Tags: sumida
The Bell of the Chosho-ji Temple
By Muza-chan on Dec 4, 2009 | In Did you know... | 10 feedbacks »
In Asakusa, close to the Sumida river shores, you can find a small Nichiren Buddhist Temple, Chosho-ji.
It is a very old temple, the founding date is not precisely known, but it is approx. around 1279-1282.

It is said that long time ago, when the Sumida river flooded the area, all the temple’s structures were washed away and the copper bell reached the bottom of the river.
The place where the bell sank was called by the local people Kanega-Fuchi (meaning “depths of the bell").
The history of the temple and this small legend of Kanega-Fuchi are inscribed on the present day temple’s bell, which is made of bronze and was cast in 1720:

I wonder if it is still known where is the place were the old bell sank…

Hana, a Monument for a Song
By Muza-chan on Nov 19, 2009 | In Japan travel | 7 feedbacks »
One of the aspects I love about Japan are the unusual monuments, scattered throughout the country, often sending beautiful messages.
While strolling through Sumida Park I discovered a little know monument, built to honor Takeshima Hagoromo, the author of the lyrics of a famous Japanese song, Hana.

The monument of Hana was raised in 1956 by its students from the Tokyo Music School (today’s Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music) and, since the poem expressed the beauty of the Sumida River, it was placed nearby.
Haru-no urara-no Sumidagawa
Nobori kudari-no funabito-ga
Kai-no shizuku-mo hana-to chiru
Nagame-wo nani-ni tatou-bekiMizu-ya akebono tsuyu abite
Ware-ni mono-iu sakuragi-wo
Mizu-ya yuugure te-wo nobe-te
Ware sashi-maneku aoyagi-woNishiki orinasu choutei-ni
Kurure-ba noboru oboro-zuki
Geni ikkoku-mo senkin-no
Nagame-wo nani-ni tatou-bekvia From Keisho Center ・継承センター便り.
You can find a translation at Pacific Islander.
Takeshima Hagoromo was also a very good calligrapher, the text from the monument being a copy after one of his manuscripts:

The song was composed by Taki Rentaro, one of the best known Japanese composers.
Let’s listen to it, performed by Sakiko Ito and Chieko Baisho:














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