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01/02/2005:

"The Future of Pacifist Japan"

I've visited lots of Japanese castles, from Kumamoto in Kyushu to Matsumae in Hokkaido. Some sit atop hills, enjoying a commanding view of the surrounding area. Some are encircled by moats, or twisting roadways designed to thwart attacks. Most castles date to the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries, or are modern concrete reconstructions of fortresses first built during those centuries. They typically sport elegant interiors, combining austerity with opulence, and outside the towering donjon barracks for the lord's samurai retainers. I'm reminded of those castles when I read about Japan's present-day fortified base, outside of Samawah, in Iraq.

Full Article : trinicenter.com