Ride in Kyushu Day 40 (24/1/19) 細川氏廟

Red Gate of Kumamoto University 熊本大学 赤門

Graves of Hosokawa Family 細川氏廟

House of Riddell any Wright リデルとライトの家

For safety sake, I took the rest again today with no long ride. I felt not so well today again.

This gate is famous and visited by many tourist. There are old school houses as heritage. Unfortunately, such old houses were damaged by earthquakes and currently under repairing totally covered by panels. Nothing was seen. I just saw Red gate. This Kumamoto University was former No.5 High School before 2nd world war, where Lafcadio Hearn and Soseki Natsume worked as English teachers. Gate and building are approximately 140 years old.

The school building I wanted to see is in internet like this:

Both Ms Riddell and Ms Wright came to Japan 120 years ago as Anglican Church missionary, when still Kumamoto was ver conservative and not friendly at all to Christianity. They were extreamly grieved to see the terrible medical situation for lepers. They got the inspiration to save them. they started hospital in Kumamoto which was expanded to other areas in Japan. It was not easy to keep running such hospital in period when Japan had been moving more military and nationalism during wars with Russia, 1st and 2nd world wars.  Japan government forced them to close their hospitals and churches. There remains still hospital building (under repairing by earthquake) as a memorial heritage. 

Currently Riddell and Wright Foundation operates Churches, hospitals and nursing houses. It is amazing their spirit and whishes are maintained by many people. In deed, there found so many westerners who came to Japan and influenced. Very impressive way of life!

Graves of Hosokawa Family 細川氏廟

The graves of Hosokawa family who ruled this county (domain) called “Higo” during Edo era are located in Tatsuda Nature Park, former Myogeji Temple Ruins which was a family temple of Lord Hosokawa. There found a grave of most famous ant rage tic heroin of Hosokawa Tadaoki’s wife Garacia who was Christian. Tadaoki Hosokawa brought from Kyoto lots of Japanese Alitalia ulture to Kyushu, first to Kokura (his first domain in Kyushu) and then Kumamoto such as tea ceremony, caligraphia and Flower arrangement. I got the impression that Kokura accepted these culture widely by all level of people than Kumamoto. Still Kumamoto is more onservative than other area of Kyushu. In Park, there are Japanese garden with tea eremony hin the tragic heroine Hosokawa Garacia is located here, along with a tea ceremony room constructed according to plans drawn up by the samurai and tea ceremony houses. Very quite place even in city of Kumamoto.

A grave said to be that of famed swordsman Miyamoto Musashi is also located within the park.