Episode 23 Zushi/Kamakura date

Until last time~

 

An unpopular little 31-year-old man (pen name Makoto Terada because he looks like Shinko Terada) hits the door of the universe and challenges himself to become a father!Last time I went on a date with Mr. L, a blonde part-time worker, while watching a movie in Kabukicho, and this time we decided to go on a date in the Zushi area...

 

 

 

　Zushi Marina was a beautiful place with soothing views of the beautiful sea and a stylish cafe run by a certain apparel brand along the road!After enjoying the walk there, she said that she wanted to go to Kamakura as well, so she got on a bus and headed towards Kamakura Station.

　However, there was a bit of a wait for the bus to arrive, and unlike the train, there was always a delay, and perhaps because it was a Sunday, the bus was significantly delayed...

 

 

　As time passed by until the bus arrived, Mr. L became increasingly irritated, thinking things like, ``Why hasn't it come yet?'' ``Maybe I should just park a taxi already.''

 

(Even though I don't have to wait that long, I tend to get irritated easily...)

I thought that kind of thing about her was a little unpleasant.

 

 

 

　In the meantime, the bus arrived and we were able to safely head towards Kamakura Station.Therefore, when you think of Kamakura, you think of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.

So I decided to go to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine!

　Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, the ancestor of Minamoto no Yoritomo who founded the Kamakura shogunate, commissioned the Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine in Kyoto (to return the spirit of the god to another place and enshrine it), so Hachiman was originally the guardian deity of the Minamoto clan in Kamakura. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine was originally enshrined on Yuigahama Beach, and later returned to its current location by Minamoto no Yoritomo.The Yabusame ritual is a major annual event that was held in the Kamakura period by Lord Minamoto no Yoritomo to pray for peace and peace in the country. It is a sunny place to show off archery skills, and even today, at the regular festival in September, the ``Yasubime Shinto ritual'' is held, where people dress like Kamakura samurai in hunting costumes.I was really looking forward to experiencing that history!

 

 

　On the way to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, there was a tourist spot street called Komachi-dori, and the street was filled with many restaurants and souvenir shops!

We had a fun time walking around Komachi Street, eating skewers and other food, taking pictures together, and looking around at various shops.

 

 

　When I arrived at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, I found many pigeons waiting for me! !

　The reason why there are so many pigeons is that there are originally several Hachiman shrines in Japan, such as Usa Jingu in Kamakura and Oita, and Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine in Kyoto Prefecture. This seems to be because there is a history of doing so.

　It is also said that military commanders during the Kamakura Shogunate era used doves in their family crests, as the bird brought good luck in battle, and the Hachiman faith flourished and spread throughout the country. In military chronicles such as ``Genpei Rise and Susumeki'', ``Taiheiki'', and ``Baimatsu Ron'', pigeons are often mentioned as birds of victory when going to war, and there is a strong connection between Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and pigeons. Understood.

 

　

　Apparently there were some unusual ceremonies going on that day, but I'm not really interested in shrines and temples, so I thought I'd just go to some fun places (lol), so I skipped those ceremonies for the time being. Sam showed an interest in the carp and turtles that were abundant in the pond, so we spent some time leisurely looking at the carp and turtles in the pond.

　

　The pond was overflowing with carp, far too many for its capacity, and I felt a bit scared that they were always standing above the water with their mouths open for sale outside the eaves (lol).This pond is called Genji Pond, and is inhabited by turtles and carp, as well as pigeons, which are always present, and ducks and herons that visit in winter.Food was being sold for 50 yen in front of the rest area, so I bought some food and gave it to the carp.As expected, carp can't go onto land, so I saw a lot of carp with their mouths wide open, begging for food. I felt a sense of fear (lol).

Also, the ``turtle'' that feeds me through my hand is cute, and sometimes even comes up to the land to feed me.

 

　

　We ended up spending a lot of time doing this, so we decided to disband without doing anything physical this time (lol).

 

 

　After that, we communicated with each other on line in preparation for the next time we would meet.Next time, it would be the last day I would see Ms. L before studying abroad, but she informed me that she would like to go to a restaurant in Shibuya Scramble Square next time!

　The restaurant is said to be a Mediterranean/Arabic cuisine restaurant, and Mr. L has already been there once, and the Molokheiya curry he ate there was so delicious that he would like to eat it again.

 

　When I think of Shibuya, I always think of it as a big city, with lots of people, especially young people, so I was a little hesitant for an uncool country person like me to go (lol), but I actually went to Shibuya Scramble Square once. I was so excited because it was a place I wanted to see!

　There is an observation deck called Shibuya Sky in the recently opened Shibuya Scramble Square, and I wanted to see various parts of Tokyo from there, and since my girlfriend had never been there either, we went to the observation deck on the day. is what happened.

 

 

　How that Shibuya date turned out will be in the next column!