On the Pacific coast of Honshu, just northeast of the capital, is Ibaraki Prefecture Tokyo’s secluded back garden. Home to the world-class technology hub
Japan’s Edo Period (1603-1867) was a time of peace and stability when various arts and technologies became well developed. At the top of the social hierarchy was the samurai warrior class. So essential in wartime, they became the bureaucrats who administered the government and oversaw the prevailing social order. At…