Since writing about Oiwa Jinja in June 2015, reports have come in that the shrine has been tidied up. So with the promise of spring in the air, Green Shinto set out to take a look. We can report that, yes, indeed, there has been a considerable amount of cleaning and repairing. Who by?
There were a couple of elderly locals visiting at the same time, so we made enquiries and one of them replied that it was done by the owners of the otsuka small shrines, many of whom live in Osaka. I cannot be certain about that, but it seems entirely plausible that someone managed to organise family descendants of the original donors into making a collective effort to rescue the shrine.
Someone had provided fresh bibs for the komainu. A jar of saké too.The Haiden had been completely cleaned up and furnishings provided.Some of the otsuka were looking in much better shape than before.
Even the ‘misogi’ are was looking good, which must please Fudo MyooTorii and a fox guardian placed in front of the Big Rock, main object of worship.Koiwa, The Little Rock, had been given a smart new surroundIt is now much easier to see the detail in the torii. Here at the base of one of Domoto Insho’s creations is the figure of Bishamonten, a Buddhist guardian.The parents of artist Domoto Insho, who died aged 70 and 95 respectivelyPlenty of work still to be done though…Meanwhile the nearby Kyoto Trail has been ‘beautified’ by clearing away trees to open up the landscaped views – of solar panels!
