Japan, Austria castles tie up after discovery of folding screen+

OSAKA, Oct. 2 Kyodo -
Osaka Castle and a palace in the Austrian city of Graz signed a friendship
agreement Friday after an ancient Japanese folding screen depicting Osaka was
found at the Austrian palace.

Schloss Eggenberg became the first foreign castle to tie up with the Osaka
landmark, which already has several sister castles in Japan. Austrian President
Heinz Fischer attended the signing ceremony held in Osaka.
The rare tie-up came after a folding screen dating back to the late 16th
century was found being used as a wall decoration in the Eggenberg palace in
September 2006, according to officials of the Osaka city government.
The screen depicted Osaka around the time of the death of warlord Toyotomi
Hideyoshi, who constructed the castle and ruled Japan.
This year marks the 140th anniversary of friendship between the two countries.
As part of events aimed at deepening Japan-Austria ties, Osaka Castle will hold
concerts this weekend of Baroque music that Hideyoshi is said to have enjoyed.
It will also exhibit through Nov. 23 a replica of the screen and photographs of
the palace and the city of Graz, whose historic center is designated as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
==Kyodo