岡山県観光土産品協会

General information

One aspect that lives quietly in a beautiful, famous garden which is that of a training place for warrior arts

The “Okayama Korakuen (or Korakuen)” that has obtained a three-star rating from “Michelin Green-Guide Japan” is a daimyo garden constructed about 300 years ago by Nagatada Tsuda under the order of Lord Tsunamasa Ikeda, lord of the Okayama Domain. The vast garden that was constructed over the course of 14 years is made so you can walk the park path while enjoying the sceneries of the several notable locations such as the “Sawa-no-ike (Sawa Pond)” where koi are made to swim as well as the rest spot “Renchiken” where successive lords of the domain relaxed.

This amazing garden that is counted as one of the top three daimyo gardens of Japan also has an aspect of being a training place for martial arts. One of the buildings that is passing on that legacy is “Kanshatei.” This location was once a place of “martial exhibition” where the lord of the domain would inspect the archery skills of his retainers. Martial exhibitions were events held to encourage the retainers to train in sword and Iai (sword drawing), horseback riding, archery, and the like. They were held for the retainers to demonstrate their progress in their daily training in front of their lord. It is said that the lord showed his interest in his retainers, the retainers showed their loyalty by improving their skills in martial techniques, and they affirmed their master-servant relationships through these sorts of functions.

This aspect of being a training place for martial arts that lives quietly in this beautiful garden continues to remain in the garden and can be observed as a hidden notable location that is highly regarded by a select few.

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