Hanayui no Shou 16-3EB

Encouragement of castle touring - 3

[Marugame castle]

Sek: Mmm, cold and delicious! Huh? A bus just came.

Sum: They must be here for sightseeing... Or rather, a tour. I wonder if all of those people like castles?

Sek: You think so? It's probably just included in their tour program.

Tou: Even so, a castle tour is a wonderfully patriotic thing to do, and is very commendable.

Sek: I wonder about that. I don't really like it when it gets crowded...

Sum: I have to agree.

Sek: Right? I want to visit the Matsuyama castle and the rest of Shikoku's castles too, but are they all going to be this packed?

Tou: Probably... Depending on the time, of course.

Sek: You two like castles, so I'm sure you'd want to enjoy them at your own pace, right? In peace and quiet.

Sum: You're right. It's unpleasant when it gets too noisy.

Tou: I used to be like that back in the day, but I don't feel that way these days...

Sek: Really? Even though you're the same person, that's different? I wonder why, it feels weird.

Sum: Let's get back to our castles. So what was the most interesting castle you've seen?

Sek: Hm? Let's see... It's probably either the Himeji castle, with its brilliant white keep, or the Nagoya castle.

Tou: "The Nagoya of Owari prospers thanks to its castle", was it?

Sek: Ooh, well done! Also, don't take this as homeland bias, but the Goryoukaku definitely counts as well.

Sum: The cornerstone of the northern defence and the stage for the closure of the battle at Hakodate, right?

Sek: You're pretty well-versed for someone from the Divine Era!

Tou: The battle at Hakodate... If only Perry hadn't come then...

Sum/Tou: Accursed Perry... [1]

Sek: Whoa whoa, enough of that. So what castles did you two want to see?

Tou: Edo castle for me. I've heard that it was exceptionally well-defended owing to its sturdy construction, so I still long to see it.

Sum: For me, it's probably the Okayama castle, known as the Crow Castle. I would've loved to see that pentagon-shaped keep with my own eyes.

Sek: Sumi-chan, you've got some refined tastes. That castle can give my favourite Himeji castle a run for its money.

Tou: They call Himeji castle the White Egret castle, right?

Sek: Mmm, what a lovely comparison! I'd love to put the two next to each other and gaze upon them. Haah, that'd be bliss...

Tou: Heehee, you really do love castles.
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Notes
1 - Referring to Matthew C. Perry, a Commodore of the American Navy.