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In the corner of Oshino Shinobi no Sato's entrance, a captivating display of ninja artifacts stood out—a full suit of armor surrounded by shurikens, blowguns, and other tools of stealth and strategy. Unencased and freely arranged, the display invited close inspection, though a sign strictly forbade touching. Determined to capture its essence, I carefully set up my 360camera, fully extending the tripod vertically to encapsulate the intricate details and the atmosphere of the space in a panoramic shot.
Beyond the historical artifacts, the visit extended to the heart of traditional Japanese culture—the village's dining experience. At the on-site restaurant, we enjoyed an all-you-can-eat traditional Japanese lunch, a feast that celebrated the region’s culinary heritage. The restaurant’s rustic charm blended seamlessly with the surrounding ninja theme, offering an array of classic dishes such as tempura, sushi, and soba noodles. The standout was a rich, savory miso soup that paired perfectly with fresh seasonal vegetables. With every dish prepared with care using locally sourced ingredients, the meal was not only a treat for the senses but also a tribute to Japan’s deep-rooted food culture. It was a delightful conclusion to our adventure, leaving us deeply immersed in both the ninja legacy and the flavors of Oshino Shinobi no Sato.
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The eight islands of Japan sprang into existence through Divine Intervention.The first two gods who came into existence were Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto, the Exalted Male and Exalted Female. It was their job to make the land for people to live on.They went to the bridge between heaven and earth and, using a jewel-encrusted halberd, Izanagi and Izanami churned up the sea into a frothy foam. As salty drips of water fell from the tip of the halberd the first island was formed. Its name was Onogoro.So far, so good. But when Izanagi and Izanami first met on their island, Izanami spoke to Isanagi without being spoken to first. Since she was the female, and this was improper, their first union created badly-formed offspring who were sent off into the sea in boats.The next time they met, Izanagi was sure to speak first, ensuring the proper rules were followed, and this time they produced eight children, which became the islands of Japan.I'm sure you did not fail to miss the significance of this myth for the establishment of Japanese formal society.At present, Japan is the financial capital of Asia. It has the second largest economy in the world and the largest metropolitan area (Tokyo.)Technically there are three thousand islands making up the Japanese archipelago. Izanagi and Izanami must have been busy little devils with their jewelled halberd...Japan's culture is highly technical and organized. Everything sparkles and swooshes on silent, miniaturized mechanisms.They're a world leader in robotics, and the Japanese have the longest life-expectancy on earth.Text by Steve Smith.
