Podcasts about Matsuura

Today we talk practical applications of lean manufacturing, including smarter air management for CNC machines, efficient shipping workflows, and the role of AI in documenting standard operating procedures. Andrew shares the highs and lows of integrating his new Matsuura—complete with GoPro hacks, networking woes, and the importance of psychological design tweaks like turning keys into knobs. Book Mentioned:The Amateur's Mind: Turning Chess Misconceptions Into Chess Mastery by Jeremy Silman

In today's solo episode, Andrew goes deep on the new Matsuura MX installation at Henry Holsters. He answers key questions about why they chose the MX over the MAM series, the tooling strategies they've implemented, and how they're deciding which parts transition from the Brother machines to the new five-axis setup.He discusses the pros and cons of the MX's pallet pool design, the transition to Rego-Fix PowerGrip tool holders, and how the investment in high-speed prototyping is paying off. Andrew also opens up about the long and sometimes stressful journey of navigating tax abatements, government paperwork, and the logistics of installing a machine of this scale. Plus, he shares lessons learned, hidden challenges of the installation process, and how they're maximizing the Matsuura's production capabilities going forward.

In the aerospace industry, compliance is not just a requirement, but a culture. Senior Aerospace Weston places significant importance on workplace standards—which is why it has installed more than 50 Filtermist oil mist filters. Working primarily with OEMs like Rolls-Royce, Airbus, MTU Engines, Spirit Aerosystems, and many other prestigious clients, Senior Aerospace Weston manufactures a variety of aerofoil and aerostructure components for various platforms in the commercial aviation market. Founded in 1937 and acquired by Senior plc in 2011, the Earby-based manufacturer is now part of an FTSE 250-listed group with over 6,800 employees in 12 countries. As part of a global group in the top echelons of aerospace manufacturing with 3 to 5-axis machining and grinding, CAD/CAM, assembly, NDT, surface treatment, robotic polishing, and much more – achieving standards is critical. Gary Bell from Senior Aerospace Weston says: “Here at Senior Airspace Weston, we believe in maintaining good, orderly, clean standards, housekeeping, and a good working environment. A clean working environment is essential to ensure that we produce our high-specification components.” Providing more detail on the machine shop, Gary adds, “We make a variety of aerospace components for different aircraft programmes and work with a range of materials. This is predominantly aluminium, but we also work with titanium, bronze, nimonic, inconel and steel. We have lots of different types of CNC machining centres with 3, 4, and 5-axis machines. Each machine is specified to manufacture certain types of components, and this is why we have such a wide variety.” With Filtermist extraction units, including the FX6002 and FX7002 on 58 of the company's machine tools, it is imperative that oil mist is extracted from the machines. As Gary adds: “The type of high-speed machining that we undertake produces oil mist that needs removing from the working environment. Our first thought was to look at the industry-leading standards, and Filtermist was the name that first came up. We engaged with them straight away, and they were extremely helpful in giving us some advice and support. They were able to come on-site and carry out a free survey so that they were able to specify exactly what equipment would be available to support our needs.” With machine tools from leading manufacturers such as Matsuura, DN Solutions via Mills CNC, Grob and Hermle among others on-site, Gary continues: “In total, we have 58 Filtermist extraction units. Some machines require multiple Filtermist units to be installed to ensure the volume is extracted quickly and efficiently. We have a huge variety of machines, and the Filtermist units are flexible enough to accommodate the different types, sizes and requirements of those machines. We have machines that are large in scale, so we needed something that was able to extract from all those different types of scenarios effectively.” Discussing the maintenance requirements and the ongoing relationship with Filtermist, Gary says: “The beauty of the Filtermist system is it's easily serviceable, so we can specify whether the Filtermist units are standalone or mounted to the equipment. They are easily accessible for the service engineers to come in and replace any components effectively and quickly. The Filtermist units are fitted with F monitors, which are a really easy-to-use system. The operators can see at a glance using the traffic light system whether there are any issues with the effectiveness of the extraction.” Using the globally recognised ‘traffic light' system of coloured warning lights to alert machine operators when the unit needs servicing, the F Monitor measures velocity pressure to check the airflow through the Filtermist oil mist collector is correct. The Bluetooth-enabled F Monitor 2 measures airflow and time, and the F Monitor 2+ also monitors vibration and motor temperature - making it even easier to identify when the Filtermist unit needs servicing. For existing customers, the F Monitors

Join us for a lovely chat with Thersa Matsuura, author of The Book of Japanese Folklore. Known for her podcast Uncanny Japan and decades of exploring Japan's cultural myths and legends, Thersa shares insights into her favorite Yokai, her journey through Japanese folklore, and which Yokai she wouldn't like to meet in a dark alley! We also discuss Halloween's rising popularity in Japan, exploring how this Western tradition has been embraced and transformed with a unique Japanese flair. Resources for Thersa Matsuura and Her Work: Thersa Matsuura The Book of Japanese Folklore Uncanny Japan --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/missionspooky/support

In this podcast, Thersa Matsuura talks about The Carp-Faced Boy, podcasting in Japan, carving out space for personal creativity, and much more. About Thersa Matsuura Thersa Matsuura is an author and podcaster who has been living in Japan for thirty plus years. She's a graduate of the Clarion West (2015) workshop, a recipient of the … Continue reading

In this conversation, Thersa Matsuura talks about The Book of Japanese Folklore, living in Japan, the Uncanny Japan Podcast, and much more.  About Thersa Matsuura Thersa Matsuura is an author and podcaster who has been living in Japan for thirty plus years. She's a graduate of the Clarion West (2015) workshop, a recipient of the … Continue reading

Paul Jones, CEO of MTDCNC joins Tony Gunn and Arthur Field to find out more about Matsuura Machinery USA from Tom Houle. Paul has extensive experience of the Matsuura range, having been working wi...

Thersa Matsuura, an American author living in Japan, explores lesser-known aspects of Japanese culture, folklore, superstitions, and myths. Fluent in Japanese, she uses her research to write stories and for her podcast Uncanny Japan. She's also the author of The Book of Japanese Folklore, which explores a range of spirits, monsters, and yokai for Japanese lore.  In this chat, we talk about some specific yokai, discuss where people might have encountered these figures in popular media, and talk about what to do if you think you've encountered a yokai! Thersa website: https://thersamatsuura.com/ The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth: https://amzn.to/46Fx3k4 Thersa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7 Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick 'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/ Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social Tweet Icy at https://x.com/IcySedgwick

Jon Porter started at Dyson, then worked at 3D RPT, Renishaw, Velo 3D, and now serves as Business Development Manager of Additive Manufacturing at Matsuura Machinery. His experience across the industry provides fun insights and an illuminating view of the field. Jon is wise and speaks his mind, which is a lovely quality. What follows in this episode of the 3DPOD is a super fun and entertaining talk that you can really learn from.

Moving on with our third part of the Gishiwajinden Tour, we head to the old area of Matsuro, which, for us, means modern Karatsu.  Here we have some of the oldest rice paddies in all of Japan, but Karatsu is so much more.  It was part of Matsura, where the Matsura family (aka league, factions, or pirates, depending on how you saw it) arose.  It is also a short hop from Nagoya, which briefly became the capital of Japan; Nagaoka-kyo gets a mention in the histories, but Nagoya rarely merits it, since it was just the Taiko and every actually important person minus the Tenno. For more photos and others such things, check out: https://www.sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/matsuro-koku/   Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is Gishiwajinden Tour, Part Four:  Matsuro-koku So far on this tour through the locations listed in the Weizhi's Wa Record, the Gishiwajinden, following the route to Queen Himiko of Wa, we've hit the area of Gaya, or Gara; Tsushima—or Tuma-koku; Iki, aka Iki-koku; and now we are arriving at Karatsu, thought to be the location of Maturo-koku. Now before we go any further, let's talk about the name.  After all, up to this point in the account, the names haven't been too far off.  Well, Tsushima was recorded as something like Tuma in the Chinese record, which seems reasonable, and “Iki” was actually recorded as something like “I-dai”, though we are pretty sure that was a transcription error based on other evidence. But Karatsu and Maturo, really don't seem related.  Also, didn't we earlier equate Matsuro with Matsuura, Matsura?  But if you look for Matsuura on a map it is quite some distance away from Karatsu—in fact, it is in modern Nagasaki prefecture as opposed to Karatsu, which is in modern Saga prefecture. First off, Karatsu is a later name for the city, not the area.  It literally means “Tang Port”, and that name seems to appear in the 15th century in the form of Karatsu Jinja, or Karatsu Shrine.  So no, the names Karatsu and Matsuro are not related.  Prior to being called Karatsu, though, it was part of a larger area called Matsura.  It sits at the head of the Matsura River, which spills out into what is now called Karatsu Bay.  In ancient times this seems to have been the heart of the area known as Matsura or Matsuro.  Over time it was incorporated into the larger area known as Hi no Kuni, and when Hi no Kuni was divided up by the Ritsuryo state into Hizen and Higo, we see the Matsura district, or Matsura-gun, is a part, along the coast.  The fact that it is spelled as “Matsu” and “Ura”, meaning “pine beach”, might hint at the original name of the place or could be a false etymology, imposed by the need to record the location in kanji, the Sinitic characters used at the time.  Fun fact time:  Hizen refers to the area of the land of Hi that was closer to Yamato, while Higo refers to the area of the land of Hi that was further away.  If you look at a modern map of where these two ancient provinces were, however, you'll notice that by a slight technicality, Higo is actually closer, as the crow flies.  But remember, people are not crows, at least not in this life, and in all likelihood, most of the travel to and from Yamato would have been via sea routes.  So Hizen is closer to Yamato from that perspective, as you would have to sail from Higo, around Hizen, or take the long way south around Kagoshima. But where were we? So Matsura district in Hizen started at Matsura-gawa and the area around Karatsu bay, and included modern areas of Hirado all the way out to the Goto islands.  That was a pretty large area.  It later got further subdivided into East, West, North, and South Matsura subdistricts, with Karatsu in the Eastern subdistrict, and some portion of the west.  Eventually, Karatsu city became its own administrative district, in modern Saga prefecture, and so did Hirado city, in what was the old Northern Matsura sub-district, joining Nagasaki prefecture.  The western sub-district went to Karatsu or incorporated as Imari, known for their Imari-ware pottery.  And that left a small portion of the northern sub-district. The incorporated villages and islands eventually came together as Matsuura city, in Nagasaki prefecture, which is what you'll see, today.  And that is why, looking at a modern map, “Matsura” and modern “Matsuura” are not precisely in the same place. That history also helps demonstrate the historical connections between Karatsu, Hirado, Iki, and Tsushima—as well as the Goto islands.  This region was where the Matsura clan arose, which controlled at least out to Iki, Hirado, and the Goto archipelago, and it was known for its strong navy, among other things. For our trip, heading to Karatsu was originally borne out of convenience:  Our goal was to take the ferry so that we could travel along the ocean routes.  We had traveled the route from Izuhara, on Tsushima, to Ashibe port, on Iki island.  During that trip it was interesting to watch as Tsushima disappeared and then eventually Iki appeared on the horizon, but it wasn't immediate, and I suspect you would have wanted an experienced crew who knew the route and knew what to look for.  Conversely, from Indoji port, on Iki, to Karatsu I felt like we were constantly in sight of one island or another, or at least could see the mountains of Kyushu to get our bearings.  There wasn't really a time that felt like we were that far out from land.  Even so, it would still have been a treacherous crossing back in the day. Coming in to Karatsu from the ferry, the first thing you will notice is the castle.  Karatsu castle, also known as Maizuru Castle, is a reconstructed castle, but it really does provide a clear view of what one would have seen.  The original was abandoned in the Meiji period and sold off in 1871.  The main keep was later demolished and made into a park.  In 1966 they built a new, 5-storey keep on the original base, and from 1989 onward have continued to make improvements to various parts of the castle moats and walls.  You can still see the layout of the Ninomaru and honmaru sections of the castle, encompassing the old samurai districts of the jokamachi, or castle town, of Karatsu during the Edo period. Our primary goal in Karatsu, however, was not castle focused.  We wanted to go back to an earlier time – the Yayoi period, to be precise - and Karatsu and the Matsuro-kan did not disappoint.  While not quite as extensive as the reconstruction at other Yayoi sites like Harunotsuji or Yoshinogari, the site at the Matsuro-kan is still impressive in its own right. What is the Matsuro-kan, you might ask?  It is the building and grounds of what is also known as the Nabatake site.  In 1980, construction workers were excavating for a road through the Nabatake section of Karatsu when they noticed they were pulling up artifacts.  An investigation between 1980 to 1981 determined that the artifacts were from the late Jomon to middle Yayoi period.  Further investigation discovered the presence of old rice paddies.  In 1983 the site was designated as a national historic site, further excavations were carried out, and the Matsurokan was built to house the artifacts and also provide some reconstructions of what the rice paddies would have looked like.  For context these are some of the oldest rice paddies found in Japan, along with the nearby Itazuke rice paddies, in neighboring Fukuoka prefecture, and are key for giving us insights into what we know about early rice field cultivation. Here I should point out that these fields were in use through the middle Yayoi period, while the mission to Yamato—or Yamatai—recorded in the Weizhi would have been in the late Yayoi or early Kofun period, so likely several hundred years later.  There are other Yayoi settlement remains found up and around the peninsula, and there are Kofun in the area, especially along the banks of the Matsura river.  Given how built up much of the area is, it is possible that any large scale settlement may have been destroyed by subsequent settlements, or is somewhere that there just hasn't been a good reason for a full excavation.  Still, who knows what we might eventually find.    The Matsurokan appears to stick with the dating of the Yayoi period from about 300 BCE.  This is based largely on assumptions regarding the development of different pottery styles.  Recent research has suggested that this should be pushed back to about 800 or even 1000 BCE, suggesting a more gradual development.  For our purposes, it is enough to note that this site appears to cover from the final Jomon era in Kyushu to the coming of wet rice agriculture with the advancing Yayoi culture. Based on what was found at the site, the wet rice paddies were created in what at least one scholar has suggested as a “primitive” wet rice paddy.  The paddies themselves appear to have been placed in a naturally swampy area, irrigated by a natural stream.  This would have made flooding the fields relatively simple, without the large ponds or waterworks required to cover a more extensive area.  This may have sufficed for a small village, possibly only a handful of families living together and working the land. Besides the impressions of the paddies themselves, various tools, pottery, and more were also found at the site.  Stone harvesting knives were plentiful—a semicircular stone knife that was held in the fingers of one hand, allowing a harvester to grasp the stalks and cut them quickly.  This was the standard method of harvesting prior to the arrival of the sickle, or kama, and is still in use in some parts of China and Southeast Asia.  It is more labor intensive than the sickle, but provides some benefits in the consistency and lack of waste product. The Matsurokan demonstrates how a lot of the Yayoi tools are, in fact, still in use in one form or another in different cultures that also absorbed rice cultivation, showing how widespread it became. In addition, there are artifacts such as shards of pottery showing what looks to be the imprint of a woven fabric, and various equipment for weaving and sewing.  We have some beams and posts from buildings, which give us something at least try to guess at how things were put together. There are bones of various animals as well as stone arrowheads.  There are also fish and even dugong bones, suggesting they also made a living from the nearby sea.  And there are various bits of jewelry, including magatama, and what appears to be a shark's tooth with holes drilled in so it could be worn on a cord.    There are also carbonized rice grains found at the site, likely grown there. We don't have any ancient strains of rice that can be proven to come from these fields, but in their reconstruction, outside the museum, they have rebuilt some of the rice fields and grow old rice variants in them.  This is used, in part, to teach local schoolchildren about rice cultivation – in fact, local schools are allocated individual paddies each growing season. Besides the rice paddies, the Matsurokan also boasts several reconstructed dwellings.  These are similar to ones you might find elsewhere depicting what life was like back in the Yayoi period. As the Yayoi period gave way to the kofun, we do see some mounded tombs in the area, though not quite as many as in others.  Matsura appears to be rather rural. Around the Heian period, we see the rise of a local group that comes to be known as the Matsura group, or Matsura-tou, which eventually consolidated into the Matsura family.  There are several lineages claiming that the Matsura family descended from the Minamoto or Abe clans or through branch families thereof.  Matsura-to itself is sometimes called the 48 factions of Matsura.  It wasn't as much a family as an alliance of local warriors, each with their own base of operations.  I can't quite tell if the lineage of the later Matsura clan, as they were known, were meant to represent a single lineage or the various lineages that came together.  For all we know, they may have married into official families or otherwise concocted lineages to help legitimize them as much as anything else—this far out from the center, in the 11th century, there wasn't necessarily as much oversight. Early in the 11th century they also had a chance to prove themselves with the Toi invasion – that was the Jurchen invasion we mentioned last couple episodes.  After the Toi invaders attacked Tsushima and Iki, they set their sites on Hakata Bay, which was the closest landing to the Dazaifu, the Yamato government in Kyushu.  They were chased off and headed down the coast.  Minamoto Tomo is said to have led the forces that repelled the Toi invaders, who finally departed altogether, striking one more time on Tsushima before heading back to wherever they came from. Minamoto Tomo is said, at least in some stories, to have been the founder of the Matsura clan, or at least the leader of the 48 factions, which then coalesced into the Matsura clan, which eventually would run the Hirado domain. Over two hundred and fifty years after the Toi Invasion would come the Mongols.  If the Toi were bad, the Mongols were much worse.  The Toi were a band of marauders, who caused a lot of havoc, but do not appear to have had state backing.  The Mongols were perhaps more appropriately the Yuan empire, who had already conquered the Yellow river valley and were working on the Song dynasty along the Yangzi.  While the Toi had brought with them Goryeo warriors as well—who may or may not have joined up willingly—the Mongols had huge armies from all over that they could throw at a problem. As we talked about in the past two episodes, the Mongols swept through Tsushima and Iki and then headed straight for Hakata, the closest landing zone to the Dazaifu, the government outpost in Kyushu.  Even during the height of the Kamakura shogunate, this was still an important administrative center, and would have given the Mongols a huge advantage on holding territory and eventually sweeping up the archipelago. Fortunately, they were stopped.  Whether it was the gumption, skill, and downright stubbornness of their samurai foes or the divine wind that swept up from the ocean, the Mongols were turned back, twice. During each of these invasions, the Matsura clan and others rushed to the defense of the nation, but unlike with the Toi invasions, there do not appear to have been any serious battles along the Matsuura coastline—not that I can make out, anyway. After the Mongol invasion, Kyushu was not left out of the troubles that would follow, including the downfall of the Hojo, the rise of the Ashikaga, and the eventual breakdown of the shogunal system into the period known as the Warring States period.  Through it all the Matsura continued to ply the seas and encourage the trade from which they and others, like the Sou of Tsushima, came to depend on.  They also allied with other entrepreneurial seafarers, known to others as pirates, and they started trading with a group of weird looking people with hairy beards and pale skin, who came to be known as the Nanban, the southern barbarians—known to us, primarily, as the Portuguese. One faction of the Matsura were the Hata—no relation to the Hata that set up in what would become the Kyoto region in the early periods of Yamato state formation.  The Hata ruled the area that would become Karatsu, but eventually they were taken over by the Ryuzoji, who were allied with Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi's interest in the Karatsu and Matsura area had to do with its easy access to the continent.  And so Hideyoshi began to pay attention to Nagoya, at the end of the peninsula down from Karatsu.  And no, not *that* Nagoya.  If you hear Nagoya, today, you are probably talking about the bustling metropolis in Aichi, which was where Toyotomi himself got his start, growing up and going to work for the local warlord, named Oda Nobunaga.  Due to a quirk of Japanese names and how they read particular characters, this is a different Nagoya. The Kyushu Nagoya had been one of the Matsura trading posts, run by a sub-branch of the Hata family, who had built a castle on the site.  Hideyoshi had much grander plans for the area.  In 1591 he began work on a massive castle and associated castle town.  This castle was to be his new headquarters, and he moved his entire retinue there from Osaka, with an expectation that all of the daimyo would follow him.  Sure enough, they showed up with their own vassals, setting up camps around the peninsula and in the new city-to-be. The castle was the base of operations from which Hideyoshi coordinated the invasions of Korea.  It was a massive undertaking, and extremely impressive.  The city itself sprung up, and although the wood was still new, and the buildings somewhat hastily put together, it was soon a bustling metropolis and briefly became the center of art and culture in the entire archipelago. Hideyoshi himself had a teahouse built within the confines of the castle, where he apparently spent most of his days, even when receiving reports on how things were going across the sea on the archipelago.  The city had a Noh theater, as well.  It must have been a sight to see. As for the castle itself, based on the remains, it was massive.  It appears to use the contours of the hill upon which it sits.  It seems there was a previous castle there of some kind, and it is unclear how much this was merely expanded, but Hideyoshi's new castle was truly monumental, with a labyrinth of gates to get in -- similar  to Himeji Castle, for anyone who has been there, but with a serious vertical incline as well.  Nagoya Castle was second only to Osaka castle, and yet it was erected quickly—only 8 months.  I guess that's what you can do when you can mobilize all of the daimyo across Japan.  Even today, ruined as it is, the walls tower over you, and you can spend hours wandering the grounds. For all that it was impressive, the good times at Nagoya Castle lasted only for a brief seven years—when Hideyoshi passed away, the council of regents moved back to Osaka, and Nagoya castle was deliberately destroyed, stones removed from the walls such that it could never survive a true siege. This was a sign to the Korean peninsula – the Joseon court - that, with the death of the taiko, Japan had given up any pretext of conquering the peninsula. Today, only the stones and earthworks remain of the briefly thriving city, but on the grounds is a wonderful museum that catalogs this particular slice of Medieval life.  The Nagoya Castle Museum of Saga prefecture is off the beaten path—there is no train, so you'll need to take a bus or private car to get there—but it is well worth it. The museum itself is dedicated to Japanese and Korean cross-strait relations, which feels a bit like atonement given that the castle was built with conquest in mind. Of course, the centerpiece of the Museum is the castle, but it also does a good job telling the story of relations between the peninsula and the archipelago.  It starts in the ancient times, talking about how, even during the Jomon period, there were commonalities in fishhooks and similar equipment found from Kyushu up through the Korean peninsula.  From there, of course, trade continued, as we've seen in our journey through the Chronicles.  It talks about some of the shared cultural items found from the Yayoi through the Kofun, and also demonstrates how some of the earliest Buddhist statues have clear similarities to those found in Silla.  It goes over the various missions back and forth, and even gives a map of the Toi Invasion that we talked about hitting Tsushima and Iki. The Mongol invasion is also heavily talked about, but not nearly so much as the invasion of Korea.  There is another reproduction of the letter of King Sejeong, with the faked seal from the Sou clan in Tsushima.  This of course, was the period when they built Nagoya-jo into a castle and city of at least 100,000 people, almost overnight.  Even the Nanban were there, trading in the city while supplies from across the country were gathered and shipped off to keep troops fed on the invasion of Korea. There are plenty of images from this time—from a Ming envoy to Nagoya castle to images of the invasion from the Korean perspective, with Koreanized samurai manning the walls of the castles they had taken.  They don't exactly lionize the samurai, but they don't accentuate some of the more horrific things, either, like the piles of ears taken from those killed because taking their heads, as was standard practice in older days, was too cumbersome. There is also some discussion of relations afterwards—of the Joseon embassies, though those went through Hakata, Nagoya-jo having long been abandoned at that point.  For reasons one can probably understand, it doesn't go into the post-Edo relations, as that is much more modern history. After the destruction of Nagoya castle, the area was largely abandoned, but the city of Karatsu proper really thrived during the Edo period.  Karatsu was also a castle town, as we've mentioned, but a bit out of the way.  As sailing ships were now more sturdy and able to handle longer sea crossings, it was now often Hakata, in Fukuoka, that received much of the trade, and the Dutch traders who had replaced the Portuguese, were limited to Dejima, in Nagasaki. When Hideyoshi swept through, the Hata were not exactly considered trustworthy, and were placed under the Nabeshima, a branch of their rivals, the Ryuzouji.  During the invasion of Korea, the Hata rebelled, and were destroyed for it in 1593.  Their territory was given to Terazawa Hirotaka, who had been put in charge of the construction of Nagoya castle and later put in charge of the logistics for the invasion effort from the Kyushu side.  As a result, he was granted the lands formerly controlled by the Hata, including Karatsu, and what would become the Karatsu domain. Hirotaka could see which way the wind blew—in more ways than one.  After Hideyoshi's death, he supported Tokugawa Ieyasu, allowing him to keep and even expand his fief.  He redirected the Matsura river—then known as the Hata river—to its present course, and he built a pine grove along the northern beach that is the third largest such grove in all of Japan.  Known as the “Niji no Matsubara”, or the ”Rainbow Pine Forest” for its shape, it was erected as a windbreak to protect the precious farmland just on the other side.  It is still there today, still managed, and quite famous.  You can drive through the pine trees or stop and walk through them, even out to the beach.   And there is even a fantastic burger truck that parks along the main road through the pine grove, so you can enjoy a lovely picnic among the trees. The Terazawa would not remain in place for very long.  During the Shimabara rebellion of the early 17th century—a rebellion based on either taxes or Christianity, depending on whom you ask—the Terazawa line was extinguished.  Terazawa Katataka, then ruler of the Karatsu domain, was held liable for mismanagement of the domain and loss of a castle to the rebels.  He had land confiscated and he felt publicly humiliated, and so he took his own life while he was in Edo.  As he had no heir, the Terazawa line died out. Karatsu domain went through a variety of hands after that.  Its value fluctuated, but it is generally thought that the real value of the domain, thanks to the ability to trade, was well beyond what it was assessed to produce.  As such it was a lucrative position, and also held sway as a check against Nagasaki, watching the trade there with the Dutch merchants.  Because of all of this, the lord of Karatsu was also banned from holding certain government positions, so as not to distract from their duties, making the position something of a blessing and a curse. Through the years, Karatsu thrived.  They were and are still known for a type of traditional pottery, known as Karatsumono, or Karatsuware, and they maintain elaborate festivals.  One of the festivals, the Karatsu Kunchi, is considered a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.The Karatsu Kunchi is an annual parade where neighborhood associations carry giant floats through the city from Karatsu Shrine down to the shore.  It was inspired, in the early 19th century, by the famous Gion Matsuri of Kyoto—a wealthy merchant saw that and donated the first lion-head float to Karatsu Shrine.  Later, others would create their own floats. These floats, known as “Hikiyama” or “pulled mountains” can be five or six meters high and weigh anywhere from two to five tons.  There appear to be 14 hikiyama, currently, though there used to be 15—a black lion is currently missing.  The floats have gone through a few iterations, but are largely the same, and often have some relationship to the neighborhoods sponsoring them. From Matsura, aka Matsuro-koku, we went north along the coast of Kyushu to Itoshima, thought to the be old country of Ito-koku, and beyond that, the Na-koku of Fukuoka.  We'll cover both of those in our next and final installment of our Gishiwajinden tour. If you like what we are doing, tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to us at our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.

My guest for this episode is author and podcaster Thersa Matsuura, who joined me to talk about her new publication, The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth. After a childhood living all over the U.S. - as far north as Fairbanks, Alaska and as far south as Jacksonville, Florida, Thersa moved to Japan to study. She would eventually settle there and has now lived over half her life in a fishing town in the country. Her fluency in Japanese allows her to do research into parts of the culture - legends, folktales, and superstitions - that are little known to western audiences. A lot of what she digs up informs her writing or becomes fodder for her podcast, Uncanny Japan. Thersa is the author of two short story collections, A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories and The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales, the latter being a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award in 2017. She's had stories published in various magazines, anthologies and serialized in the Asahi English Newspaper. I begin the interview by talking with Thersa about the events that initially took her to Japan and what those early experiences of living in a new country were like. We also discuss the cultural history of the country and how that has influenced and is expressed in the relationship between it's people, the natural world and the supernatural. From there we focus on Thersa's new book itself, exploring some of the beings that are featured in it, which range from mythical versions of historical figures, through to supernatural foxes and wolves, giant spiders and full on Lovecraftian horrors. We round off things talking about ghosts and Thersa shares some of her own uncanny experiences. You can find out more about Thersa, her writing and podcast at her website https://thersamatsuura.com/. If you would like to support the upkeep of Some Other Sphere, you can make a donation via Ko-fi. To buy the podcast a coffee go to https://ko-fi.com/someotherspherepodcast. Thank you!   The Some Other Sphere theme is from Purple Planet Music - 'Hubbub' by Geoff Harvey and Chris Martyn.  

What if the key to unlocking a world of clear vision, improved focus, and even better brain function lies not in stronger prescriptions, but in a completely different approach to eye care?In this episode we dive deep into the fascinating world of vision therapy and prism glasses with Dr. Justin, an optometrist specializing in this revolutionary field.  Dr. Justin reveals how vision problems go far beyond just blurry sight, and can actually impact everything from learning and behavior in children to overall well-being in adults.  Learn how subtle adjustments in your vision, achieved through specialized techniques and even prism glasses, can unlock a new level of health and performance.  Don't miss this eye-opening episode (pun intended!) and take the first step towards a healthier, clearer you!Highlights:How vision therapy can address common issues like eye teaming problems, focusing difficulties, and even dyslexia in children.The surprising link between screen time and vision health, and strategies to combat the negative effects of our digital world.Why a holistic approach to vision care is essential, and how incorporating movement assessments and other therapies can lead to powerful results.Resources MentionedWebsite | https://sandiegocenterforvisioncare.com/justin-matsuura-od/About the Guest:Dr. Justin S. Matsuura graduated from the University of California Irvine with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences. During his undergraduate work, Dr. Matsuura was a member of UCI's pre-optometry club and volunteered at local private practices during his spare time.Dr. Matsuura received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University. His clinical externships were completed at the University Eye Center at Ketchum Health in Anaheim, University Eye Center Los Angeles, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System in Tucson, AZ, and the San Diego Center for Vision Care.As a result of his education and clinical training, Dr. Matsuura is licensed to use and prescribe therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, diagnose, treat, and manage patients with glaucoma, and perform lacrimal irrigation/dilation procedures in addition to providing comprehensive and specialty eye examinations for patients of all ages. He is also well trained and up to date with the most recent advances in myopia control, ocular disease diagnosis/management, specialty contact lenses, refractive surgery, primary care optometry, pediatric optometry, vision therapy, sports vision and neuro-rehabilitation optometry.Dr. Matsuura is also an active member in the professional optometric community as he is a member of the American Optometric Association and the California Optometric Association.Dr. Matsuura looks forward to providing quality care and service to those in the greater San Diego area while also developing strong relationships with all patients, parents, educators, and healthcare professionals.

This is Part 3 of our Gishiwajinden Tour--following the route of the Wei embassy through the land of Wa and looking at the various locations along the way.  So far we've looked at the old land of Gaya, as represented at Gimhae, the site of the old Geumgwan Gaya, and the island of Tsushima, on the border.  This episode we look at the next island:  Iki. It might be easy to overlook Iki--it was neither the center nor exactly the periphery.  From the point of view of those in the court or those outside it was rather "mid", in a literal sense.  However, it was certainly at the center of its own vibrant history, which was certainly important to everyone there, and hosted a thriving community. It is also a great place to visit in the modern day: something of a hidden gem for anyone looking for a slightly more out of the way place to visit, with a slower pace than cities like Tokyo. For more, see our blog page:  https://www.sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/iki-koku Rough Translation: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is Gishiwajinden Tour Part 3: Iki-koku. As regular listeners know, we are currently taking a break from the Chronicles.  With the Isshi Incident of 645—see Episode 107—we are about to get into the time known as “Taika” or “Great Change”.  Spoiler alert: This is the rise of Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou; Nakatomi Kamako, aka Nakatomi Kamatari, the progenitor of the Fujiwara family; and more.  It is the beginning of what is known as the Ritsuryo System, the idea of a state governed by laws and punishments similar to what we see on the continent, based largely on Confucian principles, but mixed with a healthy dose of local tradition.  There is a lot there, and I want to do it justice.  And so for now I have a little bonus content for you. Earlier this year, Ellen and I took a trip based on the account in the Gishiwajinden, the Wa section of the Weizhi, the section in the Wei Chronicles regarding the trip to visit Queen Himiko of Wa.  In Part 1 we talked about our trip to Gimhae, formerly known as Geumgwan Gaya, a part of the old Gaya—or Kara—confederacy, with close ties to the archipelago.  Part 2 we talked about our next stop, the island of Tsushima.  But we didn't just talk about it in the 3rd century, because if you visit there is so much more to see from an historical perspective. This episode we are talking about the island of Iki, aka Ikijima, though in the Weizhi it is known as its own country:  Iki-koku. Relative to Tsushima, Iki island is much smaller—about one fifth the overall landmass.  However, it is much flatter as well—the highest point is only 212 meters above sea level, compared to Tsushima, which rises to about 649 meters at Mt. Yatate.  This makes Iki an island with a lot of flat land or rolling hills—perfect for the kind of wet rice paddy agriculture that created the population boom in the Yayoi period, which we will talk about here in a minute.  However, I will note that even today the population of Iki is similar to that of Tsushima despite having much less space. The flora and fauna of the island is much closer to that of the rest of the archipelago—in fact, it is nearly identical to what you would find in southwest Kyushu.  This is not surprising given how close it is.  For reference, Hitakatsu, on Tsushima is under 50km from Busan, Korea, and about 147 km to Hakata port in Fukuoka, or 138 km if you depart from Izuhara port instead.  Comparatively, it is about 76 km from Hakata to Iki, and even less—just about 42km—from Iki to Karatsu, south of Fukuoka, and these routes are dotted with islands along the way.  At its closest point, Iki is probably only 20km from Kyushu, but the ferries only stop at certain ports.  Tsushima to Iki, on the other hand, is around 68 km, from Izuhara to Iki.  Iki is about as close to Karatsu as Tsushima is to Pusan, and they are both further away from each other than from their respective larger landmasses.  That makes this leg – Tsushima to Iki - the longest leg in the trip, realistically. Today, both Iki and Tsushima, along with the Goto islands to the south, are all part of Nagasaki prefecture, despite the fact that they are both closer to Saga and Fukuoka prefectures.  This is in part because Iki came under the jurisdiction of the Hirado domain, which also was heavily involved with foreign trade through Nagasaki. Today, Iki is broken up into roughly four areas.  This includes Katsumoto, Ashibe, Indoji, and Gonoura, based around the four main port towns on the island.  Three of these ports, Ashibe, Indoji, and Gonoura, have ferries that regularly travel to either Tsushima or Kyushu. And all of them have various boats to take people out the islands around Iki, one of the major draws for many people coming to the island being to see the natural beauty of its coastline and surrounding waters.  There is also a small airport. Although Iki is small—you can drive from one end to the other in 40 minutes or less—I highly recommend renting a car, much like Tsushima.  This will be helpful to get to various sites, although be aware that while the main roads are well cared for, there are plenty of roads where it is better to go on foot rather than get stopped by fallen trees and branches in a less well maintained area.  Taxis can be had, but aren't always convenient, and that adds cost and time.  A car will give you much more freedom to get around. Iki is a popular tourist destination, with more people coming during the summer months.  We were there in the off-season, which was somewhat nice, but also meant that many restaurants and the like were closed.  Also, similar to Tsushima, there isn't a konbini—a convenience store—on every street corner.  You can certainly find them, but just be aware.  That said, we never really had a problem finding what we needed. Iki is known for several things.  One, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the squid, and you can see the squid boats in the harbor or out at night.  They have arrays of lights set up, to help draw the squid to the surface, a common technique around the world that makes squid fishing quite distinctive. In addition, Iki island is quite proud of its beef, a much more recent addition.  The flat land allows them to raise cattle, and the Iki raised wagyu cattle, known as Iki-gyu, is highly prized.  You can find several yakiniku restaurants around the island, that particular Japanese style of Korean barbecue where you grill up thinly sliced beef on a hot skillet or even an open grill at your table. An older product is the barley shochu.  Iki island is said to be the birthplace of barley shochu, developing it in the 17th century.  Back then, taxes from the island had to be paid in rice, and there wasn't enough left to make much alcohol, such as traditional sake.  As such, the local farmers started using barley and koji, instead, to make the base alcohol that they then distilled into shochu.  Shochu itself goes back to at least the 16th century, as distilling techniques reached southern Japan via either the Ryukyu kingdom or via the Korean peninsula—records are unclear, as these techniques reached both places before Japan, and Kyushu had connections to each.  That said, early shochu was made with rice, and later it would be made with cheaper ingredients, such as barley, in the case of Iki, or sweet potato, in Satsuma, modern Kagoshima.  These methods spread to other parts of Japan. There are plenty of other food options available on the island as well, and I don't think we had a bad meal anywhere we went. And so we left Izuhara port, on Tsushima, early in the morning and arrived at Ashibe port around lunchtime.  We had arranged a car to meet us at the port, and after grabbing a bite at a locally renowned yakinikuya, we decided to start getting our historical bearings on the island.   Our main objective on Iki island was to see the Yayoi site of Harunotsuji and the Iki-koku Museum, the museum of the country of Iki. Quick note for anyone looking this up:  The “Haru” in “Harunotsuji” is typically pronounced “Hara” outside of Kyushu and Okinawa.  This affects a lot of placenames in Kyushu, including Iki, and likely comes from remnants of an old dialect of Japanese spoken in this area.  Whatever the reason, if you look up the site in Japanese you may want to type “Hara-no-tsuji” to help find the right kanji. Harunotsuji site is an incredible find in regards to the Yayoi period.  It was a large settlement built on flat land in the interior of the island.  Today it is surrounded by rice fields, and fortunately nobody else seems to have built up on the raised hills where the settlement once stood, allowing the site to remain for us to find years later.  This is one of the better preserved sites from the Yayoi period, and is often touted as the likely center of activity in Iki during that period.  Of course, as with other sites, like Yoshinogari, we can only see those sites  that were preserved—those that were built upon in later generations may not have left any trace.  However, in this case there's clear evidence that there was a thriving community here.  And because of that, and the tremendous effort they've put into reconstructing the site, as well as the excellent museum, we wanted to make sure that we gave Iki a visit. There aren't many museums on Iki island, but the Iki-koku museum ranks up there with some of the best we've visited.  The building itself is built to blend into the landscape, and from the observation tower you can look out over the Harunotsuji site.  The museum provides an automated introduction to the area, with a small film depicting what they believe life was probably like back in the Yayoi period.  From there you travel down a hallway that takes you through the history of Iki, but eventually deposits you in a room focused on the Yayoi period.  Here they show a reconstructed boat, as well as a large diorama of the Harunotsuji site. One of the major finds at Harunotsuji is what appears to be a dock, reinforced with rocks, similar to what they find on the continent.  This dock was at a small stream that was once larger, and was likely used to ferry goods and people from Harunotsuji to a settlement or outpost on the shore.  It gives greater insight into what trade and life looked like. Speaking of which, props to the museum for their excellent use of often comical figures in their diorama, which is clearly made to appeal to young and old alike.  They help humanize the figures, and each part of the layout that they created of the site tells a story about what was going on. In addition to the diorama of the site, and what it may have looked like, there were also actual Yayoi era pots that were there which you could pick up and handle yourself.  I have to admit that I did this with some trepidation, even knowing that these were not particularly special, and that there are many pots and shards that are found at sites like these.  Still, it was something to actually handle a pot that was made back in that time—something that was made by an actual person living back then and used for whatever purpose before it was discarded or lost, only to be found centuries later.  Besides the room on the site, there is another side to the museum in that it is a working archaeological center.  You can see the lab where people are working, and they also have a room where you can see the stacks—the giant shelves with all of the historical and archaeological bits and bobs that weren't on display for one reason or another.  That is something that many people don't always appreciate:  For many museums, only a portion of their collection is actually on display.  It was really great to see all of that out in the open. The museum also has a café and some function rooms, as well as a giant observation tower, from which it feels like you can see the entire island, and beyond.  You could definitely look down and see the site, but you could also see some of the more distant islands as well. From the museum we went down to see the actual Harunotsuji site.  There is another museum there, which was a little less impressive but still quite informative, and it was where you park and then walk over to the site itself.  And here I admit that it was getting late, so we came back to it another day, but it doesn't really take that long to see the site itself. Most of the site sits on a rise of land that sits just a little higher than the surrounding fields, with a gentle slope to it.  It is oddly shaped, likely because they used the natural contours of the land rather than explicitly building up a terrace.  There is another rise towards one end of the settlement, with what may have been a fence around the area, indicating that the buildings in that area were set aside as special.  There are also ditches that appear to have been purposefully dug to separate a part of the rise from the area of the settlement, as buildings were apparently found on one side but not the other.  What was found was a small area surrounded by a moat, generally thought to have been used for some kind of ritual. At the site today are reconstructed buildings of multiple kinds, based on the archeological findings.  There are pit buildings, buildings sitting flush on the ground, as well as raised buildings, all based likely on the arrangements and size of post-holes and the like.  There also appears to have been some kind of gate or barrier structure, also based on postholes, which they have physically reconstructed. It is always tricky to interpret what a building looked like other than guessing at its general shape and size.  Extremely large post-holes likely held larger posts, which would make particular sense if they were for a tall structure, like a watchtower, but exact architectural features such as doorways, roof structure, etc. are derived based on other examples as well as Shinto shrine architecture, which seems to originate from some of the early Yayoi buildings. There were also some finds in the surrounding areas, including what appears to have been a stone-lined dock for boats to pull up, some kind of guard post to inspect people entering or leaving the settlement, and moats, which likely surrounded the settlement as well. Harunotsuji is not the only Yayoi site that has been excavated on Iki island, but nothing else is quite so large.  Put in context with other archaeological sites from the same time period, Harunotsuji is thought to have been the most powerful, and therefore where the ruler, or the quote-unquote “King”, of Iki would have lived. Here I'd note that the interpretation of Harunotsuji as a kingly capital is quite prevalent in the local literature, but what exactly was a “king” in this sense isn't fully explored.  As we talked about two episodes back with Gimhae and the quote-unquote “Kingdom” of Gaya, Iki-koku probably better fits the English term of a large chiefdom, rather than a kingdom.  However, that would also likely apply to Queen Himiko, as well—even if her chiefdom dwarfed Iki-koku by comparison. That said, there certainly appears to be a social stratification of some kind going on at the site, especially with a special area clearly set aside at one end of the settlement.  Was that where a shaman-king—or queen—similar to Himiko carried out private, arcane rites on behalf of the entire settlement?  Perhaps the entire island?  Or is it something else? Unfortunately, we can't really know, at least not right now.  However, we do know that it was an important part of the trade routes from the continent out to the archipelago.  This isn't just because of the Weizhi, or the common sense that this is the clearest route between the two, but also because of artifacts found at the site, which include abundant goods from the continent.  In addition we found evidence of dogs, armor, shields, and various pots. One thing I didn't see evidence of was a large funkyubo, like at Yoshinogari, where they buried people in pots on a large, communal cemetery mound.  Here the highest elevations appear to have been used for living structures.  There were graves discovered, and some of these were the pot-style burials found at Yoshinogari and the continent, and others were rectangular, stone-lined coffins, similar to those used on the Tsushima kofun:  they are lined with large, flat slabs that define a rectangle, into which the body is placed, and then flat slabs of stone are used to cover it back up. Harunotsuji shows signs of habitation from the start of the Yayoi period to the beginning of the Kofun period.  After that, though, the trail grows a bit cold. We do know, however, that people were still living on Iki through the Kofun period—we assume they didn't just pack up their bags and leave—and that is thanks to the many kofun found across the island.  There are some 280 kofun preserved today, and Edo period accounts had that number at more like 340.  Indeed, Iki has one of the largest and best preserved collection of kofun of all of Kyushu.   Many are smaller kofun, but there are plenty of groups of large kingly kofun.  A group of the larger kingly kofun can be found in the border area between Katsumoto-cho and Ashibe-cho, due west of Ashibe port.  This includes the large Soroku Kofun, Oni-no-iwaya Kofun, the Sasazuka Kofun, as well as the Kakegi kofun and the Yurihata Kofun-gun.  Soroku kofun, a large, keyhole shaped tomb, boasts a length of 91 meters, making it not only the largest on the island, but the largest in all of Nagasaki prefecture.   Kofun culture on the island differed slightly from elsewhere.  For instance, there is evidence of multiple burials in the same tomb, suggesting that they were viewed more like family mausoleums than  simply a single tomb structure. The earliest kofun found on Iki so far can be dated to about the latter half of the 5th century, with most of them being built in the 6th to 7th centuries.  Many are stone chambers with a horizontal entryway, which in the case of the Kakegi and Sasazuka kofun, are open to those who want to get in and explore.  Be aware, though, as many signs tell you, various local residents have also made these tombs their homes, including bats, centipedes, snakes, and more.  Most of them are relatively harmless, but it is always good to know what you are getting into. With the earliest kofun on the island dating to about the 5th century, this does pose a slight question yet to be answered by the archaeological record:  Where were people living in the century between the end of Harunotsuji and the start of the kofun building period?  Heck, where were people living on the island at all?  We certainly know where the dead were buried. Looking at a map, one probably assumes that many of the kingly kofun would have been built somewhat near a population center.  After all, you don't build giant burial mounds just to hide them—these would have likely been visible to people in some way, shape, or form.  I would note that modern roads, likely built on earlier pathways, wind in between the kofun, even today. Personally, I can't help but notice that the Iki Kokubunji temple, the Provincial temple built in the 8th century, was quite close to some of the kingly kofun in Katsumoto.  It is said that this temple was originally built as the family temple of the Iki clan.  As one might guess from the name, the Iki were the traditional rulers of Iki, officially appointed by Yamato as the “Agata-nushi” or district lord, and later as “Shima no Miyatsuko”—the island equivalent of a “Kuni no Miyatsuko”.  Various biographies trace the Iki back to various lineages close to or intertwined with the Nakatomi.  However, this is not without some debate, and it is entirely possible that any such ties were fabricated to give the Iki clan greater clout and stature.  It is possible, and even likely, that the Iki clan grew out of the ruling elite on Iki island. In addition, we have the old Tsukiyomi Jinja, said to be the oldest on the island, and the Kunikatanushi shrine built right next to the Kokubunji site.  The Tsukiyomi shrine is dedicated to the moon god, who is said to be the god of navigation, among other things, and this is the clan shrine of the Iki clan. It is unclear, but seems plausible that the center of the Iki polity may have shifted north, to the modern Kokubun area.  If so, and if this continued to be the area of the regional government headquarters through the Nara period and beyond, then it is possible that any earlier settlements would have simply been covered up and even erased by later buildings and structures.  I don't think we'll ever truly know, though, unless something significant is uncovered. We do have some historical records of later Iki, quite understandable as it was where many of the envoys and expeditions to and from the mainland would have stopped. In the 11th century, Iki, along with Tsushima, was attacked by pirates from the mainland, thought to be of Jurchen descent, in an event called the Toi Invasion, which caused quite a bit of destruction.  After that we see the rise of the Matsura clan.  They arose in the Matsura area of Hizen province, just a little ways over from Karatsu.  That name may be related to “Matsuro”, but we'll talk more about that when we get to Karatsu. The Matsura largely came to power thanks to their navy—which was a navy to some and pirates to others.  They ended up gaining a foothold in Iki island. Whatever plans they had, however, met with a giant setback in 1274.  As we discussed last episode, that was when the first Mongol invasion hit Japan, and after steamrolling through Tsushima they began a bloody conquest of Iki.  The video game, Ghosts of Tsushima, which we talked about fairly extensively last episode for, well, obvious reasons, actually has an expanded Iki island area for those who want to try fighting off this invasion for themselves.  There are numerous reminders across the island of the invasions, both in 1274 and 1281.  The death toll was catastrophic, and even today parents will often tell their children that if they don't behave the Mongols will come back and take them away. In 1338, soon afer the Ashikaga shogun came to power, Ashikaga Takauji and his brother, Tadayoshi, directed the erection of temples in all 66 provinces, including Iki, to pray for the repose of those who died in battle during turbulent times, including the Mongol invasions and the later civil war.  That temple is still there, just a little ways north from the Harunotsuji site. The temple building itself only dates from the Edo period, as it burned down multiple times, but it is still said that it is the oldest extant temple building on the island.  There is a large cedar tree thought to be over a thousand years old, which may have even been there during the Toi and Mongol invasions.  There are also signs of Christian activity in some of the artwork, if you know what to look for. When Europeans arrived in Japan in the 16th century, they brought not only guns, but also a new religion:  Christianity.  Priests were given permission to set up churches and convert people.  Some daimyo converted—whether out of true faith or simply to get more lucrative trading deals with Europeans—and they often made their entire fief convert as well.  When Christianity was eventually outlawed, many Christian communities went underground, becoming known as “Hidden Christians.”  A lot of these communities continued, especially in the Iki and Goto islands, which were a little further away from shogunal authority.  They continued despite the lack of priests and Bibles, often using iconography that could be plausibly passed off as Buddhist or Shinto in nature.  Many remained in hiding throughout the Edo period, only revealing themselves after the Meiji government came in and issued a law protecting the freedom of religion, including Christianity.  Around Iki you will occasionally find little hints of such communities' existence. The 16th century saw more than just European traders and new religions.  The Matsura clan retained control over the island from their base in Hirado, even during the tumultuous era of Warring States.  Last episode we talked about how Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the new Taiko, came out of that time and declared war on the Joseon court, in Korea. To start with he built Nagoya castle on Kyushu and moved himself and all of his retainers out to it.  And before you ask, no, this probably isn't the Nagoya castle you are thinking of.  Similar name, but different kanji characters Anyway, from Nagoya on the coast of Kyushu, supply lines were run out to Tsushima, and then across to Busan.  To defend against a counterattack by Joseon forces, they built castles along the way as well.  In Iki, this meant building several, including Katsumoto-jo, at the northern end of the island, under the command of Matsura Shigenobu. Later, Tokugawa Ieyasu, eager to restore good will with the peninsula, would have the castles intentionally ruined, often by removing key stones so that they could no longer be considered defensible.  Today you can climb up to the Katsumoto-jo castle site and see the stones of the main gate and get a tremendous view from the observation platform. Katsumoto Castle isn't the only thing in Katsumoto that still remains from that time.  There is a local shrine, the Shomogu Shrine, which has a gate donated by Kato Kiyomasa, one of the generals who led troops on the invasion of Korea.  They also hold a cup that he is said to have donated. This shrine is certainly interesting and worth a visit.  Traditionally, they say that it was built on the site where Jingu Tennou departed from Iki during her legendary conquest of the Korean peninsula.  According to at least one source, at that time she called the place Kazamoto, the place where the wind comes from, and when she returned she changed it to Katsumoto, the place where her victory came from.  Of course, as we know, that whole narrative is rather suspect.  It is possible that the area was known as Kazamoto and that changed to Katsumoto. It also doesn't help that this is also where the Mongol army came ashore back in the 13th century, and I suspect that not much remained from before.  Still, there is a stone that is said to have the print of Jingu's horse's foot as she left, and it was at least connected to the ocean, given its location. There is a contention that this shrine may have once been known as “Nakatsu” shrine, literally “Middle port” shrine, one of the shrines listed in the Engi Shiki.  However, there is another Nakatsu shrine that also claims this distinction, also in Katsumoto-cho.  The Shomogu shrine theory holds that this was a branch shrine of Shomogu shrine, then known as Nakatsu.  This makes some sense as the current Nakatsu shrine is more inland, not exactly lending itself to being the “Middle Port” Shrine.  Then again, it would have referred to “Nakatsumiya”, meaning the “middle shrine” or “middle palace”, which puts us back at square one. More important than the actual history of this shrine, at least in the 16th century, is the fact that those generals heading off to conquer the Korean peninsula definitely would have appreciated praying to the spirit of Jingu Tennou before heading off to try it a second time.  Shomogu Shrine clearly had a link with her by then. By the way, slight side note, the “Shomo” of “Shomogu” literally means “Holy Mother”.  In this case it is referencing the “Holy Mother” Jingu Tenno, who was pregnant when she left Japan and didn't give birth until she came back—not quite a virgin birth.  “Shomo” was also the term that Christians, particularly hidden Christians, used to reference the Virgin Mary.  While I cannot find any evidence that Shomogu Shrine was connected with Christianity—its existence and worship there predates that religion coming to the archipelago by some time—it is still one of those things that the Hidden Christians could have used to their advantage, hiding their worship of the Virgin Mary and her holy child behind the name for Jingu Tenno. Now the town of Katsumoto, although only briefly a castle town, was still quite important through the Edo period, and the main street certainly recalls a time long past.  We stayed in a ryokan there that was over 100 years old, and there is both a sake brewery, and a craft beer brewery inside an old sake brewery, just down the street.  It isn't a big town, but it has character. In the Edo period, many of the Joseon envoys stopped in Katsumoto on their way to or from the archipelago.  These envoys typically had around 400 to 450 of their own people from Korea, but by the time they reached Iki they were joined by about 800 quote-unquote “guides” from Tsushima who were there to help them with whatever they needed.  Technically it was up to the Matsura daimyo, in Hirado, to provide for their needs, but it seems that more often than not that role more immediately fell to the wealthiest family on the island, the Toi family. The Toi family—not to be confused with the Toi invasion—made their money from capturing whales; a lucrative but dangerous enterprise, especially given the state of the boats at the time.  The stone wall of their mansion can still be seen in Katsumoto, though it is now wedged in between other buildings, as the mansion itself is otherwise long gone.  They may not have been daimyo, but they were apparently the rough equivalent for the people of Iki, and certainly Katsumoto. The envoys ended up calling at Katsumoto about 19 times between 1607 and 1811—11 times on the outbound trip and 8 times going the other direction.  For one mission, in the 18th century, we are even provided the amount of food that they required, which included 1500 sweet potatoes, 15,000 eggs, 7 and a half tons of abalone, 3 tons of squid, 7 and a half tons of rice, and 15 koku of sake, equaling about 1500 standard bottles, today.  A drawing of the 1748 envoy showed parts of Katsumoto that you can still visit, today, including the old boat launch, the Shomogu shrine and nearby streets, Shigayama, and what is today “Itsukushima Shrine”, related to the worship of Susano'o's three daughters, as are the Munakata shrines and the Itsukushima shrine on Miyajima with the famous torii in the water. Besides the historical sites, Iki island offers a plethora of other activities and attractions.  The famous monkey rock, or Saruiwa, is a famed natural feature, as are many others.  There are also beaches that people appear to enjoy—though we were there in the winter, so not great—or just getting out in a boat and seeing the natural beauty of the island.  There are also many more shrines and temples to visit; Iki has its own 88 temple pilgrimage based on the 88 temple pilgrimage of places like Shikoku.  You can also do a pilgrimage of the many Shinto shrines, some of which are mentioned in historical documents like the Engi Shiki and others that are more modern.  While many of the buildings are often newer, and things have of course changed over the centuries, these sites often still contain connections to history, and may even have historical treasures in their storehouses or on the grounds. We only had a limited time, so tried to keep our trip focused on more of the Yayoi and Kofun era stuff.  We both agreed we would gladly go back again in a heartbeat. Next up, we caught the ferry from Indoji on Iki over to Karatsu port on Kyushu, what is thought to be the site of the old Matsuro kingdom.  While others might point to the modern Matsuura city area, this region is may be more likely, and we'll talk about that next episode.  In addition, we'll talk about Karatsu, which literally means “Chinese port”, and about the nearby castle ruins of Nagoya castle—an area that was, for about seven brief years, in the late 16th century the de facto capital of Japan. But that will be next time. Until then, thank you for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to us at our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.

Discover everything you've ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan. Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (Adams Media, 2024): a fascinating journey through Japan's folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today. From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all about the origins of these fantastical and mythical creatures. This gorgeous package is complete with stained edges and stunning four-color illustrations. With information on their cultural significance, a retelling of a popular tale tied to that particular yokai, and how it's been spun into today's popular culture, this handsome tome teaches you about the stories and histories of the beings that inspired characters in your favorite movies, animes, manga, and games. Thersa Matsuura is an American expat who has lived in Japan for over thirty years. Her fluency in the language allows her to explore her favorite part of Japanese culture: all the myths, legends, folktales, and superstitions. Thersa retells these Japanese folktales and ghost stories on her popular podcast Uncanny Japan. Thersa has also published two short story collections, including A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories and The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales, a collection of horror stories inspired by Japanese folktakes, which was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award in 2017. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Discover everything you've ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan. Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (Adams Media, 2024): a fascinating journey through Japan's folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today. From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all about the origins of these fantastical and mythical creatures. This gorgeous package is complete with stained edges and stunning four-color illustrations. With information on their cultural significance, a retelling of a popular tale tied to that particular yokai, and how it's been spun into today's popular culture, this handsome tome teaches you about the stories and histories of the beings that inspired characters in your favorite movies, animes, manga, and games. Thersa Matsuura is an American expat who has lived in Japan for over thirty years. Her fluency in the language allows her to explore her favorite part of Japanese culture: all the myths, legends, folktales, and superstitions. Thersa retells these Japanese folktales and ghost stories on her popular podcast Uncanny Japan. Thersa has also published two short story collections, including A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories and The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales, a collection of horror stories inspired by Japanese folktakes, which was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award in 2017. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Discover everything you've ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan. Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (Adams Media, 2024): a fascinating journey through Japan's folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today. From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all about the origins of these fantastical and mythical creatures. This gorgeous package is complete with stained edges and stunning four-color illustrations. With information on their cultural significance, a retelling of a popular tale tied to that particular yokai, and how it's been spun into today's popular culture, this handsome tome teaches you about the stories and histories of the beings that inspired characters in your favorite movies, animes, manga, and games. Thersa Matsuura is an American expat who has lived in Japan for over thirty years. Her fluency in the language allows her to explore her favorite part of Japanese culture: all the myths, legends, folktales, and superstitions. Thersa retells these Japanese folktales and ghost stories on her popular podcast Uncanny Japan. Thersa has also published two short story collections, including A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories and The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales, a collection of horror stories inspired by Japanese folktakes, which was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award in 2017. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Discover everything you've ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan. Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (Adams Media, 2024): a fascinating journey through Japan's folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today. From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all about the origins of these fantastical and mythical creatures. This gorgeous package is complete with stained edges and stunning four-color illustrations. With information on their cultural significance, a retelling of a popular tale tied to that particular yokai, and how it's been spun into today's popular culture, this handsome tome teaches you about the stories and histories of the beings that inspired characters in your favorite movies, animes, manga, and games. Thersa Matsuura is an American expat who has lived in Japan for over thirty years. Her fluency in the language allows her to explore her favorite part of Japanese culture: all the myths, legends, folktales, and superstitions. Thersa retells these Japanese folktales and ghost stories on her popular podcast Uncanny Japan. Thersa has also published two short story collections, including A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories and The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales, a collection of horror stories inspired by Japanese folktakes, which was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award in 2017. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/folkore

Discover everything you've ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan. Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (Adams Media, 2024): a fascinating journey through Japan's folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today. From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all about the origins of these fantastical and mythical creatures. This gorgeous package is complete with stained edges and stunning four-color illustrations. With information on their cultural significance, a retelling of a popular tale tied to that particular yokai, and how it's been spun into today's popular culture, this handsome tome teaches you about the stories and histories of the beings that inspired characters in your favorite movies, animes, manga, and games. Thersa Matsuura is an American expat who has lived in Japan for over thirty years. Her fluency in the language allows her to explore her favorite part of Japanese culture: all the myths, legends, folktales, and superstitions. Thersa retells these Japanese folktales and ghost stories on her popular podcast Uncanny Japan. Thersa has also published two short story collections, including A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories and The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales, a collection of horror stories inspired by Japanese folktakes, which was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award in 2017. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/japanese-studies

Join author and host Thersa Matsuura on a fascinating journey into the world of Japanese spirits, monsters, and yokai. This episode delves into how these supernatural beings are deeply embedded in Japanese culture, art, and storytelling. Discover the eerie yet captivating tales that have inspired countless sculptures, paintings, and modern media. Thersa will also explore intriguing similarities and differences between Japanese and Western supernatural traditions. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that bridges cultural divides and brings ancient myths to life. Perfect for enthusiasts of folklore, art, and the mysterious realms of the supernatural. My Special Guest Is Thersa Matsuura After a childhood living all over the U.S. — as far north as Fairbanks, Alaska and as far south as Jacksonville, Florida, Thersa Matsuura settled down in the far, far east. She's now an American expat who has lived over half her life in a fishing town in Japan. Her fluency in Japanese allows her to do research into parts of the culture – legends, folktales, and superstitions – that are little known to western audiences. A lot of what she digs up informs her short stories or becomes fodder for her podcast: Uncanny Japan. Thersa is a graduate of Clarion West (2015), a recipient of HWA's Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship, and the author of two collections, A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories (Counterpoint LLC, 2009) and The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales (Independent Regions Publishing, 2017). The latter was a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award® (2017). She's had stories published in various magazines, anthologies and serialised in the Asahi English Newspaper. Her most recent book is The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (Spring, 2024; Adams Media). In this episode, you will be able to: 1. Explore concepts of Japanese Spirits, Monsters and Yokai. 2. Explore how embedded supernatural belief and spirits exist in Japanese culture, art, ritual and life. 3. Discover examples of Japanese spirits and how these can be similar and different to examples in the West. If you value this podcast and want to enjoy more episodes please come and find us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/Haunted_History_Chronicles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support the podcast, gain a wealth of additional exclusive podcasts, writing and other content. Links to all Haunted History Chronicles Social Media Pages, Published Materials and more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hauntedhistorychronicles?fbclid=IwAR15rJF2m9nJ0HTXm27HZ3QQ2Llz46E0UpdWv-zePVn9Oj9Q8rdYaZsR74I⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *NEW* Podcast Shop:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.teepublic.com/user/haunted-history-chronicles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Me A Coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/hauntedhistorychronicles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest Links Website: https://thersamatsuura.com/ Podcast Link: https://uncannyjapan.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncannyjapan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Book Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Thersa-Matsuura/author/B002CWZ73Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_fkmr0_1&qid=1713979941&sr=8-1-fkmr0&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hauntedchronicles/message

Today's episode is all about Japanese Yōkai and Thersa Matsuura's new book "The Encyclopedia of Japanese Folklore." We chat about moving to a completely different country, crows, everyday folklore and the process behind compiling a book on folklore! You can find out more about Thersa's Uncanny Japan Podcast and books! The gorgeous illustrations were done by Michelle Wang!  Enjoying the Podcast? We want to hear from you! Leave us a review on Podchaser or follow us on Goodpods and tell us what story you want us to cover next! Show notes can be found on our website at: www.talesfromtheenchantedforest.com You can also find us on: Twitter @FromEnchanted Bluesky Mastodon Instagram   TikTok

What do you know of the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore? And how have these figures found their way into every corner of our popular culture? Unspookable producer Nate DuFort sits down this week with Thersa Matsuura to find out more while discussing her latest, The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth. That and more on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian with Nate DuFort Created, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen Episode artwork by Michelle Wang from The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai You can find Unspookable on Twitter and Instagram at: https://twitter.com/ImUnspookable https://www.instagram.com/unspookablepodcast/ The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth by By Thersa Matsuura, Illustrated by Michelle Wang is available NOW from Adams Media, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. Unspookable is a production of Soundsington Media committed to making quality programing for young audiences and the young at heart. To find out more go to http://www.soundsingtonmedia.com  Advertise on Unspookable: advertising@airwavemedia.com

Anyone getting married knows that pre-wedding skincare starts months in advance. From drinking water, to trying to get a decent amount of sleep... it takes work! And even with all the hydration and rest you can get, sometimes you need a little more help. In this week's episode, we have aesthetician Cara Matsuura talking about customized, mobile treatments to enhance your day to day routine. From toxin injection to chemical peels to teeth whitening kits - her goal is to have you glowing and camera ready on your wedding day. Learn more about Cara and Nursethetics here: https://nursetheticswellnessandbeauty.com/ and on Instagram @nursethetics_npThese are our top 3 episodes to start with if you are new to our show. We'd love to hear from you. Hit us up and mention our show to learn more about our Unveiling Paradise Promo. Please support this episode's show sponsor - Fine Time Shave Ice - Learn more at https://www.finetimeshaveice.comSupport the showFind Us on Instagram:Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadiseJoe @josephesserTessa @fredandkateeventsEmail us unveilingparadisepodcast@gmail.comWeb unveilingparadise.com

Dave and Cameron are joined by special guest Thersa Matsuura to discuss her upcoming book. Uncanny Japan Podcast (https://uncannyjapan.com) The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (pre-order for release on April 30th) (https://www.amazon.com/Book-Japanese-Folklore-Encyclopedia-Mischievous/dp/1507221916/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yrlBzogIA57-v2OJk2vBYJRjq1xSs_XrVr3kGyWgSIc463C1wNWzy1UPM4uIf_wLA8OxquPc8bS5A8pHZv-WLZxUEW_kfSmIj97OHGM5DFhEnHL6n1Ul8HJeMcIzs7GbcJZQw1NSqhqQ07woZyaRQ9zrkKAUGaG5Zd1RBr5j9otp4YNtbNoa4XHuFwx7b6Jie0gha73X8ajQEAM0Z_oS2AlbGLxpFBn7VUdGG-z8wBc.8GIx4KszZxLHty1NP252IQR7fpCsYROlUDdsHl1m5ao&dib_tag=se&keywords=Thersa+Matsuura&qid=1713228974&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorr) Music by Jake Lionheart Contact: www.monsterdear.monster @senplus.bsky.social @drfaustisdead.bsky.social @theuglymachine.bsky.social @swarbie.bsky.social Special Guest: Thersa Matsuura.

Three Conversations is violinist Kyla Matsuura-Miller's program of new commissions for violin and electronics by three Australian composers reflecting on the experience of growing up in the world of classical music in Australia as a person of colour.

The modern history of Ritchie Engineering Solutions began with J.A Ritchie in 1986, an engineer with a successful career in the design and manufacture of gas turbine jet engines. This engineering passion led the business to involvement in a host of pioneering projects from world record-breaking aviation attempts to the design and production of Victorian steam machinery. As the business has evolved, so has its plant list – but one thing that has remained a constant over the last 15 years of evolution is its relationship with cutting tool manufacturer Ceratizit.  Now run by J.A Ritchie's two sons, Alasdair and Duncan, the family has subsequently continued to run and develop the business with the same passion for engineering. Nowadays, the Manningtree-based company operates in a host of sectors that range from autosport and automotive to aerospace and other markets that demand high-end manufacturing capability. To manufacture high-quality components competitively, the company has invested in 3, 4 and 5-axis machining with technology from Bridgeport, Kitamura, HAAS, Mazak and Matsuura that is supported by CAM software from OPEN MIND and Renishaw probing for everything from job setting, in-process and post-process inspection. Taking a look at the company, Duncan Ritchie from Ritchie Engineering Solutions says: “The business started with our father who initially designed and made steam engines in a shed that he built at the bottom of the garden. From there, he got involved in Richard Branson's transatlantic hot air balloon crossing in the late 1980s, working on the thermodynamics of the burner design and the pressurisation of the capsule. We then started to commercially offer the hot air balloon manifold that burns propane - and to this day if you see the burner unit above the pilot's head, that is where it all started for us.” More recently, the Essex company has been involved in machining parts for automotive OEMs, motorsport rally clients, Norton motorcycles, aerospace OEMs, lighting companies and many more. Discussing how the company evolved to its current position, Duncan says: “Down the years there has been a lot of hard work and sleepless nights, but in practical terms, you progress and build on your quality and make quality your selling point. A key part of this is your relationship not only with your customers but also with your suppliers. That would be everything from your material supplier, tooling and suppliers of the machine tools, but significantly it's going to be the cutting tool suppliers. We have been very lucky and fortuitous to have a fantastic supplier in Ceratizit and a support network via Adam Cross from Ceratizit.” Looking at the 15-year relationship with Ceratizit, Duncan adds: “Back then we were in little more than a shed in a country lane that would put many suppliers off, but Adam turned up and he saw us for who we were. He absolutely assisted in supporting us with the right tools for the right job and he has continued to do so throughout our journey.” The subcontract manufacturing company has a complete armoury of Ceratizit products and the Ceratizit vending solution, alluding to this, Duncan continues: “The vending solution is twofold effective. It's fantastic that we can have the bread-and-butter tooling such as the inserts and regular end mills. This means we can program complex components with the knowledge that we have spare cutting tool products immediately available. We have a small workshop where space is at a premium and we don't have the financial capacity to necessarily stock everything, so having the vending machine stocked up and ready to go is fantastic.” Looking to the future and the ongoing relationship with Ceratizit that is so critical to the company's success, Duncan concludes: “The relationship with Ceratizit will definitely continue for the next 15 years and beyond. It is nice to show the journey of where we have been and how we started, but it's more important to look at the focus of where we are going. We are working towards various accreditations to have a trusted tool supplier like Ceratizit is an essential part of that jigsaw. They can help us to make our growth journey happen. It is a team effort that involves our personnel and our suppliers - and Ceratizit is a major one of those elements on our team.”

Paul hosts Domenic Seminerio from Matsuura, this is an excellent podcast which shows how manufacturing in the UK has changed in recent years. It's not secret Matsuura have experience significant gr...

Scripted by Lim, a Malaysian-born director long based in Osaka, Your Lovely Smile has the feel of a Watanabe film by proxy, with his distinctive brand of self-mocking humor. The post Shogen, Matsuura Ryo – December, your lovely smile #FarEastFilmFestival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Scripted by Lim, a Malaysian-born director long based in Osaka, Your Lovely Smile has the feel of a Watanabe film by proxy, with his distinctive brand of self-mocking humor. The post Shogen, Matsuura Ryo – December, your lovely smile #FarEastFilmFestival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Scripted by Lim, a Malaysian-born director long based in Osaka, Your Lovely Smile has the feel of a Watanabe film by proxy, with his distinctive brand of self-mocking humor. The post Shogen, Matsuura Ryo – December, your lovely smile #FarEastFilmFestival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Scripted by Lim, a Malaysian-born director long based in Osaka, Your Lovely Smile has the feel of a Watanabe film by proxy, with his distinctive brand of self-mocking humor. The post Shogen, Matsuura Ryo – December, your lovely smile #FarEastFilmFestival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Scripted by Lim, a Malaysian-born director long based in Osaka, Your Lovely Smile has the feel of a Watanabe film by proxy, with his distinctive brand of self-mocking humor. The post Shogen, Matsuura Ryo – December, your lovely smile #FarEastFilmFestival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Scripted by Lim, a Malaysian-born director long based in Osaka, Your Lovely Smile has the feel of a Watanabe film by proxy, with his distinctive brand of self-mocking humor. The post Shogen, Matsuura Ryo – December, your lovely smile #FarEastFilmFestival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Intel is preparing to build its first quantum dot processor, but you don't have to wait to try your hand at coding in this new quantum computing environment. Thanks to the Intel Quantum SDK, you can access the support system and software stack for this future chip today and start writing real code to run on simulators with over 40 qubits. Join Host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a chat with Anne Matsuura about running algorithms on a bleeding-edge platform.For more on the Intel Quantum SDK, visit https://developer.intel.com/quantumsdk.Visit Protiviti at www.protiviti.com/postquantum to learn more about how Protiviti is helping organizations get post-quantum ready.         Follow host Konstantinos Karagiannis on Twitter and Instagram: @KonstantHacker and follow Protiviti Technology on LinkedIn and Twitter: @ProtivitiTech.          Contact Konstantinos at konstantinos.karagiannis@protiviti.com.          Questions and comments are welcome!          Theme song by David Schwartz. Copyright 2021.   

Hope you're all enjoying the World Cup! To celebrate, the US's progress to the knockout stage, this week we're having a US Super Fan on the show! We're joined by Rob Matsuura, who proudly regales us with his favourite memories of supporting the US men's and women's national teams. Rob tells us all about his childhood playing soccer, and what led him to develop a love for Manchester United, plus why Manchester City have been so effective at breaking into the American market of fans. Three of Rob's goals also have a common thread of a particularly talented Englishman, whose ferocious nature, coupled with impudent skill, made him the darling of Old Trafford. This episode was recorded a few weeks ago, so you can listen to Rob's pre-Tournament thoughts about the US' chances of getting out of the group, and what it might take for Football to come Home to England. As always, please leave us a 5 star review wherever you get your podcasts, and enjoy the show! Rob's Goals: 1). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gWGqrK5pKM 2). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELOkBeYhRVQ 3). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdB8By1wUBE 4). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXVTSQSSBqI (17:45 mark) 5). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI5foGMNbl0 (02:00 mark) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/desert-island-goals/support

Eleanor Matsuura, Yumiko, "The Walking Dead," is our Special Guest

Eleanor Matsuura, Yumiko, "The Walking Dead," is our Special Guest

Fusion 360 causes a massive YCM crash. New – https://patreon.com/partsdept?ref=PD-29-summary (Support the Show on Patreon) to get the Secret Show & more. https://youtu.be/ShYQeGWaYBo (Watch on Youtube) DISCUSSED: ✍️ https://airtable.com/shrEkEhhW3PgXF1zM?&prefill_Episode=29%20-%20YCM%20Crash%20from%20a%20Fusion%20360%20Bug (Send Comments on this Episode) https://www.reddit.com/r/PartsDepartment/ (Discuss on Show Subreddit) Please note: Show notes contains affiliate links. https://patreon.com/partsdept?ref=PD-29-launch (Patreon Launch!) Think of it like paying for business therapy. This is way cheaper. Tiers for what you're comfortable with Support the show, help us hire an editor. $10 or Higher gets you a Secret Show episode YCM Mill Crash from Fusion 360 Bug (Safe Start misnomer) Affected Fusion 360 Posts: Fanuc, Matsuura, Syil Syntec, Syntec, Ethereal Halo https://cam.autodesk.com/hsmposts (PSA - Check your Posts Regularly) https://www.stackedmarketer.com/friend-recommended/?utm_source=sparkloop&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sm_daily&rh_ref=7dd90351 (Stacked Marketer) https://pdxc.co/descript (Descript Love) All Marketers are Liars - the title of which is a lie. Waste Expo Blown Deadlines Packaging/Shipping included in COGS LB's Costing / Pricing with Airpower to Shopify

You can read the series of Kasane on Manga Planet: https://read.mangaplanet.com/comic/61710df57a541 Published by Kodansha Ltd Volumes 1-11 I recently subscribe to Manga Plant for 6 months (also Futekiya) they were doing a 50% off of the 6-month subscription and I felt I wanted to read a different genre of manga. I was browsing through some manga and this manga called Kasane caught my attention. I read the summary and was curious to read it. So I started to read the first chapter. And I was instantly hooked.

Tokyo-born and Melbourne-raised violinist Kyla Matsuura-Miller talks about winning the 2021 Freedman Classical Fellowship, BIPOC representation in music and those necessary awkward moments...Since graduating from the ANAM in 2018, violinist Kyla Matsuura-Miller has more than established her place at the table in the Australian cultural scene. Kyla is the 2021 Freedman Classical Fellowship recipient and has won awards including the Homophonic Pride Prize. She is currently collaborating with Inventi Ensemble and in Duo Piaggio with pianist Adam McMillan. Kyla currently plays on a fine violin made by Giovanni Pistucci, circa 1910-1920 which has been generously loaned by a private syndicate.Kyla Matsuura-Miller: http://www.kylaviolin.com.au/__________– Discussed in this episode –• Freedman Fellowship: https://sima.org.au/freedman-music-fellowships/• rage - ABC: https://www.abc.net.au/rage/• The Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM): https://anam.com.au/• Ngarra-Burria: https://www.moogahlin.org/ngarra-burria• Three Conversations – Kyla Matsuura-Miller: https://musictrust.com.au/loudmouth/three-conversations-an-exploration-of-growing-up-non-white-in-australia/• Tobias Willis, KEWL Studio: https://www.kewl.studio/• Stephanie Kabanyana-Kanyandekwe: https://kabanyana.com/about/• Concerto for Violin with Percussion Orchestra (1959-1940*) [*as inscribed by the composer] – Lou Harrison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn-GP8KUJB4 • Steve Schick: http://stevenschick.com/ • Will Hansen: https://www.facebook.com/willhansenbass/ __________Opening music: Heaven Only Empty (2014) – Damien RicketsonClosing music: Light for the First Time (2017) – Bree van ReykThe Offcast is hosted by Claire Edwardes OAM, and produced and edited by Ben Robinson.Ensemble Offspring: https://ensembleoffspring.com/This episode of The Offcast is sponsored by Limelight

Happy Woo Wednesdays! Do you want to have a faith based business> Tiffani has been my buddy for 13 years. We are Southbay natives and grown-up in the industry together. Her and her sister shot my wedding in 2015. I'm sure you heard of Sun and Sparrow. https://californiaweddingday.com/real-weddings/carissa-stu-fabulous-affair-where-whimsical-meets-modern-pop She left her photography biz to go into ministry. Her sister Ellie took over the biz. I opened up about my faith with God. What we chat about today: 1. I left my 6 figure business to go into ministry - It's never too late to go after what God calls you to do. - Being a Christian having faith in today's world is hard, but it's worth sharing God's story in your life. - every business can be a mission field. If God is calling you to share your faith, then go after it. People love connecting with your passions and there are tons of people who are interested in sharing your passions. Bio and words from Tiffani: My name is Tiffani Matsuura. I was a wedding photographer for 13 years and owned a business with my sister. In 2021, I heard from God that He wanted me to become a missionary. I jumped in and ran after Him! I'm working on what it looks like to be a full-time minister in the city of Los Angeles. At the moment I'm creating a podcast that talks about faith stories and encourages people to deepen their faith and walk with Jesus. Connect with Tiffani https://aworthytreasure.com/ https://sunandsparrow.com/ https://www.instagram.com/aworthytreasure/ Connect with Carissa https://www.instagram.com/carissawoo/ https://heckyesmedia.co/

Dan and Tiffani have been married for 13 years. Dan is the youth pastor and worship pastor & Tiffani is a (new) missionary. Dan left his full-time position at a school district in 2019 to pursue ministry. Tiffani left a full-time, photography business in 2021 to pursue missions. She would consider herself a local missionary. Hear why they made this decision on episode 36. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Take a trip back to 1996 as we look at the first true rhythm game parappa 

Eleanor Matsuura is an English actress best known for her roles in The Walking Dead (Yumiko), Spooks: The Greater Good and Into the Badlands. She was born in Tokyo and raised in Hertfordshire and now lives with her husband and daughter in Atlanta. Graduating from the Central School of Speech & Drama, Eleanor has worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company and performed on stage at the Royal Court Theatre, the Old Vic and several West End theatres. In this episode we delve into Eleanor's Sliding Doors moments. We chat all about the decision she was presented with when her dream of being a TV presenter was offered to her at the same time she got into drama school. She discusses how life and experiences are all about timing and happen when they are meant to be. They say that when you stop looking things come to you, and this couldn't be truer for Eleanor after she took the plunge to book her ticket to go travelling to Australia- then everything changed! She speaks openly and honestly about being a hard-working mum and actress and how she makes her life work for her and her family....and how we should never let our perceptions hold us back! @slidingdoorspod Hosted by: @jenbecks28 Guest: @eleanormatsuura

In episode 20 of The Gunn Show, we are joined by Tyler Bonde, Regional Product Manger at Matsuura USA! Tyler shares his story of working in the world of medical molds, while running his own busines...

Eleanor talks to Avianna about her Japanese-British heritage, going to drama school and pursuing an acting career. She shares her point of view about the difference between UK and US acting, auditioning for iconic franchise shows/movies and deciding to have her baby daughter amidst a busy time in her career. She shares stories of breastfeeding on set, training for the Wonder Woman movie and finding joy in exploring Atlanta as she films The Walking Dead. They finish with a discussion of the future that Eleanor aspires to and the truth telling she seeks in her work and in the world.

In this episode I talk about envy and the ways in which we can learn from its wisdom. I begin by talking about the neuroscience of envy and the ways in which it serves an important purpose in our lives, even though envy can be extremely painful and has its potential harms and costs. When we know how to work with and learn from envy, we can relate to it in a way that helps us meet unmet needs and live in closer alignment with ourselves and our values. In addition to offering some key strategies that can help envy become a less dominant force in our lives, I'll also share a meditation that I created focused on learning from the wisdom of envy. I hope this meditation will support you in navigating envy when it shows up in your life. Although I invite you to listen to the whole episode in order to help contextualize the meditation and understand the intention of each component, the meditation begins at 45:58. To connect more with Dr. Foynes: Check out the free 4-part video series on building resilience: https://melissafoynes.com/free-series 1:1 Coaching Program: https://melissafoynes.com/1-1-program Follow @drfoynes on Instagram. References & Additional Resources Kristal, A. C., O'Brien, E., & Caruso, E. M. (2019). Yesterday's news: A temporal discontinuity in the sting of inferiority. Psychological science, 30(5), 643-656. Takahashi, H., Kato, M., Matsuura, M., Mobbs, D., Suhara, T., & Okubo, Y. (2009). When Your Gain Is My Pain and Your Pain Is My Gain: Neural Correlates of Envy and Schadenfreude Science, 323 (5916), 937-939. Please note that the information provided in this episode does not constitute professional advice or therapy, mental health services, or health care services, and is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional advice or services. If you are struggling with a mental health crisis or need immediate assistance, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Hiring is RISKY business... But Grimsmo's gotten super lucky so far! Saunders points out that Skye might just have been Grimsmo's riskiest hire, but so far it's all good! How long should it take before hiring = more product produced? First it's necessary to get a system set up! Grimsmo is in the midst of switching from temporary solutions to permanent solutions. Looks like it's time to talk ERP SYSTEMS! How to sketch a pen without a pen to sketch? The Johns talk about Grimsmo's process for designing and making pen parts on the ever slow Fusion.   Also, if you didn't document the process, did you even make the pen? Grimsmo feels bad about not making progress videos for the pen. BACK TO BASICS Sometimes the best improvement you can make to a shop is getting rid of everything that doesn't make your product. Saunders would tell you BE BRUTAL ABOUT IT! Go for the purge. On a softer note, you can read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Grimsmo mentions this book as a method of organizing your life. It's nice when things take a while. Okay, this maybe isn't the case if you're waiting for Fusion to load, but if you're learning something new or making a decision, the Johns agree that rushing doesn't equal results.   “Everything of value comes after much hard work” - Grimsmo   Are you in the Chicago or Hartford, Connecticut, area? Do you want to meet Saunders and the Saunders Machine Works team? Now's your chance! Wednesday May 8th Saunders will be in Chicago for the DMG Mori Innovation Days Tuesday May 15th Saunders will be in Hartford, Connecticut, for Matsuura's Open House. Both events are free, and the Johns are always thrilled to meet listeners!

Even amidst the morning grogg, the Johns still manage to talk big picture. Today, is a Matsuura day and MAM-OH-MAM it's going to be awesome. While Saunders is in Connecticut to learn about values that drive Matsuura, Grimsmo heads to the Elliot Matsuura Joint Open House with his team to check out the BROTHER SPEEDIO S700X1. everybody's workin' for the weekend...but the MAM72 works ON the weekend. HOW DO WE LEVEL UP? Well, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Serious discussion ensues about debt and why it MIGHT be a necessary evil. One thing is certain: Something's Gotta Give. Beginner's Guide to Accounting for Machinists and Manufacturing Entrepreneurs FROM THE OUTSIDE IN Grimsmo to put himself in a new role for a different perspective. What would you do if you were an outside investor looking at your own company? How I Built This Podcast Finally, Grimsmo gives an update about knife #1000