.

In the early 15th century, King Sho Hashi gained control of the three divisions of Okinawa, thus unifying the island for the first time and placing the seat of government at Shurijo Castle. The unifying of Okinawa marks the beginning of the Kingdom of the Ryukyus and the founding of the first Sho Dynasty.

The castle housed the kings of the Ryukyus until the Japanese overtook Okinawa in 1609. After the overtaking, the kingdom was forced into a feudal relationship with Japan.

In 1879, the Japanese deployed soldiers to forcibly demand the turnover of Shurijo Castle, consequently ending the independent rule of the 450-year-old Ryukyuan Kingdom, and establishing the Okinawa Prefecture.

Following the kingdom's demise, the castle was used for a multitude of things. It was first used as a barracks then later as classrooms for Shuri City Women's Crafts School, Okinawa Prefectural School for Industrial Apprenticeships and Shuri No. 1 Elementary School. It was also the site of underground air raid shelters and housing for the Japanese army before World War II.

In 1945, when Okinawa became the site of a fierce battle between Japanese and U.S. forces, the castle was reduced to rubble.

In 1992, after more than six years of renovation, Shurijo Castle was once again open to the public. Although the exterior of the buildings are completely restored, the interiors are still being perfected.

The castle offers visitors a panoramic view of Naha Harbor and is said to be located at an exceptionally fortuitous site full of positive spiritual influence, according to Fengshui, the Chinese practice of predicting fortunes of castles, residences and tombs.

Visitors to Shurijo Castle can expect to see gates and walls decorated in traditional dragons and gold leaf writing. They will be able to explore the castle grounds, fountains and gardens. Tour guides and other hosts are dressed in traditional period clothing.

It is believed that this gate was built in 1527. It is one of the gates built along Ayajofumichi, the street that leads to Shurijo Castle. A sign that says "Shurei-no-ho" (this country is polite) was hung on the gate every time messengers from China visited the castle.

Comments

By duane750 @ Monday, May 28, 2007 9:33 PM

What a great post Charlie. Thank you for the history lesson. I take it you are the one on the right in the back, holding it up high, that is my guess.
Duane

By Charlie in Japan @ Tuesday, May 29, 2007 1:52 AM

Duane...I am not in the photo! I am behind the camera...that was Matt's 'hilarious' sense of humor pulling our legs.

What is interesting about both this gate and Okinawa is that 40% of the civilian population (150,000) were killed during the battle for Okinawa...and the amazing thing is most of the old timers (older Okinawans) blame Japan for those losses (at least from what I have seen).

Okinawa is part of Japan...but they are a proud separate culture and are proud of the former Ryukyu kingdom.

Over the years I have come to love these people...they are really great! And I love the 'humor' of the Shuri Gate sign telling the Chinese visitors to be polite...(there is some real wisdom in that). I have come to know the Okinawans as some of the most polite and honorable people I have ever known.

Charlie-san

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