大須観音とからくり人形Osu Kannon Temple and Wind-Up Dolls

We went to Osu area, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan to see a windup doll on
May 5, 2007. Nagoya is famous for "Uiro" or "Uirou", sweet steamed cake made of
rice powder and the others, and has two stores for the cake. Headquarter of"Osu Uiro"
Osu branch of "Aoyagi Uirou" are located at Osu, Naka Ward, Nagoya City. Furhter,
you find historic shops such as Imai Sohonke Co., Ltd. <founded in 1907; handling
"Tenshin Amaguri"(See Note 1)> or Head office of Komehyo.Co.,Ltd. (famous nationwide
for dealing jewelry or brand-name product). Furthermore, colorful shops for youngsters
and temples are dotted in the Osu area. The Osu area arouond shopping mall is like
an area combining Asakusa, Tokyo and Harajuku, Tokyo.

We left Osu area for returning home, and went north along Otsu-doori street and
turnned right at an intersection "Yabacho" to see the outside of "Ran-no-Yakata"
(or Orchid Botanic Garden). Then we returned to the intersection to advance north,
entering into and passing through the the alley of the west side of Matsuzakaya
department store. The alley is connected with a back street extended north and south.
Walking norht the back street while looking "Nadya Park" building at the left leads to
"Hirokoji-doori" street. We returned home in Seto City by train of Meitetsu private
line (nicknamed "Setoden") at "Sakae" station under Hisaya Odori Park adjacent to
"Hirokoji-doori". "Fair of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in hometown" was being
held at the park. I tried the ripe black garlic and bought since it seemed to be good
for health.

Course of "Sakae ⇔ Osu area" is enjoyable place for historical walking and shopping.

【Route】
"Sakae" station at Meitetsu private line "Seto-sen"　→　Subway station "Sakae"
→　Subway station "Osu-kannon" →　West gate of Osu-kannon → Precinct 　
→　 Birthplace ofTaisho harp （in the precinct of Osu Kannon Temp）　
→　Muneharu Wind-Up Dolls ①　（in front of "Osu Kannon Doori" shopping mall）　
→　"Fuji Sengen Jinja" shrine　→　"Kamihari Jizou" (or "Paper sticking guardian
deity of children" →　Daikoin temple → "Nobunaga Karakuri " (or Nobunaga
Wind-Up Dolls ②　（Banshoji temple；along "Shintenchi-doori"）→　"Shintenchi-doori"
→　Lunch （See Note 2）　→　Hakusetsu-Inari Wind-Up Dolls ③　(See Note 4; They
were projected through the window of the 2nd floor of Banshoji building and
performed)　→　Minami-Otsudoori (orSouth Otsu street) →　"Ran-no-Yakata
（along "Wakamiya-oodoori" street）　→　Three biggest heros Wind-Up Dolls) ④　
（along "Wakamiya-oodoori" street；See Note 3）　→　Otsudoori street　
→　Hisaya Odori Park　→　Nagoya TV Tower 　
→　"Sakae" station of Meitetsu private railway "Seto Line"

【Performance of Wind-Up Dolls 】
①　Muneharu Wind-Up Dolls　　　　　　　　　 11:00 a.m.　
②　Nobunaga Wind-Up Dolls　　　　　　　　　　12:00 a.m
③　Hakusetsu-Inari Wind-Up Dolls　　　　　　　　1:00 p.m.
④　Three biggest heros Wind-Up Dolls　~~2:00~~ 　3:00 p.m.　　＜See Note 3＞

【Streets of Osu shopping avenue】
Two streets run to east and west and three to north and south roughly in Osu
shopping avenue
<North side: from west to east - extending east to west>
"Osu Kannon Doori" 　→　Banshoji Doori　→　(meets at north-south extending
"Shintenchi-doori")
<Nobunaga Wind-Up Dolls　and Hakusetsu-Inari Wind-Up Dolls were performed around
the meet.>

<South side: from west to east - extending east to west>　
Niou-mon Doori ("Niou" means guardians of its temple.) →　East Niou-mon Doori
→ 　(meets at north-south extending "Shintenchi-doori")

<In order from west to east : north-south extending streets>
Monzenmachi Doori/Osu-Hon-Doori →　Ura-Monzenmachi Doori →Shintenchi-doori
→ South Otsu-doori/Otsu-doori

【Osu Kannon Temple （colloquial term）】
Shingon-shu sect of Buddhism
Formal temple name: Kitanosan Sinpukuji Housho-In
One of three biggest "Kannon" temples of Japan (or temples with principal image of
"the Goddess of Mercy")
Principal image ：Shoh Kannon (or the Goddess of Mercy)
Historic old temple having four national treasures and nearly 40 important cultural
properties
A collection of books, "Osu library" is called three greatest libraries in Japan together
with the library of "Ninna-ji" temple in Kyoto, and "Negoroji" temple in Wakayama.
"Osu library" collects about 15,000 books including Kojiki (national treasure), the oldest
history book in Japan.

【Soukenji temple】　<Source: Explanation board> (Some comments are added by
this web page writer.)
Rinzai-shu sect of Buddhism
Principal image ：Healing Buddha
Mr. Nobuo Oda (second son of Mr. Nobunaga Oda, military commander in Civil Wars age)
transferred Ankokuji temple in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture to Kiyosu, Owari district (Aichi
Prefecture at present) in 1579 to hold a memorial service for his father, Nobunaga
Soukenji temple was named after postmortem name of Nobunaga. Then, Mr. Nobuo Oda
transferred it to Osu, Nagoya, Owari district in 1612.
The first small exposition of Japan was held in Osu, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in 1871.

【Banshoji temple】 <Source: Explanation board>
Soutou-shu sect of Buddhism
End temple of head temple, "Soujiji temple"
Formal temple name: Kigakurin Banshoji　
Founder of temple：　The 7th resident priest of Unkoji temple (in Akazu, Seto City
at present) . The priest is an uncle of his father, Nobuhide Oda.
Foundation of temple： The temple has been founded as family temple of Oda family
in 1540.
Principal image ：　Juichimen-Kanzeon-Bosatsu (or the Goddess of Mercy with 11 faces)
Mr. Takechiyo Matsudaira (The name is changed to Mr. Ieyasu Tokugawa) from Mikawa
district (Aichi prefecture at present) lived at this temple as a hostage for two years
from 6 years old in 1547. He unified Japan in 1600
It is said that Mr. Nobunaga Oda threw incense ash at his ancestral tablet in funeral of
his father, Nobuhide Oda at this temple on March 3, 1552.
Further, it is said that he danced "Kouwakamai" dance music while singing a music, "Life
is 50 years." before going to a war, "Okehazama" war in 1560.

【Substitute Fudo Myoo (See Note 4)】<Source: Explanation board>
Mr. Nobunaga Oda, feudal warlord was targeted with the gun on the way back from attack
of the Asakura castle in Echizen. And a bullet hit Nobunaga. But he was within a hair's
breadth thanks to a dry rice cake which Nobunaga got from the chief priest of the
Banshoji temple because the bullet hit the dry rice cake. It is said that Fudo Myoo
protected Nobunaga because Nobunaga was firm believer in Fudo Myoo
Later, Mr. Kiyomasa Kato (from Owari district and follower of Mr. Hideyoshi Toyotomi)
named the Fudo Myoo as "Migawari Fudo" after hearing the story.

【Approach to Banshoji temple 】　<Source: Explanation board>
The approach to Banshoji temple is in "Banshoji" building. The building connects
Ohtsu-Doori square of east with "Karakuri square" at Banshoji temple of west.
The approach is the only city-planned approach in Japan.

【See YahooPhoto for details of the following.】
<The Albums are shown in Japanese language as follows.>
《Album name: 大須観音付近説明板他１》　
｢大正琴発祥の地｣の説明板
｢宗春からくり｣の説明板
｢宗春からくり｣の石台
｢大須観音略縁起｣の説明板
｢富士浅間神社｣の説明板
｢総見寺｣の説明板
《Album name: 大須観音付近説明板他２》
｢万松寺｣の稲荷の説明板
｢万松寺｣の信長の説明板
｢万松寺｣の歴史の説明板
｢万松寺｣の諸堂の説明板１　　（本尊と身代り不動明王）
｢万松寺｣の諸堂の説明板２　　（白雪稲荷と御深井観音）
｢万松寺｣の諸堂の説明板３　　（仏足石など）
｢三英傑からくり｣の説明板

＜Note＞
1 "Tenshin Amaguri"
"Tenshin Amaguri" is sweet broiled chestnut and its name is derived from the fact
that "Tenshin Amaguri"chestnut has been shipped to Japan at Tianjin port, China.
2　Lunch
We had lunch A and B at a restaurant "Long-hu dining" at small chinatown of 3rd
floor in a buildiing next to Banshoji building which is along "Shintenchi-doori".
"Maabo-doofu", (or "Spicy bean curd with pork") is felt refreshed. The prices were
reasonable shen considering the taste and amount of the "Maabo-doofu". The other
restaurants were also attractive.
3　Three biggest heros Wind-Up Dolls
We wanted to see "Three biggest heros Wind-Up Dolls" at a corner of north-west of
"Yabacho" intersection of "Wakamiya-oodoori" (100m in width) with Otsudoori street　
at 2:00 p.m.. The time was shown on a brochure, but it was wrong. The right time was
3:00 p.m. when we saw the performance of the Wind-Up Dolls.
4 Fudo Myoo
Fudo Myoo is Buddha's messenger with heart wishing the spiritual enlightenment as
the Buddha
5 Muneharu Wind-Up Dolls
Light reflected from glass since Muneharu Wind-Up Dolls was performed over the glass.
So, photos could not taken clearely.
6 History of "Hakusetsu Inari" shrine
"Hakusetsu Inari" shrine worships "Hakusetu-Dakini-Shinten" deity.
A white fox had been living 1000 years before Banshoji temple was founded.
So, the shrine enshrined the fox as a servant of the deity.
When Banshoji temple declined at a time, the white fox changed its figure into prostitute
and relieved the temple's financial embarrassment. So, "Hakusetsu Inari" shrine is said to
invite prosperous business.

"Fuji Sengen Jinja" shrine	Good luck inviting shrine in the premises of 　"Fuji Sengen Jinja" shrine

Headquarter of"Osu Uiro" and Head office of Komehyo.Co.,Ltd.(at right back)	"Kamihari Jizou" (or "Paper sticking guardian deity of children")

Soukenji temple	Banshoji temple <Substitute Fudo Myoo is not seen>

Nobunaga Wind-Up Dolls② <Nobunaga dances "Kouwakamai" dance music while singing a music, "Life is 50 years."

Nobunaga Wind-Up Dolls②	Approach to Banshoji temple ＜in Banshoji building＞

View at the pedestrian crossing bridge at "Yabacho" intersection of "Wakamiya-oodoori" with Otsudoori street <Left: view of Otsudoori to north, Right: view of South-Otsudoori to south>

Three biggest heros Wind-Up Dolls④ at the "Yabacho" intersection	Alley at west of Matsuzakaya

North-south back street passing through the alley <Connecting corridor from Maruei Skyle to Maruei is seen at center back.>	iItersection of Hirokoji street with Otsudoori street <Left: Mitsukoshi, Right: Maruei Skyle>

Communion-calves-farm in "Hometown Fair on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries"	Nagoya TV Tower

Ran-no-Yakata	Approach to Ran-no-Yakata