Invader. Trachemys scripta elegans, Red-eared Sliding Turtle, Ôhori-kôen, Fukuoka, Kyûshû, Japan
Sure, well, I guess: our Red-ear might be called elegant. But watching it and its friends I pondered about a bit of history.
Terrapin is an invasive turtle in Japan from the Americas; and it tends to crowd out 'local' turtles. Here it is in the pretty lake of Ôhori-kôen in Fukuoka.
The lake was once the Kusagae Inlet of Hakata - one of Fukuoka's earlier names - Bay. It was made into a lake and part of the new castle grounds by Kuroda Nagamasa (1568-1623). Nagamasa was a (catholic) Christian samurai or bushi and a powerful daimyô.
Thus many changes in that era for Hakata-Fukuoka! But the greatest change was economical, Hakata had been an important harbor for the Japanese trade with other Asian nations. Quite suddenly the invaders! In 1609 The Dutch acquired trading rights for their post at Hirado on Kyûshû as well not far away. Soon Fukuoka lost its trade advantages and by 1641 and the move of the Dutch to Dejima at Nagasaki, the town was in dire straits.
Times change... today Fukuoka is a bustling and very attractive place, the 6th city of Japan.
It does however host these Invader Tortoises, and in the mind's eye of this photographer a bit of history became a kind of tableau vivant...
Invader. Trachemys scripta elegans, Red-eared Sliding Turtle, Ôhori-kôen, Fukuoka, Kyûshû, Japan
Sure, well, I guess: our Red-ear might be called elegant. But watching it and its friends I pondered about a bit of history.
Terrapin is an invasive turtle in Japan from the Americas; and it tends to crowd out 'local' turtles. Here it is in the pretty lake of Ôhori-kôen in Fukuoka.
The lake was once the Kusagae Inlet of Hakata - one of Fukuoka's earlier names - Bay. It was made into a lake and part of the new castle grounds by Kuroda Nagamasa (1568-1623). Nagamasa was a (catholic) Christian samurai or bushi and a powerful daimyô.
Thus many changes in that era for Hakata-Fukuoka! But the greatest change was economical, Hakata had been an important harbor for the Japanese trade with other Asian nations. Quite suddenly the invaders! In 1609 The Dutch acquired trading rights for their post at Hirado on Kyûshû as well not far away. Soon Fukuoka lost its trade advantages and by 1641 and the move of the Dutch to Dejima at Nagasaki, the town was in dire straits.
Times change... today Fukuoka is a bustling and very attractive place, the 6th city of Japan.
It does however host these Invader Tortoises, and in the mind's eye of this photographer a bit of history became a kind of tableau vivant...