1. So much for Tokyo!

  Tokyo (lit. "Eastern Capital") is the capital of Japan since the Meiji Restoration in 1868; it was called "Edo," the seat of the Tokugawa Shogunate's government in the Edo Period (1603-1868).   So many people tell what is Tokyo like.  In this webpage, I would like to introduce some interesting places (at least for me) in Tokyo.
  
  

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2. References to Kyoto in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake
  
  According to Louis O. Mink's A "Finnegans Wake" Gazetteer (1978), there are some references to Kyoto in Finnegans Wake:
  
  TOKYO.  Capital city of Japan.  Called Yedo until 1868, when it replaced Kyoto as imperial capital, with name changed to Tokyo, "eastern capital."
  
?534.02  Kyow!  Tak.
535.09  yeddomot need light oar  (Mink 515)
  

IMAGE

IMAGE NO.

DATA

Tokyo Station

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(Saturday 6 October) Tokyo Station (東京駅), designed by Kingo Tatsuno and Manji Kasai who also designed Bank of Japan Head Office and Nakanohashi Branch of Iwate Bank, Morioka (see the pic "mrk2004-111" of the Morioka page).

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(Saturday 6 October) Tokyo Station (東京駅), completed reconstruction in Sepember 2012.

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(Saturday 6 October) Tokyo Station (東京駅), completed reconstruction in Sepember 2012; inside of one of the reconstructed domes.

Kokyo

"Kokyo" (皇居) is the present Imperial Palace which was called Edo-jo Castle (江戸城). It was the residence of the Tokugawa shoguns.

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(Saturday 25 December) Sakurada-mon Gate of Imperial Palace (皇居; "Kokyo") or the former Tokugawa Shogunate's Edo Castle (江戸城).

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(Saturday 25 December) Nijyu-bashi Bridge (二重橋) of Imperial Palace (皇居; "Kokyo")

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(Saturday 25 December) Me@Nijyu-bashi Bridge (二重橋) of Imperial Palace (皇居; "Kokyo")

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(Saturday 25 December) "Kokyo Gaien" (皇居外苑) of Imperial Palace (皇居; "Kokyo")

Asakusa

Asakusa (浅草) is the traditional downtown area where you can still feel the old atmosphere of "Edo" (Old Tokyo) in the Edo Period (1603-1867). The area spread around Senso-ji Temple.

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(Sunday 25 June) Kaminari-mon Gate (雷門; the Gate of Thunder), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺): Formerly called "Furaijin-mon" (風雷神門; the Gate of God of Wind and Thunder). The original gate was burned down in 1865 and the present structure was restored in 1960 with the financial aid of Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic or Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Built in 1618, Senso-ji Temple, originally belonged to the Tendai-shu sect until the end of World War II, now the head temple of the Sei-Kannon sect of Buddhism, Asakusa, Taito Ward, was reportedly founded in 628. This temple is very close to Tobu Asakusa Station, known as the station of origin for Nikko. In addition, most buildings of the temple were erected in the same period when Nikko Tosho-gu began to be constructed. So it seems to me that there is a comparison between the two in design and structure. A legend says that on March 18, AD 628 (the 36th year of Empress Suiko) two fishermen brothers, Hamanari Hinokuma &Takenari Hinokuma (檜前浜成・檜前竹成) found a golden statuette (reportedly 5.5 cm tall) caught in a fishing-net in the Sumida River (May 18 by the solar calendar). They did not think it so valuable because they did not know Buddhism yet and threw it in the water and tried to fish in vain but they only found it in their fishing net again and again how many times they tried. So they finally recognized it as an important thing and brought it to a stub of an "Enjyu" (Japanese pagoda tree; a Chinese scholar tree; Sophora japonica) and enshrined it on it. A wealthy Buddhist landlord Matsuchi Haji (or Nakatomo Haji; 土師真中知) heard about the discovery and visited the brothers, and found that the statuette was a statue of Kannon (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy). Greatly impressed, Hamanari and Takenari converted to the Buddhism. The statuette was consecrated in a small shrine. It is said that the brothers, after conversion, could fish very much without any labor and became very rich. Thereafter they devoted their lives to preaching the way of Buddhism. After Nakatomo died, his son received an oracle from Kannon at midnight in which he must enshrine the above three, Matsuchi Hajinoatae (土師真中知), Hamanari Hinokuma &Takenari Hinokuma (檜前浜成・檜前竹成) as the three gods (Haji-no-Matsuchi-no-mikoto [土師真中知命], Hinokuma-no-Hamanari-no-mikoto [檜前浜成命] and Hinokuma-no-Takenari-no-mikoto (檜前竹成命). It is the origin of Senso-ji Temple/Asakusa-jinjya Shrine.The golden statuette of Kannon is enshrined as the hidden image in Senso-ji Temple. However, it is hard to believe that the above legend was a historical event. Probably it was the Hinokuma family and the Haji family who built a shrine devoted to their ancestors in the early Kamakura Period about 800 years ago. The first appearance of Senso-ji Temple in historical record was on Azuma Kagami (『吾妻鏡』; the official record of the Kamakura Shogunate). All the old valuable structures were completely destroyed on March 10, 1945, on the day of the Great Tokyo Air Raid by U.S. B29s which lasted two and half hours, dropping waves of incendiary bombs and killing more than 100,000 civilians. After post-war reconstructions with the aids of numerous people, Senso-ji Temple is now very popular among domestic and international tourists. It is a symbol of peace here in Shitamachi, Tokyo's old town.

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(Sunday 25 June) Nakamise-dori Street or Approach between Kaminari-mon Gate and Hozo-mon (宝蔵門; the Gate of Treasure Hall), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺)

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(Sunday 25 June) Nakamise-dori Street or Approach between Kaminari-mon Gate and Hozo-mon (宝蔵門; the Gate of Treasure Hall), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺)

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(Sunday 25 June) Nakamise-dori Street or Approach between Kaminari-mon Gate and Hozo-mon (宝蔵門; the Gate of Treasure Hall), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺)

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(Sunday 25 June) Denboin-dori Street (伝法院通り) leading to "Sobo" (僧坊; the priests' living quarters), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa

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(Sunday 25 June) "Heiwa-jizo-son" (平和地蔵尊; the Statue of Ksitigarbha-Bodhisattva of Peace), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa

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(Sunday 25 June) "Hon-do" (本堂; the Main Hall), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa. The former building was built in 1649 but burned down on March 10, 1945, on the day of the Great Tokyo Air Raid by U.S. B29s which lasted two and half hours, dropping waves of incendiary bombs and killing more than 100,000 civilians. This hall was reconstructed in 1958.

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(Sunday 25 June) "Hon-do" (本堂; the Main Hall), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa

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(Sunday 25 June) "Hon-do" (本堂; the Main Hall), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa: These young people sang a song softly though I could not understand the meaning.

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(Sunday 25 June) "Hon-do" (本堂; the Main Hall) and "Gojyu-no-to" (五輪塔; Five-Storied Pagoda;Stupa), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa

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(Sunday 25 June) "Gojyu-no-to" (五輪塔; Five-Storied Pagoda; Stupa), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa. The original structure was built in 1648. The present building was reconstructed in 1973. It enshrines "Busshari" (Buddha's ashes) from Sri Lanka on the top layer of the tower.

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(Sunday 25 June) "Hon-do" (本堂; the Main Hall) and the 600-year-old gingko tree (in Japanese, "Ginnan-no-ki" [銀杏の木]), Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa

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(Sunday 25 June) The 600-year-old gingko tree, Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa. This tree has been miraculously surviving over the most horrible Tokyo air raid on March 10, 1945: A tree that witnessed the tragedies of war.

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(Sunday 25 June) The 600-year-old gingko tree, Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa. This tree has been miraculously surviving over the most horrible Great Tokyo Air Raid on March 10, 1945: A tree that witnessed the tragedies of war.

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(Sunday 25 June) The 600-year-old gingko tree, Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa. This tree has been miraculously surviving over the most horrible Great Tokyo Air Raid on March 10, 1945: A tree that witnessed the tragedies of war.

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(Sunday 25 June) Inside of the 600-year-old gingko tree, Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa. This tree miraculously has been surviving over the most horrible Great Tokyo Air Raid on March 10, 1945; A tree that witnessed the tragedies of war. "There's something solemn about this tree. Get closer and you'll notice some parts are scorched, covered with black ash. This is a scar of World War II, a wound inflicted by the worst air raid Tokyo ever experienced" (What's on Japan 2006, p.26). Touch it and you'll notice it is still warm.

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(Sunday 25 June) Inside of the 600-year-old gingko tree, Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺), Asakusa. This tree miraculously has been surviving over the most horrible Great Tokyo Air Raid on March 10, 1945; A tree that witnessed the tragedies of war. "There's something solemn about this tree. Get closer and you'll notice some parts are scorched, covered with black ash. This is a scar of World War II, a wound inflicted by the worst air raid Tokyo ever experienced" (What's on Japan 2006, p.26). Touch it and you'll notice it is still warm. It is still warm!

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(Sunday 25 June) "Torii" (Shrine Gate) of Asakusa-jinjya Shrine (浅草神社), 2-3-1 Asakusa (southeast of Senso-ji Temple): also known as "Sanjya-sama." It was a part of Senso-ji Temple before "Shimbutsu-Bunri-rei" (神仏分離令, Act of Separation of Buddhism and Shintoism, 1868) in which the government definitized the distinction between Buddhism and the Japanese Shintoism). Before the act, Japan widely merged Buddhism and Shintoism. A legend says that on March 18, AD 628 (the 36th year of Empress Suiko) two fishermen brothers, Hamanari Hinokuma &Takenari Hinokuma (檜前浜成・檜前竹成) found a golden statuette (reportedly 5.5 cm tall) caught in a fishing-net in the Sumida River (May 18 by the solar calendar). They did not think it so valuable because they did not know Buddhism yet and threw it in the water and tried to fish in vain but they only found it in their fishing net again and again how many times they tried. So they finally recognized it as an important thing and brought it to a stub of an "Enjyu" (Japanese pagoda tree; a Chinese scholar tree; Sophora japonica) and enshrined it on it. A wealthy Buddhist landlord Matsuchi Haji (or Nakatomo Haji; 土師真中知) heard about the discovery and visited the brothers, and found that the statuette was a statue of Kannon (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy). Greatly impressed, Hamanari and Takenari converted to the Buddhism. The statuette was consecrated in a small shrine. It is said that the brothers, after conversion, could fish very much without any labor and became very rich. Thereafter they devoted their lives to preaching the way of Buddhism. After Nakatomo died, his son received an oracle from Kannon at midnight in which he must enshrine the above three, Matsuchi Hajinoatae (土師真中知), Hamanari Hinokuma &Takenari Hinokuma (檜前浜成・檜前竹成) as the three gods (Haji-no-Matsuchi-no-mikoto [土師真中知命], Hinokuma-no-Hamanari-no-mikoto [檜前浜成命] and Hinokuma-no-Takenari-no-mikoto (檜前竹成命). It is the origin of Senso-ji Temple/Asakusa-jinjya Shrine. However, it is hard to believe that the above legend was a historical event. Probably it was the Hinokuma family and the Haji family who built a shrine devoted to their ancestors in the early Kamakura Period about 800 years ago. The first appearance of Senso-ji Temple in historical record was on Azuma Kagami (the official record of the Kamakura Shogunate). Senso-ji Temple prospered together with the surronding district of Asakusa in the Edo Period. Hajinomatsuti, Hamanari, and Takenari are recognized as the founders of Asakusa and the revered as deities. The townsfolk of Asakusa began to hold a festival widely known as "Sanjya-sai" (三社祭) to honor these three gods in the early Edo Period: The three-day festival is annually held in mid-May.

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(Sunday 25 June) "Hai-den" (拝殿; the Worship Hall) of Asakusa-jinjya Shrine (浅草神社), 2-3-1 Asakusa (southeast of Senso-ji Temple): The main hall (the most inner hall) is the behind "Hei-den" (Offering Hall) can be seen over "Hai-den." This architecture style is called "Gongen-zukuri" (the early Edo Period) which can also be found in Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine.

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(Sunday 25 June) A monkey showman & his funny monkey, Asakusa-jinjya Shrine (浅草神社), Asakusa

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(Sunday 25 June) A monkey showman & his funny monkey, Asakusa-jinjya Shrine (浅草神社), Asakusa

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(Sunday 25 June) A monkey showman & his funny monkey, Asakusa-jinjya Shrine (浅草神社), Asakusa

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(Sunday 25 June) A monkey showman & his funny monkey, Asakusa-jinjya Shrine (浅草神社), Asakusa

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(Sunday 25 June) A monkey showman & his funny monkey, Asakusa-jinjya Shrine (浅草神社), Asakusa

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(Sunday 27 October) Niten-mon Gate (二天門; the Gate of Two Gods, Zojo-ten: Sanskrit Virudhaka) on the left and Jikoku-ten (Skt. Dhrtaragtra) on the right. Senso-ji Temple

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(Sunday 25 June) Asakusa-Yoro-do (浅草ヨーロー堂; Record & CD shop founded in the Meiji Era about 100 years ago), 1-3-6 Asakusa.

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(Sunday 25 June) Aoi-Marushin (葵丸進; traditional Japanese restaurant famous for tempura [Japanese deep-fat fried food]), 1-4-4 Asakusa. Founded in 1946 by Take Watanabe and her family.

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(Sunday 25 June) "Tokujo-Tendon" (The superfine bowl of rice topped with fried fish [prawns, conger and sillaginoid] and fried vegetables) with a miso soup and "oshinko" (pickled vegetables): 2,680 yen. It is a bit expensive but worth trying once! Aoi-Marushin (葵丸進).

Shibamata

Shibamata (柴又) is located in the northeastern edge of Tokyo.

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(Friday 24 December) Shibamata Station (柴又) on the Keisei Kanamachi Line (京成金町線). Shibamata is the fictional home of "Tora-san" (寅さん) appearing in the series of the national movie "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" (『男はつらいよ』; "It's Tough Being a Man" or "Tora San Our Lovable Tramp") featuring Kiyoshi Atsumi (渥美清) as the protagonist Torajiro Kuruma (車寅次郎) and Chieko Baisho (倍賞千恵子) as his sister Sakura Kuruma/Suwa (車/諏訪さくら). Directed by Yoji Yamada (山田洋次). 48 films made altogether in the series (1969-1995), usually two films a year timed for release at New Year's holidays and in the Japanese summer holidays called "Obon" (お盆).

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(Friday 24 December) Statue of Torajiro Kuruma (Tora-san), Shibamata Station

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(Friday 24 December) Statue of Torajiro Kuruma (Tora-san), Shibamata Station

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(Friday 24 December) "Taishakuten Sando" (帝釈天参道; the approach to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple)

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(Friday 24 December) "Taishakuten Sando" (帝釈天参道; tthe approach to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple)

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(Friday 24 December) "Takagiya Roho"(高木屋老舗; traditional Japanese rice cracker shop), "Taishakuten Sando" (the approach to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple)

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(Friday 24 December) "Takagiya Roho"(高木屋老舗; traditional Japanese rice cracker shop), "Taishakuten Sando" (the approach to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple)

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(Friday 24 December) "Takagiya Roho"(高木屋老舗; traditional Japanese rice cracker shop), "Taishakuten Sando" (the approach to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple)

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(Friday 24 December) "Toraya" (とらや; traditional Japanese dumpling shop), "Taishakuten Sando" (the approach to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple): modeled for the first four films of the fictional "Toraya," Torasan's home

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(Friday 24 December) "Toraya" (とらや; traditional Japanese dumpling shop), "Taishakuten Sando" (the approach to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple): modeled for the first four films of the fictional "Toraya," Torasan's home

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(Friday 24 December) "Taishakuten Sando" (帝釈天参道; the approach to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple)

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(Friday 24 December) "Taishakuten Sando" (帝釈天参道; the approach to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple)

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(Friday 24 December) Front Gate (二天門; "Niten-mon" Gate) of Shibamata Taishakuten Temple (柴又帝釈天; formally "Kyoeisan-Daikyo-ji Temple"[経栄山 題経寺]), founded near the River Edo ("Edo-gawa") by Zennaiin-Nittsu in 1629. Belonged to the Nichiren sect of Buddhism. It is widely known as "Shibamata Taishakuten" Temple because it is sacred to the Taishakuten (Sakra devanam Indra) image which was said to be carved by Saint Nichiren. This gate was built by Master Builder Tomekichi Sakata in 1896: "Niten-mon" literally means "Gate of Two Devas [out of "Shiten-no," the Four Devas living in Mt. Shamisen, the legendary holy mountain: Jikoku-ten (Skt. Dhritarashtra, the guardian of the East), Bishamon-ten (Skt. Sakra devanam Indra, the guardian of the North), Zocho-ten (Skt. Virudhaka, the guradian of the South) and Komoku-ten (Skt. Dhanada, the guardian of the West)]. On the south (right) side of the gate is placed a Zocho image, on the west (left) side a Komoku image.

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(Friday 24 December) "Go-Shinsui" (御神水; The Sacred Water), Shibamata Taishakuten Temple (柴又帝釈天): as the legend tells, Saint Nichiei, the second father of the temple found a spiritual spring by the root of a big pine tree (now known as "Zuiryu no Matsu" or "The Pine Tree of the Fresh Dragon) here and made a hermitage. In the film-setting, Tora-san took the first cleaning bath using "Go-Shinsui."

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(Friday 24 December) Soshi-do Hall ("Hall of the Fathers" or Main Hall), Shibamata Taishakuten Temple (柴又帝釈天)

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(Friday 24 December) Wood-carving of Taishaku-do Hall (Hall of Sakra devanam Indra), Shibamata Taishakuten Temple (柴又帝釈天). Countesy of Kyoeisan-Daikyo-ji Temple. This carving was made of "keyaki" (Zelkova serrata) in 1920-1934 by the woodcrafter Toranosuke Kato and other nine woodcrafters at the request of the sixteenth father Kammyoin-Nissai and with the help of Genjiro Suzuki. The ten wood panels were based on ten tales of the Lotus Sutra. The Lotus Sutra or the Saddharma Pundarika Sutra is one of the most important and influential of all the sutras or sacred scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism throughout China, Korea, Japan, and other regions of Eastern Asia. The Lotus Sutra depicts events that take place in a cosmic world of vast dimensions, a world in many ways reflecting traditional Indian views of the structure of the universe. It contains 28 stories that are used as teaching devices.

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(Friday 24 December) Suikeien Garden, Shibamata Taishakuten Temple (柴又帝釈天). Countesy of Kyoeisan-Daikyo-ji Temple

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(Friday 24 December) A hermitage of Suikeien Garden, Shibamata Taishakuten Temple (柴又帝釈天). Courtesy of Kyoeisan-Daikyo-ji Temple

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(Friday 24 December) Suikeien Garden, Shibamata Taishakuten Temple (柴又帝釈天). Courtesy of Kyoeisan-Daikyoji Temple

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(Friday 24 December) Daikyakuden Hall (Grand Reception Hall) viewed from Suikeien Garden, Shibamata Taishakuten Temple (柴又帝釈天). Countesy of Kyoeisan-Daikyo-ji Temple

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(Friday 24 December) Suikeien Garden, Shibamata Taishakuten Temple (柴又帝釈天). Courtesy of Kyoeisan-Daikyo-ji Temple

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(Friday 24 December) Shibamata Taishakuten Temple (柴又帝釈天)

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(Friday 24 December) "Tora-san" Museum (寅さん記念館), Shibamata

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(Friday 24 December) River Edo (江戸川; Edo-gawa) behind (in the north of) Shibamata Taishakuten Temple

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(Friday 24 December) "Yagiri no Watashi" (矢切の渡し; Ferry to Yagiri), River Edo: it is connects Shibamata to Matsudo over River Edo. The famous locale of Sachio Ito's novel Nogiku no Haka ("A Tomb of the Wild Chrysanthemum," 1906) and also known as the old popular hit song "Yagiri no Watashi" by Takashi Hosokawa (1983). Yagiri (now part of Matsudo City) is the quay name of the opposite side of Edo River, only 150 m distance. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), when access to Edo where the shogun lived, was strictly controlled by the Tokugawa Shogunate: they designated only 15 crossing points in the Tonegawa River System. The Yagiri no Watashi crossing River Edo was one of them. In the hit song "Yagiri no Watashi" a couple in impermissible love in Edo, embarking away from Shibamata in some cold rainy evening for anywhere they can merry and live together. Now the Yagiri no Watashi ferry is available for tourists.

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(Friday 24 December) "Yagiri no Watashi," River Edo

Ueno

Ueno (上野)

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(Saturday 16 April) "Ueno Onshi Koen" (上野恩賜公園; Ueno Park), Ueno. It was formerly called Shinobi-ga-oka, which was the precinct of Toei-zan Kan-ei-ji Endon-in Temple (東叡山 寛永寺 円頓院). Founded in 1873 as a municipal park which includes Tokyo Art University, museums, Shinobazu-no-ike Pond (不忍池), Ueno Zoo (上野動物園), etc. Also famous for its cherry-blossoms.

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(Saturday 16 April) Statue of Takamori Saigo (西郷隆盛, 1827-1877), southeastern edge of Ueno Park: a politician in the late Edo Period and the early Meiji Era. It is very difficult to say what he was like: Doubtlessly he was a fascinating Samurai who had both wisdom and folly; a cold and warm heart.. Saigo was the leading negotiator of the Satsuma clan who greatly contributed to achieve the Meiji Restoration in 1868 with the Choshu clan and the Tosa clan. Saigo, in cooperation with Kaishu Katsu (1823-1899) of the Tokugawa Shogunate, realized the vacation of Edo-jo Castle without bloodshed. The new government nominated him as the Minister of War. It was Saigo who advocated the Korean invasion first but he could not persuade other members of the cabinet at that time, which made him retire and he went back to his hometown in Kagoshima ["Sei-Kan-ron Seihen" or [the political change caused by Saigo's advocacy of the Korean invasion]. He established a private school which was popular among the local young people who felt frustrated in the new government. As the students formed rebellion army and wanted him to be the leader of the revolt in 1877 (the Seinan Wars). He was very reluctant to become it first but he accepted it for the young people finally. However, they were defeated by the government army as Saigo anticipated: Saigo killed himself in Shroyama near the Tsurumaru-jo Castle of the Satsuma clan remains. Even now many people cherish the memory of Saigo in spite of those things.

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(Saturday 16 April) Statue of Takamori Saigo (西郷隆盛, 1827-1877) southeastern edge of Ueno Park: He was a politician in the late Edo Period and the early Meiji Era.

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(Saturday 16 April) Statue of Takamori Saigo (西郷隆盛, 1827-1877) southeastern edge of Ueno Park: He was a politician in the late Edo Period and the early Meiji Era.

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(Saturday 16 April) The graveyard monument of "Shogi-tai" (彰義隊; the Shogi Squadron), southeastern edge of Ueno Park (near the statue of Takamori Saigo)

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(Saturday 16 April) Information Board of the graveyard of "Shogi-tai" (彰義隊; the Shogi Squadron), southeastern edge of Ueno Park (near the statue of Takamori Saigo) which says in English: "There was a war called the Ueno War around here in May 15, 1868. It delimited Edo era and Meiji Restoration. In this war, a soldier group of Tokugawa persons' (old government) named Shogi-tai fought against the army of the new government and was defeated. Okisato Ogawa and his comrades, who were the survivors of Shogi-tai, obtained the permission of Meiji government at last in 1874 and built the graveyard of killed soldiers. Afterwards, the graveyard of Shogi-tai was preserved by the Ogawa clan for over 120 years, and succeeded by Tokyo Metropolitan government in 2003. We learn the history of the Ueno War thanks to such an effort now."

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(Saturday 16 April) The late cherry blossoms near Ueno Zoo, Ueno Park

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(Saturday 20 October) Inscription Stone of the bronze statue of Hideyo Noguchi (野口英世, 1876-1928; cf. the new Japanese 1,000 yen bill), east of Ueno Park.

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(Saturday 20 October) Bronze statue of Hideyo Noguchi (野口英世, 1876-1928; cf. the new Japanese 1,000 yen bill), east of Ueno Park. Hideyo Moguchi was born in 1876 in Inawashiro, Fukushima. Going to the United States in 1900, he began to research the syphilis spirochete at the Rockefeller Medical Research Institute in 1904. From 1918 he continued his research in Central and South America, as well as Africa where he hoped to study Yellow Fever. However, before long, he himself contracted the disease and in 1928, at the age of 53, he passed away in Accra, Ghana. The approximately four and a half meter statue of Noguchi was made by Professor Saburo Yoshida of Tama Art University, Tokyo. Heating a test tube in the midst of experimentation, the Latin words, "PRO BONO HUMANI GENERIS" (For the Good of Humankind), are inscribed on the stone base. Plans for erecting the statue began in 1947 when Fumio Tamao of Fukushima initiated fund-raising. The Japan Medical Association's Kitazato Institute continued with the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Society after Tamao succumbed to illness. The fund drive was completed in March 1947. (based on the inscription)

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(Saturday 20 October) Bronze statue of Hideyo Noguchi (野口英世, 1876-1928; cf. the new Japanese 1,000 yen bill), east of Ueno Park

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(Saturday 16 April) International Library of Children's Literature (国際子ども図書館), a branch of National Diet Library, north of Ueno Park

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(Saturday 16 April) Monument dedicated to Lafcadio Hearn (or Yakumo Koizimi [小泉八雲] 1850-1904), International Library of Children's Literature (国際子ども図書館), a branch of National Diet Library, north of Ueno Park

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(Saturday 16 April) Monument dedicated to Lafcadio Hearn (or Yakumo Koizimi, 1850-1904), International Library of Children's Literature (国際子ども図書館), a branch of National Diet Library, north of Ueno Park. He was an Irish Japanese who taught English and literature at Matsue Middle School, the Fifth Higher School of Kumamoto, Tokyo Imperial University and Waseda University while collecting numerous Japanese folktales and writing many books and essays about Japan for the British and American publishers since he came to Japan in 1890. After marrying Setsuko Koizumi, a Japanese woman from a Samurai family, Matsue, he was naturalized in Japan and lived very happily with his family until he died in 1904.

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(Saturday 16 April) "Kiyomizu Kannon-do" (清水観音堂; Kiyomizu Hall of Avalokitesvara) in the precincts of Toei-zan Kan-ei-ji Endon-in Temple (東叡山 寛永寺 円頓院), south of Ueno Park

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(Saturday 16 April) "Kiyomizu Kannon-do" (清水観音堂; Kiyomizu Hall of Avalokitesvara) in the precincts of Toei-zan Kan-ei-ji Endon-in Temple (東叡山 寛永寺 円頓院), south of Ueno Park

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(Saturday 16 April) "Kaisan-do" (開山堂; the Founder's Hall) of Toei-zan Kan-ei-ji Endon-in Temple (東叡山 寛永寺 円頓院), north of Ueno Park

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(Saturday 16 April) A hall near "Kaisan-do" (開山堂; the Founder's Hall) of Toei-zan Kan-ei-ji Endon-in Temple (東叡山 寛永寺 円頓院), north of Ueno Park

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(Saturday 16 April) "Kaisan-do" (開山堂; the Founder's Hall) of Toei-zan Kan-ei-ji Endon-in Temple (東叡山 寛永寺 円頓院), north of Ueno Park

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(Saturday 16 April) "Hon-do" (Main Hall) of Toei-zan Kan-ei-ji Endon-in Temple (東叡山 寛永寺 円頓院), known as the graveyard of the Tokugawa clan

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(Saturday 16 April) "Hon-do" (本堂; Main Hall) of Toei-zan Kan-ei-ji Endon-in Temple (東叡山 寛永寺 円頓院), known as the graveyard of the Tokugawa clan

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(Saturday 16 April) Seated statue of Ryo-o-zenji Dokaku (了翁禅師道覚, 1630-1707).Born in Dewa (出羽; now Yamagata), he entered the Buddhist priesthood when he was a young boy and learned Buddhism from Ingen-zenji (隠元禅師) in 1652-1655. He made a great fortune by selling medical pills by Shinobazu-no-ike Pond (不忍池; now south part of Ueno Park). In the times of the Great Fires in the late seventeenth century, he donated a huge amount of money to relieve the refugees and bought thousands of rolls of the Buddhist scriptures for Kan-ei-ji Temple. Moreover, he established Kangaku-in School in 1683. He was nominated "Kangaku-in Gon-Dai-sozu-Hoin" (勧学院権大僧都), a very high-ranked monk.

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(Saturday 16 April) "So-mon" (総門; the General Gate) of Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine (上野東照宮) in Ueno Park. Tosho-gu means "Shrine of the Sun God of the East." Ieyasu Tokugawa was enshrined in Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine and the festival is held in April 17 annually. Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康, 1542-1616), the first Tokugawa Shogun (1603-1605), who died on April 17, 1616 at Sumpu Castle (駿府城), Shizuoka, was firstly enshrined at Mt. Kuno (久能山), Shizuoka. Afterwards, however, his soul was transferred to Nikko, Tochigi, and then to the Imperial Palace. For the convenience of the "Daimyo" (大名; feudal lords), it was finally enshrined at the present site of Ueno on April 16, 1650. Since then the shrine was partly reconstructed more than sixteen times. In 1873, it was designated as one of the Tokyo Municipal shrines and in 1907, its main building, the Chinese-style gate, the walls, the bronze lanterns, etc. were appointed to be the national treasures. For further information of Tosho-gu Shrine, go to the Nikko, Tochigi page.

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(Saturday 16 April) "Ishi-Doro" (石灯籠; Stone Lanterns) donated by many lords during the Edo Period (1603-1867): There are 242 lanterns in all. On the way to the main hall of Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine (上野東照宮).

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(Saturday 16 April) "Hai-den" (拝殿; the Hall of Worship), Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine (上野東照宮)

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(Saturday 16 April) "Kara-mon" (唐門; the Chinese-style Gate) and "Hai-den" (拝殿; the Hall of Worship), Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine (上野東照宮). This hall is surrounded by corridors on three sides, all the pillars and doors of which are covered with gold foils. The ceilings are decorated with arabesque designed lacquer and colorful carving. Pictures of the walls were painted by Tanyu Kano (狩野探幽, 1602-1674) who was a very famous artist at that time.

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(Saturday 16 April) Kara-mon (唐門; the Chinese-style Gate) and "Hai-den" (拝殿; the Hall of Worship), Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine. The "Kara-mon" Gate was built in 1651. On the door and both sides of the gate are open-worked flowers, birds, etc. covered with a plenty of gold foil. In the gate pillars standing on both sides of "Kara-mon" are carved two dragons popularly known as "Nobori-Ryu" (Ascending Dragon) and "Kudari-Ryu" (Descending Dragon). They are said to be the works of Jingoro Hidari (or Toshikatsu Itami, 1594-1651), the most celebrated artist at that time.

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(Saturday 16 April) "Hai-den" (拝殿; the Hall of Worship), Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine (上野東照宮). This hall is surrounded by corridors on three sides, all the pillars and doors of which are covered with gold foils. The ceilings are decorated with arabesque designed lacquer and colorful carving. Pictures of the walls were painted by Tanyu Kano (狩野探幽, 1602-1674) who was a very famous artist at that time.

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(Saturday 16 April) Inside of "Kara-mon" Gate (唐門), Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine (上野東照宮)

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(Saturday 16 April) "Eiyo Gongen" Shrine in the precincts of Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine (上野東照宮). It enshrines the most notorious "Tanuki" (狸; raccoon dog) in the official record of the Edo Period (1603-1867): He was finally caught up in the Shikoku District but never stopped raving out. In the Japanese pun, "Takuki" sounds like "Ta wo Nuku" (他を抜く; to outrun others) which has been considered to be the founder of good luck.

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(Saturday 16 April) A Peace Monument in the precincts of Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine (上野東照宮)

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(Saturday 16 April) Five-Storied Pagoda, viewed from Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine (上野東照宮)

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(Saturday 16 April) Five-Storied Pagoda, viewed from Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine (上野東照宮)

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(Saturday 16 April) Enjyu-in Temple (円珠院), 1-5-3 Ueno- Sakuragi, Koto Ward (江東区上野桜木1-5-3) or near Ueno Park. It belongs to the Tendai-shu sect (天台宗) of Buddhism.

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(Saturday 16 April) Enjyu-in Temple (円珠院), 1-5-3 Ueno- Sakuragi, Koto Ward (江東区上野桜木1-5-3) or near Ueno Park. It belongs to the Tendai-shu sect (天台宗) of Buddhism.

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(Saturday 16 April) Enjyu-in Temple (円珠院), 1-5-3 Ueno- Sakuragi, Koto Ward (江東区上野桜木1-5-3) or near Ueno Park. It belongs to the Tendai-shu sect (天台宗) of Buddhism.

Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine (靖国神社), 3-1-1 Kudankita, Chiyoda Ward. It is the recent anti-Japanese movements in Korea and China that drove me to go to Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine where I had never intended to go before May 2005 because I felt great sympathy with so many Asian victims at the time of old Japanese Imperialism. To be honest, I am still wondering whether I should introduce this shrine in my website or not. Excuse my inquisitiveness, but I had never been there before my first (and probably last) visit on Saturday 28 May, 2005, in the year of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, because I was taught "Do not go to Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine where what they call the 'Class-A War Criminals' (A級戦犯) are enshrined!" by some Japanese teachers who greatly care of the numerous Japanese war crimes, especially on the neighboring Asian countries including China and Korea. In fact, it was on November 21, 1975 that Emperor Showa paid his last visit to Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine. However, since October 17, 1978 when Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine added the 14 Class-A Criminals to the list of the enshrined spirits. On July 20, 2006 the Japanese media reported together that the Director of the Imperial Household Agency's note of Emperor Showa's words revealed that the emperor was distasteful to the addition of the Class-A Criminals to the enshrined spirits. Since then, no member of the Japanese royal family visited here even though it is located abutting on the north gate of the Imperial Palace. Of course the emperor knew very well for whom numerous Japanese soldiers died during World War II: So many died crying "Tenno-heika Banzai!" (Long live the Japanese Emperor!) at the desperate banzai attack. Most Japanese people, however, do not blame the royal family for this, because we all understand that they will have to face the difficult and delicate international situation if they come here now. In addition, some scholars insist that the origin of the Japanese royal family is probably somewhere in the Korean Peninsula some 2,666 years ago. In 2005, since so many news stories have recently been telling some anti-Japanese movements in China and Korea when Japan struggles for becoming a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, I gradually came to think that I should go to this shrine only once to know what it is, in order to explain Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine as precisely as possible to my students including some Chinese and Korean students in classrooms. Also, it is probably my duty to introduce what is Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine and give my own opinion to anonymous visitors to this website. Before my explanation begins, I should mention that in March 1986 I have been to the U.S. National Cemetery of the Pacific, Hawaii, known as the "Punchbowl" which is a burial ground for 35,000 victims of three American wars in Asia and the Pacific: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and in February 2000, I also visited An Jun-geun's martyr museum in central Seoul with my best respect. An Jun-geun was a very popular Korean nationalist who assassinated Hirobumi Ito (1841-1909) in front of Harbin Station, Manchuria (now north China) on Oct. 26, 1909. An Jun-geun believed that Ito, former Governor-General of Korea and chairperson of the Privy Council who engaged in the negotiation with Russia at that time, was the ringleader of the Korean Invasion. An, crying "The Great Korea for ever!" was immediately arrested by the Russian officers. Although An was sentenced to death, his fair attitude after apprehension gained not only Korean people's but also even Japanese people's great sympathy at that time. In November 2006, I went to the Seoul National Cemetery. Probably I will not be able to finish writing what is Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine well enough to convince you for ever. Before World War II, Japanese soldiers, who had royalty to the Imperial Throne as the symbol of the Japanese Empire, are said to have been never afraid of losing their lives in action: Their motto was always "See you at Yasukuni!" Every soldiers had strongly believed that he was canonized and enshrined here in Yasukuni as a guardian saint of Japan if he died a glorious death in battle. The current number of the war victims enshrined here is over 2,244,000 (Oct. 2004). The number still tends to increase little by little. The "war saints" enshrined here include what they call "14 Class-A War Criminals": 7 executed by hanging: Hideki Tojo (prime minister, 1941-Jul. 1944), Seishiro Itagaki, Heitaro Kimura, Kenji Doihara, Iwane Matsui, Akira Muto, Koki Hirota; 4 penal servitude for life: Yoshijiro Umezu, Kuniaki Koiso (prime minister, Jul. 1944-Apr.1945), Kiichiro Hiranuma (prime minister, Jan.-Aug. 1939), Toshio Hiratori; 1 twenty years' penal servitude (death in prison); Shigenori Togo; 2 died of disease in prison before judgment: Osami Nagano and Yosuke Matsuoka. Thus Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine is notorious for the most atrocious crimes in Japan's war of aggression. Their hands were stained with blood of Chinese people and peoples of some other Asian countries. Now both Chinese and Korean governments strongly criticized the Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's annual "official worship" at Yasukuni. Personally I do my best to understand the Asian peoples' feelings against the former Japanese Imperialism that no longer exists now. Fortunately I, including my close relatives, had been never involved in such notorious imperialism. I was born in 1965, twenty years after the end of World War II. My old school teachers continued to teach us students not to occur a war anymore and to respect the Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution 1946: Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a mean of settling international disputes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The main reference for the following description is the official site of "Yasukuni Jinjya": This shrine, originally known as the "Tokyo Shokon-sha," was, by the Imperial command, founded in June of Meiji 2 (1869) here at the upper part of Kudan Slope for the worship of the divine spirits of those who sacrificed themselves for their country. The word "Shokon-sha," also called "Shokon-jo," means the shrine or place to which the divine spirits of those who have made the great sacrifice are invited, and is thus peculiar to Japan inasmuch as the unknown warriors of Europe have not been apotheosized. The term "Yasukuni" of Yasukuni-jinja Shrine, the new name being graciously bestowed by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Meiji [Mutsuhito, 1852-1912; r.1867-1912] in Meiji 12 (1879), signifies "peaceful country" implying that, owing to the meritorious services of the spirits of the deities worshipped, the nation enjoys peace and security. All the deities worshipped here at this shrine are those who, entertaining such sentiments as mentioned above, sacrificed themselves as the foundation stones for the making of modern Japan. In other words, during the period of about a hundred years, viz. from the time before and after the Restoration of Meiji to that unforgettable year Showa 20th (1945) when World War II came to an end, there had been various engagements, outbreaks, rebellions, incidents and wars, internal and external, in which a great number of people including loyalists, warriors, soldiers, sailors and civilians employed by the military gave their invaluable lives for the cause of their country. The number of sprites now worshipped amounts to 2,466,532 (Oct. 17, 2004) and their names, the dates and localities of their death in battle and their native places are respectfully preserved at this shrine in the form of accurate records. 1867-1869 Meiji Restoration (Meiji-Ishin) or Boshin Wars (Boshin-senso)---7,751 1874 Invasion to Taiwan (Taiwan-seito)---1,130 1877 Seinan Affair (Seinan-senso, Kyushu)---6,971 1894-1895 First Japan-China War (Nisshin-senso)---13,619 1900 North China Affair (Hokushin-jihen) or The Boxer Rebellion (Giwadan Jiken) (North China)---1,256 1904-1905 The Russo-Japanese War (Nichiro Senso)--- 88,429 1914-1918 World War I (Dai-ichiji Sekai-taisen)---4850 1928 Jinan Affair (Seinan-jihen) (Jinan, China)---185 1931 Manshu Incident (Manshu-jihen)---17,176 1937 China Incident (Shina-jihen): the outbreak of Second Japan-China War (1937-1945)---191,250 1939-1945 World War II (Taiheiyo-senso, formerly called "Daitoa-senso")---2,133,915 1978 Added the "14 Class-A Criminals" to the list of the enshrined spirits. The total number of the war victims enshrined here: 2,466,532 (Oct. 17, 2004) In addition, Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine enshrines more than 57,000 women who died in some battlefields: many of them worked as nurses in field-hospitals. It also enshrines the Korean and Taiwanese soldiers who fought and died for the Japanese Empire, and Captain John Campbell and his 120 English naval officers and sailors who unfortunately boarded on the Japanese troop-ship "Hitachi-maru" which was attacked by a Russian submarine boat during the Russo-Japanese War: Japan was allied with England in 1902. ------------------------------------------------------------- I would like to ask you, especially Korean and Chinese friends: How can you blame the Japanese who go to Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine and pray for the war-victims, even if it also enshrines what they call the "14 Class-A War Criminals"? In a parliament meeting of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday, May 26, 2005, Masahiro Morioka, parliamentary secretary for health, labor and welfare, claimed that the "Class-A War Criminals" convicted for crimes against peace and humanity by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East after World War II are not criminals because the tribunal was "one-sided." No one cannot deny it now if you carefully research all the proceedings. Morioka has been strongly criticized for "his fallacy" that the Class-A War Criminals are no longer regarded as criminals in Japan, although the majority of Japanese people still seem to regard them as criminals because we learn that it is them who led Japan to insane imperialism at that time. His remarks have gravely hurt the feelings of peoples in many countries, especially Japan's Asian neighbors. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's remarks on the history issue also connived with the rampant right-wing activities. Koizumi, who annually visited the Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine, made a chicanery on August 15 (the anniversary of the end of the Pacific War), 2006 that his visits are "unrelated to the crimes of the "Class-A War Criminals." Most Japanese people, who have not experienced the cruel wartime before 1945, do not exactly know the crimes of the "Class-A War Criminals" and other cruel things the Japanese Empire committed towards the neighboring countries, because Japanese school teachers do not teach them very clearly. I regret to say that the majority of the Japanese textbooks of history do not tell many things about the Japanese Empire under the present Japanese Ministry of Education's control. Quite a few intellectual alps, however, continue to criticize the ministry's policy. We do hope that things will be getting better before long. However, how do you feel if you continuously hear from other countries that "Your nation did a most cruel thing to other nations 60 years ago"? How long will our future innocent descendants compensate for our ancestors' war crime? Forever? All I can do is to let my students remember how badly old Japanese Imperialism harmed the neighboring Asian countries and not to repeat the history anymore. I'm afraid, however, that some students now gradually harbor ill-feeling towards China and Korea since they have known the current anti-Japanese movements. Is it really what Chinese and Korean people really want from us? The world will never support the violent anti-Japanese movements especially in some parts of China in early 2005: The news of Such movements only convey that the demonstrators who attacked at the Japanese consulate-general and many Japanese stores are not politically mature yet. I believe, however, both China and Korea, among the most advanced and civilized countries of the world now know better than to neglect them. We sincerely respect Chinese and Korean cultures, both of which tremendously influenced the making of Japanese culture for over the past thousand years. Without the two continental cultures, we could not have established the current unique Japanese culture. We feel a great sympathy for the Chinese and Korean victims of the former Japanese Imperialism. We are wondering, however, how many years will you keep on saying "Japan's aggression against China and Korea and committed flagitious crimes against the Chinese people and the Korean people"? Do you want to blame Japan for it forever? As Stephen Dedalus says in James Joyce's Ulysses, "History is a nightmare from which I am trying to wake." Even after 60 years have passed, you do not seem to have woken up from the nightmare. Neither do we. We gradually know there is a great gap between our historical recognition and Chinese/Korean ones especially about the early twentieth century. Is it really impossible to establish a new friendship among the three peoples of China, Korea and Japan, who have never involved in the tragic history? If so, the tragedy never ends and the future generation of the three countries will continuously hate each other: The Majority of Japanese people were greatly shocked at the recent severe anti-Japanese movements in China. Before early 2005 when media in a chorus broadcast the series of the anti-Japanese movements became so severe, most Japanese people had thought that China and Korea were the two best countries to visit. We had believed that China and Korea are friendly nations: Our illusion might be already a "history." However, many of us Japanese still believe that we can talk about the history, and our future with other Asian countries including China and Korea. The only ideal solution is that representative historians of China, Korea and Japan will co-work for making the common textbook of Modern East Asia as soon as possible. Finally, I would like to go to many museums, sacred places or cemeteries for the World War II victims in China, Korea or other countries as possible in the future when I can afford. I would like to express my sorrow and sympathy for the war victims as I did at Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine and Hiroshima. (June 3, 2005)

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(Saturday 28 May) "O-Torii" (First Great Shrine Gate), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine. The nearest station is Kudan-shita on Tozai Line of Tokyo Metro.

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(Saturday 28 May) Inscription of "Irei-no-Izumi" (Mothers' Spring for Comforting Their Sons' Souls), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine. First built in 1967 and reconstructed in 2004 by Tokyo Kiwanis Club.

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(Saturday 28 May) "Irei-no-Izumi" (Mothers' Spring for Comforting Their Sons' Souls), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) Bronze Statue of Masujiro Omura (1825-1869, Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine. Born to a farmer's family in Suo, Choshu (now Yamaguchi), he took an active part in Boshin War (1867-1869), etc. and introduced the French-styled military system after abolition of the Samurai class: He was assassinated by some old samurai in 1869.

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(Saturday 28 May) "Seido-O-Torii" (Second [Bronze] Shrine Gate) and two "Dai-Toros" (Big Stone Lanterns, built in 1935), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine. The left one is carved seven battle scenes of the Japanese army between "Nisshin-senso" (First Japan-China War , 1894-1895) and "Manshu-jihen" (Manshu Incident, 1931). The right one is carved seven battle scenes of the Japanese navy between Nisshin-senso (First Japan-China War, 1894-1895) and "Shanghai-jihen" (Shanghai Incident, 1932).

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(Saturday 28 May) "Seido-O-Torii" (Second [Bronze] Shrine Gate) and "Shin-mon" (Divine Gate), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) "Shin-mon" (Divine Gate), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine. This gold crest of Imperial chrysanthemum is also the crest of Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine.

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(Saturday 28 May) "Chu-mon Torii" (Interior Shrine Gate) and "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine: Normally most visitors worship at the shrine.

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(Saturday 28 May) "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) "Hon-den" (Main Hall, designed by Heizaemon Ito in 1872) viewed from the paling of the corridor between "Hi-den" and "Saigi-jo" (Shrine Office), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine: Everyone can worship at "Hon-den" only if you book your name and address at the reception of "Saigi-jo" (Shrine Office) adjoining to "Hai-den." In my case, I booked around 14:15 and was permitted to enter "Hon-den" with dozens of other worshippers including the Soldiers' Families Society of Ashiro-cho Town, Iwate, led by several Shinto priests around 15:00: Some of worshippers brought things left behind by their war victims. Before the corridor to "Hon-den" the priests stopped to purify us in front of a small shrine. Normally ministers and other VIPs climbed up the front wooden steps to "Hon-den" as you often watch on TV, but ordinary worshippers get to "Hon-den" through the side corridor. The worship time was about 20 minutes or so. The worship ceremony was conducted with the greatest solemnity, calling each war soldier's name and temporarily offering the soldiers' things. The main icon of "Hon-den" is surprisingly "a big mirror." After worship, the sub-Shinto priests give each of you a sup of libation.

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(Saturday 28 May) "Yushu-kan" (YUshu-kan War Museum), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine: This is the best war museum of Japan which displays many wartime remains, pictures, etc.

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(Saturday 28 May) Statue of the War Horse (by Kunio Ito, 1951) in front of "Yushu-kan" (Yushu-kan War Museum), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) Statue of the War Dog (1992) in front of "Yushu-kan" (Yushu-kan War Museum), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) Statue of War Pigeon (1929; reconstructed 1982) in front of "Yushu-kan" (Yushu-kan War Museum), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) Statue of Mother (by Takashi Miyamoto, 1974) in front of "Yushu-kan" (Yushu-kan War Museum), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) Displays soldiers' things in Burma (now Myanmar) during World War II, Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) "Eikyu-Hoshi Kinen-no-hi" (Monument of the Eternal Service, built by the Service Society to Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 28 May) "Kempei-no-hi" (Monument for the Gendarmerie Corps), Yasukuni-jinjya Shrine

Sengaku-ji Temple

Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), (2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo; 東京都港区高輪二丁目11番1号). It belongs to the Soto-shu sect (曹洞宗) of Buddhism and was one of the Three Edo Leading Temples of the sect (江戸三箇寺). Sengaku-ji Temple was built by Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川 家康, 1542-1616), the 1st Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate government, in 1612 near Edo-jo Castle as an establishment of St. Dogen (道元, 1200-1253)'s tradition. However, after only 30 years, it was devastated by fire and this led to a reconstruction at the present site with the aid of the five clans, the Mori clan (毛利), the Asano clan (浅野), Kuchiki clan (朽木), Niwa clan (丹羽) and Mizutani clan (水谷). Sengaku-ji Temple is now regarded as a temple closely related to the Ako-gishi (赤穂義士; the Loyal Retainers of Ako), but it was in fact one of the three principle temples of Edo (now Tokyo) and known in its own right as a prestigious Buddhist institution. Many dedicated monks gathered here from all over Japan to deepen their religious practice and study. This tradition still continues today. Numbers are considerably less than before, but young training monks still practice here. The Ako Incident (赤穂事件) The Ako Incident (赤穂事件), which took place between the 14th year of Genroku (元禄14年) or AD 1701 and the 16th year of Genroku (元禄16年) or AD 1703, is the most famous Japanese story of avenge. Takuminokami Nagayori Asano (浅野 内匠頭 長矩), feudal lord of Banshu-Ako (播州赤穂; now western Hyogo Pref.), was appointed by the Shogunate to entertain the Imperial Envoys visiting Edo (Tokyo) from Kyoto. He was to seek directions from his official advisor, Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka Kira (吉良 上野介 義央). However, Kira disliked Asano and treated him with malice and disregarded his honor as a samurai. Unable to tolerate Kira's insults anymore, Asano drew his sword on him in the Edo-jo Castle at what is known as "Matsu-no-Roka-jiken" (松の廊下事件) or "The Pine Corridor Incident." Asano managed to cut Kira on his forehead and shoulder but failed to kill him. It was strictly forbidden to draw one's sword within Edo-jo Castle on no account at that time, and Asano was immediately arrested. There was also a law termed "equal punishment for quarrels" (喧嘩両成敗) which punished both samurais involved in a fight, so both Asano and Kira were expected to be punished. However, while Kira received no punishment, Asaso was sentenced to death by "seppuku" (切腹; hara-kiri) in a garden of Lord Tamura (田村 右京太夫 建顯)'s residence of the Ichinoseki clan (一関藩; now southern Iwate) on the very same day without proper investigation. "Seppuku" outside in a garden was for a felon and inappropriate for someone of Asano's standing. Furthermore, the Asano estate was confiscated and his family line was dethroned from the lordship. The loyal retainers of Lord Ako, better known as the Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), were indignant of this judgment and pleaded for an amendment of the order and the reinstatement of the Asano clan. However, their requests were dismissed. Almost two years after the fateful incident, 47 samurais of Ako assembled under the former chief retainer (家老), Kuranosuke Yoshitaka Oishi (大石 内蔵助 良雄), to avenge their lord's death and the injustice imposed by the Shogunate. On December 14th, 1702 in the lunar calendar (late January in the solar calendar), they attacked Kira's residence and killed him under Soko Yamaga (山鹿 素行, 1622-1685)'s strategy. Then they marched to Sengaku-ji Temple to present Kira's head to Asano's grave and reported their accomplishment to their late lord. The Ako-gishi turned themselves in to the Shogunate right away and were sentenced to "seppuku" as well the following year on February 4th (in the lunar calendar). The avenge of the Ako-gishi has been made into various plays and is now commonly called "Chu-shin-gura" (忠臣蔵; The Story of the Loyal Retainers). It is a very popular tale that has been touching people's hearts for more than 300 years. The chivalry of the loyal retainers and the themes of "Gi" (義; Justice) and "Chu" (忠; Loyalty) are still highly esteemed by Japanese people. (Main Reference: the Official Pamphlet of Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple) For further interest of the Ako-gishi, go to the Ako page.

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(Sunday 20 April) Sengakuji Station (泉岳寺駅) on Toei-Asakusa Line (都営浅草線) and Keikyu Line (京急線), Takawa, Shinagawa Ward

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(Sunday 20 April) Gishi-do Koizumi-shoten (義士堂 小泉商店), a souvenir shop near the front gate to Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) Chu-mon Gate (中門; the second gate built in 1836) to Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The tablet reading "Bansho-zan" (萬松山), the title of the temple, on the Chu-mon Gate to Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) San-mon Gate (山門; the two-storeyed gate built in 1832) to Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) Statue of Kuranosuke Yoshitaka Oishi (大石 内蔵助 良雄) made in 1921, Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) Statue of Kuranosuke Yoshitaka Oishi (大石 内蔵助 良雄) made in 1921, Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) Main Hall (本堂) of Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo (made in 1953)

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(Sunday 20 April) Main Hall (本堂) of Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) Signpost of the graveyard of the Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) Suikin-kutsu (水琴窟; lit. Japanese water harp cave)), near the signpost of the Ako-gishi graveyard, Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo. A "suikin-kutsu" is a Japanese garden ornament which is also an automatic musical instrument. A "suikinkutsu" consists of an upside down buried pot with a hole at the top. Water drips through the hole at the top onto a small pool of water inside of the pot, creating a pleasant splashing sound that rings inside of the pot similar to a bell or a Japanese harp called "koto" (琴). The sound is a very mysterious sound healing your mind. It is usually built next to a traditional Japanese stone basin called "chozu-bachi," part of a tsukubai (蹲踞) for washing hands before the Japanese tea ceremony. In the case of this teahouse, however, it is built in the opposite side of "chozu-bachi."

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(Sunday 20 April) The blood･stained stone and the blood-stained ume tree which were originally from the garden of the Tamura mansion (田村邸) where Takumi-no-kami Naganori Asano (浅野内匠頭長矩) was commanded to "seppuku" (切腹) or to kill himself by disembowelment. Takumi-no-kami's blood gushed out staining the stone and the tree. Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The blood･stained stone and the blood･stained ume tree which were originally from the garden of the Tamura mansion (田村邸) where Takumi-no-kami Naganori Asano (浅野内匠頭長矩) was commanded to "seppuku" (切腹) or to kill himself by disembowelment. Takumi-no-kami's blood gushed out staining the stone and the tree. Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) "Kubi-arai Ido" (首洗井戸; the well of washing Kira's decapitated head). After the Ako retainers accomplished their avenge by killing Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka Kira (吉良 上野介 義央), they marched to Sengaku-ji Temple to report to their lord's grave. When they arrived, they first washed Kira's decapitated head (kubi) at this well and then laid it in front of their lord's grave and announced their success. Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) "Kubi-arai Ido" (首洗井戸; the well of washing Kira's decapitated head). After the Ako retainers accomplished their avenge by killing Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka Kira (吉良 上野介 義央), they marched to Sengaku-ji Temple to report to their lord's grave. When they arrived, they first washed Kira's decapitated head (kubi) at this well and then laid it in front of their lord's grave and announced their success. Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The gate to the graveyard, Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo. This gate was originally used as the back gate of the mansion of the Asano clan.

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(Sunday 20 April) They burn a bundle of incense-sticks per 100 yen for visitors at the entrance of the graveyard of Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The grave of Takumi-no-kami Naganori Asano (浅野 内匠頭 長矩, 1667-1701), the lord of Banshu-Ako clan (播州赤穂藩), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The grave of Takumi-no-kami Naganori Asano (浅野 内匠頭 長矩, 1667-1701), the lord of Banshu-Ako clan (播州赤穂藩), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The grave of Takumi-no-kami Naganori Asano (浅野 内匠頭 長矩, 1667-1701)'s wife, Okuri-no-kata (阿くりの方), who died 13 years after her husband at the age of 41, Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The grave of Takumi-no-kami Naganori Asano (浅野 内匠頭 長矩, 1667-1701)'s wife, Okuri-no-kata (阿くりの方), who died 13 years after her husband at the age of 41, Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) Graves of other lords of the Asano clan, Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The diagram of the graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The grave of Chikara Yoshikane Oishi (大石 主悦 良金), the 1st son of Kuranosuke, who was one of the leading members of the Ako-gishi and committed "seppuku" at the age of 16. The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The grave of Kuranosuke Yoshitaka Oishi (大石 内蔵助 良雄). Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The grave of Kuranosuke Yoshitaka Oishi (大石 内蔵助 良雄). Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) The Jizo [Skt. Ksitigarbha-bodhisattva] statue of the graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

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(Sunday 20 April) Some flowers over the graveyard of the 47 (actually 48) Ako-gishi (赤穂義士), Bansho-zan Sengaku-ji Temple (萬松山 泉岳寺), 2-11-1 Takawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo

Fukagawa Fudo-do

Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall (成田山 東京別院 深川不動堂), widely known as Fukagawa Fudo-son (深川不動尊), is a Tokyo branch temple of Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple (成田山 新勝寺), Narita City, Chiba (千葉県成田市). It belongs to the Shingon-shu-Chisan-ha sect (真言宗智山派) of Buddhism. The address is 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo (東京都江東区富岡1-17-13). About 3 minutes' walk from Monzennakacho Station (門前仲町駅) on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line (東京メトロ東西線) or Oedo Line (大江戸線). In early Edo Period in the late seventeenth century, the famous kabuki actor Danjyuro Ichikawa I (初代 市川 團十��,1660-1704) played "Fudo-myo-o" (不動明王; Acala; the God of Fire) in a kabuki play. Since then, things had been likely to develop toward the exhibition of the main image of "Fudo-myo-o" of Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple in the city center of Edo. In 1703 (元禄16年) people could enjoy the first exhibition (出開帳) of the "Fudo-myo-o" image at Eitai-ji Temple (永代寺), a temple attached to Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine (富岡八幡宮) based on the theory of "Shimbustu-shugo" (神仏習合説; fusion of Shintoism and Buddhism). It was the origin of Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall. There were 12 exhibitions (出開帳) of the "Fudo-myo-o" statue of Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple here during the Edo Period. Although Eitai-ji Temple was demolished following the series of the laws separate Shintoism from Buddhism after the Meiji Restoration of the Imperial (or Shinto) Rule, people never abandoned their faith in "Fudo-son" (Acala; the God of Fire). So finally the government permitted Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall to remain here as a branch temple of Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple. The main hall was burnt down twice in the Great Earthquake of 1923 (関東大震災) and the Great Tokyo Air Raid (東京大空襲) of 10 March 1945, but the main image was not damaged and still remains the same. In addition, the place/station name "Monzennaka-cho" (門前仲町; lit. the temple town) suggests the historical fact that here was the town before Eitai-ji Temple.

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(Saturday 16 May) Fukagawa Fudo-son Nakamise-dori Street (深川不動尊仲店通り), Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) A panoramic picture of Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall in the Edo Period, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Hon-do (本堂; the Main Hall), Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Hon-do (本堂; the Main Hall), Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Ad for the new Hon-do (本堂; the Main Hall) which will be constructed between Feb. 4, 2009 (平成21年) and Dec. 20, 2010 (平成22年): The opening ceremony for the new hall will be held on Sept. 15, 2012 (平成24年). Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Hon-do (本堂; the Main Hall), Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Hon-do (本堂; the Main Hall), Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Hon-do (本堂; the Main Hall), Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Hon-do (本堂; the Main Hall) seen over the banners of "Dakini-ten-son" (茶枳尼天尊; Skt. Dakini), the worshipped image of Kaiun-Shusse-inari-jinjya Shrine (開運出世稲荷), Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) The white banner of "Fukagawa Narita-san Kaiun Shusse-inari Daimyojin" (深川成田山開運出世稲荷大明神; lit. "the Gracious Fox Deity of Good-luck and Success of Fukagawa Narita-san) in the precincts of Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Fukagawa Narita-san Kaiun Shusse-inari Daimyojin" (深川成田山開運出世稲荷大明神; lit. "the Gracious Fox Deity of Good-luck and Success of Fukagawa Narita-san) in the precincts of Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Fukagawa Narita-san Kaiun Shusse-inari Daimyojin" (深川成田山開運出世稲荷大明神; lit. "the Gracious Fox Deity of Good-luck and Success of Fukagawa Narita-san) in the precincts of Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Fukagawa Narita-san Kaiun Shusse-inari Daimyojin" (深川成田山開運出世稲荷大明神; lit. "the Gracious Fox Deity of Good-luck and Success of Fukagawa Narita-san) in the precincts of Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Fukagawa Narita-san Kaiun Shusse-inari Daimyojin" (深川成田山開運出世稲荷大明神; lit. "the Gracious Fox Deity of Good-luck and Success of Fukagawa Narita-san) in the precincts of Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Hyakudo-ishi" (百度石; lit. l"hundred times stone") in the precincts of Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo. A worshiper with a special prayer will visit the shrine a hundred times (百度参り). After praying, he or she must go at least back to the entrance or around a h"yakudo-ishi" for the next visit to count as a separate visit.

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(Saturday 16 May) Some sword monument by "Hyakudo-ishi" (百度石; lit. "hundred times stone") in the precincts of Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Some sword monument by "Hyakudo-ishi" (百度石; lit. "hundred times stone") in the precincts of Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Josho-sho" (浄書所; the place for writing out your prayer), Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Josho-sho" (浄書所; the place for writing out your prayer), Narita-san Tokyo-betsu-in Fukagawa Fudo-do Hall, 1-17-13 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine

Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine (富岡八幡宮), also known as Fukagawa Hachiman (深川八幡), is located at 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo (東京都江東区富岡 1-20-3). The nearest station is Monzennakacho Station (門前仲町) on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line (東京メトロ東西線) or Oedo Line (大江戸線). Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine was founded here in what was the called "Eitaijima" (永代島) in 1627 (寛永4年). It was supported by the Tokugawa Shogun family (徳川将軍家) as the Gen-ji (源氏) family shrine. It was also worshipped by local people who liked its beautiful garden. This shrine is, precisely, a branch shrine of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine (富岡八幡宮) in 4-5-41 Tomioka-higashi, Kanazawa Word, Yokohama City (横浜市金沢区富岡東4丁目5-4). It enshrines Hondawake-no-mikoto (品陀和気命), that is 15th Emperor Ojin (応神天皇, AD 201-310; r.270-310). The original shrine buildings were burnt down at the time of the Great Tokyo Air Raid (東京大空襲) of 10 March 1945 (昭和20年). Enght days later (18 March), Emperor Showa (昭和天皇) came here and was reportedly much depressed with the calamity of war. The shrine festival is held once every three years around August 15, known as "Fukagawa Hachiman-sai" (深川八幡祭) or "Fukagawa-matsuri" (深川祭): It is one of the three great festivals of Edo as well as "Kanda-matsuri" (神田祭) and "Sanno-matsuri" (山王祭). This shrine is also known as the birthplace of Edo Kanjin Sumo (江戸勧進相撲). Grand Sumo Tournaments were often held in the precinct during the Edo Period. Even now high-ranked professional Sumo wrestlers visit and have numerous ceremonies. So there are many monuments related to Sumo in the precinct.

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(Saturday 16 May) Shrine Gate of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo. A view from Eitai-dori Street (永代通り).

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(Saturday 16 May) The great stone lantern of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) A stall by the Shrine Gate of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Shrine Gate of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Statue of Tadataka Ino (伊能 忠敬, 1745-1818) built in 2001, Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo. He was a Japanese surveyor and cartographer. He is known for completing the first map of Japan created using modern surveying techniques. He lived in Fukagawa near this shrine. Reportedly he never failed to visit this shrine whenever he went to make a survey of somewhere all over Japan.

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(Saturday 16 May) Statue of Tadataka Ino (伊能 忠敬, 1745-1818) built in 2001, Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) A monument of a surveying instrument near the statue of Tadataka Ino, Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Store/Exhibition house of the shrine festival "Fukagawa Hachiman-sai" (深川八幡祭), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) A picture of the shrine festival "Fukagawa Hachiman-sai" (深川八幡祭), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) A portable shrine or "Mikoshi" (神輿) of the shrine festival "Fukagawa Hachiman-sai" (深川八幡祭), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) A portable shrine or "Mikoshi" (神輿) of the shrine festival "Fukagawa Hachiman-sai" (深川八幡祭), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Hai-den" (拝殿; the Worshippers' Hall), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Hai-den" (拝殿; the Worshippers' Hall), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Hai-den" (拝殿; the Worshippers' Hall), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Hai-den" (拝殿; the Worshippers' Hall), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) "Hai-den" (拝殿; the Worshippers' Hall), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Stone Monument for Ozeki (大関; the 2nd highest rank) Sumo Wrestlers (大関力士碑), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Explanatory inscriptions fo the Stone Monument for Yokozuna (横綱; the highest rank) Sumo Wrestlers (横綱力士碑), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Stone Monument for Yokozuna (横綱; the highest rank) Sumo Wrestlers (横綱力士碑), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Stone Monument for Yokozuna (横綱; the highest rank) Sumo Wrestlers (横綱力士碑), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Stone Monument for Yokozuna (横綱; the highest rank) Sumo Wrestlers (横綱力士碑), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Stone Monument for Yokozuna (横綱; the highest rank) Sumo Wrestlers (横綱力士碑), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Stone Monument for Yokozuna (横綱; the highest rank) Sumo Wrestlers (横綱力士碑), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo. The names of the succession of Yokozuna Sumo Wrestlers are inscribed in order.

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(Saturday 16 May) Stone Monument for Yokozuna (横綱; the highest rank) Sumo Wrestlers (横綱力士碑), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo. The names of the succession of Yokozuna Sumo Wrestlers are inscribed in order.

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(Saturday 16 May) Stone Monument for Yokozuna (横綱; the highest rank) Sumo Wrestlers (横綱力士碑), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo. The names of the succession of Yokozuna Sumo Wrestlers are inscribed in order.

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(Saturday 16 May) Stone Monument for Yokozuna (横綱; the highest rank) Sumo Wrestlers (横綱力士碑), Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo. The names of the succession of Yokozuna Sumo Wrestlers are inscribed in order.

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(Saturday 16 May) Nanawatari-jinjya Shrine (七渡神社) in the precinct of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Nanawatari-jinjya Shrine (七渡神社) in the precinct of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo. Reportedly this shrine stood here earlier than Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrune. It enshrines "Benzai-ten" (弁財天: Sarasvati; the Goddess of Fortune).

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(Saturday 16 May) A joint shrine hall in the precinct of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) A path lined with tens of Torii (鳥居; the Red Shrine Gate) of Eisho-Gosha-inari-jinjya Shrine (永昌五社稲荷神社) in the precinct of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) A path lined with tens of Torii (鳥居; the Red Shrine Gate) of Eisho-Gosha-inari-jinjya Shrine (永昌五社稲荷神社) in the precinct of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

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(Saturday 16 May) Eisho-Gosha-inari-jinjya Shrine (永昌五社稲荷神社) in the precinct of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo. This is a join hall of Eisho-inari-jinjya Shrine (永昌稲荷神社) and Gosha-inari-jinjya Shrine (五社稲荷神社).

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(Saturday 16 May) Eisho-Gosha-inari-jinjya Shrine (永昌五社稲荷神社) in the precinct of Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto Ward, Tokyo

        

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