Shimonoseki

　　I visited Shimonoseki City, located at the westernmost part of Honshu, the biggest island of Japan, to run the Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon on Nov. 3rd. This city has been prosperous since long ago by taking advantage of its location. The peace treaty between Japan and the Qing dynasty was tied in Shimonoseki after the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95). During the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) Shimonoseki was the most important supply base. My late grandfather was waiting for deployment to the Chinese Continent as a cavalry soldier in Shimonoseki when the war ended. Anyway I'll eat local specialties and go sightseeing around today.
　　My friend and I were eating "Kawara-soba" in the first picture. Soba noodles on the heated kawara roof tile were delicious, though I didn't know why people started grilling soba on the kawara roof tiles. Then we headed for Ganryujima island which was famous as the duel site for two historic master swordsmen. The statue of the duel stood on a small hill. This tiny island is on the Kan'mon channel, which is so narrow and has a rapid ocean current. Ship handling would be so difficult there. The last picture shows the Kan'mon'kyo bridge straddling the Kan'mon channel.

(Vocabulary)
cavalry (現代の陸軍の) 機甲部隊; 騎兵隊, 騎馬隊
swordsman 剣士、剣客

３日に開催される下関海峡マラソンに参加するため下関へ向かった。この町は古くから栄えた港町。本州の最西端に位置しており、九州は目の前に見える。今日は地元の名物を食べ、この辺りの観光をする。
１枚目の写真で食べているのは瓦そば。瓦の上にそばを置いて焼いている。なぜこのようなスタイルが生まれたのかは知らないが、美味しい。そして日本を代表する剣豪の血統で有名な場所、巌流島へ。この小さな島は関門海峡にある。とても狭い海峡で、流れの速さ、操船の難しさで有名な場所。５枚目が本州と九州を繋ぐ橋、関門大橋である。