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Visiting Zenkoji, Nagano's Ancient Temple (February 17)
The city of Nagano originally grew around the Buddhist temple of Zenkoji. Zenkoji is famous throughout Japan, and it is normally crowded with people. But now that the Olympics are in town, the crowds are something else! We have never seen this many people visiting the temple. Television crews from around the world are doing a lot of filming in the temple area, it seems. While we were there we even met a famous Japanese comedian!Right in front of the main hall of the temple, there is a burning pile of smoking incense. The smoke from the incense is considered lucky, and people rub it on their heads and bodies as a charm to become healthy and happy. Everyone who visits the temple tries to get some of the smoke.
In another area of the temple, there is a big display of "ema." These are wooden plaques, on which people write their wishes in the hopes that they will come true. We saw some from people who wished to become basketball players, to get into college, and even for Hiroyasu Shimizu to win a speed-skating medal for Japan. This last one already came true!
You can also get your fortune told at Zenkoji by picking an "omikuji" out of a large box. This is a slip of paper with some advice and a message on it foretelling how lucky or unlucky you will be--people are pretty nervous when they open one up! Here are the four luck messages:
Daikichi --- Very lucky. This one is a rare message.
Kichi --- Lucky. A pretty good one to get.
Shokichi --- "Small luck." Your luck will be average.
Kyo --- Bad luck. Too bad for you if you draw this one!
It's important, in the end, to remember not to believe too strongly in these messages, though . . . (Shinonoi Nishi Middle School: Kotaro Higuma, Shun Okuno)
People crowd around the incense for the lucky smoke.
This "ema" shows a wish for Hiroyasu Shimizu to win a speed-skating medal.
A box full of "omikuji"--how lucky do you feel?