Nakhon Si Thammarat, the last place of Nagamasa Yamada

I visited Nakhon Si Thammarat in southern Thailand. Although it is a small town, it seems to be a place with some connection to Japan. There is the most important pagoda in southern Thailand. It has relics of Buddha’s teeth. and there is a national museum, which is very interesting because there is an archeological exhibition at the time of the Sriwijaya Kingdom, which once ruled all over Southeast Asia, but when I visited, the museum was closed. There is also a place where a Japanese warlord from Suruga was appointed as king here and died there. With a population of around 100000, it is not so big town.

 

 

What is Nakhon Si Thammarat ?

It is the east coast side of southern Thailand.

 

Nakhon Si Thammarat Bus Terminal

About 2 hours by bus from Surat Thani to this town.

People looks relaxing and peaceful.

I think Thailand’s income is skyrocketing on a dollar basis, due to economic growth and the very high Baht. But when I look at people’s lives, they seems wanna say, “I don’t know about that Baht or something. I want more salary.

 

Now, from the bus terminal, catch a motorcycle taxi and head to the famous temple.

 

Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan

From the bus terminal, you can reach the most important temple in southern Thailand in about 10 minutes by motorcycle taxi. I guess it was about 40 baht.

It is quite big.

It’s Sri Lankan architecture, but it seems somewhat like Myanmar. Well, basically it’s the same Buddhism so its shape is almost the same.

Donations seem to be QR code payment. It is IT era

During the daytime on weekdays, there were quite a few worshipers and tourists. Then, from here tuk tuk to THALAD PARK.

The old city walls can be seen along the main road.

It is a small town, but traffic jam only around the station.

After tuk-tuk and short walk, you will see the park. There is a museum and Nagamasa Yamada memorial monument in this park. This park is large, So maybe it is difficulet ot find monument. Nevermind I’ll put a map below.
 




 

 

THALAD PARK – City Museum – Nagamasa Yamada memorial monument

Entrance of THALAD PARK

 

This park is too large and has few citizens. Maybe people gather in the evening.

 

The museum here is not large, but I think it is a great museum to learn about the history of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

History of the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

People who came to this city from countries around Asia in the past.

Statue of Nagamasa Yamada

 

Trade

Friend froms the land of the Rising Sun have had a very long tie with Nakhon Si Thammarat of over 600 years. Type of goods from Ayutthaya that Ryukyu wanted. Tree, Pepper, Deer skin and Animal horns. Here is a record that during WW2 the Japanese army bought rice from farmers in Pak Phanang Area, Nakhon Si Tammarat’s fertile agriculturel centre, for their solders fighting in Burma.

Gorvernment
There were Japanese citizens serving in the gorvernment of king Songtham, such as OK Ya Sena Phimok (Yamada Nagamasa) who was later appointed the govenor of Nakhon si tammarat. His army fought with the rebels in Patani. He was woulded and died in here. During WW2, Nakhon Si Thammarat was one of the places that Japanese army landed with an invasion force. on 8 Dec 1941, The Thai Heros Monument marks the heroic action of fighters who made sacrifices on both sides

 

It says the [Pattani rebel], it must have been in a state of war with the Pattani kingdom just south of it.

During World War II, Japanese troops invaded seven places in Thailand under the Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of them. Since it is written as invade, the Thai history seems to be a recognition that the Japanese army has invaded.

A statue of a hero who fought the invading Japanese army.

Exit the museum and walk towards the northern end of the park.

Because it is quite large, you can walk for more than 10 minutes from the entrance to the destination, Nagamasa Nagamasa memorial.

If you ask the staff in the park, you can see the location, but also display it on the map. It is the place of the red dot below.

 

Welcome to Thailand.

Nagamasa Nagamasa memorial monument.

Ex Prime Minister Mori has come.

There is a lantern. It looks like a Japanese garden.

I mentioned the history of Nagamasa Yamada, but it was about 500 years ago, so it is not so much emotional.

 

Summary

Regarding Nakhon Si Thammarat in southern Thailand, I am Japanese. That’t why I went to see Nagamasa Nagamasa Memorial Monument. But if you are not interesting Japanese history, You should go

• Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
• Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum

It would be better to go. In terms of Buddhism’s history and archeological sites, I think the above two are of a level that can hardly be seen elsewhere.

See you