{"id":991,"date":"2024-05-07T13:05:06","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T04:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/?p=991"},"modified":"2024-05-07T13:05:27","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T04:05:27","slug":"sacred-seconds-capturing-transient-moments-at-ohara-aso-shrine-in-kikuyo-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/archives\/sacred-seconds-capturing-transient-moments-at-ohara-aso-shrine-in-kikuyo-town.html","title":{"rendered":"Sacred Seconds: Capturing Transient Moments at Ohara Aso Shrine In Kikuyo Town"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">I stumbled upon a scene like in a movie or drama, so I went there with my camera.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><b>&#8220;The &#8216;Wait, What?&#8217; Spots You Pass By&#8221;<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Driving near Haramizu Station on the old Route 57 that stretches from Kumamoto to Kikuyo,<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-992 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715053986-c08ccd2f81dd593d61879ecf24177abf.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"316\" height=\"500\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">have you ever seen a torii gate like this one along the road?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-993 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054015-e6964a51a131868fc391eeadf48844a4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">This is the entrance to Ohara Aso Shrine, marked by what seems at first glance to be an ordinary torii gate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FFoz7SHDcWo\" width=\"560\" height=\"314\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Yet, as you pass through it, you encounter a rare sight: a torii gate, a railway crossing, followed by yet another torii gate \u2013 a unique sequence that offers a momentary journey from the mundane to the sacred.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><b>A Rainy Stroll within the Shrine Grounds<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-994 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054092-d9ded5d10ede456522f09f1700abbe66.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Once again, we approach the torii gate before the railroad crossing. The color of the crossing in the middle of the approach path is inexplicably captivating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-995 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054124-879615eaa3c99cbbc708edbb29b75eca.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">And there\u2019s something so&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-996 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054158-ac58fffe4dc46462d0a7548e3818ce16.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">&#8230;nostalgic about railways.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">You find yourself gazing intently at where the tracks lead and where they come from. (This photo was taken reaching out from beyond the railway tracks.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-997 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054196-372c7b9f9b5446180299f1d6177039bd.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">The mix of the modern and the old creates an indescribable atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-998 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054222-dd9da20c5d45f0270b8e5be631012159.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Ah! Here are many of Kumamoto\u2019s famous &#8220;yonaki&#8221; (crying-at-night) snails (also known as &#8220;door snails&#8221;).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Perhaps this used to be a ginkgo tree.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">In Japan, door snails like these are said to soothe a baby\u2019s nighttime cries when placed on their pillow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">I once received one at Yuge Shrine and placed it on my child&#8217;s pillowcase, but this is the first time I\u2019ve seen so many in one spot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">According to custom, once the baby\u2019s nighttime crying ceases, one must return the snail gently to where it came from.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-999 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054255-e9a30d24f94376b71813f80653cb38d8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">This shrine is unusual for having a railroad crossing right on the approach leading up to the shrine. Amid the gentle drizzle, I stroll through the quiet precincts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1000 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054280-0b691b4d1f450e6a88c37276cfac4787.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">An incredibly large tree loom overhead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1001 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054307-e711b76101ee000f269e78169dbf15b7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Looking down at the base, we can see it seems to actually be two different trees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">This tree has steadfastly witnessed the history of the area.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><b>In the Presence of Gods: Our Haste and Their Tranquility<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1002 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054347-96ab6bb4e8fa26f9df3034ad389d498f.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I encountered the remnants of a &#8220;<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chinowa kuguri<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chinowa<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> referring to the large ring made of cogon grass and &#8220;<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">kuguri<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;, coming from the Japanese verb to &#8220;pass through&#8221;.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Inside the sacred boundaries marked by important object such as the shrine&#8217;s torii gates, this large grass ring is crafted for a ritual performed on June 30th, wishing for health and well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although it seems to have weathered some wind and rain, it was my first time seeing a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chinowa<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like this. It&#8217;s said that taking this grass home is synonymous with bringng misfortune home, so let&#8217;s refrain from doing so.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1003 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054379-9f74291ee7e5a1536c5851a6cef12e17.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">An ancient shrine that exudes history.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1004 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1715054406-8c25f00d676632768d0037c60f302168.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">It is a quiet place protected by many trees. Droplets of rain were falling from the trees with the wind, and although it was dark, it was a scene that felt very Japanese.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><b>A Scene Etched in Memory<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was just in time to see the train pass by.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vEFMYd8pr6A\" width=\"560\" height=\"314\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">From the perspective of a shrine with a long history, our life may seem fleeting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">The train crossing in front of the ancient torii gate seems to symbolize our current era passing through this timeless space.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note: Please be cautious around the tracks and trains when visiting.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I stumbled upon a scene like in a movie or drama, so I went there with my camera. &#8220;The &#8216;Wait, What?&#8217; S &#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","category-sightseeing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/991","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=991"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/991\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1009,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/991\/revisions\/1009"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}