#Lake Biwa

[inefekt69]

Lake Biwa, Japan

[todayintokyo]

Bounderies by こに | Ryo Konishi

[redsamuraiii]

Fun Trivia : Did you know Catfish exist in Japanese mythology called Namazu?

Legend has it that there was a giant underground catfish which causes earthquakes and lives under the islands of Japan.

It was believe to be have been spotted at Lake Biwa and there is an Otsu-e painting depicting the creature in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture.

So the producers of Shogun knew what they were doing when they created this scene of Yabu and Ishido about the supersition.

It happened when an eel fisherman reportedly spotted unusual active catfish in a river, followed by an earthquake.

Namazu was considered by the people to be "Yanaoshi Daimyojin" (God of World Rectification), an avenger of social injustice.

They believed the rich hoarded their wealth but were disgorged due to earthquake and redistribute to the people in rebuilding efforts.

Although Ishido repeatedly tries to deny it but you can tell that he is actually terrified knowing that his recent actions were "immoral".

Being born a peasant, he would believe the Namazu but pretend not to care to show his followers that he is not a peasant but a Samurai.

And the fact that Toranaga survived the earthquakes thrice implies that the Gods or Namazu have favored him over Ishido.

Toranaga probably believe in it to, thinking that Anjin is sent by the Gods to protect him. One reason he decides to keep him by his side.

Toranaga, being an opportunist and strategist, takes the earthquake as an omen that those who follow Ishida would be doomed.

Not only is he now a "rebel", being abandoned by the Taiko's heir and consort, Ochiba but also abandoned by the Gods.

Japanese religion and folklore brim with an astounding variety of deities and creatures, products of a polytheistic belief.

Richly varied in appearance and behaviour, this pantheon laid the groundwork for the Kaiju culture of modern era like Godzilla.

Some believe Godzilla to be simply a demonic but some believe it to be a wrath of the Gods sent to punish humans, like the Namazu.

A reason that I've always loved watching Japanese films is that there's always a mix of legends which adds to the mystery.

[vintagepromotions]

Travel poster for the Hikone Biwako Fireworks Festival. featuring an illustration of people watching fireworks over Lake Biwa and Hikone Castle on the horizon (1950). Artwork by Sunrise Toyohide.

[akiramatsumoto]

[wanderingflier]

雨上がり，少し霞みの残る遠景。

比叡山

January 2024

[yama-bato]

Ukimido, the “Floating Temple”, Lake Biwa & the Eight Views of Omi, c. 1910-20.

Old Tokyo | Vintage Japanese Postcard Museum

Tomikichiro Tokuriki - Biwa Lake at Night (in Blue)

[moji2]

「濃霧」

こんな湖でも360°視界が遮られると、方向感覚がなくなります。北上してるつもりが、いつのまにか南下していたです。

The Crow の映画の言葉を思い出す。いつか晴れるさ

[moznohayanie]

琵琶湖に龍が舞い降りた

[shinjiaratani]

lake Biwa 2018  ©Shinji Aratani

[kaelula-sungwis]

Japanese tree frog por Teruhide Tomori Por Flickr: Location : Oroshimo, Kusatsu, Shiga pref. ニホンアマガエル

[redsamuraiii]

NHK World Japan : The Bench by Lake Biwa

The lake bench that attracts the lost souls searching for answers.

[ayearintokyo]

Above Otsu and Lake Biwa by Laura Otsuka

2017.03.07

[akiramatsumoto]

[pangeen]

“ Lake Biwa “ // Kojima Osamu

[racheldoinstuff]

Finally made it to Shiga Prefecture! Hikone Castle is on the cute side as far as castles go, and the park around it is really beautiful (though not incredibly accessible to anyone with difficulty walking or climbing large stone steps, which is true of many historical sites in Japan). We were there at just the right time to see the samurai kitty mascot character Hikonyan 😍

I got pretty distracted by the swans. Heh.

From there, we drove to our campgrounds near Lake Biwa, which was just as beautiful as I had heard it would be.