AFTER "TORA TORA TORA" CAME "LITTLE BOY" AND "FAT MAN" DROPPING ON JAPAN

Karato Market is like the centre of Shimonoseki, which in turn is the Fugu (Puffer Fish) Centre of Japan. It's a small city with a 1,000-year-old history that is both colourful and yet unique. For those who are familiar with Japanese swordsmanship, this was where the legends Miyamoto Musashi and "Long Sword" Sasaki Kojiro fought the most famous duel on Ganryujima (Island) some 400 years ago. Two other famous battles fought here were one, the 1186 Battle of Dan-no-ura where the Minamoto Clan (Genji) defeated the Taira Clan (Heike) resulting in 6-year old "Emperor" Antoku committing suicide in the arms of his grandmother in the Kanmon Straits. The other was in 1863, when the Chofu Clan under Daimyo Mori Takachika fired on foreign ships in the Straits resulting in a coalition of foreign naval ships engaging them for a period of time until 1864 when the foreigners won. It is also a city where the "losers" are favoured over the "winners", starting with 6-year old Antoku.

 Fugu Sashimi packed ready for consumption. Prices range from 1,000 to 12,400 Yen.

Other parts of the fish are sold like the body and skin, with prices shown.

Lunchboxes packed with a combination of sashimi, scallops, squid and fish roe. Many people grab them and/or packed Fugu and find a place outside the market to sit and enjoy them.

Eager buyers scouting for the best deals.

More shoppers.

The quayside outside the market is crammed with people either eating, walking to the market or just strolling under the Kanmon Bridge.

The renowned Kanmon Bridge that spans the straits of the same name or also Shimonoseki Straits. The straits separates Honshu from Kyushu. Under it has been constructed  a pedestrian tunnel enabling one to walk from Kyushu to Honshu or vice versa in about 15 minutes or a distance of about 700m.

Cute Fugu statue outside the Kameyama Shrine, diagonally across from Karato Market.

People praying outside the shrine.

This monument was erected in commemoration of St Francis Xavier who during his travels in Asia landed at this spot in 1550.

Chofu is a little town in Shimonoseki preserved as a "Samurai town". Many houses reminiscent of that era are preserved here. As we strolled along, I found these boys feeding ducks in a stream. So carefree!

The door leading to the courtyard of  the Chofu Mori Residence. The house built was by Mr Mori Mototoshi, the 14th head of the Chofu Mori family. Construction was started in 1889 and completed in 1903. It was used as a temporary residence for the Meiji Emperor.

Lord Mori Motonari's statue in the courtyard garden.

The house itself which has been preserved as a museum of sorts. An entrance fee is needed.

Interior of the house..

A garden within.

A beautiful Bonsai plant worthy of admiration.

A well-preserved house with nice trees. Can envisage Ninjas scaling the roofs to enter it.

Like a small castle with walls and a moat?

We met an Englishman with his Japanese partner and got chatting and he showed us Dong Pong, a cute and neat shop selling nice memorabilia on a "fair trade" basis. He informed me that Chofu is the most wonderful part of Shimonoseki to live in.

This girl who was admiring the ducks got upset when I took her pic.