Kirk here with sad news about vandalism. Some sort of fluid that left a red stain was thrown on a monument (reibyo; 霊廟)to HOSOKAWA Gracia in Kurokami, near Kumamoto University. First, who was HOSOKAWA Gracia?
— start quote — Hosokawa Garasha (細川ガラシャ), (1563 – 25 August 1600) was a member of the aristocratic Akechi family from the Sengoku period. Gracia is best known for her role in the Battle of Sekigahara; she was considered to be a political hostage to the Western army led by Ishida Mitsunari. She reneged on committing suicide (seppuku) because of her Catholic faith, breaking the code of conduct imposed on women of the samurai class. — end quote —
The vandalized monument is in the remains of Taishoji (泰勝寺), about which William has already written: https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0C8rfqwxy39LstrBPL81D53gRRWfddg6y8V4j7F3anuzm6UDcFim2MKM8h6bWe9ukl
Here’s the RKK news segment I saw:
