For someone born and raised in Osaka, the grand and overwhelming scale of Osaka Castle Main Tower is a kind of pride. I have introduced its beauty many times on the Hitotsuya blog as well.
Please also have a look at our earlier blog post, “Osaka History Walk 2: The Nation’s Kitchen.”
Eight years ago, when I first moved to Iga and saw Iga Ueno Castle, my honest first impression was, “What a small castle tower.” Compared with Osaka Castle, it felt almost like the size of one of its turrets, so I suppose it was only natural that I felt something was missing.
Time passed, and after touching the soil of Iga and living with the wind of this place for eight years, I now find myself unconsciously looking for that graceful white castle tower whenever I go into town.
“By now, it has completely become the pride of my town, and I feel very attached to it.”
Those words did not come from trying too hard to fit in. They simply welled up from the quiet accumulation of everyday life. The indescribable atmosphere of the old castle town spreading out below the castle. The rows of houses with tiled roofs. I can feel all of these things slowly changing inside me, from “scenery” into “home.”
Carrying the heart of Osaka with me, while living with the breath of Iga — whenever I look up at Ueno Castle, I always think, “I’m so glad I came here! 😁” I will continue to live here quietly, in this place.