Yes, folks, in April I visited Japan with my 16-year-old daughter, who I promised I would take her when she turned 16. We spent 15 days there, and visited seven cities, travelling on the Shinkansen six times and by air once to get around. It was exhausting but we got to see so much. You might be wondering about the curious title, dear readers, but I promise that you will understand by the end of it! Anyway, this won't be an exhaustive look at my trip, but, an occasional look at sites of interest that you might want to see. We begin with the Yushukan at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. For anyone interested in WW2 history, this place is a must. It does court controversy in its sanitised portrayal of the Imperial Japanese armed forces and their conquests in South East Asia, particularly by revering individuals, such as Hideki Tojo as martyrs, but it is a fascinating place, if only for the artifacts on display. The Yushukan is Japan's oldest military museum, dating back to 1882, being demolished in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and surviving air raids against Tokyo during WW2.
One of many statues on the grounds of the Yasukuni Shrine, this one honouring Japan's young airmen.
Greeting visitors into the foyer annex is this A6M5 Model 52, which was restored by prominent aircraft restorer Nobuo Harada.
The first train to traverse the Thai-Burma Railway, which we recall from my trip to Thailand in December last year, is one of 27 C56 Class locomotives built in Japan and shipped to Thailand to operate on the railway.
Type 89 15-cm cannon. This was used during the battles for Okinawa and was exhibited in the Okinawa Museum.
A good view of the Zero from the balcony above the foyer, where the shortened wingspan of the A6M5 model can be appreciated.
The museum's surviving Yokosuka D4Y1 Suisei. I did a walkaround of this; I HAD to...
The Suisei's Aichi Atsuta engine.
The Suisei and replica of a MXY7 Ohka.
A Shinyo suicide motor boat. The Yushukan focusses on the Special Attack Corps and artifacts relating to them.
Type 97 Chi Ha tank of the 9th Tank Regiment that took part in the battles that raged on Saipan.
Homage to the Yamato. They love that ship over there. We'll see more of Yamato appreciation to come.
5.5-inch gun, one of the secondary armament of the battleship Mutsu, whose magazines exploded on June 8th, 1943 while the ship was at rest. We'll see more Mutsu artifacts, too.
Kaiten suicide submarine.
The interior of a Kaiten showing the periscope and boarding hatch, through which the occupant got into the submarine while it was attached to the deck of its submerged mother submarine. This is a mock-up built for a film.
Ohka.
The display area from above.
Finally, images of lost Japanese soldiers in a special gallery.
In the next instalment, we'll take a look at some things of interest I photographed along the way. See you then.
One of many statues on the grounds of the Yasukuni Shrine, this one honouring Japan's young airmen.
Greeting visitors into the foyer annex is this A6M5 Model 52, which was restored by prominent aircraft restorer Nobuo Harada.
The first train to traverse the Thai-Burma Railway, which we recall from my trip to Thailand in December last year, is one of 27 C56 Class locomotives built in Japan and shipped to Thailand to operate on the railway.
Type 89 15-cm cannon. This was used during the battles for Okinawa and was exhibited in the Okinawa Museum.
A good view of the Zero from the balcony above the foyer, where the shortened wingspan of the A6M5 model can be appreciated.
The museum's surviving Yokosuka D4Y1 Suisei. I did a walkaround of this; I HAD to...
The Suisei's Aichi Atsuta engine.
The Suisei and replica of a MXY7 Ohka.
A Shinyo suicide motor boat. The Yushukan focusses on the Special Attack Corps and artifacts relating to them.
Type 97 Chi Ha tank of the 9th Tank Regiment that took part in the battles that raged on Saipan.
Homage to the Yamato. They love that ship over there. We'll see more of Yamato appreciation to come.
5.5-inch gun, one of the secondary armament of the battleship Mutsu, whose magazines exploded on June 8th, 1943 while the ship was at rest. We'll see more Mutsu artifacts, too.
Kaiten suicide submarine.
The interior of a Kaiten showing the periscope and boarding hatch, through which the occupant got into the submarine while it was attached to the deck of its submerged mother submarine. This is a mock-up built for a film.
Ohka.
The display area from above.
Finally, images of lost Japanese soldiers in a special gallery.
In the next instalment, we'll take a look at some things of interest I photographed along the way. See you then.