Sachiki-san and I visited Morioka
Hachimangu, the stutelary shrine of Morioka, for New Year's visit.
We tried to go on the 4th avoiding the
crowds on the first three days of the New Year. However, when we went around
noon on the 4th, the car park at the shrine and car parks around the shrine
were full. Moreover, the road in front of the shrine was under temporary
traffic regulations, so we gave up on the New Year's visit and started again
before 7 o'clock this morning. The car park and precincts of the shrine were not
crowded.
At the shrine, I vowed, "I will take
care of Sachiki-san until the very end." And I bought a set of charms as
proof of that. It is a set that one charm has printed Chinese characters and
the other has an embroidered illustration of paw. So Sachiki-san and I each can
bring it.
When I bought the charms with Sachiki-san
held in my arms at the shrine office, Sachiki-san was quiet, so the person at
the shrine office said, "It's not a stuffed dog, is it?"
Morioka Hachimangu Shrine was built in
1680. Various events are held throughout the year, such as Hadaka-mairi
visiting naked in winter, Chagu Chagu Umakko horse festival in early summer,
and Dashi floats and Yabusame horseback archery in autumn.
