Edo - the EDOPEDIA -

4/02/2019

Koenji Ogikubo Suginami

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Kooenji, Kōenji 高円寺 Koen-Ji district
Suginami 杉並区,
高円寺北 Koenji Kita, North, 一丁目 - 四丁目 first to fourth sub-district
高円寺南 Koenji Minami South, 一丁目 - 五丁目 first to fifth sub-district

The village was fommerly called 小沢村 Kosawa mura.
Shogun 徳川家光 Tokugawa Iemitsu came here often during his hawk hunting to rest at the temple Koen-Ji.
The temple 宿鳳山 Shukuhozan Koen-Ji belongs to the 曹洞宗 Soto sect.

東京都杉並区高円寺南4-18-11 / 4-chōme-18-11 Kōenjiminami Suginami City

- quote
Kōenji (高円寺) is a district of Tokyo in Suginami ward, west of Shinjuku. The district is named after an old temple in the area.
Kōenji is primarily a community with easy access to Shinjuku and Tokyo Stations. It was largely unaffected by the 1980s building boom and therefore many of the houses and shops in the area are small and reflect the character of pre-boom Japan. Due to its aging retail district and location on a major commuter route, the station area has become a center for small restaurants and "Live Houses" which offer live music.
- History
The current division of Kōenji into north and south around Kōenji Station is a post-war arrangement. The whole area surrounding Shukuhōzan Kōenji temple used to be called "Kōenji".
There also used to be a town called Mabashi between Kōenji and nearby Asagaya, which has since been absorbed into Kōenji, although the name "Mabashi" is retained in some schools and shrines.
- Awa Odori in Kōenji

Each year in late August the Kōenji Awa Odori festival is held over two days. This is increasingly becoming a major tourist attraction for the area. It is the second largest Awa Dance Festival in Japan, with an average of 188 groups composed of 12,000 dancers, attracting 1.2 million visitors over the course of the weekend.
The festival has its origins in Tokushima
and was adopted by Kōenji post-war. It involves a procession of groups performing traditional music and dance, and is enjoyed by a wide variety of people. The procession weaves its way through the streets on both sides of Kōenji Station, often with a dramatic conclusion at the "finish line".
- source : wikipedia

..............................................................................................................................................

- quote -
Koenji is in Tokyo's Suginami ward in the area around Koenji Station on the JR Chuo Line.

Koenji is famous firstly as a center of alternative youth culture in Tokyo, in particular for its second-hand clothing stores: the most of anywhere in the metropolis, followed by Shimokitazawa about 5 km south.
There are 18 shopping promenades in Koenji within its approximately 2 square kilometer area as well as large numbers of small bars, live houses, and ethnic restaurants, music stores, book stores, head shops, and tattoo parlors. There is a red-light area, too, very near the station
Koenji is also well known for its numerous historical Buddhist temples and one or two Shinto shrines.
Koenji is the venue of the massive summer Koenji Awaodori Dance Festival, one of Tokyo's Big Three Festivals.
- - - Koenji History
Present-day Koenji's roots are in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. In the two decades before then it was remarkable only for its numerous temples relocated from central Tokyo. Otherwise it was a sleepy farming settlement on the Ome-kaido Highway.
The immediate aftermath of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 saw an influx into Koenji of small merchants and laborers displaced from downtown Tokyo by the destruction. Koenji Station had just opened in July 1922, making it convenient to Tokyo, as well as an Ogikubo-to-Shinjuku tram that stopped at several places in Koenji.
The local farmers subdivided their land and put up cheap housing for the new entrants. Businesses catering to them sprung up along the transportation routes: open air markets, stores for household wares, and cheap eateries-cum-bars.
In the 1950s, Koenji was well known for its tea and coffee houses (kissaten) and for the start of the Awa Odori Festival - a smaller-scale copy of the famous Awa Odori Festival in Takamatsu, Shikoku, started by Takamatsu natives who had moved to Tokyo, and in the 1970s - along with Nakano a couple of stations east on the Chuo-Sobu Line - for its youth music scene, most notably, Japanese punk.
These roots are still alive in today's Koenji. It is a young, energetic, free neighborhood with a 24-hour vibe, where fun and adventure can be had without breaking the wallet. And, if you're wondering about safety: of course, care must be taken wherever you are, but we have never seen any trouble to speak of in Koenji.
- source : japanvisitor.com/tokyo... -

. the Amanuma district 天沼 .

. Asagaya 阿佐ヶ谷 / 阿佐谷 Asagaya district .

. Awaodori Dance 阿波踊り .

..............................................................................................................................................

Mabashi Kōen 馬橋公園 Mabashi Park
4 Chome-35-5 Koenjikita, Suginami

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Ogikubo 荻窪 Ogikubo district
Suginami, Ogikubo 一丁目 - 五丁目 first to fifth sub-district
南荻窪 Minami, 一丁目 - 四丁目
上荻 Kami, 一丁目 - 四丁目
西荻北 Nishi-Kita, 一丁目 - 五丁目
西荻南 Nishi-Minami, 一丁目 - 四丁目

Literally it means "reed grass basin".

- quote -
..... In 708, a 修行僧 shūgyōsō ascetic monk was carrying a statue of 観音 Kannon the goddess of mercy on his back and happened to pass through the area. Mysteriously, the statue grew heavier and heavier until the monk couldn’t carry it anymore. He thought this image of Kan’non was linked to this area by fate and so he built a humble shelter in the area. To make a thatched roof, he harvested 荻 ogi silvergrass and used it to top off his tiny abode in which he enshrined the goddess. Ogi, as you may or may not have guessed, is a grass indigenous to parts of Asia – including Japan.
The small hut was called 荻堂 Ogidō.
This is a play on words. A grass hut is 草堂 sōdō, but 堂 dō also is used in Buddhist words to refer to sacred buildings. So Ogidō means something like “Silvergrass Temple” – or at the very least, “a place of contemplation that is made of silvergrass.”
Another theory says that the area was
a small 窪地 kubochi basin covered in ogi (silvergrass).
This derivation says the word is simply 荻 ogi (silvergrass) + 窪 kubo (basin). Silvergrass tends to grow in wetlands or near rivers; a basin would do the trick.
- - But let’s go back to the story of the monk carrying the statue of Kannon. That story has been preserved by a small temple that still exists in the area, 光明院 Kōmyōin. The temple claims to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Ogikubo and that they are directly descended from the original thatched hut. Coincidentally, Kōmyōin happens to be located on the high ground above the Zenpukuji River basin. The primary object of worship is a 千手観音 Senju Kannon thousand armed goddess of mercy. The temple claims that the area was named after the thatched hut.
- source : Marky Star -

. ogi 荻 common reed, silvergrass, Miscanthus sacchariflorus .

source : tenki.jp/suppl/yamamoto_komo...

- 慈雲山荻寺光明院 Temple Jiunzan Ogidera Komyo-In
2 Chome-1-3 Kamiogi, Suginami City
- reference source : komyoin.com... -

.......................................................................

- quote -
- - - - - HISTORICAL WALK (Ogikubo)

AMANUMA HACHIMAN SHRINE
Suginami Historical Museum
KYOKAI DORI SHOPPING STREET
THE MEIJI EMPEROR'S GATE

- - - - - OTAGURO PARK 大田黒公園

Otaguro Park is stunning any time of the year, but it’s particularly lovely in autumn. We can’t wait to go back to see the gingko trees lining the entrance to the park, and the dramatic red foliage of the maple trees hanging over the pond. The park is built on the site of the old estate of music critic Otaguro Moto-O 大田黒元雄　Moto Otaguro. His office is open as a museum and there is also a traditional tearoom onsite.
- source : experience-suginami.tokyo... -

. Amanuma district 天沼 "heavenly swamp" .

. Iogi 井荻 Iogi district . - Suginami
The name I-OGI was constructed of the first letters from Igusa and Ogikubo.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- - - - - H A I K U and S E N R Y U - - - - -

荻窪にゆふべ富士見ゆ飾売
Ogikubo ni yuube Fuji miyu kazari-uri

角川春樹 Kadokawa Haruki

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

4/01/2019

REIWA reiwa period

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. nengoo, nengō 年号 Nengo, era name, period name .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

reiwa 令和 Reiwa

于時初春令月氣淑風和梅披鏡前之粉
時は初春の良き月、空気は美しく風も和やかで、
梅は鏡前で装うように白く咲き
蘭薫珮後之香（蘭は身に帯びた香りのように香っている）

令月 a "majestic month"
和 harmony

shoshun no reigetsu ni shite ki yoku kaze yawaragi
ume wa kyoosen no ko o hiraki
ran wa haigo no ko o kaorasu

- quote -
"On a moon-lit night in early spring, the air is fresh and the wind is calm,
the plum flowers are blooming like a beautiful woman
applying white powder in front of the mirror,
and the fragrance of the flowers are like that of robes scented with incense."

It is during the month of good fortune ("rei"), when the air is auspicious, the winds are gentle/harmonious ("wa"),
and the plum flowers blossoming like makeup applied to a beauty resplendent before a mirror, and the orchids adorning themselves in their scent.

The above is not a poem in the Manyo-Shu, but the title of a collection of 16 poems about plum blossoms.

Government announces new era name: 'Reiwa'
'Reiwa' -- tentative spelling -- is a name that will be on the lips of most Japanese today and it will be for years to come.
It's the name the Japanese government selected for the new era, which is set to start when Crown Prince Naruhito becomes the new Emperor on May 1.
The announcement was highly anticipated here because it will define the years ahead, as well as play a daily role in people's lives.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga revealed the name saying, " The new era name is 'Reiwa'," and how it's written in Kanji characters.
Those letters come from Manyoshu, the oldest existing anthology of Japanese poetry.
The Cabinet chose the name from a list of proposals made by experts. The government is refraining from disclosing their identities of the experts.
Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate on April 30, which will end the current Heisei era.
The government is announcing the new name in advance, so companies and the general public can prepare for the change.
The era name is used on numerous occasions and official papers, including drivers' licenses, health insurance cards, and calendars.
- reference source : NHK world news -

- quote -
... TV commentators struggled to offer a direct translation, but the two characters, taken from Man’yoshu, the oldest existing anthology of Japanese poetry, mean “decree” and “peace.” It is unusual for a gengo to be taken from a Japanese, rather than Chinese, work of classical literature.
Earlier,
the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, told reporters he believed the process would produce a new era name that
“would lead to a new era brimming with hope”.
- source : theguardian.com... -

- quote -
The Reiwa period (Japanese: 令和時代 Reiwa jidai)
will be the next era of Japan. The period is expected to start on 1 May 2019, the day when Emperor Akihito's son, Naruhito, will ascend to the throne as the 126th Emperor.
Emperor Akihito is expected to abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne on 30 April 2019, marking the end of Heisei period.
Thus, 2019 corresponds to Heisei 31 until 30 April, and Reiwa 1 (令和元年 Reiwa gannen, "first year of Reiwa") from 1 May.
It is the first Japanese era name of which the characters were taken from Japanese classical literature instead of Chinese literature
..... the name marks the 248th era name designated in Japanese history. While the "wa" character 和 has been used in 19 previous era names, the "rei" character 令 has never appeared before.
- source : wikipedia -

- quote -
令和（れいわ）は日本の元号の一つ。平成の次の元号で日本最初の元号とされる大化以降248番目の元号。
平成は今上天皇の退位により2019年（平成31年）4月30日をもって終了し、皇太子徳仁親王が即位する2019年5月1日から令和元年となる予定。
日本の憲政史上では初の退位に伴う皇位継承による改元となる。
- reference source : wikipedia -

- April 02

- quote -
Five other era name candidates identified
NHK has learned the five proposed names that were not selected to represent Japan's next Imperial era.
The government announced on Monday that the next era, set to begin on May 1 when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends to the throne, will be known as "Reiwa."

Sources say "英弘　Eiko," "久化　Kyuka," "広至　Koshi," "万和　Banna," and "万保　Banpo" were also considered.

The government selected the six candidates from expert submissions. After discussing them with a special panel and the heads of both houses of the Diet on Monday, the government decided on "Reiwa" at a Cabinet meeting.
The six candidates were selected because the characters were easy to read and write, a criteria considered in Imperial era names.
"Eiko" was sourced from classical Japanese literature, while "Koshi" was derived from both Japanese and Chinese classics. They are "The Chronicles of Japan" and "The Classic of Poetry" from "The Four Books and Five Classics," a collection that contains the basic teachings of Confucius.
Chinese classics are included in the sources for "Kyuka," "Banna" and "Banpo."

The government says it will not disclose the name of the person who proposed "Reiwa," but it is believed to be Japanese literary scholar Susumu Nakanishi.
He specializes in "Manyoshu," the oldest existing anthology of Japanese poetry and source of the selected name.
Nakanishi is a Professor Emeritus at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies.
- reference source : NHK news-

..............................................................................................................................................

- quote -
新元号「令和」を読み解く　二文字が持つ意味は？
平成に代わる5月からの新元号が1日、「令和」に決まった。出典は日本最古の歌集「万葉集」から。「
令」は元号に使われるのは初めて、「和」は20回目となる。新時代を象徴することになる2文字。どのような意味があり、願いが込められているのか、専門家に話を聞きながら読み解いた。
..... 川本名誉教授は「これまでの元号の出典はいずれも「四書五経」などの難しい散文ばかりだった。日本人の親しみやすさを考えれば、漢語で書かれた詩書にも出典の範囲を広げるべきだ」と話している。
- reference source : nikkei.com/article... -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Changing the Calendar
Ross Bender
... the Nara Japan is conspicuous for its peculiar chelonian nengō :
Reiki 霊亀 (715– 717), Jinki 神亀 (724–729), and Hōki 宝亀 (770–781) — all inspired by the appearance of sacred tortoises.
The Tenpyō 天平 era name was inspired by characters engraved on the carapace of an unusual tortoise.
Both the Keiun 慶雲 (704–708) and Jingo Keiun 神護景雲 (767–770) eras acquired their names from the awesome manifestation of unusually colored clouds.
In the case of the change from Tenpyō Shōhō 天平勝宝 (749–756) to Tenpyō Hōji 天平宝字 (757–765) during the reign of Kōken Tennō, the auspicious event was a fantastic oracle woven on the cocoon of a silkworm—sixteen “jeweled characters” interpreted by court officials as prophesying long life for the empress and peace in the realm after the tumultuous events of the Naramaro conspiracy.
But Shoku Nihongi describes not only this pivotal miraculous omen, it also records a number of imperial edicts highlighting the political theology of the court. The content of these edicts evidences the various theological strands— native, Buddhist, and Confucian—woven into the intellectual tapestry of the emerging ideology of the Nara state as the court weighed the significance of the intervention of the gods into human affairs and continued to articulate theories of divine legitimation for imperial power.
- source : Japanese Journal of Religious Studies -

The Three Palace Sanctuaries (宮中三殿 Kyūchū sanden) are a group of structures in the precincts of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan. They are used in imperial religious ceremonies, including weddings and enthronements.

• Kashiko-dokoro (賢所) – the central shrine, enshrining a replica of the mirror Yata no Kagami, representing the mythological ancestress of the Imperial Family, Amaterasu. (For the enthronements in Kyoto of Emperor Taishō in 1915 and of Emperor Shōwa in 1928, the mirror was transported by special rolling stock known as the Kashiko-dokoro Jōgyosha (賢所乗御車) from the name of this sanctuary.) The Yasakani no magatama or Sacred Jewel, one of the Imperial Regalia of Japan, is also said to be housed in the Kashiko-dokoro.
• Kōrei-den (皇霊殿) – the Ancestral Spirits Sanctuary, enshrining the departed spirits of the Imperial Family from one year after their death.
• Shin-den (神殿) – the Sanctuary of the Kami, enshrining the Amatsukami (天津神) from Takamagahara and the Kunitsukami (国津神) from Japanese mythology.

the "Ama-tsu-kami" and "Kuni-tsu-kami" that in combination make up the "Yaoyorozu no kami" or countless/myrade deities) in a broad and general way, but it also and more specifically houses the so-called "Hasshin 八神" or eight guardian deities of the emperor, which are:
Kami-musubi no kami 神産日神, Taka-mimusubi no kami 高御産日神, Tamatsume-musubi no kami 玉積産日神, Iku-musubi no kami 生産日神, Taru-musubi no kami 足産日神, Ômiya-no-me no kami 大宮売神, Miketsu no kami 御食津神, and Kotoshiro-nushi no kami 事代主神.
Traditionally, the deities of heaven and earth had been placed under the care of the Yoshida family while the emperor’s eight guardian deities were under the custody of the Shirakawa family (worshiped at Jingikan's Hasshin-den 八神殿).
From 1872 onward, they were worshiped together at this new shrine within the imperial court.

- source : PMJS: Listserve -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

April 07, 2019

More articles about the translation of REIWA appear here and there.
The most precise seems to be

"Rule Japan".

- quote Michael Kanke
Not too late to choose a new era name
Like many others, I awaited with excitement the unveiling of Japan’s new era name on April 1. Sadly, upon learning the new name (Reiwa), I was shocked and deeply disappointed. While kanji can have diverse meanings, to me the first character is strongly associated with the meaning “rule; command,” which seems too intimidating to belong in an era name. In fact, that character hasn’t been used once in any of the 247 preceding era names.
Looking into the cited source,
I was surprised yet again. The characters were reported to come from “Manyoshu,” Japan’s oldest surviving poetry collection. While I was happy to see that Japan was, apparently for the first time, using one of its own ancient documents to compose an era name, upon researching the specific passage cited as the source, I discovered that, curiously, it is not a poem. Rather, it is the prefatory text that precedes a collection of 32 poems composed during a plum-blossom viewing banquet. This text describes the site of the banquet, and the conditions under which the banquet guests composed their poems.
A poetry collection was used as the source, but not any of the thousands of poems within it?
Furthermore,
the two characters chosen from that passage do not have the same degree of balance and relationship with each other as did, say, those chosen to form the previous era name: Heisei.
These factors make this name choice highly suspect. Taken together, they give the impression that the desired era name was chosen first, and then a passage was found to provide a justification for the choice. Furthermore, as the second character is sometimes used to represent “Japan,” this name allows for an alternate, menacing interpretation: “Rule Japan.”
For recent eras,
the new name was not announced until the time of enthronement of a new emperor. As that event is still a few weeks away, it is certainly not too late to change the name. I strongly urge the Japanese people to understand how this choice was made, and to question its validity. There is still time to replace this flawed era name before it takes effect.
MICHAEL KANKE
- source : Japan Times April 05 -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

3/24/2019

Ohanajaya Katsushika

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Ohanajaya お花茶屋 Ohanajaya district
Katsushika, Ohanajaya 一丁目 - 三丁目 first to third sub-district

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

In former times there was a tea stall called "O-Hana Chaya" Flower Tea Stall in this area.
Once 徳川八代将軍吉宗 Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune was takagari 鷹狩り hunting with falcons in the area. Suddenly he became a stomach pain and the daughter of the local tea stall named O-Hana cared for him in a very kind way. To show his gratitude he granted the tea shop the name.
お花茶屋 Ohanajaya can also be translated as "Tea stall of the girl O-Hana".

よ】吉宗の病治したお花さん Yoshimune no yamai naoshita O-Hana san
Hanafuda flower trump card for the letter よ YO - Yoshimune.

. takagari 鷹狩 hunting with hawks and falcons .

- quote -
The area was located on the Hikifunegawa 曳舟川 Hikifune River which was also known as the Kasai Yōsui 葛西用水 the Kasai Waterway or Kasai Kanal which flowed from present day Katsushika Ward to present day Sumida Ward. In fact, its terminus in Sumida is where present day Hikufune is located. In the early years of the Edo Period, it was a 上水 jōsui a drinking water supply; however it soon was demoted to a common waterway for small boats. Apparently it was a quite scenic spot, as it is depicted in many surviving works of art.
The river was filled in during the preparations for the Tōkyō Olympics in 1964 and subsequent development has completely obscured the river’s original path.
- source : Marky Star japanthis -

四ツ木通用水引きふね Towboats on Yotsugidori Canal
歌川広重 Utagawa Hiroshige

..............................................................................................................................................

- - - - - Parks in the Katsushika district

- CLICK for more photos !
お花茶屋公園 Ohanajaya Park
1 Chome-22-１ Ohanajaya, Katsushika

上千葉南公園 / かみちばみなみ Uechibaminami Park / Kamichibaminami
3 Chome-1-３ Ohanajaya, Katsushika

- more famous is the 上千葉砂原公園 Kamichiba Sunahara Park
1 Chome-27-1 Nishi-Kameari, Katsushika

お花茶屋児童遊園 Ohanajaya Jido Children's Park
It was closed in May 2011.

曳舟川親水公園 Hikifunegawa Water Park
2 Chome-1-1 Shiratori, Katsushika

. Yotsugi 四つ木 Yotsugi district (Four Trees) .

..............................................................................................................................................

Ohanajaya furusato matsuri お花茶屋ふるさと祭り Hometown festival

This festival has a history of about 50 years. It was supposed to interest people who do not live in the countryside any more.
People remember the good old times when boats were towed along the river Hikifunegawa.

- source and more photos : yorimichi.club...-

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

3/22/2019

Hayamiya Hikarigaoka Nerima

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hayamiya 早宮 Hayamiya district
Nerima, Hayamiya 一丁目 - 四丁目 first to fourth sub-district

Along the river 石神井川 Shakujiigawa at its border,
there are now many cherry trees planted in honor of the birth of the present Emperor of Japan.

source : tokyozappa.exblog.jp...

The name is a connection of two words
早 from 早淵 Hayabuchi (a very old name of this area)
宮 from 宮ヶ谷戸 Miyagayato

The district used to be a part of 仲町 Nakamachi (Nakacho).

In 1965 the name was introduced after a vote of the inhabitants.

source : proud-web.jp/house/nerimahayamiya... 野村不動産 ...

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hikarigaoka 光が丘 / 光ヶ丘 Hikarigaoka district - "shining hill"
Nerima, Hikarigaoka, 一丁目 - 七丁目 first to seventh sub-district

This is also part of the former Japanese army grounds, with a factory for making war planes.
In 1969 the American army left the area and it was called a district of 緑と太陽 "greenery and sunshine", later changed to Hikarigaoka.
Now it is basically a residential area.

..............................................................................................................................................

Hikarigaoka Kōen 光が丘公園 Hikarigaoka Park
It is the largest park in Nerima ward.
Hikarigaoka Municipal Park

3 chome Akatsuka-Shin-machi, Itabashi-ku/2 and 4 chome Hikarigaoka, Nerima-ku/2 chome Asahi-cho, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
- quote -
This former military housing complex and airfield in northern Tokyo is now a sprawling park full of wide-open spaces and tree-lined paths. Spend time among the 17,000 trees and thousands of blooming plants. If you drop by during spring, its 1,000 cherry trees and spacious fields make it a great place for cherry blossom picnic parties and its paths are perfect for admiring the brilliant fall colors.
There is also a library.
Other facilities include fields for various sports, a daytime camping field, a barbecue area, a bird sanctuary, an archery range, a pond, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and play areas for kids.
- source : gotokyo.org/en... -

- CLICK for more photos !

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

3/20/2019

Takenotsuka Toneri Adachi

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Takenotsuka, Takenozuka 竹の塚 / 竹ノ塚 Takenotsuka district
Adachi, タケノツカ / 竹の塚一丁目 - 七丁目 first to seventh sub-district
- - - 西竹の塚 Nishi-Takenotsuka, 一丁目, 二丁目 first and second sub-district

The name refers to a kofun 古墳 burial mound.
There have been quite a lot of Kofun (塚 tsuka) found in this elevated area, originally spelled
takai tsuka 高い塚 high mound.
take 竹 means bamboo.

In 1062 源頼義 Miyamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son 義家 Yoshiie on their way to fight 奥州反乱 the rebellion in Northern Japan came here and put their shirahata 白旗 white flag in the ground, praying for victory.

Near Takenotsuka eki 竹ノ塚駅 station is
Shirahatazuka shiseki kooen 白旗塚史跡公園 Shirahatatsuka Shiseki Park
3 Chome-10-１４ Higashiiko, Adachi / 足立区東伊興3-10-14

Shirahatazukashiseki / Shirahatazuka Historical Site / White Flag Mound

This mound is the only one left from the group of Kofun in Higashi-Iko 東伊興古墳群.

- quote -
This park is known for its ancient burial mound, 12meters long and 2.5meters high, which was built in the fifth to sixth century, and the Shirohata shrine surrounded by a moat.
- source : ... shirahatazuka-historical-sites-park -

. kofun 古墳 burial mounds in Tokyo .

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Toneri 舎人（とねり）Toneri district
Adachi, 舎人一丁目 - 六丁目 from first to sixth sub-district

Toneri was the name of a group of 古代宮廷に仕え...下級役人 low-level government officials of the court.
The most famous "Toneri" who might be implied here are
土豪舎人氏由来説 Togo Toneri
舎人親王由来説 Toneri Shinno (Prince Shinno) - 舎人親王 Toneri shinnō (676 – 735)
- Toneri Shinno - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

アイヌ語由来説 the name refering to the Ainu language:
In the Ainu language, トネ・イリ tone iri means a flat land where stones are lying around.

When Ota Dokan built Edo castle he had a smaller castle built in the area, 舎人城郭 Toneri Jokaku. This is now 足立区舎人公園 the Toneri Park in Adachi.

The former 舎人町 Tonericho town was founded in 1875 and included
入谷 Iriya, 古千谷Kojiya and 鳩ヶ谷 Hatogaya.

The area became famous when the train line 日暮里・舎人ライナー , Nippori-Toneri Liner passed here in 2008.
It is an automated guideway transit system between Nippori Station in Arakawa and Minumadai-Shinsuikōen Station in Adachi,

.......................................................................

Toneri Kooen 舎人公園 Toneri Koen park
It is the third biggest park in the 23 special wards of Tokyo.
It was opened in 1981 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Emperor Hirohito's rise to power.
Toneri Park has tennis courts, water areas, and a bird sanctuary.
- wikipedia -

source : tokyo-park.or.jp...

.......................................................................

Minumadai Shinsui Kooen 見沼代親水公園 Minumadai Water Park

3/18/2019

Ebisu Shoto districts Shibuya

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Ebisu 恵比寿 Ebisu district
Shibuya 渋谷区, 恵比寿一丁目 - 四丁目 from first to fourth sub-district

恵比寿 can also be read Yebisu.

- Ebisu えびす / 恵比寿　-
one of the Seven Gods of Good Luck 七福神 Shichifukujin　

..............................................................................................................................................

source : sapporobeer / yebisu ...

The beer factory Yebisu Sapporo Beer サッポロビールのビール工場 - ヱビスビール was located here since 1906.
In 1994 ti turned to
恵比寿ガーデンプレイス Yebisu Garden Palace
Shibuya-ku, 恵比寿 4 Chome−20
a shopping, restaurant and entertainment area.

- HP of gardenplace . jp -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Shootoo, Shōtō 松濤 Shoto district
Shibuya, 松濤一丁目 - 二丁目 first and second sub-district

During the Edo period there were some villages, 中渋谷村 Naka-Shibuya mura 、中豊沢村 Naka-Toyosawa mura and others.
The 紀州徳川家の下屋敷 Shimoyashiki estate of the Tokugawa caln from Kishu was located here.
In 1876, the 佐賀の鍋島家 Nabeshima family from Saga settled here and begun to grow 狭山茶 Sayamacha tea at the estate
茶園・松濤園 Chaen (Cha-En) - Shoto-En.
Founded by 鍋島直大 Nabeshima Naohiro (1846 - 1921)
- More about Naohiro in the WIKIPEDIA !

Chaen was the first name of this area.
Later it was changed to 松濤 Shoto, an expression for the sound of boiling water, taken from the tea ceremony.

source : ucon.co.jp/cha...

Shoto later became the name of a tea brand.

松涛の昔 - 松濤園詰

Now this district is mainly an expensive residential area.

..............................................................................................................................................

松濤美術館　Shoto Museum of Art
2 Chome-14-１４ Shoto, Shibuya City

- photo by Tokyo Views -

- Homepage of the Shoto Museum -

.......................................................................

戸栗美術館　Toguri Museum of Art
1 Chome-11-3 Shoto, Shibuya

Specializing in Asian ceramics, pottery and old porcelain.
- Homepage of the Toguri Museum -

..............................................................................................................................................

Bunkamura 文化村　"culture village"
2 Chome-24-１ Dogenzaka, Shibuya
including a concert hall, museum and theater.

- quote -
Opening in 1989, the complex contains four theatres with the largest being the Orchard Hall that is known as a shoe box style hall and is set out with a twenty metre high ceiling and towering vertical walls. This magnificent theatre is used for classical music, opera and also ballet.
Theatre Cocoon
is the second largest hall in the Bunkamura, with a capacity of nearly 750 people. This theatre is suited for musical drama and is also used for concerts and contemporary dance. The other two theatres are the smallest and feature some state of the art technologies, known as La Cinema 1 and La Cinema 2 they are mainly used to feature French films.
The first exhibition space
is known as The Bunkamura Gallery and is an open styled art exhibition offering people the change to relax and take in some stunning artwork. The exhibition has been designed to stimulate the quality of life and senses, with around thirty exhibitions on display at any one time.
The second exhibition space is known simply as The Museum and can be easily transformed to accommodate a range of temporary art exhibitions. It usually hosts exhibitions featuring modern western paintings and photography.
The Bunkamura also features a small retail area and a number of cafes where you can sit back and relax while watching the passing hustle and bustle of Shibuya.
The architecture of the Bunkamura is stunning piece of art in itself, it is said to be styled after the flowing lines of a classic sailing ship.
- source and more : happyjappy.com/tokyo... -

- Homepage of bunkamura.co.jp... -

. Doogenzaka, Dōgenzaka 道玄坂 Dogenzaka slope . - Shibuya

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- - - To join me on facebook, click the image !

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Shibuya ku 渋谷区 Shibuya 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 - The Japanese Home .

. Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - - - - #ebisu #ebisudistrict #ebisushibuya #shoto #bunkamura #toguri - - - -
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

3/16/2019

Taishido Seijo districts Setagaya

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Taishidoo 太子堂 Taishido district
Setagaya, Taishido 一丁目 - 五丁目 first to fifth sub-district

In the compound of the temple 円泉寺 Ensen-Ji is a doo 堂 hall in memory of
. Shootoku Taishi 聖徳太子 Prince Shotoku Taishi (574 - 622) .
The hall had been erected by 賢恵僧都 priest Kenkei around 1350.
He had installed a statue of Shotoku Taishi carved by 弘法大師 Kobo Daishi.
He also installed a statue of 十一面観世音 Kannon Bosatsu with 11 heads, now the main deity of the temple.

聖王山法明院円泉寺 Ensen-Ji
3 Chome-30-8 Taishido, Setagaya

The temple is Nr. 51 of the pilgrimage to 88 Henro temples in Tamagawa
玉川八十八ヶ所霊場

- HP of the temple
- reference source : tesshow.jp/setagaya... -

. Kobo Daishi, Kukai 弘法大師　空海 (774 - 835) .

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Seijoo 成城 Seijo district
Setagaya, 成城一丁目 - 成城九丁目 from the first to the 9th sub-district

Until the Meiji period, it was a wilderness of forests in the Musashino plain, named
北多摩郡砧村大字喜多見 Kita Tama district, Kinuta village Daigaku Kitami

In 1925, the Seijoo Gakuen 成城学園 Seijo University was moved here, hence the name.
The name of the university refers back to an old Chinese poetry text, 詩経 Shikyo.
「哲夫成城」(哲夫城を成す)
城 meant the realm, so this means
"to assemble people who will be able to form our country"

Now an expensive residential area with famous universities.

成城学園 Seijo Gakuen University and educational center

- quote -
The area known as Seijo, in Setagaya Ward, is approximately fifteen minutes by rapid train from the central Shinjuku area, which means Seijo Gakuen is located in a quiet residential neighborhood in comfortable proximity to the city center. The school is also so close to the station that you can even see the university buildings as the train pulls in. This convenience factor makes Seijo an ideal location to commute to for students living off campus.
In addition to its easy access to the city center,
Seijo is surrounded by a lush natural environment, reminiscent of the old natural expanse of the Musashino area, and the greenery here is an unusual occurrence in the city of Tokyo. The Seijo Pond site on the grounds has even been listed as one of the 100 Best Views of Setagaya. At Seijo Gakuen, students enjoy nature on a daily basis, which is yet another factor that makes our campus highly conducive to growth and learning.
- The surrounding town takes the name of Seijo Gakuen
At the present time, Seijo is well-known as a quiet residential area. Seijo Gakuen moved to this barren space in 1925, when the area was called Kinuta Village, Kita-tama, under the jurisdiction of Tokyo Prefecture. Records show that the school purchased and divided the land, upon which the college town was built.
The Odakyu Line
was launched in April 1927, from which time the name "Seijo Gakuen" was used for the station name. In 1936, when the area was absorbed into the Tokyo metropolitan, the district name was changed to "Seijo-machi, Setagaya Ward."
"Kinuta Village" thus became "Seijo,"
taking the name of our school. Cherry blossom, gingko, and other seedlings planted by Seijo Gakuen students at the time the school was relocated here now decorate the town throughout the seasons, and are currently something of a local seasonal attraction. Up until the mid-fifties and early sixties, the line of cherry blossom trees stretching north from the North Exit of Seijo Gakuen to intersect with gingko trees was called "Sawayanagi Street," a name symbolic of how integral a part Seijo Gakuen is of the town of Seijo.
- source : seijo.ac.jp/en... -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

- Legends about 太子堂 Taishido

.................................................................................　Fukushima 福島県

. Kōbō Daishi Kūkai 弘法大師　空海 - 伝説　 Kobo Daishi Kukai Legends .

Once upon a time a village hunter had been chasing a shika 鹿 deer deep into a swamp, when he heard a voice calling:
"Pick me up, pick me up and carry me with you!"
He asked who that was and was told it was a statue made by Kobo Daishi. So he took it and venerated it at the 太子堂 Taishi-Do hall.
On his way he got entangled in reeds and one stuck into the eye of the statue, which shows the remains of bleeding to our day.
And to our day the villagers have 片目が細い one small eye.

.................................................................................　Kanagawa 神奈川県

久里濱村 Kurihama village
There is a Taishido Hall to venerate Shotoku Taishi.
If someone passes the bridge before the hall on a rainy night, the light of his lantern will be getting off.

.................................................................................　Nagano 長野県

. o-inu sama お犬様 "honorable wolf" legends .
Near the Hall for Shotoku Taishi, 太子堂 Taishido. there is a sanctuary to venerate the skull of a 山犬 wolf.
This area was developed by 村松家 the Muramatsu family.
A wolf, messenger of Yamanokami, was trying to show them the way, but they shot him by accident.
So he became 家の守り神 the protector deity of the family.

..............................................................................................................................................

- reference : nichibun yokai database -

. Edo, Tokyo　江戸 - 東京 - 伝説 Legends Index .

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::