Earlier, I pointed out how the corner stones you see in the picture are continuing to support the Iidamaru Gokai Yagura (飯田丸五階櫓), despite the collapse of the surrounding walls. Until I saw this article, however, I didn’t realize that it had become a symbol of determination from which the people of Kumamoto were drawing inspiration. The article calls it the “ippon ishigaki” (the “single-pile stone wall”), a name that is reminiscent of the “ipponmatsu” (single pine tree) of Rikuzen-Takata, which became a symbol of resoluteness and survival after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (http://www.mustlovejapan.com/subject/ipponmatsu_rikuzentakata/).
– Kirk
