Gate of the Castle

Osaka

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December 19th 2008
We went to Osaka the first week we got back from our visit home. Poor Stephen left that Wednesday for a conference, less then 48 hours after we arrived back in Tokyo. It was no surprise that he got sick. I was joining him on that Friday afternoon and he woke up that morning with a fever. On top of that it was really cold and rainy in Osaka. We stayed at the Ritz (I would live in their sheets! ... read more

Asia » Japan » Osaka » Osaka

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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