Introduction of Kamakura, Yokohama and Tokyo: Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa of Tokyo

Senso-ji Temple is the oldest temple in Tokyo. It is said that this temple was built in 645. In the mid 9th century, the then highest ranking Tendai Duddhist Ennin(794-864) aka Jigaku-Daishi visited the temple and carved a statue which could be shown to and worshipped by the people. Since then Senso-ji temple had belonged to Tendai Buddhism until it declared independece after World War Ⅱ.

This is the entrance gate to Senso-ji Temple. From the center of the lintel, a big red lantern is hanging with two Chinese charactors 'Thunder Gate' on it. In each four corner of the gate there is a statue. The existing gate was built by the donation of Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic in 1960.

On the right corner of the front side there is a statue 'Fujin' which literally means Wind God.

On the left corner of the front side there is another statue 'Raijin' which literally means Thunder God or Thor.

The English explanation of Kaminari-mon Gate

At the back of Raijin there is a statue 'Kinryu', which is Goddess for water.

On the left side of Kinryu there is another statue 'Tenryu', which is God for water.

From the entrance to the main hall there are shops on both sides of 'Nakamise Street'.

Nakamise literally means shops in a precinct of a temple or a shrine.

Hozo-mon Gate. Hozo literally means a storage which keeps treasure. Mon means a gate.

A pair of Nioh, A-gyo and Un-gyo are standing on both sides of the gate. Nioh is a guardian god to pretect a temple. The above statue is A-gyo.

This is Un-gyo. Have you heard of sumo wrestling? Sumo wrestling is a national sport in Japan. Two Sumo wrestlers who fight on a ring have to maintain a rule ' A- Un start'. This 'A-Un' is derived from the pair of Nioh.