Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Hanaguri cow nose ring shrine in Okayama


Hanaguri Cow Shrine (with mound of nose rings in background)

Yesterday I went to the hanaguri (cow nose ring) shrine in Okayama. As a cow lover, I had been wanting to visit this place for a long time. Here, they have collected over 7 million nose rings from cows who have gone to slaughter. It was a bit sad, but a little comforting too to know that the cows had not been forgotten.


Close-up of the pile of nose rings.

Every year on the third Sunday of April, there is a shugendo ceremony to bless the souls of the cows who have given up their lives so humans can have beef, leather, and other bovine fancies.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Daishi-do, Shiraishi Island

The "Daishi-do" or Kobo Daishi Hall, a separate temple on the grounds of Kairyuji Temple on Shiraishi Island. The Daishi-do sits precariously under a large rock...

Today was the Fall masturi for Kobo Daishi.

Also, this week's Japan Lite is up at the Japan Times Online: Japanese--a language of tall tales.
 
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