The Man Behind Japanese Football's Three-Legged CrowNew!!
The story of Jitsuzo Hinago, a sculptor from Usuki who designed the symbol of Japanese football. You’ve Probably Seen This Crow The three-legged crow on a Japan national football team jersey. Photo: SORECCHA If you have ever watched Japan’s national football team, you may have noticed a strange bird on the team’s emblem. It is […]
The Woman Who First Brought Heidi to JapanNew!!
Discover how Yaeko Nogami, a writer born in Usuki, became the first person to translate Heidi into Japanese — and her surprising connections to famous writers, politicians, and a local soy sauce company.
Did Japan’s First Cannon Fire in Usuki?New!!
In 1576, a powerful new weapon arrived in Japan. It was a Western-style cannon, brought to Otomo Sorin, one of Kyushu's most influential feudal lords. He named it Kuni-kuzushi — roughly meaning “Province Destroyer.” And it ended up in Usuki. But there is an interesting question: Was Usuki the first place in Japan where this […]
The Japanese Island Where the Real-Life SHOGUN Story BeganNew!!
William Adams was an English navigator who arrived in Japan in 1600 aboard the Dutch ship De Liefde. He later became a trusted adviser to Tokugawa Ieyasu and inspired John Blackthorne, the main character of SHOGUN. His story in Japan began here, on a small island in Usuki. Kuroshima, seen from the mainland in Sashiu, […]