Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Postcards Received from Japan

2076.  Osaka, Japan
I am very happy to be able to send you a postcard!  This is a Gotochi card from Osaka.  The illustration is Takoyaki, a local food in Osaka.  This is my favorite food.  Have you eve eaten Takoyaki?  I would be very happy if you like this postcard.  Best regards.  2021.06.06

2040.  Greetings from Japan
5 May 2021
I'm Tomomi and live near Tokyo.  I send you the Gotochi of KOCHI.  This river is "Shimanto River" and a bridge is "chinka-bashi," a bridge designed to be underwater during a flood.  Shimanto River is called the last clear stream in Japan, 196 km long and have many bridges like this.  It is popular for tourists.  I like the season of fresh green.  It gives me power to live.  I like to travel and go to climb the mountain.  I hope to go out freely and safely again soon.  Gest wishes and stay safe.

2024.  Tower of Lilies - Himeyuri-no-To
Copied from Internet:                 
In the south of the main island, the Himeyuri no Tō (literally, Tower of the Lilies) memorialises the Himeyuri students, a large corps of local students and their teachers drafted by the authorities to help in the war effort. For the most part, this meant serving as nurses to the wounded in make-shift field hospitals erected, if that is the apt word, in caves. Perhaps it is something about the primitivism of the use of caves by a modern war machine that makes the whole scenario feel so futile, so doomed and absurd. Teenaged girls tending to dying soldiers and helping with supplies under the ground, caught between an invading army and their occupiers — can their plight be any more pathetic?

                Over any other place associated with the tragedy of Okinawa, the Himeyuri no Tō cult prevails. It has inspired multiple films as well as a recent manga by Machiko Kyō. Needless to say, there were numerous other student corps but none have entered the popular imagination as much as the Himeyuri girls. After all, the majority of the students perished and it was probably the largest corps of its kind. Plus we are suckers for wartime stories involving kids.

                Today the Himeyuri no Tō is a sacred place. The monument is built at one of the caves in which the Himeyuri students served. The cave remains, a gaping, weird mouth into the bowels of the earth. In other circumstances it would be a natural curiosity — but surely formidably fenced off in fastidious Japan where any hint of danger is always unduly signposted — if not for the way it was utilized seventy years prior. And so the pit signals emptiness, a hole of hell. Flowers are purchased at the entrance, to be laid at the cave mouth like a religious offering. There is now a museum and various surrounding cenotaphs and monuments, added incrementally in the post-war period. One was unveiled in 1975, the same year as the Okinawa Expo.              

Message on card:

Hello.  Greeting from Japan, and many sports competition are held.  In my town there was a 100 km. marathon yesterday.  I participated and finished the race.  Today, it's painful with muscle pain.

998.  Higashiyama Zoo, Japan

919.  Kobe, Japan
"Designed by Amina/Nepalese Handmade Paper"
Greetings from Japan.  I'm Midori.  I live in Kobe.  Kobe is a beutiful port city and well-known for Kobe beef.  I love to travel and read mystery novels.  I'm currently into Scandinavian mysteries.  Hope you enjoy the coming autumn.  Best wishes, Midori

877 A & B.  Japan
Received both together in envelope with no message

810.  Greetings from Japan! 
 Kyoto Tower is near the Kyoto Station.  Have you ever been to Japan?  You're very welcome to visit here at any time!

714.  Japan
My name is Natasha and I'm originally from Cologne in Germany, but I've lived in Japan fr about 3 years I "got stuck" here when I met my husband. :) We have a daughter who will be 2 this month.  The mailbox on the card is located in an ousen (Japanese spa) town in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.  We live in Sano, Tochigi Prefectore, about 100 km north of Tokyo.  Natasha

631.  Gotochi Card: Tokyo, JAPAN
Greetings to arizona, 9578 KM away from Nagaya City, Japan!  Hope you'll like this Gtotochi card of Tokyo (sushi).  Japan may be best know for sushi.  Alshams

606.  Mt. Hakkoda, Japan
Hello, Chris!
Now I have been injured right hand (dominant hand).  I cannot write the letters neatly.  Please allow me to send a postcard with print my message.
     This is the view of the beautiful spot, Hakkoda Mountain Range, Aomori Prefecture.  Aomori is the popular sight-seeing area with beautiful nature.  Hakkoda Mountain Range is one of the most popular spots in Aomori.  There are many beautiful forests and waterfalls in this area. A lot of tourists visit this area from around the world.
I hope you will be glad to see this postcard.
Sheluna

539.  Happiness Express from Japan
My name is Erika, and I'm 24 y.o. I'm from Taiwan.  I study Japanese in Tokyo City, Japan.  Hope you will like the postcard.  I wish you all the best.  Take care, Erika Oa

530. Saitama, Japan
Dear Chris, Hello!  Greetings from Japan.   My name is Miki.  I live in Saitama with my husband and son (two months old).  I like doing yoga, shopping and traveling.  September 19 is Respect for the Aged Day, which is a Japanese holiday celebrated annually to honor elderly people.  Many people spend time with their grandparents.  I wish you all the best.  Miki

461. Tokyo, Japan
Hello chris, Greetings from Tokyo!  So, this address in PA is what you call "the east coast" where you spend the summer...hope this card will be received in due course.  As for GOTOCHI cards, Ihave plenty, but they are hard to buy, expensive to send, so I normally enjoy swapping in the Forum.  Wish you good luck to received on from a broad minded postcrosser!
Best, Asami
448.  GOTOCHI Card:  Saitama, JAPAN
Hello!  (konnichiwa)
My name is Kaori.  Greetings from Japan.  I live in Saitama next to Tokyo.  This is a Gotochi card of Saitama.  The Time Bell Tower was built 400 years ago.  It's a symbol of Kawagoe in Saitama.
28 June 2016
arrived in an envelope

377.  Japan
Hello!  I am an engineer of bridge construction.  Terrible earthquake has occured in Kumamoto, Kyushu.  We always fear Tsunjami.  TAK  16/05/19

360.  Todaijai Nigatsudo Temple in Spring-Nara, JAPAN
Hi, I'm Ai, from Japan.  I live in Nara pref.  There are so many nature, old temples, and srines.  The most famous place is Toudaiji-Temple and its Daibutsu (Great Budda).  I recommend there if you come to Japan.  H
appy postcrossing!! 
16/May/2016

336.  Miyajima Public Aquarium, Japan
Greetings from Hiroshima, Japan.  Hope you like this card.  Happy Postcrossing!  Michiko

\
331.  Maiko Girls Enjoying Tea-Ceremony in Kyoto, Japan
4/5/2016
Hi I'm Rie from Japan, a mom of 3 kids.  They are 10, 8, 6 y.o.  I love books and chocolate so my husband calls me a book junkie and a chocolate addict.  Hope you enjoy this card!  Rie

301.  Hirokoji Street Vicinity of Sakaecho Crossing, Nagoya City, Japan
24 April 2016
Hello, Chris!
I'm Maasa in Nagoya city, Japan.  Nagoya is located in the middle of Japan.  There is a venue for the 2005 World Expo, Aichi.  There is now has become a large park.  Have a nice postcrossing.  Maasa

292.  Unknown artist (the description is in Japanese)
18/Apr/2016
Hello, My name is Satomi from Japan.  I live in Toyota City where is famous for car company so there are many factories here.  I hope you'll like this card.  Happy postcrossing!  Satomi

1 comment:

John Shelley said...

It's by Keisai Eisen 1790–1848 :)