Re: En-nichi, a Fair Day or Festival Day of the Local Jizo Buddhist deity (木之本地蔵縁日)

[In English]

One of the most exciting events in our summer holidays must’ve been this Festival in our nearest town of Kinomoto. Our purpose was, of course not to pray in front of the Deity of Mercy, but to stroll about a hundred street stalls along the approach.

We, all were naughty youngsters, searched and searched our most favorite toys and gadgets that were necessarily easily breakable in a few days, firmly gripping all the money for the happiest moments.


Almost 60 years have passed since those nostalgic days, but it seems to me that kids’ interests have never changed. (I, myself, am much more attracted now to the temple treasures than their concerns, though….)

[In English]

タイトル:木之本地蔵縁日

私たちの夏休みで最もエキサイティングなイベントの 1 つは、最寄りの町、木之本で行われるこの縁日に違いありませんでした。 私たちの目的は、もちろん観音様の前で祈ることではなく、参道に並ぶ百軒近くの露店の中からお気に入りのものを探して歩き回ることでした。 私たち皆わんぱく坊主たちは、この最高に幸せな時のために、それまでに貯めた小遣いを握りしめ、たった数日で簡単に壊れてしまうお気に入りのおもちゃや小物を探し続けたものです。
懐かしいあの頃から既に60年近くが経ちましたが、子どもたちの興味は昔も今も変わっていないように思えます。 (私自身は、今では寺宝のほうに興味を惹かれていますが……)

The Banner of That Big En-nichi (木之本地蔵院前の横断幕)
The Street Stall of Shaved Ice (かき氷の露店)
Goldfish Scooping (金魚すくい)[1 of 2]
Goldfish Scooping (金魚すくい)[2 of 2]
Ring Toss Game (輪投げ遊び)
The Devotional Offerings for the Deity of Mercy (ご本尊へのお供え物)
“Bishamon-ten” Buddhist Statue, the Temple Treasure (寺宝のひとつ;毘沙門天)
The 6m High Deity Statue is One of the Three Great Jizos (この6mの銅像は日本3大地蔵のひとつ)
The Entrance to Kaidan (Buddhist ordination platform) (戒壇巡りの入り口)
Amulets for 1) Hardy Walker, 2) Healthy Eyesights, and 3) Traffic Safety (①健脚、②視力の維持、③交通安全の御守り)
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