Thought about the travelers in the old days

I am always amazed how people in the old days were good walkers. It is true that travel in the old days would be physically exhausting. Now we can go anywhere using the train, bus, car even bicycle in a short time. However I think quick travel using modern transportation system to a certain destination could deprive me of enjoying the process. For example, travelers from Tokyo to Kyoto, it took for them about 2 weeks in the old days. It may be tiring travel but I think people could enjoy every station on the way to the destination. They could enjoy staying at an inn, eating a local cuisine, viewing local attractions.
I think we obtain the efficiency and rapidity by abandoning enjoyable long journeys.

What are some notable historical facts of my town?

Ruin of Arioka castle. A part of stone wall still remains.

Araki Murashige, the lord of Settsu (region including a part of Kobe, Ashiya, Nishinomiya, Amagasaki, Itami, Ikeda, Takatsuki, Mino, Ibaragi city)

The most notable historical facts of my town is the Battle between Oda Nobunaga, one of the most famous and powerful samurai lord in Owari ( now called Gifu) and the local lord Araki Murashige. The stronghold of Araki was almost impregnable. Unfortunately, some of Araki’s retainers betrayed him, and the fort fell after about one year battle. Now, there are some ruins of castle near the JR station. But I like to take a walk around the traces of moat imagining battle.

one of my favorite historical figures

↑Koyaike, one of the reservoir he developed with farmers.

My favorite historical figure is a great Buddhist monk, Gyoki. He taught Buddhism to commoners using simple words in the period when Buddhism was still exclusively practiced by aristocrats.
In addition, he helped develop some rural areas by creating storage reservoirs for farmers. I look up to him who lived with poor neighbors instead of living in a big temple.

Have you ever seen the Emperor?

No, I have not seen the Emperor in person. I see him and the Empress only on TV. They make public appearances twice a year from the balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on his birthday, December 23rd and January 2nd. If we would like to go to see them, we can see them from the ground in front of the balcony.
I heard one of my neighbors could see and even talk to the Empress who came to console people suffered from the Great Hanshin Earthquake in the evacuation center.

the Emperor and the Shogun

What was the difference between the Emperor and the Shogun?

The Emperor has been only a symbol of Japan in most of Japanese history. Whereas, the Shogun was the title granted by the Emperor to a military leader. The Shogun was allowed to govern all the other local lords. However his power was actually the highest authority of bakufu military government from the Kamakura period to the end of the Edo period.

Harakiri

Why did samurai have the practice of hara-kiri?
Hara-kiri was the way of dying honorably after defeat in battle. They considered Hara-kiri as more honorable than execution. In the Edo period, hara-kiri was a punishment for samurai who committed serious crimes.

Who was the first Emperor of Japan?

The first Emperor of Japan is a legendary figure called Jinmu. He ascended the throne in 660 B.C. It is said on February 11th. This day is now a national holiday called National Foundation Day so that we commemorate the day he ascended the throne.