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I’m Thomas from Alaska, I learned about TextFugu from another site where they had an interview. At the time I ended up putting it off, but at this point I decided to finally work on it. My reasons for learning Japanese are that I’m currently planning a trip there in about a year and want to be able to talk to the people there as well as read the signs so I don’t get lost. I’m also thinking about the possibility of taking a working holiday there for at least a year, if not moving there entirely, though this part is still in much deeper limbo.
Hi Thomas! Welcome! Why did you choose Japan as your trip destination? I’m always curious what attracts people to Japan. :) Welcome and good luck with your studies!
Cassandra
I chose it as a destination because several of my friends and myself like the Japanese culture, most of us watch anime, some more then others, and some of us have actively studied the culture there. Personally I’ve been fascinated with the temples and history of Japan from a fairly young age, I think I was about 10 or so when I started learning about it. I had been considering it for a few years before now, but about two months ago one of my friends and I were talking about possibly going to Japan, both of us want to see some of the temples and I wouldn’t mind seeing a few of the more historic locations where some of the battles happened during the Warring States period, especially some of the ones that Oda Nobunaga was at.
Also, you want to visit because it’s warmer than Alaska? =P
Anyway, you might enjoy Osaka Castle. It’s a concrete reconstruction of the original, but it’s now a museum all about the Seige of Osaka, when Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the Toyotomi clan.
Good luck with your studies! I hope you get to goto Japan and update us on your goings-on while there. The Japanese culture is so rich and interesting.
Well most of Japan is warmer then most of Alaska. :P So that is part of it. I didn’t think about Osaka Castle, mostly because I didn’t realize that it was open to the public, for some reason I didn’t think I’d be able to do more then see it from the outside, so thanks for the idea Joel. Rowen the first part is going to be annoying to go through, but I knew that going into this, as I took a year of Japanese in high school though I’ve forgotten most of the writing and combinations. I will keep the forums updated while I’m on my trip, though as I said it won’t be for about a year. Thanks everyone.
Many castles are open to the public, though a lot of them are just reconstructions. The largest surviving original castle is Himeji, but it’s closed for restoration until 2015, otherwise I’d suggest it in a flash. =)
Nijo Castle in Kyoto is the former home of the Tokugawa shogun – most of it is open to the public, but the main keep is closed except on special occasions. Matsumoto Castle is another original, but it’s a little out of the way. The Imperial Palace is the current home of the emperor and his family, so it’s (naturally) closed to the public, though you can come in to see the emperor on special occasions. The East gardens – which include the remains of Tokyo Castle – are open, and free.
Just a few ideas. =)
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