Nagasaki Japan – Travels Round The World

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Nagasaki, in southern Japan.

NAGASAKI, JAPAN
VOLCANOES, BEAUTIFUL OFFSHORE ISLANDS, HISTORIC BUILDINGS & HOT-SPRING SPAS
Utterly devastated in just a few seconds, Nagasaki was the target of the second US atomic bomb as World War II
moved toward its horrifying conclusion. More than 50,000 were killed, and the stories here are harrowing and poignant. The fact that Nagasaki still stands and has embarked on a new mission to promote global peace with a message of hope

The scars the city wears will never heal, but the color, culture, and creativity of Nagasaki may surprise you.

The Memorial Hall is a glass structure of meditation and messages of peace left by visitors from everywhere.

NAGASAKI KOSHIBYO CONFUCIUS SHRINE
The Shrine was built in 1893. It is the only Confucian mausoleum constructed by the Chinese outside China. Renovated in 1982 with the support of the Chinese government, the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius in Qufu, Shandong Province, this temple is a unique structure that blends the architectural styles of both Southern and Northern China.

SIGHTS

Peace Park Nagasaki
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
Megane Bridge
Hashima Island
Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium

Today’s Excursion – Historical Nagasaki

We discovered why Nagasaki is known as Japan’s ‘Gateway to the West.’

Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture
Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture is one of the few museums in Japan dedicated to the history of International
Exchange. The Museum holds an extensive collection of historical documents, art, and craftworks that tell the story of Nagasaki, the only window open to foreign countries during Japan’s period of seclusion. In addition, part of the Nagasaki Magistrate’s Office (a local agency of the central government in the Edo period) has been faithfully reconstructed based on historical materials, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of feudal Japan. The exhibits are displayed to ensure an instructive and enjoyable experience.

Dejima Museum
Dejima was a Portuguese and later a Dutch trading post at Nagasaki from 1634 to 1854.
It was also the location for trade with the Chinese and the only place designated for foreign trade and exchange during the Japanese Edo period. Dejima was a small fan-shaped artificial island in the bay of Nagasaki covering an area of 390ft. x 250ft. and was built in 1634 to house Portuguese traders and separate them from Japanese society by digging a canal through a small peninsula. The Dutch were moved to Dejima in 1641 for most of the Edo period. The islands were the single place of direct trade between Japan and the outside world. The “Dejima Dutch Trading Post” was designated a Japanese National Historic site in 1922.

Restoration of 17th century Dutch trading post

Peace Memorial Park
On August 9, 1945, at 11:02 AM. an atomic bomb exploded. The fierce blast and heat rays reached several thousand degrees. Deadly radiation generated by the explosion burned and killed everything in sight and reduced the entire area to a bare field of rubble. About one-third of Nagasaki City was destroyed. Peace Memorial Park is home to a beautiful memorial fountain and statues donated from countries around the world leading to the 30-foot-high Statue of Peace.

Sandy went to a shrine to get a Temple Stamp.

Tonight’s dinner was in The Restaurant.

TONIGHT’S SHOW WITH VAN-ANH NGUYEN

AWARD-WINNING VIRTUOSO PIANIST

ARIA-nominated concert pianist and Universal/Decca/Deutsche Grammophon recording artist Van-Anh Nguyen became the first Australian-Vietnamese to enter the US iTunes Classical Charts.

Born to Vietnamese refugee musicians and starting piano studies at 13 months, the Australian-born concert pianist made her Sydney Opera House debut at age 8.

Her bubbly, contagious personality and emotive playing have graced the stages as a soloist across Australia at venues including the Sydney Opera House, City Recital Hall, the Forbidden City Concert Hall (China), the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre (China), Segerstrom Performing Arts Center (LA), Herbst Theater (SF).

Her ability to perform classically and her stage flair for creative classical-crossover arranging and mashups have allowed her to perform for such brands as Moet & Chandon, Porsche, Barons de Rothschild, the Patron Secret Society, Fairfax & Roberts, Vicki Lee Gallery, and Ferrari, to name a few.

Van-Anh has ten albums released on all major digital music outlets, with her most recent release on Deutsche Grammophon. She has been featured as a music icon in various publications, including L’Officiel Magazine, Elle Magazine Vietnam, Sunday Life, Marie Claire Australia, and Harper’s Bazaar Magazine, and she has had her own TV show on Discovery Channel Asia.

Van-Anh is the creator and owner of Perfect Pairings, a concert concept in which she pairs music with wine. This concept has appeared in six countries, working with various vineyards, sommeliers, and chefs, and has subsequently led to her launching her wine.

Van-Anh is a Roland Artist & Ambassador. She now resides between Sydney and Los Angeles. For more information, please see www.vananhofficial.com