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These photos were
taken over several trips to Japan with Stephen K. Hayes and some
ninjutsu friends. Some of the same friends were one each trip
and some I've never seen again. In any event, having photos span
years often leads to side-by-side photos showing vast differences
in the weather. In these instances I try to mention the year
that the photo was taken. |
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The village of Togakushi
is a popular Japanese ski area in the wintertime. Our visits
were normally in September, and our interests would lie in the
history of this village, whose name used to be pronounced Togakure
(toh-gah-kray). The name Togakure or Toh Gakure, means "Concealing
Door" and refers to the myth of the door which sealed the
cave that the sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikani had hidden
in.
. . .Some 800 years ago, the village was
the childhood home of Daisuke Nishina, founder of Togakure
ryu Ninjutsu. The village has three shinto shrines that we
would visit: the lower shrine is Hokosha (Treasure of Light),
the second Chusha (Middle Shrine) and the third Okusha
(Deep Sanctuary). |
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The steps leading up to the Hokosha
(Treasure of Light), lower shrine. The steps (a LOT of steps!)
up to some of the shrines were always too short, front-to-back,
for non-Japanese feet. |
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The year we visited Hokosha
we found that the story of Amaterasu Omikani was being
reinacted. I'm afraid my photos of this event are few, because
I did not want to intrude with a flash, and an overcast day made
the available light poor, at best. On the left one dancer sits
in seiza while another dances (in the shadows...you'll have to
take my word for it). Across the floor one Shinto priest plays
a flute and another sits by a taiko drum. The photo on the right
shows more of the dancing. |
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To the left is a little better
photo of the drummer. To the right, a dancer (a Shinto priest)
represents the one who removed the door from the cave Amaterasu
Omikani was hiding in. Here is a brief telling of what I
recall of the story:
The Sun Goddess, Amaterasu Omikani hid herself in a cave
because of her shame at the deeds of her brother, Susa no
oh no Mikoto. In an attempt to lure her out into the world
again, Ame-no-uzume no mikoto danced what is referred
to as a "naughty" dance (a sort of strip tease).
. . Hearing the laughter outside, Amaterasu
became curious and peeked from her cave to see what was happening.
As she does this, the stone door is thrust aside and tossed away
and Amaterasu's light and wisdom is once again brought
into the world.
. . .In the dance, when the door is thrust
aside, the viewer looks directly into a round mirror, which represents
the cosmic light and wisdom of the goddess. My teacher, Stephen
K. Hayes pointed out that we should remember that the one you
see in that mirror is yourself, and that each of us has responsibility
for bringing wisdom and light to the world.
. . . If you've ever seen a small shrine
on the kamiza of a martial arts dojo (school),
you will remember the round mirror that sits in front of the
door of the shrine. That little mirror is also a reminder of
your responsibility in the world. |
Tokyo / Togakushi 1 / 2
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