about Kumamoto
“Kumamoto means ” origin of the bear “, and its nickname is Hi No Kuni (fire country), because of the nearby giant volcano…Kumamoto Castle (熊 本 城) is one of the most beautiful castles in Japan, and the third largest. Though in actuality the real Kumamoto Castle was burned down during the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, the current keep is a concrete reconstruction built during the sixties, though some of the other buildings are originals.” (Davis Hunter, Kumamoto).