Traditions and customs

Is there a statue of a sumo wrestler crying at night? A legend passed down at Senshoji temple, the family temple of Mogami Yoshiaki's daughter...

Mysterious legends exist all over Japan, and one such story exists right here at Senshoji Temple in the center of Yamagata City. This time, we'll be looking at the "Legend of the Night-Crying Sumo Wrestler Statue" at Senshoji Temple...

Aoiwa2023.10.30

The legend of the demon hag of Adachihara. It's a scary ghost story with a tragic human drama!.

There is a legend about an onibaba (demon hag) who attacks travelers in Adachigahara, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. This story is well-known nationwide and has been performed in kabuki and ningyo joruri (Japanese puppet theater) plays under the name "Oshu Adachigahara.".

Aoiwa2023.10.27

One of Japan's three Fudo temples is in Miyagi Prefecture? Yokoyama Fudoson at Daitokuji Temple in Tome City [Miyagi Prefecture]

Sendai City is located in the center of Miyagi Prefecture. About 80km northeast of there, in Tome City, is Daitokuji Temple's Yokoyama Fudoson. The Acala enshrined there...

Aoiwa2023.10.10

A god splits the cape in half, along with the whale! "Kamiwarizaki" (Kamiwari Cape), where the legend of the god splits the cape in half (Miyagi Prefecture)

Kamiwarizaki, a scenic spot in Minamisanriku Town, Motoyoshi District, Miyagi Prefecture, is a famous tourist destination that is often heard of by people living in Miyagi Prefecture. However, many people don't know what it's actually like...

Aoiwa2023.10.05

Aoma Shrine (Miyagi Prefecture), a shrine dedicated to the three gods of light: the moon, the stars, and the sun

Aoso Shrine is located near the Miyagi Prefectural Forest in Iwakiri, Miyagino Ward, Sendai City, near the border between Sendai City and Rifu Town. Nearby are the historic ruins of Iwakiri Castle and the Miyagi Prefectural General Athletic Park Grand...

Aoiwa2023.10.03

[Series: Following the Narrow Road to the Deep North ⑦] The journey is finally coming to an end, from Dewa to Uzen, and then to the north...

On June 10th, Genroku 2 (July 26th, 1689 in the Gregorian calendar), when Matsuo Basho and Kawai Sora departed from Mount Haguro, Basho, perhaps due to fatigue, borrowed a horse to descend the mountain...

DaiwaConsilio2023.10.02

[Series: Following the Narrow Road to the Deep North ⑥] Rafting the Mogami River and the Dewa...

On May 28, 1689 (July 15, 1689 in the Gregorian calendar), Matsuo Basho and Kawai Sora returned to Obanazawa from Yamadera (Risshaku-ji Temple), and then went to Takano Ichiei, who was in the neighboring town of Oishida...

DaiwaConsilio2023.09.27

Introducing 4 Must-See Traditional Festivals in Nihonmatsu City (Fukushima Prefecture)

Nihonmatsu City, a castle town with a 100,000 koku rice yield, is home to the Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival, one of Japan's three major lantern festivals, the Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Doll Festival, Japan's largest, and the Harimichi Abareyama Festival, which has a tradition dating back over 400 years.

natsuki2023.09.26

[Series: Following the Narrow Road to the Deep North ⑤] Heading to Dewa Province, struggling through narrow mountain passes and strict checkpoints

Matsuo Basho and Kawai Sora traveled all the way from Edo (present-day Tokyo) to Hiraizumi in Oshu, accomplishing their great goal. They traveled from Ichinoseki in Iwate Prefecture to Dewa (Yamagata and Akita)...

DaiwaConsilio2023.09.22

[Series: Following the Narrow Road to the Deep North ④] Basho's long-cherished wish to visit Hiraizumi, the Pure Land of the Three Fujiwara Clan

According to Sora's travel diary, Matsuo Basho and Kawai Sora left Matsushima on May 10, 1689 (June 26, Gregorian calendar), and stayed overnight in Ishinomaki...

DaiwaConsilio2023.09.21