[OGOGOogoloshennya]

In all an unbroken line of twelve generations of the Miyamoto family have lived in Kita Kyushu. Eleven in Kokura, the present generation living in Moji. From Hyaku's homepage

I was in staying with my girlfriend in Kita Kyushu some years back and got the opportunity to visit Kokura castle. I didn't realise the amount of history there was there!

Looking back at it now I think, "Jesus! I could have been walking in the same spot the Musashi was..." Kinda feels tingly...

I especially liked the temple next to the castle...there was this old stone arch and my girlfriend and I spent ages trying to land a stone on the top. She was telling me that if your stone lands and rests on the top a wish will come true.

In the castle itself they had this bokuto which was supposed to be the one Musashi used to duel Sasaki Kojiro.

Hyaku, is this true? Is it really his bokuto?

Plus, the food was really good...heh, especially the pork ramen!

Hyaku, do you live in Kyushu?

I really liked the scenery in Kyushu. The train rides were nice. I loved how the landscape was dotted with patches of rice paddies, bamboo clumps plus the cityscape. If you added a water buffalo it would seem just like my mom's hometown in Kedah, Malaysia.

Plus, everyone was really patient with me, especially after saying, Nihongo Hanase Masen. The restaurant owner liked it when I said, Rikishi ni naritaides, gohan tsukute kudasai

Pity I wasn't learning Kendo at the time...

All in all Kyushu is beautiful.

Meng