Matsushima Bay Senganjima

It is said that Date Masamune, the famed lord of Sendai, used to throw parties on the occastion of Tsukimi, the Moon-viewing festival (which takes place today in Japan). The Tsukimi parties were held either at his pavilion on the shore, or on one of the islands in the Matsushima Bay.

As with any party, there was good food and lots of drinks, and hence many jokes appeared related to some of the islands. The small island photographed here is called Sengan-jima, meaning "thousand coin island", because it is said that Date Masamune said that he will reward with a thousand coins the one who will bring the island inside his castle in Sendai...