'Chakri Maha Prasat Grand Palace'
"2007 is the year to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Japanese-Thai friendship. This sculpture of the royal Grand Palace in Thailand has been built to promote a closer relationship between the two nations. This majestic Palace, a symbol of Thailand, was constructed by King Chulalongkorn the Great (also known as Rama V) and was completed in time to commerate the 1882 centenary of the founding of the Chakri Dynasty. The center of the Palace is dominated by the Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, which today functions exclusively as a reception hall. It consists of an audience hall where the throne is located and two other halls, one on each side.'
In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol... ... read more 
