The Shitennoji Temple was established in 1400 by Prince Shotoku for the purpose of worshiping Buddha images.
Shitennō-ji (also Arahaka-ji, Nanba-ji, or Mitsu-ji) is a Buddhist temple in Ōsaka, Japan. It is sometimes regarded as the first Buddhist and oldest officially administered temple in Japan, although the temple buildings have been rebuilt over the centuries.
Prince Shōtoku invited three Korean Baekje carpenters, and they constructed this temple in 593. Prince Shōtoku was known for his profound Buddhist faith when Buddhism was not widespread in Japan. Most of the present structures are from when the temple was last completely rebuilt in 1963. One of the members involved in the initial construction of the temple in the 6th century later established a firm Kongō Gumi, specialized in temple and shrine buildings over centuries. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Takenaka corporation made use of the “lift up” construction method by means of cables. The mid-air garden, weighing 1040 tons was first assembled at ground level and then lifted up using for winches to an altitude of 150m at the rate of 35 cm/min (seven hours.) The mid-air escalators and mid-air bridge were raised the same way.
Umeda Sky Buildings ~ (Interconnected Skyscraper Complex) ~ [1993] Osaka, Japan (The most earthquake-prone country in the world!)
Takenaka corporation made use of the “lift up” construction method by means of cables. The mid-air garden, weighing 1040 tons was first assembled at ground level and then lifted up using for winches to an altitude of 150m at the rate of 35 cm/min (seven hours.) The mid-air escalators and mid-air bridge were raised the same way.
Sony Pictures Entertainment - "Hachi: A Dog's Tale"
Staring Richard Gere, is a film based on one of the most treasured and heartwarming true stories ever told.It’s a 2009 English-language drama film based on the true story of a faithful Akita Inu. The film is a remake of the 1987 Japanese film "Hachikō Monogatari."
(See the trailers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JImj5lV7al4 "Hachi" is a story of love and devotion between a dog and a man, and based on the true story of Hachikō (ハチ公, November 10, 1923 – March 8, 1935). The story is told by Ronnie, the man's grandson. When Ronnie has to give a presentation at school about a personal hero, his chosen subject is his grandfather's dog, Hachiko. Despite his classmates' laughing, Ronnie tells the story of how his grandfather, Professor Parker Wilson, finds a lost puppy which has been freighted to America from Japan and accidentally left at the train station of the Professor's small Rhode Island hometown. The professor ends up taking the puppy home, planning to search out its intended destination and send it on to its real owner. However, the search for the puppy's owner is unsuccessful, and Parker and the puppy begin to form a close connection. From his friend Ken, a Japanese professor, Parker learns that the dog is of the Japanese Akita breed. Ken also translates the symbol on the puppy's collar as "Hachi" (ハ) — Japanese for the number 8—signifying good fortune, even though the puppy's life so far has seemed anything but lucky. Thus the puppy acquires his name, "Hachiko," or "Hachi" for short, and although Parker's wife, Cate, is opposed to keeping the puppy, eventually she relents upon realizing how strong the bond between Parker and Hachi has become. Over the next year or so, Parker and Hachi become even closer. Parker tries, but Hachi refuses to do dog-like activities such as chasing and fetching. One morning, Parker leaves for work and Hachi follows him to the train station and refuses to leave until Parker walks him home. Later that afternoon, Hachi walks to the station to wait patiently for Parker to return. Parker is surprised to find Hachi waiting for him, and it becomes a daily routine. One day, Hachi waits patiently as the train arrives, but there is no sign of Parker. He waits, lying in the snow for hours until Parker's son-in-law Michael comes to get him. Although everyone tries to tell Hachi that Parker has died (of a cerebral hemorrhage during a lecture in class), Hachi doesn't understand. Hachi continues to return to the station and wait every day....for nine years! As time passes, Cate sells the house and Hachi is sent to live with Parker and Cate's daughter Andy, her husband Michael, and their baby Ronnie. However, Hachi escapes and finds his way back to the station, where he sits at his usual spot. Andy arrives and takes him home, but after seeing how depressed the dog is she lets him out to return to the station. Hachi waits every day at the train station and sleeps in the rail train yard at night. He is fed daily by the train station workers who knew the professor. After seeing a newspaper article about Hachi, Ken visits Hachi. Cate comes back to visit Parker's grave on the tenth anniversary of his death and meets Ken. She is stunned to see a now elderly Hachi still waiting at the station. Overcome with grief, Cate sits and waits for the next train with him. At home, Cate tells the now ten-year-old Ronnie about Hachi. Meanwhile, Hachi continues waiting until his body can wait no longer, and is last seen lying in the snow, alone and still, although he is comforted by a final vision of Parker finally appearing and picking him up to go, presumably to the afterlife. Ronnie concludes his story of why Hachi will forever be his hero. The story has clearly moved the class, with some students holding back tears, including those who had laughed at the beginning. After school, Ronnie, coming off the school bus, is met by his dad and his own puppy, also named Hachi. The film ends with Ronnie and Hachi walking down the same tracks where Parker and the previous Hachi had spent so much time together. On May 19, 2012, a bronze statue of Hachiko the dog was placed at the train depot at Woonsocket Depot Square, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where Hachi was filmed. The train depot at One Depot Square has been named Hachiko Place. A bronze statue of Hachiko is in front of the Shibuya train station, (Tokyo, Japan), in his honor. Interesting Facts: Animal trainer Mark Harden and his team trained the three Akitas — "Leyla," "Chico" and "Forrest" — who played the role of Hachi in the movie. Harden adopted Chico after the movie was completed. According to the movie's closing cards, the real Hachiko died in March 1934, while the earlier movie, Hachikō Monogatari, and other sources state that he died in March 1935 (9 years and 9 months after Professor Ueno's death). The movie was based on the real Japanese Akita dog Hachiko, who was born in Ōdate, Japan in 1923. After the death of his owner, Ueno Hidesaburō in 1925, Hachiko returned to the Shibuya train station the next day and every day after that for the next nine years until he died in March 1935.
Hachikō is known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō (忠犬ハチ公) "faithful dog Hachikō," hachi meaning "eight" and kō meaning "affection.”
For dog lovers...here's another remarkable (true) dog story:"The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby" (2006), 1-hr-44 min. PG. Adventure. Drama. Kids & FamilyGreyfriars Bobby (May 4, 1855 – January 14, 1872) was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died himself on 14 January 1872. The story continues to be well known in Scotland, through several books and films. Following his death, Constable John Gray's loyal terrier Bobby is entrusted to Ewan, a shy young man whom Gray had taken under his wing. Despite their friendship, Bobby refuses to leave his master's side, sleeping on his grave in Greyfriar's churchyard night after night. However, when a new dog licensing law put's Bobby's life in danger, Ewan must overcome his shyness and embark on a fight to save him, one that will lead Ewan all the way to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
Tom Taffel
www.TomsGroupCruises.com |