In Kyoto suburbs creep around a grassy jordhøj crowned by a memorial stone, beneath which are buried tens of thousands of noses and ears cut off, the ghastly trophies in brutal war of the 16th century.

Led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598 was one of the unsuccessful efforts to control Hideyoshi all East Asia. Previously, the tradition was to take the severed heads of enemies killed as souvenirs, but the distance and mounting that Bodycount impracticable. Instead, the soldiers took the ears - and later and more - the nose of those they had killed in battle. These had been marinated in brine and sent to be inspected and then buried in Mimizuka, literally translated "Mound of the ears," although it is better known as the grave in front of at least 38,000 Koreans.

The Japanese soldiers were also known to kill and indiscriminately mutilate peasants, including women, children, and the elderly, to obtain more body parts to send home for rewards. Some of these victims were allowed to live, and for years after in southern Korea noseless people were a common sight. Disputing counts have between 100,000 and 200,000 noses being brought back from Korea to Japan.

Mimizuka, a symbol of the cruelty of war, is in front of what was the Great Buddha Hall at Høkøji Temple and is now the Hokoku Shrine, honoring Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the leader of the brutality. Although a frequent stop for Korean tourists, Mimizuka is largely overlooked by the residents of Kyoto.