East Tokyo Survey Multi-Lingua

Contributed by yellowlibra, 03/08/2010 at 01:25

日本語

I took a trip to Katori Shrine in Kameido.

Two of the Seven Lucky Gods* of Kameido, Ebisu and Daikoku, were at the shrine. They were, literally, a picture of bliss and prosperity.

* The Seven Lucky Gods are deities of good fortune in Japanese folklore that have origins in Indian mythology.

The words in calligraphy say, “Welcome to the home of the God of Sports, Katori Shrine. The katsumamori (an amulet for success) that was much talked about on TV is now on sale. Conquer sports, conquer illness, conquer yourself.” For some reason, the words “conquer yourself” jumped out at me.

Today was Fukuwake Matsuri (Spreading Happiness Festival). Local women hyped up the event with Japanese drums.

This woman with the tenugui twisted into a headband was once featured in Chi-sampo, a local cultural TV program.

She runs a miso store called Miso-no-Marujo just round the corner, and is affectionately nicknamed “Ms. Meddlesome” by the locals. Her compassionate nature prompts her to play “Aunt Agony” to the people in her neighborhood, and to extend a helping hand to those in need. She did not wear the headband specifically for the festival; it is part of her daily attire.

She can throw the paddle, which is used for scooping miso paste onto the weighing scale, back into the miso barrel from a distance. She picked up this scale because she found it a hassle to go back to the barrel just to return the paddle.

I had the Fukuwake Misoshiru (Spread-The-Happiness miso soup), which was the main purpose of my trip.

One of the ingredients was the local vegetable Kameido daikon (Japanese radish), which was crunchy and strong in flavor. Savoring the warm miso soup on the chilly temple grounds amidst a steady drizzle was a sublime experience.

Cultivation of Kameido daikon is said to have begun in the Edo period. Apparently, the people favored the vegetable because both its leaves and roots, when lightly pickled, tasted good. The area surrounding Katori Shrine, once the cultivation center for the vegetable, had since been turned into housing land; the cultivation center is now in Edogawa and Katsushika wards. The district Residents’ Committee and Retailers Association have joined hands to start a movement to bring back Kameido daikon. Daikon fields can now be found on the grounds of elementary schools around the Kameido district. A revival of the local vegetable! I would like to support this movement with all my heart!