Keishoin and Otowa

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- Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, see below
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Keishoo-In, Keishōin 桂昌院 Keisho-In
(1628 - 1705)
Mother of Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.



- quote
Childhood Name: 玉 (Tama)
She was born in 1628,
the second daughter of a Nishijin grocer. In her childhood, she was called Tama. She was later adopted by Honjô Munetoshi, steward for Kanpaku Nijô Mitsuhira. Traveling to Edo as the result of some interaction or connection with O-Ume, daughter of Rokujô Yûjun (a member of the Ôoku), Tama entered the Ôoku herself as a concubine of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, and eventually gave birth to Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who would grow up to be Shogun himself.
After Tsunayoshi became Shogun in 1680, she took up residence in the san-no-maru (third bailey) of Edo castle, and came to be known as San-no-maru-dono as a result.
A private temple was established for her in Edo in 1682; this would later become the Edo  Gokoku-ji. Keishôin was also involved in the construction of Zenkô-ji, a fifteen-year project.
In 1702,
she rose to the Junior First Rank, and many members of her family, beginning with her (adoptive) younger brother Honjô Munesuke, enjoyed the benefits of serving as direct shogunal vassals. It was around this time that her Buddhist devotion grew stronger, and she eventually took on the Buddhist name Keishôin.
She died in 1705, at the age of 79.


Plaque in honor of Keishoin at Imamiya Shrine, Kyoto.
- source : samurai wiki

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. Yanagimori Jinja 柳森神社 Yanagimori Shrine .
was built in the late 17th century by a woman named Keisho-in 桂昌院, the daughter of a lowly greengrocer. As a teenager she was 'scouted' by representatives of Edo castle to join the O-oku -- the harem of women who serviced the Shogun. While this might sound like a sad fate by modern standards, in feudal times a spot in the Ooku was akin to winning the lottery for a woman. No matter how humble your origins, you were treated like royalty in the Ooku, particularly if you caught the Shogun's fancy.
And Keisho-in not only caught his fancy but bore him a son -- a son that eventually became the Fifth Tokugawa Shogun, making her a powerful political figure in her own right. Not bad for a woman who had been sweeping the floor in a vegetable stand just a few decades earlier.
- quote by Hiroko Yoda

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. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

Otowachoo　音羽町 Otowa district in Edo

There is a famous temple in the district :

. Otowa Gokokuji 音羽護国寺 Otowa Gokoku-Ji
文京区大塚5-40-1 / Bunkyo ward, Otsuka 5-40-1

This temple was founded in 1681 by 亮賢僧正 high priest Ryoken (1611 - 1687)
on behalf of Shogun Tsunayoshi for his mother, 桂昌院 Lady Keisho-In.
The main statue is 如意輪観世音菩薩 Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu.

After his mother's death, Shogun Tsunayoshi visited this temple very often. There was even a special road for him, through the fields of this otherwise farming area. There was no monzenmachi　門前町 town before the temple.
In 1697 the Bakufu government begun to build houses along the road and asked an old retainer of Keisho-In named
音羽 Otowa to become the head of the new village. This gave the name to the new developing area.
Around 1705 there were not only busy tea stalls and shops in the village, but also a famous brothel quarter (okabasho 岡場所).

In 1833, 久保田増平 Kuboto Masudaira brought the art of paper making to the area and in the back roads of Otowa village many paper makers settled.
Masudaira was from Nagano, Ina district 信濃国(長野県)伊那郡.

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Otowa Ezu 音羽絵図 old map of Otowa
雑司が谷　Zoshigaya


source : national diet library





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Otowa Gokokuji 音羽護国寺
Hokusai painted a large portrait of Daruma san at this temple.





大達磨像 - 江戸・音羽護国寺
Portrait of Daruma at Gokokuji temple in the Otowa District, Edo .

. Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎 (1760 - 1849) .



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. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi 徳川綱吉 (1646 – 1709) .




Thanks to Tsunayoshi, the townspeople got used to the idea of jin 仁 benevolence toward others.

Tsunayoshi employed the blind doctor
. Sugiyama Waichi 杉山和一 (1614–1694) .
the "Father of Japanese Acupuncture". He gave him a large district where Waichi could establish a school of acupuncture for blind people, who thus found a way of making a living for themselves.


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. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu poems in Edo .

. Japanese Architecture - Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


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Sangenjaya district

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Sangenjaya 三軒茶屋 Sangen-jaya, "three tea stalls"
世田谷区　Setagaya ward / Sangenchaya　三軒茶屋



Under the un-auspicious name of "tea stall", a lot of extra entertainment was available in Edo.
Along the public roads to the countryside, there were many Chaya for travellers to rest.

. chaya, -jaya 茶屋 tea shop, tea stall - Introduction .

- - - - The three tea shops were
Ishibashi-ya 石橋屋 - originally 信楽 Shigaraki
Kado-ya 角屋
Tanaka-ya 田中屋

They were located at the beginning of two highways out of Edo,
大山街道 Oyama Kaido
and
二子街道 Futago Kaido.

Oyama Kaido was a favorite pilgrim road to
. 大山の不動様 Oyama no Fudo Son .
Shrine Oyama Afuri Jinja 大山阿夫利神社
There were two Oyama Kaido leading out of Edo, dividing at Sangen Jaya.


source : sangendyaya.co.jp

The rest of the area was still fields and forest in the early Edo period, but there were enough pilgrims to keep the tea stalls busy.
The Oyama Kaido is now called Tamagawa-doori　玉川通り Tamagawa-Dori.

The Futago Kaido was famous for
. Tamagawa Daishi 玉川大師 - temple Gyokushin Mitsuin .
4 Chome-13-3 Seta, Setagaya.
The postal station Futago Juku was at Kawasaki
神奈川県川崎市高津区二子 / Futago, Takatsu Ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa


The tea stalls used to have two stories, with a second floor where the visitors could rest (and even stay over night if need be).
It is even told that Sakamoto Royma stayed at the 信楽 Shigaraki chaya.


source : sancha.jp/history


.... Ishibashi-ya 石橋屋
The shop was originally called 信楽 Shigaraki, but the name was later changed to 石橋楼 Ishibashi-rō.
In the Meiji Period,
Kado-ya went out of business and Tanaka-ya was lost in a fire.
In 1936, Ishibashi-ya moved across the street and changed its name to 茶寮イシバシ Saryō Ishibashi which means something like “Tea Room Ishibashi.” The first floor was a 洋食喫茶 yōshoku kissa a café specializing in yōshoku, Japanized western dishes. The second floor was a banquet hall that served yōshoku for large events and parties. In 1945, the family running the shop was evacuated due to the destruction incurred by the American firebombing of Tōkyō.
... according to local legend Tanaka-ya re-emerged at some time in the Sangenjaya area. It didn’t come back as a teahouse but as a ceramics shop. The modern shop is called 田中屋陶苑 Tanakaya Tōen Tanaka Ceramics. The shop uses the family name and is the only surviving business with any connection to the Sangen-jaya place name.



source : t-mame.blogspot.jp...
A modern reminder of Sancha 三軒茶屋交差点の交番前


- quote
The area is often affectionately called 三茶 Sancha “three tea.”

..... In the Edo Period,
the area called Sangenjaya today was comprised of the former 中馬引沢村 Naka-Umahikizawa Village, 下馬引沢村 Shimo-Umahikizawa Village, and 太子堂村 Taishi-dō Village in former 武蔵国荏原郡 Ebara District, Musashi Province.
It seems that by the 1800’s, the popular name Sangen-jaya was already well known in the area. However, the name didn’t officially exist until quite recently. The birth of the official place name Sangen-jaya coincided with the 1932 creation of Setagaya Ward.
In the Meiji Period, the area became famous for シャボン屋 shabon-ya shops selling western soaps, 立飲屋 tachinomi-ya shops where you drink while standing, 駄菓子屋 dagashi-ya cheap candy and snack shops, and 魚屋 sakana-ya fish mongers. Today, it’s a rather affluent area with many bustling restaurants and bars.
- source : japanthis.com/2015/01/14/sangenjaya

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Tokiwabashi 常盤橋 Tokiwa bridge




This bridge is located at the Futago Kaido in the village 中馬牽沢村 Naka-Umahikizawa at Sangenjaya.


登戸街道 Noborito Kaido / Noborito-juku postal station



The road was called 津久井道 Tsukui Michi. This road met with the Oyama Kaido at Sangenjaya.

source : symphonic-net.com/tackara2000/rekishi/edomeishozue...


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ayu no michi　鮎の道 road to carry ayu trout
also called Tsukui Ookan 津久井往還 Road of Tsukui, a town in the North-West of Kanagawa prefecture.
Trout that were fished in Kutsui had to be transported to Edo for consumption as fast as possible. They were carried to the tea shop Sangenjaya 三軒茶屋 in Setagaya.
The fish were put in buckets and the carriers stopped ever so often to put fresh water into the bucket to keep the fish happy and alive.
. ayu 鮎 trout .



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kuchisake onna 口裂け女 the slit-mouthed woman
She likes the number three, so she likes to come here.
She knocks at the door three times.

. kuchisake onna 口裂け女 slit-mouthed woman .

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -
- reference source : sangendyaya.co.jp　-

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. Setagaya ku 世田谷区 Setagaya ward .

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu poems in Edo .

. Japanese Architecture - Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


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Amanuma district

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- for Ome　青梅, see below
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Amanuma district 天沼 "heavenly swamp"


Amanuma, 杉並区 Suginami ward

From the first to the third sub-district. 天沼一丁目 - 天沼三丁目.

The name refers to a pond located at the third sub-district, the famous
Amanuma Benten-Ike 天沼弁天池

During the Edo period, 天沼村 Amanuma village had 73 houses, at the beginning of the Meiji period there were 77.
It was a countryside with forests, foxes and badgers like in the 武蔵野 Musashino plain.
In 1635, it belonged to the famous shrine 日枝神社 Hie Jinja.
The rivers 妙正寺川 Myoshojigawa and 桃園川 Momozonogawa flow through this area.

In 1889, together with the villages of 高円寺村・馬橋村・阿佐ヶ谷村・田端村・成宗村 it became 東多摩郡杉並村 Higashi-Tama district, Suginami village.
In 1891 荻窪駅 the station of Ogikubo was built.

Another theory states that the plain was used since the Heian peroid for horse training, then written 乗潴「あまぬま」. cho 潴 means swamp.

Amanuma is located in the center of Suginami ward. The main street is 天沼本通り Ananuma Hondori.
In the West is the old 青梅街道 Ome Kaido Road. This road was used to transport sekkai 石灰 lime for the construction of the Edo castle. The road goes on to Kofu in Yamanashi.

. Ōme Kaido 青梅街道 Ome Kaido Highway .

. Ogikubo 荻窪 Ogikubo district . - Suginami

. kaidoo 街道と伝説 Legends about the old Kaido highways .
kootsuu jikoo 交通事故 traffic accident
Once upon a time a woman was killed in a traffic accident on the crossroads of the Ome Kaido.
A little later a woman in a white robe (as dead people are dressed for a funeral) appeared at the gas station and waved for a taxi.
When the taxi driver reached the destination, he looked at the back seat but there was nobody, only the seat was rather wet.

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天沼弁天池公園 Amanuma Benten Pond Park



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天沼八幡神社 Amanuma Hachiman Jinja
東京都杉並区天沼2-18-5



The Shrine dates back more than 400 years.

. The Hachiman Shrines of Japan 八幡宮 Hachiman Gu .

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天沼熊野神社 Amanuma Kumano Jinja
東京都杉並区 天沼2-40-2





- reference source : amanumakumano.org...-

- quote -
- - - - -History
There are two origins given for this shrine, the first in 768, the second in 1333. On the former occasion, it is said that when an official who was patrolling the Tōkaidō arrived in the area he established a way station and named it Amanuma-eki (乘潴驛), he also recognized a local deity.
The latter date is
when the Hōjō-controlled Kamakura fell to the forces led by Nitta Yoshisada (新田義貞), the father of Nitto Yoshioki who we came across in connection with Onnazuka Jinja. En route to besieging Kamamkura, Yoshisada set up camp in the area and built a shrine, at which, perhaps not unnaturally, he prayed for success in his campaign and planted two Japanese cedar (sugi) trees.
In 1395 a samurai by the name of Asakura Mikawakami (朝倉三河守) returned to the area to resume his life of farming, and among other things rebuilt the shrine and named it Jūnisha Gengon (十二社権現). After the Meiji Restoration the name was changed to Kumano Jinja and in March 1874 it was given Village Shrine status.
- source : Rod Lucas -


. The Kumano Shrines of Japan 熊野 .

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Onnazuka Jinja 女塚神社



- quote -
Onnazuka (lit. “Female Mound”) Jinja was originally a Hachiman Jinja which was the tutelary shrine for what were then Onnazuka and Misono Villages and is now the area close to the east exit of Kamata Station. When it was founded is unclear, but it must have been no later than 1614 as the Shin-pen-Musashi-Fudo-Kiko notes its completion in that year.
In 1888 the shrine moved to its present location following the construction of the Shimbashi-Yokohama railway line and was given its present name, while Misono Jinja was designated as the shrine for the Misono Village. The two shrines are less than 500m apart.
The Onnazuka name
is derived from an episode during the Nanboku Period of the fourteenth century. Nitta Yoshioki (新田義興, on the Southern Imperial Court Side) had devised a plan to attack the Ashikaga (Northern Imperial Court) in their Kamakura stronghold. Takezawa Ukyōsuke (竹沢左京亮), who at this time was an Ashikaga retainer but whose allegiance had previously been with Nitta, became aware of this and drew up his own plan to assassinate Nitta. This involved reingratiating himself with Nitta and to this end he summoned a court lady, Shōshō-tsubone (少将局), from Kyōto, who was presumably to use her sensual wiles on Nitta. She, however, quickly realized Takesawa’s true intent and sent a letter to Nitta informing him of the plot, which duly failed. On finding out the reason for the failure, an enraged Takesawa killed Shōshō and just cast her body aside. Out of pity and compassion the local villagers gave Shōshō a proper burial in a grave which was a small mound.
- source : Rod Lucas -

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. The Hie shrines of Japan 日枝神社 .
Hie Shrine in Nagatachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo.

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Oome, Ōme 青梅 / おうめ Ome town
Ome means "Green Ume", a kind of plum tree known as Japanese Apricot.
Ōme is located in the Okutama Mountains of western Tokyo, bordered by Saitama Prefecture to the north.
The river Tamagawa flows through the city.



An important postal station of the
青梅街道 Ome kaido highway from Shinjuku to Kofu.



It was a sort of shortcut to 甲府 Kofu in Yamanashi and often called the 甲州裏街道 Koshu Ura Kaido .
First only used for the transportation of lime to Edo, it soon turned into a busy road for all kinds of merchandise.
Now it is one of the modern "emergency access roads", kept open for ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles during national and Tokyo emergencies.

. Ōme Kaido 青梅街道 Ome Kaido Highway .

. Kōshū Kaidō 甲州街道 Koshu Kaido Road .
The Highway from Edo via Kofu to Suwa.

. Tanashi juku 田無宿 postal station .
about 24 km from Edo and 32 km from Ome

The name Ome comes from just one plum tree.
It had fruit which stayed green until autumn and never changed color.
People thought this very strange and called the tree
"green plum tree" - ao ume 青梅, soon shortened to Ome.

There is a legend linking this strange plum tree to Taira no Masakado.
When Masakado passed the temple Kongō-ji 金剛寺 Kongo-Ji (Ome shi Amagase　青梅市天ヶ瀬町), he planted one branch of a plum tree, which he had used as a whip, in the ground and prayed for his long-lasting success as a warrior. Masakado eventually was killed in battle. But the branch became a tree with fine blossoms and fruit.
The tree is often called "Masakado chikai no ume"　将門誓いの梅 "Plum tree of the vow of Masakado".

. ao-ume, ao ume 青梅 green plum .
Kooshuu ume 甲州梅（こうしゅううめ）plum from Koshu
- kigo for mid-summer -

. Taira no Masakado 平将門 / 平將門 - (? – 940) .



In 1922, this tree became 金剛寺の青梅 Kongo-Ji no Ome
and was registered as a 天然記念物 Natural Monument of Tokyo.
Kongooji, Kongō-ji

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Omejima, ome-jima 青梅縞 striped fabrics, weaving from Ome

Dates back to 759 !
江戸中期 青梅が宿場町として栄える
1661年 青梅桟留（サントメ）縞の生産開始



おうめテキスタイルの歴史
- reference source : life-ome.com/textile/history... -

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. Ome hime daruma 青梅姫だるま Princess Daruma doll from Ome .
and 住吉神社 Sumiyoshi Jinja

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武蔵御嶽神社 Musashi Mitake Jinja
176 Mitakesan, Ome, Tokyo - Musashimitake Shrine

- quote -
Musashi-no-kuni Mitake-san 武蔵国御嶽山

Mitake-san (Mt. Mitake) has received many visitors as a sacred place of mountain worship since the Middle Ages.
On top of the mountain the Musashi Mitake Shrine is enshrined,
which originates from the fact that Gyōki built a hall on this site and enshrined Zaō Gongen in 736.
- source : Tokyo Metropolitan Library -
. 行基菩薩 Gyoki Bosatsu (668 - 749)G .



Mitakesan, 御岳山 Mitake-san, Mount Mitake, 929 m

. Futomani matsuri 太占祭 Futomani festival .
at Musashi Mitake Jinja 武蔵御嶽神社
and
Ooguchi magami matsuri 大口真神祭り Wolf Deity Festival

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. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


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Kaga districts

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. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
. Persons and People of Edo - Personen .
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Kagachoo　加賀町 Kaga-Cho, Kagacho, Kaga districts in Edo
Ichigaya 市谷 / 市ヶ谷 / 市ケ谷

There are three districts with the Kaga name, one in the Ginza and one in Ichigaya.
東京都中央区銀座七丁目　Ginza / 東京都新宿区市ヶ谷 Ichigaya

There are two theories about this name:
One is named after a 加賀平右衛門 Kaga Heiemon, the 町名主 headman of this district.

The other is being named after the domain name of Kaga (now Ishikawa prefecture)
This refers to Kaga Cho in Ichigaya.

Itabashi, 板橋区 Kaga 加賀

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銀座加賀町 Ginza Kaga cho

This was first located in 東京府東京市京橋区 and existed until 1930.
Then it became a part of 京橋区銀座西　Kyobashi ward, Ginza Nishi
Now it is part of 東京都中央区銀座七丁目　Chuo ward, Ginza



When Tokugawa Ieyasu first came to Edo, the area of Ginza was still sea and had been filled up when building the castle of Edo, especially the palace at Nishi no Maru. The whole beach front had been reclaimed and became suitable for housing. One of the new districts was called KAGA.
This was the name of the person who was involved in the development of the area,
加賀平右衛門 Kaga Heiemon,
who later became the 町名主 headman of this district.


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市谷加賀町 Ichigaya Kaga cho
東京都新宿区 Shinjuku
- former - 東京府東京市牛込区市ヶ谷加賀町
市ヶ谷加賀町一丁目　/ 市ヶ谷加賀町二丁目 with two sub-districts



This district is named after the Lord of the Kaga domain, Maeda Mitsutaka 前田光高 (1616 - 1645).
His estate was in this area.
By way of his mother, he was the nephew of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu.
As Iemitsu was heirless for some time, Mitsutaka was considered a potential heir. He would then have become the fourth Tokugawa shogun.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !


- quote
The towns of Edo that were established then were named after feudal domains; with names such as
Surugacho, Owaricho, Kagacho, and Inabacho.
They bore the names of the domains that the daimyos in charge of rebuilding the towns were from.
- source : nihombashi-tokyo.com/history...

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Itabashi Kaga
板橋区 加賀 一丁目 - 二丁目 first and second sub-district



The shimoyashiki 下屋敷 suburban residence of the Kaga Domain was located here.
Part of this estate is now 加賀公園 Kaga Koen Park.
1 Chome-8 Kaga, Itabashi City, Tokyo




. Itabashi ku 板橋区 Itabashi ward .

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. Kaga han 加賀藩 Kaga Domain and the Maeda clan .
Ishikawa - 石川県

. Kaga ryoori 加賀料理 Kaga ryori- dishes from Kaga .

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. Ichigaya 市谷 / 市ヶ谷 / 市ケ谷 "Market Valley" district .

Ichigaya Sanaizaka 市谷左内坂町 Ichigaya Sanaizaka cho
in Sanaicho 左内町 - Ichigaya-sanaicho district

Located to the West of Edo castle and to the West of Kaga cho.



The area is named after 島田左内 Shimada Sanai, who lived at the top of the very steep slope as a village headman in the early Edo period around 1620. At that time the village was called
坂町 Sakacho "village on the slope".
A person like Sanai who developed barren land around Edo castle was called
kusawake nanushi　草分け名主 pioneer headman.
The home of the Shimada family was there until the end of the Edo period.
One of the more famous members of the Shimada family was the head on the 8th generation,
島田友直 Shimada Tomonao
He is better known as 酒上熟寐 Sakenoue no Jukune (1724－1784) and was a famous teacher of 狂歌 Kyoka comic "crazy verses".
The characters of his name 酒上 Sakenoue (he liked 酒 Sake a lot), are a pun with
坂の上 Sakanoue "on top of the slope".
Jukune 熟寐 "drunken slumber"

At Sanaizaka there are now the remains of 市谷左内坂定火消屋敷跡
one of the 10 special estates of the fire brigade of Ichigaya. The entrance to the estate was called
Sanai mon 左内門 Sanai gate.

左内坂 Sanaizaka now


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. 目黒行人坂の大火 Meguro Gyoninzaka (Meiwa no taika fire) .
and a legend about a Tanuki with burned testicles


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. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu poems in Edo .

. Japanese Architecture - Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


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Horie district

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. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
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Horiechoo, Horie choo 堀江町 Horie Cho district
Kobunachoo 小舟町 Kobunacho, Kobuna Cho district ("small boat")

Located in the South of 江戸川区南部 Edogwa district, 葛西地域 Kasai area.
The name has been used until 1932 and later (1979) became part of the Kasai area.



When Tokugawa Ieyasu came to Edo, there a lot of fishermen in this are, one of them was
Horie Rokuroo 堀江六郎　Horie Rokuro.
Ieyasu allowed him to use his name for the area and provide fish and seafood for the fast-growing city.

It is a narrow long district, next to 小舟町 Kobunacho, sandwiched between two waterways.
In the East is 東堀留川 Higashi-Horidomegawa , in the West 伊勢町川 Isechogawa. (These waterways do not exist any more.)
. 伊勢町 Isecho, Ise district .
with Shiokashi 塩河岸 "Salt river bank" and Komekashi 米河岸 "Rice river bank".

Because of this good access by boat, there were many storehouses. They stored
木材 lumber, 米 rice, 塩 salt, 乾物 dried food items, 、鰹節 Bonito flakes, 海草 seaweed, 線香 incense, 麻 hemp, 下駄 geta clogs.
kasa 傘 umbrellas, mino 蓑 straw raincoats.


Edo Meisho Zue 江戸名所図会

There were also many craftsmen and dealers for uchiwa 団扇 hand fans (the air-conditioning for summer in Edo).
So Horie was soon identified with the hand fans.

Two districts in the middle of Horie were also called
Terefurechoo 照降町 (てれふれ) Terefurecho, Terefure Cho
(district where it rains (fure) and shines (tere))
The Japanese is also given as （てりふりちょう ) Terifuricho.
since they made umbrellas, raincoats and hand fans, useful items for any weather and the roads were always busy with customers.

The haiku poet Takarai Kikaku 宝井其角 and Hattori Ransetsu 服部嵐雪 also lived in the back quarters of てれふれ町足駄屋 a Geta shop in Terefure Cho.

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entrance to the Terefure district.


雁渡り 照降町自身番書役日誌 (てりふりちょう ) Terifuri-Cho
by 今井絵美子 Imai Emiko



And many more volumes with detective stories from Terifuri district in Edo.

. Hasegawa Heizô 長谷川平蔵　Hasegawwa Heizo .
Terifuri was a district where the famous police officer was active.


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. teri-furi ningyoo, terifuri 照り降り人形 "weather forecasting dolls" .


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Kobunachoo 小舟町 Kobunacho, Kobuna Cho district ("small boat")

The district had three sub-districts, 一丁目 till　三丁目.
At the time of the urban demarcations applied in 1603, this area was known as. Shimofunecho. However, in 1720, its name was changed to Kobunacho to distinguish it from 大舟町 Obunacho, which lay to the west.
(Ofunacho was eventually re-named to 本舟町 Hon-Funacho "the Real Funacho".)
It was a district with fishermen and shipping agents.
Traces of the old capital of Edo still linger in Kobuna-cho, Nihonbashi.
It was connected via the waterways to the bridges Edobashi and Nihonbashi.


小伝馬町→小舟町天王 Tenno Festival Float from Kobunacho - Kodenmacho
Around 1711 there was an epidemy in Kobunacho and they might have borowed the float from the Tenno Shrine for the festifal 天王おまつり.
It seems the festival float was carried around parts along Nihonbashi and Uogashi, where the fish mongers lived and sometimes called
sanjuri Tenno 十三里天王 Tenno of 30 ri distance
(1 里 RI is about 3.9 km).

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- quote -
Looking after the giant lantern dedicated to Sensoji Temple in Asakusa is one way of carrying on tradition. Sensoji Temple has a giant lantern at Kaminarimon Gate and at Hozomon Gate, but the giant lantern hung at Hozomon Gate dedicated by Nihonbashi Kobunacho has a longer history.
It is said that religious followers from around the waters by the fish market at Nihonbashi dedicated it in 1657 as a sign of their faith. By the way, the dedicating of the giant lantern at Kaminarimon Gate was started by the “god of management” Konosuke Matsushita; founder of the leading Japanese home appliance manufacturer Panasonic, and the company continues to look after it to this day.
The giant lantern is 3.9 meters in height. It is also 2.7 meters in circumference so it takes two fully-grown adults to encircle it hand-in-hand. A new one will be dedicated this year for the first time in eleven years. It will cost five to six million yen as Kyoto is the only place where a lantern this size can be made. It will be unveiled at a festival at Yakumo Shrine in September with help from the townspeople, companies, and those who have a fondness for Nihonbashi Kobunacho. It is then scheduled to be dedicated to Sensoji Temple on October 5.
...
Nihonbashi Kobunacho in the 1950’s, it was still quite reminiscent of the “bonito riverbank” during the Edo period. As its name suggests, the area was lined with dried bonito*1 wholesalers and in the daytime, you could see mats everywhere with bonito on them being dried under the sun. When aged bonito is scraped with a brush, you could see powder flying everywhere, spreading the smell of dried bonito.
Nihonbashi Kobunacho is where Zenjiro Yasuda, founder of one of Japan’s megabanks, Mizuho Financial Group, started his dried bonito wholesaling / money changing business.
There is a legend stating that he started it when he found a golden Ebisu (god of fishing and fortune) statue. The Kobunacho Branch of Mizuho Bank currently stands where Zenjiro set up his business and its staff helps us out every year during festivities such as a kagami-biraki ceremony in January. The placing of importance on connections with the area not only by its residence but also by companies based here is another fine tradition of Nihonbashi.
- source : nihombashi-tokyo.com/history - Teruyuki Hirano

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source : nihombashi.keizai.biz...

小舟町で「江戸の暮らしと日本橋未来絵図」展
Exhibition about the life in Edo and the future of Nihonbashi
as seen from Kobunacho


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Specialities of Kobunacho were
katsuobushi 鰹節 bonito flakes and dried salted fish.


東京日本橋の鰹節専門店にんべん Ninben Company



. Ninben　にんべん, Takatsu Ihei 高津伊兵衛　(1679 - ） .


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Murata Harumi 村田春海　(1746 - 1812)
was born in Kobunacho.



He was the second son of a fish dealer in Kobunacho.
He was a scholar of 国学 Kokugaku (National Learning) and also a poet, disciple of Kamo no Mabuchi and Hattori Chuei, Udono Shinei and Minagawa Kien.
When his older brother died, he took over the family fish business and spent his money lavishly.
Eventually all his money was spent and the family business ruined.
He still used his knowledge of Kokugaku to work with Katō Chikage and Matsudaira Sadanobu.
His most important books:
Wagaku taigai 和学大概　Great study about Japanese literature
Gojūon bengo 五十音弁護　Study about 50 wrong readings


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. Horikiri district 掘切 "digging a moat" .
in Katsushika ward
and 葛西三郎 / 葛西清重 Kasai Saburo Kiyoshige (1161 - 1238).


. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu poems in Edo .

. Japanese Architecture - Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


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- - - - - #horie #terefure #kobunacho #kobuna - - - -
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Himonya district

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. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
- for 荏原郡 Ebara, see below -
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Himonya 碑文谷 Himonya district

This is a very old district, dating back to the Muromachi period, when it was called
Himonoyoya 檜物屋 District of woodworkers with Japanese cypress
Now part of 目黒区 Meguro Ward.
Its name is a kind of pun with the sound and meaning of himon (hibun) 碑文 meaning "inscription on a stone".



Many woodworkers lived there.
. himonoshi 檜物師 "artisan making things from Hinoki cypress wood" .
also called magemonoshi 曲物師 craftsmen of bentwood products
kurimono 刳物 "bent things"
Himonoshi craftsmen also lived in
Himonochoo　檜物町 / 檜物丁　Himono Cho District in Edo
close to Nihonbashi - 東京都中央区八重洲一丁目 / 1 Chome Yaesu, Chūō ward


. hinoki 檜 or 桧 Japanese cypress .
Chamaecyparis obtusa


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碑文谷八幡宮 Himonya Hachimangu
目黒区碑文谷三丁目7番3号 / 3 Chome-7-3 Himonya, Meguro



The Shrine dates back to the Kamakura period and has thus a long history. Hatakeyama Shigetada 畠山重忠 (1164 - 1205), a vassal of Minamoto no Yoritomo, came to this shrine to pray for victory in war.
A vassal of Hatakeyama, 榛沢六郎　Hanzawa Rokuro, built a sanctuary for Inari 稲荷社 with a himon seki 碑文石 stone inscription of the name of Himonya 碑文谷.
The stone is 75 cm high, 45 cm wide and 10 cm thick. It was made in the Muromachi period.



In the middle is the Sanscrit letter for 大日如来 Dainichi Nyorai, on the left 勢至菩薩 Seishi Bosatsu and on the right 観音菩薩 Kannon Bosatsu.

Some say the name of Himonya derives from the 碑文 Himon (Hibun) inscription of this stone.

The original 社殿 Shaden Hall was erected in 1674 and rebuilt in 1872. In 1877 it was again refurbished.
The shrine also has a famous 神楽殿 Kagura-Den for Kagura dance performances.
With the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism, part of it became the temple 円融寺 Enyu-Ji (former 法華寺 Hokke-Ji).
The compound is famous for a long row of cherry trees from the first to the second Torii gate.

Sakura matsuri 桜まつり Cherry Blossom Festival during the season.
The main Shrine festival is in Mid-September.

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目黒の筍 bamboo shoots from Meguro
They were grown in the 碑文谷村　Himonya village since 1772.
After visiting the famous Meguro Fudo Temple, people would come here to buy the vegetables.



. Edo Yasai 江戸伝統野菜 Traditional vegetables from Edo .


. Meguro Fudo Temple 目黒不動尊 .
天台宗 泰叡山 瀧泉寺


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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

wara no ryuu 藁の龍 dragon from straw
碑文谷八幡宮 Himonya Hachimangu

Sometimes at the Torii gate of the shrine appeared a large straw rope. looking like a dragon with its tail on the ground.
It is said to be a huge serpent from Mount Fuji coming to protect the Shrine from fire.
In times of drought, people came here for rain rituals.



A Torii gate with a straw rope of a dragon/ snake at shrine
Okusawa Jinja 奥澤神社
東京都世田谷区奥沢五丁目22番1号 / 5 Chome-22-1 Okusawa, Setagaya
The shrine is related to Himonya Shrine.

Okusawa shrine is a quiet emerald in a simple neighborhood, only a few stops from Meguro station on the Yamanote Line. Built during the Edo Period, a huge snake made of straw lies guarding its entrance, wrapped heavily around the stone torii gate. Walk under this, and past the burly protective shisa lion-dogs, and the world behind you falls away.
... To the left behind Okusawa shrine is a little hollow. A tree stands tall, surrounded by low benches. A bamboo fountain bleeds water into another basin, which flows in turn into a shallow moat that runs around the main shrine. Here is another altar – the Cave of the Dragon – which is said to provide the snake at the entrance with its serpentine spine.
Other small figures are hidden in the plants, all in the name of different spirits and gods.
- source : voyapon.com/tokyo-okusawa-shrine -

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Himonya Nio 碑文谷仁王
The Korean statue carver 安阿弥 Annami made the Nio Statues of the temple 妙光山法華寺 Myokozan Hokke-Ji in the old village of
Bushu, Ebara district, Himonya village 武州荏原郡碑文谷村.
In 1772 Annami became ill when he was about 25 years old and prayed for healing in the hall for many days. On the last day of his vow - indeed - his illness was healed.




碑文谷　法華寺　
(江戸名所図会 Edo Meisho Zue）

On the left side is the inscription 八まん Hachiman - short for 碑文谷八幡宮 Himonya Hachimangu.
Hokke-Ji was built in the Heian period by 天台宗 the Tendai sect. During the Kamakura period it belonged to the 日蓮宗 Nichiren sect and in the middle of the Edo period it came back to the Tendai sect. At the end of the Edo period it was re-named 円融寺 Enryu-Ji.

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -


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Ebara 荏原郡 district / 武州荏原 Bushu, Ebara

This was a farming region, mostly for egoma 荏胡麻 a kind of perilla.
Perilla frutescens Britton var. japonica Hara
It smells quite different from shiso 紫蘇 Perilla.
The seeds are often used to make egoma oil 荏胡麻油.
The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. Since it grows like a weed, it was very useful for farmers of old times to get over a period of famine.
egoma no hara . . . ehara . . . Ebara.
In 1927, the village 荏原町 Ebara Machi was founded.
Ebaramachi station is in 5-2-1 Nakanobu, Shinagawa, Tokyo.
The parts of Ebara now are located in Shinagawa, Ota, Meguro and Setagaya ward.
中延駅 Nakanobu station / 旗の台駅 Hatanodai station



1.品川町 2.大井村 3.大崎村 4.目黒村 5.碑衾村 6.平塚村 7.大森村 8.入新井村 9.調布村 10.池上村 11.馬込村 12.羽田村 13.蒲田村 Kamata village 14.六郷村 15.矢口村 16.駒沢村 17.世田ヶ谷村 18.玉川村 19.松沢村
（青：品川区 blue: Shinawaga / 紫：目黒区 purple : Meguro / 桃：大田区 peach pink : Ota / 赤：世田谷区 red : Setagaya）
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

. Shrine Ebara jinja 荏原神社 .
Shinagawa, Kita-Shinagawa

. Kamata 蒲田 "bulrush district" - Ota ward .


This ancient district is already mentioned in the Heian period.

Sakimori Uta 防人歌 Song of a Soldier

橘の美袁利の里に父を置きて道の長道は行きかてのかも
tachibana no miwori no sato ni chichi o okite
michi no nagate ha yukikate no ka mo

In Tachibana
In the village of Miwori
I left my father;
This long, long road
Is hard to travel, indeed.

Hasebe no Tarimaro　小長谷部笠麻呂 Ohasebe no Kasamaro
He was a Sakimori in the Heian period. He traveled in 755 to 信濃( Shinano (Nagano) and 筑紫 Tsukushi
- source : wakapoetry.net/tag/sakimori-uta... -

. The Legacy of Sakimori - the frontier guard conscripts .

. Musashi no Kuni 武蔵国 Musashi Province /Bushuu 武州 Bushu .


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. Meguro ku 目黒区　Meguro ward .


. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu poems in Edo .

. Japanese Architecture - Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - - - - #himonya #hibun - - - -
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