NICHINAN RESTAURANT, named for Portsmouth’s sister city in Japan, is in the heart of downtown, nestled alongside Hotel Thaxter with the John Paul Jones House next door and the Discover
Peasants living in Shimazu lands were allowed to practice archery only when seated because their feudal overlords feared they might use their bows to rebel.
Miyazaki prefecture, on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, is the perfect place to enjoy locally made shochu. A recent press tour stopped at four distilleries to see how the beverage is made.
Legend has it that Emperor Jimmu, a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu and the storm god Susanoo, founded Japan in 660 B.C. His accession is marked each year as National Foundation Day on Feb. 11.