WEEKLY KAGOSHIMA on the Web

Where Princess Atsuhime relives childhood...
A bronze statue of Tenshoin Atsuhime, who married into the ruling Tokugawa family at the end of the Edo period and was featured in the public broadcaster NHK's annual history drama "Princess Atsuhime," was erected in Imaizumi school district in Ibusuki City where the heroine is said to have lived in childhood.
The statue is a reproduction of "Oichi"--Atsuhime's childhood name-- when she was eight years old or so. The sculpture is about 125 centimetres tall; 220 centimetres including the base. Folding her hands in the lap, it represents the grace and the strong-mindedness of "Satsuma Ogojo"--traditional Kagoshima's women. The statue stands on a seashore that the little Oichi is said to have played on; and it commands views of Sakurajima and Ohsumi Peninsula, as if watching over her homeland.
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＜タイトル＞
篤姫が童心に帰る場所・・・
＜第１パラグラフ＞
A ~ statue：銅像　　　married into...：（名門の家）に嫁いだ　　　ruling：支配している　　　was featured in...：・・・で特集された　　　the ~ broadcaster：公共放送の放送局　　　annual ~ drama：毎年恒例の歴史ドラマ　　　was erected：建てられた（built）　　　heroine：女傑；女性の主人公、ヒロイン　　　is said to...：・・・と言われる　　　childhood：子供時代
＜第２パラグラフ＞
reproduction：再生したもの（cf. replica）　　　~or so：～かそこらで　　　including...：・・・を含めて　　　Folding ~ lap：膝で手を組んで　　　represents...：・・・を表している（depicts）　　　grace：気品、優雅さ　　　strong-mindedness：芯の強さ　　　commands views of...：・・の景色を望む　　　as if...：まるで・・・かのように