🏯 Sendai — City of Trees and Regeneration

Before the roar of airplanes returned over the runway of Sendai Airport, the city had been silent for decades after the 2011 tsunami swept everything off the Tohoku coast, leaving a memory of loss. But further back, Sendai was never just a “coastal town”—it was the heart of a northern kingdom, born from the vision of a samurai who saw beyond swords and armor.

In the early 17th century, Date Masamune, a shrewd one-eyed warlord, built the city on Mount Aoba as the base of Sendai's power. He built not just a castle, but a “city of faith and art,” where temples, shrines, and markets blended seamlessly with the surrounding mountain landscape. He was also one of the few samurai leaders to dare send envoys across the sea to Spain and the Vatican, opening the doors of trade and friendship with Europe—an incredibly progressive idea for the time.

Today, his statue remains on the hilltop of Aoba Castle. Looking down at the city, which shimmers at night beneath tens of thousands of majestic trees, earning it the nickname "Mori no Miyako (City of Trees)", the city still breathes a fervent faith.

During World War II, the city was almost completely destroyed by bombing, but its residents rebuilt everything with their own hands. When the 2011 tsunami struck again, Sendai persisted. The once-submerged airport reopened in less than two months, becoming a symbol of new beginnings.

Our journey began with a drive from Sendai Airport, passing through the region's "lessons of hope." The route from the ruins of Aoba Castle to Rinnoji Park and Asaichi Market all told the same story—the story of people who stood up silently.

This city taught us that true strength lies not in stone walls or tall towers, but in a heart that never succumbs to the waves of time. 🌿
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"Sendai — a city that teaches us to believe in the power of new beginnings ✨"

#Sendai #Tohoku #JapanTrip #DateMasamune

Post by Mr. Choon | Oct 29, 2025