Shiga History 2010

Chronology of Shiga Prefecture’s news bits for January-December 2010. Compiled by Philbert Ono.Updated: April 27, 2025 Jan. 1, 2010: Nagahama becomes a new city by merging with six towns in… Read more

Historic ryokan in Musa destroyed by fire

A two-story ryokan called Nakamura-ya (中村屋) in Musa, Omi-Hachiman has been totally destroyed by an early-morning fire on Dec. 10, 2010. The owner/operator couple of the 200-year-old inn were sleeping… Read more

Free Azai sister trio for New Year’s postcards

Shiga Prefecture is now offering free high-res downloads of manga characters depicting the three Azai sisters for your New Year’s postcards (nengajo). For personal and non-commercial use, you can freely… Read more

Old Toyosato Elementary School burglarized

A bit of disappointing news for anime fans, especially those who love the late-night anime program called “K-ON!” (けいおん!) which started to air in April 2010. The school depicted in… Read more

Rental bicycles at Kosei Station

In the city of Konan, JR Kosei Station (甲西駅) on the JR Kusatsu Line now has rental bicycles. You can rent them in front of the station. There are five bicycles… Read more

Biwako Basho sumo held in Otsu

Only two years after the Maibara Basho sumo exhibition tournament was held in Oct. 2008, grand sumo came to Shiga again during Oct. 24-25, 2010. It was to mark the… Read more

Maihara Hikiyama Matsuri

The annual Maihara (Maibara) Hikiyama Festival was held on Oct. 9-11, 2010 near Maibara Station. I went to see it on Oct. 10 (Sun.). It rained in the morning and… Read more

Ibuki-yama Taiko Drum Dance

Video link: http://youtu.be/gU0sV3puYJs Went to see the Mt. Ibuki Taiko Drum Dance (伊吹山奉納太鼓踊り Ibukiyama Hono Taiko Odori) on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010. It is held only once every five years. I… Read more