Weekly Topics/Archive
October 2023 |
Namba Yasaka Shrine in Osaka was introduced as a spot visited by many
foreign tourists
on the TV program “Why did you come to Japan?” that aired the other day.
This program is a documentary variety show that is aired every Monday
at 6:25 p.m.on
TV Tokyo network.
In the Kansai area, it is aired on TV Osaka.
It's the program I often watch when I have time, as I can enjoy interesting
interviews
conducted directly at the airport about their goals for sightseeing, work,
studying abroad,
etc.
[Note] Namba Yasaka Shrine ; 難波八坂神社、 air ; (ラジオ、テレビなどで)放映する、放映される
documentary variety show ; ドキュメントバラエティー番組、 conduct ; 行う、実施する
The reason they visit Namba yasaka Shrine seems to be that they are interested
in the
huge object “Shishi-den(Lion hall)” on the grounds.
I was curious about the exsistence of such a unique shrine, so out of
curiosity I also
headed out to see it right away.
I thought I would get bored of just visiting here, so I decided to visit
Shitennoji Temple
nearby.
[Note] object ; オブジェ、 Shishi-den(Lion Hall) ; 獅子殿、 curious ; (面白そうなので)気になる
out of curiosity ; 好奇心から、興味本位で [curiosity:好奇心]、 head out to 〜 ; 〜に出かける
get bored of 〜 ; 〜に飽きる[飽きてしまう]、
|
| Osaka Minami strolling route(Namba Yasaka Shrine⇒Shitennoji Temple) (2023.10.12)
|
From JR Kusatsu Station, I took the special rapid train to JR Osaka Station,
and from
there I took the Osaka Munincipal Subway as shown in the Google map above.
First, I visited Yasaka Shrine near Namba subway Station.
It is a 7-minute walk from Namba Station on the Yotsubashi Subway Line.
Well, I was very surprised!
Along the way, there were many foreign tourists heading to Yasaka Shrine
and returning
after visiting the shrine.
The shrine was located in a bustling downtown lined with large and small
buildings.
I entered the shrine grounds from the entrance with the torii gate on the
west side.
[Note] Osaka Municipal Subway : 大阪市営地下鉄、 along the way ; 途中で
bustling ; 賑わっている、活気のある、 lined with 〜 ; 〜ずらりと並んだ
shrine grounds ; 神社の境内、 torii gate ; 鳥居
Pls click the picture to see a full-size version
 |
 |
Ground exit of Namba subway station
(2023.10.12_12:06) |
Yasaka Shrine West Entrance
(2023.10.12_12:20) |
As I walked through the shrine grounds, I saw many foreign tourists.
It seems that their purpose was to see the huge object, Shishigashira(Lion's
head) of
Shishi-den(Lion hall) rather than worship at the shrine.
When I walked toward them who were taking pictures, there it was!
A unique giant Shishigashira was scowling menacingly at us with fangs bared!
[Note] shishigashira(Lion's head); 獅子頭、 worship at a shrine ; 参拝する
there it was! ; あった、あった! scowl menacingly at 〜 ; 〜 をものすごい形相でにらみ付ける
menacingly ; 険悪な表情で、威圧するように、 with fangs bared ; (動物が口を空けて)牙をむきだして
 |
 |
Lion head of Shishi-den(Lion hall)
(2023.10.12_12:22) |
Commemorative photo in front of Shishi-den
(2023.10.12_12:22) |
The shrine was damaged in the Great Osaka Air Raid in 1945(Showa 20),
and no
detailed information remains.
However, according to a legend, during the era of Emperor Nintoku(313-399),
an epidemic
occured in thiis area, and Gozu Tenno(Note.1) appeared.
So people enshrined the bull's head.
This is said to be the beginning of this shrine.
(Note.1) Gozu Tenno(牛頭天王) was originally the guardian deity of Gion Shoja in India.
In Japan, it is enshrined at Yasaka Shrine in Gion, Kyoto as a deity that
protects against
epidemics.
[Note] Great Osaka Air Raid ; 大阪大空襲 (raid ; 奇襲、急襲)
according to a legend ; 言い伝えによると、 era of Emperror Nintoku ; 仁徳天皇の時代
Gozu Tenno ; 牛頭天王、 enshrine ; 祭る、安置する、 bull ; 雄牛、 guardian deity ; 守護神
Gion Shoja ; 祇園精舎、 protect against 〜 ; 〜から身を守る、〜を防ぐ
The head shrine of Namba Yasaka Shrine(難波八阪神社) is Yasaka Shrine(八坂神社)
in Kyoto.
It was named after the “saka(阪)” in Osaka(大阪).
The main shrine and Shishi-den were built in 1974(Showa 49).
It is 12 meters high, 11 meters wide and 10 meters deep.
It is believed that Shishi's(lion's) large mouth swallows evil spirits,
and so it is said that
people visit the shrine to pray for luck in game (luck in bussiness), academic development,
passing exams,finding employment,etc.
Perhaps because Shishi-den is instagrammable, it has recently become very
popular on
social media.
[Note] be named after 〜 ; 〜にちなんで名付けられ(てい)る、 swallow ; 飲み込む
evil spirits ; 悪霊、悪魔、 luck in game ; 勝運、 academic development ; 学業向上
passing exams ; 合格、 finding employment ; 就職、 instagrammable ; インスタ映えする
on social media ; SNS(ソーシャルメディア)上で
Some photos taken inside the shrine grounds.
 |
 |
In front of Shishi-den crowded with forein tourists
(2023.10.12_12:20 |
Main shrine (2023.10.12_12:21) |
There were three stone trii gates on the south, east, and west sides.
 |
 |
| Torii gate on the south side (2023.10.12_12:23) |
Shishi-den seen from the east torii gate side
(2023.10.12_12:29) |
To my surprise, most of the prayers on Ema (the votive tablets) in the
grounds were
written in English, Chinese, etc. by forigners.
(Ema are wooden tablets on which people write their prayers or wishes.)
[Note] prayer ; 祈願、 wish ; 願い事、 Ema : 絵馬、 votive ; 奉納した、願掛けの
 |
| Ema hung in the shrine grounds (2023.10.12_12:29) |
I had never heard of Namba green onion, but now it have been revived as
a traditional
vegetable in Naniwa, and it seems that it originated here.
There are several subsidiary shrines and auxiliary shrines within the grounds.
One of them is Sasayama Shrine.
It was built to honor the legacy of Sasayama Jubei Kageyoshi , an Osaka magistrate who
worked hard to get Namba's vegetable market officially recognized and contributed
to the
development of Namba.
He also assumed the post of Sado Kinzan Magistrate and is said to have
contributed to
the finances of shogunate.
[Note] Nmba green onion ; 難波葱(ネギ)、 subsidiary shrine ; 末社
auxilary shrine ; 摂社、 auxiliary ; 補助(予備、付属)の、 honor ; (公の物や人を)称賛する
honor the legacy ; 遺徳を顕彰する、 Sasayama Jubei kagetoshi ; 篠山十兵衛景義
Osaka magistrate ; 大阪代官 (magistrate ; 判事)
get 〜 officially recognized ; 〜を公認してもらう、 assume the postof 〜 ; 〜に就任する
Sado Kinzan Magistrate ; 佐渡金山奉行 (Kinzan=goldmine)
finances ; (政府などの)財源、財政状態
Pls click the picture to see a full-size version.
 |
 |
 |
Stone monument marking the
birthplace of Namba green onions
(2023.10.12_12:35) |
Sasayama Shrine, a subsidiary shrine of Namba Yasaka Shrine
and a signborad describing its history (2023.10.12_12:36)
|
After visiting the shrine for about 20 minutes, I headed to my next destination,
Shitennoji
Temple.
Japanese Diary-2.1137 / 「大阪ミナミ散策(1/2)
−巨大なオブジェがある難波八阪神社を訪ねる−」
 TOPページへ戻る
|
|
