*depts, departments, tho I owe them a debt for funding the visit! 😆

Oooof

I unfortunately have a panel at the same time, but this is so important and I can’t wait to read the book. Congratulations and well done! Hope it’s a great conversation

Haha, I get it now! Perhaps 🔍👀

Pardon?

This awakened a deep childhood memory in elementary school when I used to lament that I never had enough pocket change for a "Choco Taco" at the ice cream truck. Instant love for the shrine chickens. I hope there is a Chako AND a Tako. 😂

Woah, thank you so much! 😄🙏 Yeah not the only torii I’ve found at a non-Japanese Buddhism site overseas, fascinating! 🤓

So beautiful! 🤩⛩️ well done 👏

Looool amazing

If you can read Japanese or have a dictionary handy, check out this super fun and informative book:

“Jinja no dōbutsu zukan” 神社のどうぶつ図鑑 by Prof. Motegi Sadazumi 茂木 貞純 (Futami Shobō 二見書房, 2018)

And yes, there’s a temple version too!

Here is the bunny video! So darn cute

youtube.com/shorts/IgST8...

Reminder that I’m working on an animal shorts series on Eat Pray Anime! Here’s the deer video that I’m particularly fond of:
youtube.com/shorts/EAbRZ...

and…. 1/2

Finally: sea bream (tai) 🐟

Wakeoe Jinja is one of the most Instagrammable shrines I’ve seen. There’s a lot going on. But one consistent theme is the Kami Ebisu & his fishy messenger, the sea bream. This fish is an important offering in Shinto, & Ebisu grants abundance, especially to fishermen.

Next is: Ox 🐂, rat 🐁, & bullfinch 🦜! 😵

Yamada Tenmangū boasts several animal messengers! The ox & bullfinch r usual for Tenjin, but Kogane Jinja on the grounds dedicated to Ebisu & Daikokuten features the koganezumi (I call it the “money mouse”), a rat that holds Daikokuten’s wish-granting mallet.