A group of local residents around the Nation of Japan had established a plan to issue “I Conquered Nation of Japan” certificates to people for 500 yen (US$5) a copy.  The plan was a small way to help promote tourism to the area. However, when the news broke, people from all over the country wrote in, protesting the scheme and calling it “inappropriate.”

The schedules were set to be released from 5 May, which is the beginning of mountain climbing season. However, as a result of the outpouring of anger, the group announced that they were changing it three days after their initial announcement.

Nation of Japan is the name of a 555 meter tall mountain that sits between Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture and Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. Some say that is was named by then-shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa after a general presented him with a hawk caught in the area.  Another theory is that it was named after the Emperor Sushun’s son, Prince Hachiko, whose grave is located nearby. The group renamed the certificate “Nation of Japan’s Summit” and will have them ready in time for the 5 May deadline.

Source: MSN (Japanese)
Image: Niigata Prefecture