Japan on my mind

I began the day by going to tori no ichi, a market festival held on the days of the rooster in November. I really didn’t know where I was going. I foud out the festival would be held at Otorijinja, a 10 minute walk from Iriya subway station. I came out of the subway and stood on a corner trying to figure out in which direction to walk. A man came over and asked where I wanted to go. He stopped another man who told me he was going there and would take me. He spoke quite good English and we chatted during the seemingly long walk. I thanked him when we got to the shrine and couldn’t wait to pull out my camera as he and his wife walked away.

At the entrance to the shrine two priests wave gohei, zigzags of white paper to attract the kami.

Then the crowd proceeds to the shrine where they rings bells, again to attract the spirits, and pray for good fortune, health and prosperity. This is a holiday whose focus is attracting good fortune.

On either side of the pathway vendors are selling elaborately decorated rakes for raking in good fortune. When the vendors sell a particularly large one they clap and chant. I shot a video, but will have to wait to post it until I get home.

I wanted to buy a rake, but found out the vendors are the ones raking in the most good fortune.

When I had enough of the crowds I left thinking I would walk to another temple in Asakusa, but found I had walked in the wrong direction. I still don’t know how I did that.

Finding myself far from my intended destination with no idea how to get there, I got on the subway and went to the Suntory Museum in Roppongi.

This is where I saw the great exhibit of painted screens. Now they have an exhibit of Choju Giga scrolls, national treasures. The scrolls date from the 13^th century and depict frolicking animals and people. It was a good exhibit, but far too crowded.

From there I walked over to the Mori Art Museum to see a highly touted exhibit of contemporary Japanese art. It was a fun exhibit, perhaps a little more interesting than a comparable exhibit of contemporary western art, but very similar. This is the first I’ve looked at any contemporary art here. My ticket to the museum also gave me access to the 53^rd floor observatory called Tokyo City View. Although it was cloudy and getting dark it was still a spectacular sight.

Not finished with this day I went to the Ginza to visit Itoya, a stationer that sells special papers and also to pick up some dinner. I started at Matsuya, another department store with food, but decided I liked Mitsukoshi better and bought my dinner there.