거북선이 왜 여기에? (일본 사가현 가라쓰, 나고야성 박물관)

거북선이 왜 여기에? (일본 사가현 가라쓰, 나고야성 박물관)

One day, I suddenly became curious about the end of the Fukuoka subway line. I was curious about what the scenery would be like at the end of the line, so I looked it up on Google Maps. The subway line ends at Meinohama Station, but you can continue on to JR trains, and at the end of the line is Karatsu. I’d never heard of this Karatsu area before, and upon learning that it had a museum, castle ruins, cruises, and even a natural cave , I prepared for my trip (at the end of August… ^^;;). Upon arriving at Fukuoka Airport, I boarded the subway at the domestic terminal. At first , I thought I’d just board without thinking much about it and it would take me straight to Karatsu . So I just continued on, but that proved to be a bit too naive. You have to carefully check the timetable. While there are trains that go directly to Karatsu, most are trains on the Airport Line, Route 01, that end at Meinohama Station. If you board a train bound for Meinohama, you’ll end up back at Station 02. I was ignorant and ended up back at Station 02. So, you need to check the schedule carefully before boarding. There are three ways to get to Fukuoka Airport . First, get off at Meinohama Station, the last stop on the Airport Line, transfer, and then transfer at Chikuzen-Maebaru Station to get to Karatsu. Second, take a train bound for Chikuzen-Maebaru Station, transfer there, and then head to Karatsu . Third, and the most convenient, is to take a direct train to Karatsu. Option 3 seems to have a bit of a longer train interval, so option 2 seems the most appropriate. I used option 1 (transferring at platform 2) on the way there, and option 3 (direct) on the way back. Option 1 is the most cumbersome, especially since transferring at Meinohama requires going to platform 4, transferring, and then boarding. The train to Karatsu I took was a truly old conventional line, but the scenery from the train window was absolutely stunning. It really gave off a sense of a peaceful seaside town. Personally, the scenery was even better than the road to Shimonada in Matsuyama. Of course, the weather probably played a part. I didn’t expect to see such a peaceful ocean view from about an hour and a half away from Fukuoka , so I was quite happy. After many twists and turns, I arrived at Karatsu Station. There’s a large sculpture in front of the station. Karatsu City holds an autumn festival called “Karatsu Kunchi,” which is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage . It’s said to have been held since the Edo period (1603-1868), but in Korean history, it would probably be around the mid- to late-Joseon period. Since this area was a fishing village, the festival was held to give thanks for the sea and to pray for good health, longevity, and abundance. There’s also a giant festival float called a “hikiyama,” and this sculpture is right in front of the station. The presence of the sculpture in front of the station probably signifies its importance or symbolism in the area. My first destination was the Saga Prefectural Nagoya Castle Museum, so I walked to the Oteguchi Terminal near the station. (Ticket, IC card OK!) (Swipe your IC card on the bus!) (No separate bus ticket needed, just use your nationwide transit card.) From here, I plan to take the 21H bus to the Nagoya Castle Museum. You ‘ll also need this bus to visit the Yobuko Morning Market and the Yobuko Sea Cave . The buses run every hour, so you’ll need to check the schedule on Google Maps. The scenery outside the bus was also beautiful, so it was fun to look around. The reason I came to this museum? It may seem random, but it was just one reason. I came because they said they had a turtle ship (Geobukseon). It’s so random. Japan, which caused the Imjin War. But why would a turtle ship be found in a small Japanese city ? Why would it be there? So, what was this area? I wondered. Before my trip, I did some research and found out that this area was a key location in mainland Japan related to the Imjin War. I had never heard of it before. Next to this museum, only the ruins remain, but there’s a castle called Nagoya Castle. It was built before the Nagoya Castle we know in Nagoya City . I understand the kanji characters are different. To distinguish it from the Nagoya Castle in Nagoya City, the castle in Saga Prefecture is called “Hizen Nagoya Castle. ” “Hizen” is the old name for Saga Prefecture. I’ll just call it Nagoya Castle. This Nagoya Castle was a massive military stronghold and base for Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s invasion of Korea . It wasn’t just massive; it was truly massive. Its scale rivaled that of Osaka Castle at the time. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who unified the country, summoned daimyo (feudal lords) from all over the country and quickly built the castle in about five months. Not only was it built quickly, but it also gives us a glimpse into Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s determination to invade Korea. After the defeat in the Imjin War, during the reign of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nagoya Castle was dismantled to prevent it from being exploited by rebel forces . Today, only the ruins of Nagoya Castle remain, and a museum has been built near the site. The museum’s narrative is so objective that it’s hard to believe it’s a typical Japanese museum , and perhaps that’s why it feels so special. The entrance to the museum’s exhibition hall states , “The Imjin War was an unfortunate event. Based on reflection on this war, we aim to promote friendly exchanges between Korea and Japan. ” Inside the exhibition hall, a more direct statement is made: the Imjin and Jeongyu Wars were wars of aggression unleashed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In Joseon, many people, including volunteer armies, joined forces to repel them. This seven-year war devastated all of Joseon. Wouldn’t this description be considered objective? Photography was allowed inside the museum, but some artifacts were off-limits. While there wasn’t much Korean explanation, there was enough to understand. In fact, there were more familiar photographs than Korean , making it easier to understand. There were metal type, photos of Yi Sun-sin, a model of the Geobukseon (turtle ship), and a painting depicting the Battle of Ulsan Fortress. There was also a Busanjin Martyrs’ Painting depicting the battle with the Japanese forces that landed in Busan . Traces of various exchanges were also on display, including the route of the Joseon Tongsinsa (Korean diplomatic mission) and the transfer of ceramic technology to Japan . A particularly special cultural artifact was the “Suwolgwaneumdo,” known as the largest Goryeo Buddhist painting in existence, housed in this museum. It’s a massive painting, measuring approximately 2.5 meters wide and 4 meters tall . I’m not sure if it’s authentic, but photography was prohibited . I thought, “Wow! I’m seeing such a Korean cultural artifact here! ” The overall impression was like being in a Korean museum . But there was one thing that struck me most unexpectedly: while I was browsing, I came across a photo in the description that looked like the interior of King Muryeong’s tomb in Gongju . So, I wondered why this photo was hanging there. This exhibit showcases exchanges between Korea and Japan, and I was curious to find out. I took a picture of the description and had it translated. It turns out that King Muryeong’s mother, while pregnant, came to the Karatsu region for some unknown reason and gave birth to him here (in a cave). So, I looked it up online and found out that King Muryeong was indeed born in Japan. Wow… It was amazing. I had never known that. I learned about it here. I was traveling to the birthplace of King Muryeong of Baekje . And here, a particularly impressive exhibit was a tea ceremony room, surrounded by gold, said to have been a favorite of Toyotomi Hideyoshi . A staff member was guarding this room, but it was a truly magnificent golden tea room, shining alone in the dark . The walls, decorations, doors, even the teacups and teapot were all adorned with gold. While Japanese tea ceremony primarily pursues moderation, stillness, and frugality, the Golden Tea Room offered a glimpse into Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s desires— or perhaps power ? —and I think it had a powerful impact. The museum also offers hands-on programs. You need to make a reservation in advance, and a solo experience costs 100,000 yen per person for 35 minutes. The price was exorbitant, so I decided not to participate. Of course, I didn’t make a reservation. After visiting the museum, I took a walk around the nearby Nagoya Castle ruins. There’s an admission fee of 100 yen. I was skeptical about what to see since it was just the castle ruins, but since I was already there, I figured I might as well take a look. After visiting the museum first and then exploring the grounds , I was struck by how bustling this area must have been in the 1590s . Especially, from the top of the castle tower, you can see the entire city below . The castle is gone now, but it used to be a place where you could see the entire Karatsu City, near the sea . Tsushima Island is also nearby, so you can see it too. It ‘s also a famous cherry blossom spot in the spring, so keep that in mind. Yes… these are the ruins of Nagoya Castle. The castle ruins are right next to the Nagoya Museum. The castle is gone now , but anyway, it’s said that Toyotomi Hideyoshi built the castle here when he was preparing for the Imjin War, using all the latest technology he could find. There’s a viewpoint here. Now that the castle was here, you can see the sea and Karatsu City in the distance , right? (What did they do? Haha.) It seems like they built the castle quite high up. I think I’m almost at the top of the castle. There’s a stone monument. What does it say on the front? Gwanggaeto the Great Stele????? (^^……..) I don’t know what it says, but I think I can see some kind of “ji” (지). I’ll have to look it up on Google later. Since it’s so high up, I think there must have been a castle here. This is a place that overlooks everything, and the view is quite nice. I can see everything. I can see everything, but I don’t know what’s what, but this place also has a castle… a castle… a bit of a castle feeling. This is where the lords gathered and waged the Imjin War against Joseon and did all kinds of bad things. There are steles, they’re called epitaphs. Epitaphs. I’d also like to add that it would have been nice if there were explanation signs for the steles . The weather is very hot. I feel like I’ve actually been to all three of the so-called major museums in Japan. The Tokyo Museum, Kyoto Museum, and Nara Museum are probably the three major museums in Japan (my personal opinion) . But when I went to those museums, I always felt like there wasn’t as much to see as I thought. They said there wasn’t much to see in terms of their own cultural assets, so I don’t go to Japanese museums much? But back then… I think it was Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu… Oh, sorry. There were a lot of bugs, so I went to a war museum in Kitakyushu . The war, I think, was about World War II or something like that. But there, I was watching a video. They were cosplaying as victims. It was like some kind of international feeling that they had no choice but to start a war ? Society? Anyway, it was all these weird excuses, so I thought, “Aren’t all museums described like this in Japan ?” This time, while traveling in Fukuoka —not exactly Fukuoka, but while looking it up, I found a museum in that corner . Oh, I’ve been bitten again. I looked at Google reviews, and they were better than I expected. And what was so fascinating was , why is the turtle ship here? You can see it in Jinhae, or in places like Tongyeong, so I looked it up and this is where Nagoya Castle used to be. Nagoya Castle was a kind of fortress where the Japanese, led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, gathered to start the Imjin War to conquer Joseon . A temporary castle? A temporary operations headquarters? Something like that, I guess? So this Karatsu… No, no, no. This Nagoya Castle was defeated after the Imjin War . After the war, there was no need for the fortress. So, they dismantled it because they used good materials. So, they dismantled it and used it to build Karatsu Castle, which is now located near here ! That’s all I understand. That ‘s all I can say. I need to organize my thoughts before I start the video, but I’m just going on and talking freely, so feel free to filter it out. Anyway, the museum is well-maintained, and there’s a lot of information on Korea-Japan exchanges, from ancient history to the most recent… (recent) Japanese colonial period and modern times . So, it’s worth visiting once. Or even twice. And it’s not that difficult to get there from Fukuoka . It takes a long time, but it’s not that difficult. I think that’s the summary.

00:00 오프닝
00:36 공항→가라쓰 지하철
01:08 가라쓰 가는법 3가지
01:37 메이노하마 역 환승
02:00 지쿠젠마에바루 역 환승
02:16 가라쓰 가는 열차 탑승
02:40 가라쓰역 도착
03:28 오테구치 터미널
04:03 21H 버스 탑승
04:10 나고야성 박물관
07:15 백제 무령왕의 출생
07:55 도요토미 히데요시 황금다실
08:44 히젠 나고야 성터

#가라쓰 #히젠나고야성 #임진왜란 #도요토미히데요시 #한일교류