We visited the Suitenguu shrine(http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/topics/051201/3.html) in Tokyo to pay respects during Shinachan's fifth month of pregancy. There are various good days and bad days on the calendar, and "Inu no hi" (Last month it was December 23rd) is considered particularly auspicious (the day is different every month--must be on some kind of lunar calendar or someething). Women who are in their fifth month of pregnancy line come in huge crowds every month on Inu no hi and pay their respects at the shrine. (http://www.jal.com/world/en/guidetojapan/city_information/tyo/see/nihombashi/)
Women also buy special "obi" support wraps that they then wrap around their stomachs for the rest of the pregnancy that are blessed by Shinto priests on the site of the shrine (You can see that in the picture with the yellow awning with red lettering).
Click here for a short video = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1bVEnA_TmE
1 comment:
January 2, 2007
Hi John and Shinako
I was so very happy to see you additional blog today. Mom and I went to the Shrine while we were in Ningyocho. We both love the day by day information you are providing. It is really like being there with you. (wish we were)
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