History
Iidesan, Fukushima’s Odd Border: Gods, Mountains, Lines in the Sand
In western Fukushima Prefecture, an odd salient of territory extends, wedged between Niigata and Yamagata Prefectures. So why is it there?
Articles by Nyri Bakkalian
53 articles · Page 6
History
History
Kyushu’s Samurai Vaccinators: The Fight Against Smallpox in Late Edo Japan
Faced with an epidemic, a forward-thinking group of doctors and samurai leaders launched a successful vaccination campaign in late Edo Japan.
History
Kadomatsu in Sendai: An Old-School Japanese New Year
You may have heard of kadomatsu, Japan's traditional New Year decoration. But did you know of this old-school variation from the Edo…
Book Reviews
Is James Clavell’s Shogun Accurate History – Or Pure Fiction?
UJ staff writer Dr. Nyri Bakkalian reads and critiques James Clavell's epically long-winded 1975 novel "Shogun" so you don't have to.
History
Stronger than the Wave: Five Southern Tohoku Folk Traditions
The Tohoku region's endured a lot over the past 200 years. How five rich folk traditions capture the durability and diversity of…
History
The Sacred Peaks: An Introduction to the Dewa Sanzan
Learn about the Dewa Sanzan, the three mountains that are the pride of Japan's north - and a deeply spiritual site for…
Food
Samurai Cultivator: The Birth of Modern Apple Cultivation in Japan
Apples, such as the delectable fuji, are ubiquitous in Japan. Yet cultivation of the fruit began relatively recently - during the waning…
History
Queer Echoes: Koike Chikyoku, Unlikely Warrior Artist
The story of a little-know artist-turned-warrior during the waning days of the samurai -- and who just might have been a queer…