Play the Game of Life
Ryan Petersen's Blog

Just west of Osaka, Hemeji boasts one of the country's finest castles. A massive structure built during the Tokugawa Shogunate in the late 16th century, Hemeji Castle seems to have been more of a palace than a defensive structure. The main tower and many of the auxilary buildings were built entirely of wood, and in an era of gunpowder (which the Japanese were already using at the time of its construction) it wouldn't have offered much in the way of defense. However, just outside the building were the homes of hundreds or thousands of fiercely loyal samurai warriors, so you would have had a hard time getting close enough to take a shot.

Labels: japan