What's Hiroshima Andersen

The memorial plaque in front of Hiroshima Andersen

This is one inspiring story of a former bank building transformed into Hiroshima's popular bakery and restaurant located in the shopping arcade called Hon Dori (meaning "main street").


The building, originally built in 1925 as a bank in the center of the city and only 360 meters away from Ground Zero, looked dismal right after the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945 but still stood and housed the same bank again in 1950 after being repaired for operation. Later other banks possessed the property until the ownership was handed to a bakery which is now called Hiroshima Andersen.  


The owner, Mr. Takaki, traveled in Europe for two months to expand the knowledge useful for his business in 1959. When in Copenhagen, Denmark, he, for the first time, ate Danish Pastry at breakfast. He loved it so much that he got determined to sell it in Japan. Later in 1962, the first pastry in Japan was made and sold by him. Which made his bakery famous and successful. 


In 1967, Mr. and Mrs. Takaki went to Europe while wondering if the former bank building they purchased should be used or rebuilt. In Rome, they got an inspiration: they witnessed an old grand historical building refurbished and used by a leading confectioner. The archaic building, infused with modern ideas, looked lively. They made up their mind that their old estate be used and made into a store with North European ambiance.


The Hon Dori shopping arcade is where you will feel everyday Hiroshima. Locals come here for shopping and dining. Try Hon Dori and experience the city.

Calla at Shukkeien Japanese garden

Calla: They grow near the water.

This is a lovely garden. Though small in area, it feels much larger than it really is due to clever techniques of Japanese garden making. Different flowers are in bloom in different times of the year, giving you a chance to sense seasonal transitions. You will feel life goes on as seasons come around. 


In May this year, not many flowers are seen but the ones in the photo looked pretty and unassuming. According to a fellow guide who loves plants, they seem to be called Calla belonging to Araceae.


The garden sometimes hosts tea ceremonies. The one especially enjoyable is held at the beginning of May every year. Young girl students are in charge of picking new tea leaves growing at a small tea field in the garden. The leaves are steamed, kneaded and made into tea. 


Once something similar was conducted by the Asano family who governed Hiroshima during the Edo period when the Tokugawa Shoguns were the central authorities. 


Some years back, the practice was restored and appreciated by garden visitors and photographers.

Stone Buddha in Usuki, Oita

The Cosmic Buddha in the Furuzono Gallery

Usuki Daibutsu Stone Buddhas are about six kilometers away from JR Usuki Station. It seems there's a free bike rental service at the station. Could be possible to go there by bike I wonder. Also accessible by bus from Usuki Station. I went there by car from Beppu with my guests so it was too easy. 


The Buddha sculptures, designated as national treasures, are roughly 1000 years old. There are four galleries and two of them are easy access with gentle slopes. One of the two is the best of the four: Maha Vairochana or the Cosmic Buddha flanked by 12 others is magnificent. Once the Buddha's head was dislocated and was sitting on the ground. After discussing what to do for ten years, researchers agreed that the head be restored. 


When in Usuki, don't miss the Inaba Residence built for the former Inaba lord to stay when he was back in Usuki coming back from Tokyo. It has a lovely garden which retains the old samurai house garden atmosphere yet with a tinge of the modernity from the Meiji period. The house was built in 1902 in the Meiji period but looks like an authentic senior samurai house from the Edo period.


Oita Prefecture has many stone Buddhas sculpted from the tuff-hillside, making a striking difference from other parts of Japan.

Buddha's head sitting on the ground

On the premises of Chuson-ji

Medicine Buddha specializing in eye diseases are here!

This is a little weird but attractive; lots of eyes drawn on the banner. Pray here if you have trouble with your eyes. 

Pure Land embodied in Motsu-ji garden

Motsu-ji garden in March

Pure Land where Amitabha lives might look like this in winter. This is the Motsu-ji garden, Iwate, Tohoku.

What remains of warriors' dreams

Stone monument at Motsu-ji temple

The summer grass 'Tis all that's left of ancient warriors' dreams
 - Haiku poem composed by MATSUO Basho (1644-1694) 


Translated into English by NITOBE Inazo (1862-1933), the author of Bushido, who was born in Iwate, Tohoku.

Sake making: before and after

Saccharification and fermentation are happening
in the same vat at the same time.

This white bubbly mixture eventually becomes the one below: fresh out of the pressing machine, the sake retains a bit of carbon dioxide; thus you feel a tingling sensation that can only be experienced here in the sake factory. The photos are from Kirei Brewery in Saijo, Higashi-hiroshima. 






It was toward the end of the sake making season in March. I had a chance to tour their factory. And after the tour, a luncheon at a nearby Japanese restaurant. Only women were invited to this gathering of the sake factory tour and lunch. We had a hilarious time!

Fresh out of the press