For those who don't not know what Manekineko is...
Today's post is about my visit to a shrine in January. Paying homage to shrines and/or temples to make good wishes for new year is a common practice amongst many Japanese. Some waits for the midnight at the shrines and temples and many goes within the first three days of January. Feeling too reluctant and lazy, my new year visit to a shrine (or a temple), however, never happened in time. In some years, I even decided to follow the old luna calender which new year starts in February.
However this year, I made it on January 3! Hooray!
The shrine I paid homage with my family is called Imado Jinja shrine in Asakusa.
The 6th film of Hibotan Bakuto series, "O-Ryu Sanjo" (means here comes O-Ryu or O-Ryu returns), story takes place in Asakusa. In the film, you will see then-existed (in Meiji era, late 19th - early 20th century) Imado bridge in somehow romantic setting.
Tsunejiro joins O-Ryu for the last duel on Imado bridge.
Imado bridge used to be across the Ohaguro gutter surrounding Yoshiwara Yukaku or Yoshiwara licensed red light district. By the way, prostitution is illegal since 1958/1959 in Japan and there is no sign of the district left now in the area. The gutter is filled and only the railing part of Imado bridge is still there as a monument.
In the film, you will also see then-the-tallest building Ryouunkaku or Asakusa Junikai (Asakusa 12 stories building).
As a background, on Imado bridge...
Last duel, eventually a raid, takes place at Ryouunkaku.
Major earthquake in Tokyo area, Kanto Daishinsai, destroyed Ryouunkaku in 1923 and the building you see in the film is a beautiful reproduction by the artistic department. Nice work! Hooray!
Hibotan Bakuto O-Ryu Sanjo / 1970
Now what is Manekineko?
If you want to know the look of typical Manekineko, see the photo above my Profile.
Yes, Manekineko is statue of cat beckoning with an upright paw. Inviting customers, visitors, friends and luck with the paw, Manekineko is a symbol and good luck charm mainly for business.
For the details, I would lead you to Wikipedia's Manekineko. It describes much better than I do.
Imado is known as one of the birthplaces of Manekineko. There are some stories as to the origin of Manekineko and the Imado version goes like this...
In Edo era (16th - 19th century Shogun era), there was an old woman living in Imado. She loved her cat but got so poor that she had to give it away. One night, the cat appeared in her dream and told her that it should be a good idea to make small statues of the cat in clay and sell them. She followed the cat's advice and made the statues in Imado Yaki pottery. Imado had its local pottery craft, it still does. The statues sold very well and she became wealthy. Hooray!
Imado style Manekineko
Imado style Manekineko usually comes in pairs
therefore Imado Jinja shrine is worshiped as a god of marriage ♡♡
Many young people mainly girls were buying good luck charms and amulets
for good marriage at the shrine office.
I am not interested in marriage but I know exactly what to do.
Getting Manekineko Mikuji!
O-Mikuji or Mikuji is a fortune telling draw you find at shrines and some temples. Pay small amount of money and you can draw an O-Mikuji which tells your fortune. What good about Manekineko Mikuji at Imado Jinja shrine is that it comes with a tiny Manekineko good luck charm. The good luck charm Manekinekos come in all sorts of colors and outfits for different fortunes.
My Manekineko Mikuji had a red one and my mother's had a white one. The color combination of red and white represents happiness, good luck and festival! Hooray!
You see the size of the Manekineko charms? Only if you know the size of 100 Yen coin.
There was an old house next to the shrine and the entrance was open to the public.
Take a look at the entrance. There are hundreds of Manekineko statues displayed.
A beautiful Kan-Nushi woman was showing good luck charms and amulets to the people on the line.
She should be doing a very good business with so many good luck charms for the very purpose!
It was the first time for me to witness a female Kan-Nushi.
Kan-Nushi is a Shinto priest. Later, I found out that Imado Jinja shrine has more than a few Kan-Nushi women. All look so pretty. Is this a new trend? Hooray!
Shinto is the natural spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people, so Wikipedia says. It is, for me, more like a manner of purification in everyday life. It is also a religion the Japanese royal family worships.
Buddhism has temples and for Shinto, there are shrines.
Before we make our wishes, we throw Saisen money into Saisen Bako box located at the main building of the shrine where we pray. Saisen is like a donation but whenever we give Saisen money, we make wishes. So it is not exactly a donation, is it? I always give 5 Yen (like 5 cents).
If you see a big bell or bells above the Saisen Bako box, ring them with a thick rope attached instead of shouting "I'm here!" to attract the god's attention.
Then...
Here are two ladies praying and making wishes...
The Saisen Bako box is conveniently located right in front of them.
Don't miss the big pair of Imado Manekinekos!
Today's post is about my visit to a shrine in January. Paying homage to shrines and/or temples to make good wishes for new year is a common practice amongst many Japanese. Some waits for the midnight at the shrines and temples and many goes within the first three days of January. Feeling too reluctant and lazy, my new year visit to a shrine (or a temple), however, never happened in time. In some years, I even decided to follow the old luna calender which new year starts in February.
However this year, I made it on January 3! Hooray!
The shrine I paid homage with my family is called Imado Jinja shrine in Asakusa.
The 6th film of Hibotan Bakuto series, "O-Ryu Sanjo" (means here comes O-Ryu or O-Ryu returns), story takes place in Asakusa. In the film, you will see then-existed (in Meiji era, late 19th - early 20th century) Imado bridge in somehow romantic setting.
Tsunejiro joins O-Ryu for the last duel on Imado bridge.
Imado bridge used to be across the Ohaguro gutter surrounding Yoshiwara Yukaku or Yoshiwara licensed red light district. By the way, prostitution is illegal since 1958/1959 in Japan and there is no sign of the district left now in the area. The gutter is filled and only the railing part of Imado bridge is still there as a monument.
In the film, you will also see then-the-tallest building Ryouunkaku or Asakusa Junikai (Asakusa 12 stories building).
Old postcard of Rouunkaku
As a background, on Imado bridge...
Last duel, eventually a raid, takes place at Ryouunkaku.
Major earthquake in Tokyo area, Kanto Daishinsai, destroyed Ryouunkaku in 1923 and the building you see in the film is a beautiful reproduction by the artistic department. Nice work! Hooray!
Hibotan Bakuto O-Ryu Sanjo / 1970
Now what is Manekineko?
If you want to know the look of typical Manekineko, see the photo above my Profile.
Yes, Manekineko is statue of cat beckoning with an upright paw. Inviting customers, visitors, friends and luck with the paw, Manekineko is a symbol and good luck charm mainly for business.
For the details, I would lead you to Wikipedia's Manekineko. It describes much better than I do.
Imado is known as one of the birthplaces of Manekineko. There are some stories as to the origin of Manekineko and the Imado version goes like this...
In Edo era (16th - 19th century Shogun era), there was an old woman living in Imado. She loved her cat but got so poor that she had to give it away. One night, the cat appeared in her dream and told her that it should be a good idea to make small statues of the cat in clay and sell them. She followed the cat's advice and made the statues in Imado Yaki pottery. Imado had its local pottery craft, it still does. The statues sold very well and she became wealthy. Hooray!
Imado style Manekineko
Imado style Manekineko usually comes in pairs
therefore Imado Jinja shrine is worshiped as a god of marriage ♡♡
Many young people mainly girls were buying good luck charms and amulets
for good marriage at the shrine office.
I am not interested in marriage but I know exactly what to do.
Getting Manekineko Mikuji!
O-Mikuji or Mikuji is a fortune telling draw you find at shrines and some temples. Pay small amount of money and you can draw an O-Mikuji which tells your fortune. What good about Manekineko Mikuji at Imado Jinja shrine is that it comes with a tiny Manekineko good luck charm. The good luck charm Manekinekos come in all sorts of colors and outfits for different fortunes.
My Manekineko Mikuji had a red one and my mother's had a white one. The color combination of red and white represents happiness, good luck and festival! Hooray!
You see the size of the Manekineko charms? Only if you know the size of 100 Yen coin.
There was an old house next to the shrine and the entrance was open to the public.
Take a look at the entrance. There are hundreds of Manekineko statues displayed.
On the TV monitor at the entrance, I could learn how to dance Manekineko Ondo.
Ondo is music and dance for local festivals.
She should be doing a very good business with so many good luck charms for the very purpose!
It was the first time for me to witness a female Kan-Nushi.
Kan-Nushi is a Shinto priest. Later, I found out that Imado Jinja shrine has more than a few Kan-Nushi women. All look so pretty. Is this a new trend? Hooray!
Shinto is the natural spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people, so Wikipedia says. It is, for me, more like a manner of purification in everyday life. It is also a religion the Japanese royal family worships.
Buddhism has temples and for Shinto, there are shrines.
Before we make our wishes, we throw Saisen money into Saisen Bako box located at the main building of the shrine where we pray. Saisen is like a donation but whenever we give Saisen money, we make wishes. So it is not exactly a donation, is it? I always give 5 Yen (like 5 cents).
If you see a big bell or bells above the Saisen Bako box, ring them with a thick rope attached instead of shouting "I'm here!" to attract the god's attention.
Then...
Here are two ladies praying and making wishes...
The Saisen Bako box is conveniently located right in front of them.
Don't miss the big pair of Imado Manekinekos!
But there was a long queue to stand in before I reached to the Saisen Bako box.
Don't worry!
Meanwhile, there are other ways to spend some changes you carry in your pocket.
I gave another 5 Yen coin here to the kitties. Who knows? The kitties may help me having my wishes come true! Hooray, kitties!In Asakusa, like many other traditional touristic places, Jinrikisha service is available. Jinrikisha is rickshaws you see in Japan only for the touristic purposes now. I saw a very attractive young woman drawing Jinrikisha on this day at the shrine. I should have taken a photo of hers but missed the opportunity. 
On our way home, we decided to take a bus to Asakusa station.
Let's try Panda Bus service!
Panda Bus stop
Panda Bus service is free of charge. It takes more time than taxi (by taxi Imado Jinja is approx 5 minutes and 800 Yen away from Asakusa station) but it's more fun.
Each seat has a white seat cover with black Panda ears. Grab the ears when you stumble!?
The bus does not exactly look like panda bear after all but never mind.
Panda Bus goes around the Asakkusa touristic spots and service runs every 40 minutes approx.
There is a much bigger and more famous temple in Asakusa, the Sensoji, but visiting smaller Imado Jijna shrine was a good fun. The best part was less crowded.
Walking to the shrine from Asakusa station should be a good exercise, too!
So for the next new year, go visit Imado Jinja shrine to meet the Manekineko and get a Manekineko Mikuji for the-year-round good luck!
And don't forget about the Panda Bus.
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