Dear friends,
I would like to say thank you for visiting my web site "Twilight Chaya".
I created this web site to be a place... like an old-time Japanese Teahouse.
Sit back, have a cup of Tea, eat snacks and have conversations with people after an all day long trip (people only walked in the old times).
There were lots of Chaya (Teahouse) around the each border of a clan's territory. It's very similar with the American Diners opened up along the Route 66 in the U.S.
If you have watched the movie" Memoirs of a Geisha", the O-Chaya was a Geisha house. It's not the same as a regular Chaya. Most of time, Japanese people use "Chaya" for the name of a Teahouse which is like a classic American style road trip Cafe.
"Twilight Chaya" is named after my most favorite movie
"The teahouse of the August moon" 1956, (The cast is with Marlon Brando,Glenn Ford, and Machiko Kyo). I have been lived here in the U.S. for a decade now, and my life is nice.Yet I am always thinking about my hometown in Japan often.The spirituality of Japan inside me will never go away. I would like to introduce to you, the readers, such a spiritually powerful place. This is the place where I grew up.
I wish you would love my "Twilight Chaya" and enjoy a relaxing moment with me.
I definitely would like to show you our great castle "Nakatsu-Jo". This castle was built between 1587 and 1620. The castle master had changed with Kuroda to Hosokawa then Ogasawara to Okudaira.
Although The entire castle was destroyed by fire in the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, the present five-tiered dungeon was rebuilt in 1964. I have visited the inside of this place three times in my life. It was always scary! Outside it looks very huge but inside is very tight. Especially the stairs were are tight and steep!! it is also very dark! I was feeling very much like a Ninja or even a Hamster when I was there.I saw a lot of exhibits of armor, swords and Kimonos.One of the Daimyo, Kuroda Yoshitaka, was secretly a Christian with name of Jose.
*The photo used for title banner on this top of page
is also that of Nakatsu-Jo.
Kuroda had recieved six counties in the Buzen area from Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and started to build Nakatsu-Jo in 1587. As a reward for his performance in the Battle of Sekigahara, he recieved more lands and moved to Fukuoka in 1600. In the Battle of Sekigahara -at Kyusyu, Miyamoto Musashi and his father followed Kuroda Josui as East team. Later Kuroda secretly became Christian.
He was installed into Nakatsu-Jo in 1600 after Kuroda, and continued to
build this Castle.Finally it was finished in 1621. The lady below is his wife who was known by her Christian name, Gracia.
After Hosokawa was replaced
by Kumamoto, Ogasawara was placed in Nakatsu-Jo in 1632.
In addition, Miyamoto Musashi
served Nagatsugu`s uncle in Kokura-Jo. Musashi became his guardian in the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637.
Since Ogasawara family blood
line has stoped, Okudaira was
placed in Nakatsu-Jo then
continued until the last of
Edo(1867).Okudaira family seems like last samurai in my hometown.
Kokura-Jo. (Left)
Just one hour away to north
(by the car) from Nakatsu Jo,
The Style of this castle architecture is called "Nanban-zukuri" which is Portuguese and Dutch inspired.
Hosokawa`s wife was a
Christian.
Kuroda Bushi (Samurai)
The "Hakata doll" is well known in Japan.
(Right)
