 Image search results - "taro" |
Oguchi Taro Statue and Biwako Shuko no Uta Song Monument. On the shore of Lake Suwa, Okaya, Nagano. 歌碑と小口太郎銅像This was where I first heard the song, "Biwako Shuko no Uta." In May 2004, I was in Suwa, Nagano Pref. to see and photograph the Onbashira Festival (held every 6 years). My hotel was in the neighboring city of Okaya on the shores of Lake Suwa.
I walked around the lake and came across this statue of Taro Oguchi and song monument. I was very surprised when I saw the word "Biwako" (Lake Biwa). This was Nagano, not Shiga, so it was most unexpected to see "Biwako" here. I read the song lyrics on the monument and was surprised and delighted to see the names of well-known places in Shiga.
The monument even had music box (seen on left) where you could hear three versions of the song. I immediately found it intriguing.
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Taro Oguchi Statue and Song Monument in winter.
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About Taro Oguchi.The song was written as a collaboration among boatmates, but Taro Oguchi (小口太郎) (1897-1924) is credited as being the main song writer. He was born in 1897 (Meiji 30) in Minato-mura village, now part of Okaya city on the shores of Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture.
He grew up in a loving and respected family and demonstrated an early talent for writing, music (violin and shakuhachi), and sports (judo, skiing, skating). Since he was the eldest son expected to take over the family home, there was opposition for him to go away for college. However, his father was persuaded to allow Taro to apply for college at the elite No. 3 High School (later to become Kyoto University). It was one of nine college-level schools in Japan, the No. 3 school being one of the most elite.
Contrary to family expectations, Taro passed the entrance exam, went school in Kyoto in 1914 and joined the rowing and speech clubs. In 1917, he wrote the famous song about Lake Biwa which first went public in 1918.
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Statue of Oguchi Taro
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Statue of Oguchi Taro 小口太郎銅像Short walk from JR Okaya Station. Walk toward the shore of Lake Suwa. The monument is near the mouth of Tenryu River.
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Closeup of Taro Oguchi statueHe graduated in 1919 and furthered his studies at Tokyo Imperial University (now University of Tokyo) in the science department. In 1921, he invented the wired and wireless multiplex telegraph and telephone system which was patented in eight countries. He was an extremely bright young man with a promising future.
In 1922, he entered the university's aeronautical research institute as a researcher. However, his life soon took a downturn from 1923 when he received a military conscription notice. A love interest for marriage also did not work out as desired. His physical health deteriorated and he terminated his own life the following year in 1924 at age 26.
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Rear view, looking toward Lake Suwa.
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Side view of Taro Oguchi Statue and Song Monument in spring with azaleas.
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Side view of Taro Oguchi Statue and Song Monument in winter. 小口太郎顕彰碑
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Music box. Three versions of the song can be heard through a speaker by pressing a button. Also see the video at YouTube to hear the song.The monument included a music box where you could listen to three versions of the song through a speaker. I was immediately fascinated by the song when I heard it (together with the wind and waves of Lake Suwa).
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Song monument with the entire lyrics of Biwako Shuko no Uta. On the shore of Lake Suwa in Okaya, Nagano. 琵琶湖周航の歌 全歌詞碑
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Listen to one of the song versions here
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Biography of Oguchi Taro. 小口太郎顕彰碑
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Area of the Oguchi Taro monument (seen on left), in winter.
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Road sign pointing to the Oguchi Taro statue
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Smaller statue of Oguchi Taro inside Okaya City Hall, next to the entrance.
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Neighborhood of Minato where Oguchi Taro lived.
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Oguchi Taro's house (red roof). He lived on the 2nd floor. On the left is a storehouse.
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Path to shrine
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Behind this small shrine is a large graveyard full of Oguchi family gravestones.
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Oguchi Taro's grave on right.
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Oguchi Taro's gravestone. He is buried together with his younger brother Sadao.
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Oguchi Taro's gravestone in foreground.
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Oguchi cemetary. This neighborhood is full of Oguchi families, not necessarily related to each other.
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Oguchi graves.
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Scenic view of Lake Suwa from graveyard.
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Oguchi Taro song monument
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Tarobo-gu is a shrine complex on a small mountain, featuring grand views of Yokaichi and a pair of Wedded Rocks. It is 1.1 km from Tarobogu-mae Station on the Ohmi Railway Line. The shrine's real name is Aga Jinja 阿賀神社. [url=http://goo.gl/mapMap of Tarobo-gu. You can drive up halfway up the mountain (called Mitsukuriyama 箕作山) which is 350 meters high. If you don't have a car, climb over 700 steps to reach the shrine's main hall.
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The shrine has a long history, spanning 1,400 years beginning with Shotoku Taishi who built Kawaraji temple on this mountain and also prayed at Tarobo shrine known for making miracles happen. Map
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Saicho, founder of Tendai Buddhist Sect, also prayed at Tarobo. Up to when Shinto and Buddhism was separated during the Meiji Period, both Shinto and Tendai followers worshipped at Tarobo."Tarobo" is the name of the Tengu goblin serving as the guardian of this shrine. The shrine god is known as the "God of Victory," for business prosperity, winning something, beating a disease, or passing an exam.
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Tarobogu-mae Station on the Ohmi Railways. Trains come from Omi-Hachiman and Yokaichi Stations.
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Tarobogu-mae Station on the Ohmi Railways.
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Tarobogu-mae Station exit has a tengu goblin.
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Tarobogu-mae Station's rundown bicycle lot. How rustic.
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It was autumn when I revisited Tarobogu.
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Tarobogu-mae Station entrance.
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The first torii you see right near the train station.
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Farm land along the way.
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Just head toward this pointy mountain.
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Tobidashi boya
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You can drive up halfway up the mountain (called Mitsukuriyama 箕作山) which is 350 meters high. If you don't have a car, climb over 700 steps to reach the shrine's main hall.
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Mt. Mitsukuriyama, home of Tarobogu Shrine.
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Honden shrine can be seen.
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Sanshuden Hall is a modern building where they sell amulets. Also has meeting rooms. 参集殿
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Entrance to the shrine's rice paddy.
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This is where the shrine holds the rice-planting festival on the third Sunday of May.
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The second torii near the foot of the mountain.
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Second torii to Tarobogu Shrine.
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Tarobogu Shrine on this mountain holds a bonfire festival on the first Sunday in December. Near Tarobogu-mae Station on Ohmi Railways Line from Omi-Hachiman or Yokaichi Stations.
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Jizo statue
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Jizo statue
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About the Jizo statue.
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If you don't have a car or if there'sno shuttle bus, you get to climb up 700 stone steps to the shrine. This is the entrance to the climb up.
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Good luck.
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Go up these steps.
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Yes, up this way.
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It's not so bad if you're in shape. Actually, I took these going-up pictures while going down the steps. (Went up by bus.)
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A significant rock.
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There a flat piece of land for the shrine.
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They held the bonfire festival in Dec. (See the separate album for this.)
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Entrance to the shrine.
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More stairs to go to the Honden main shrine.
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Priests
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Going up to Sanshuden Hall is a modern building where they sell amulets. 参集殿
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Great thing about Tarobogu Shrine is the views.
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View from Sanshuden Hall.
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Inside Sanshuden Hall. 参集殿
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Haiden ceremony hall 拝殿
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Haiden ceremony hall 拝殿
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Omotesando path to the main shrine. 表参道
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This narrow slit separates the Wedded Rocks, wide enough for normal-size people to pass through. Meoto-iwa 夫婦岩
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Legend says that the god split the Wedded Rocks in two. Legend also says that the rocks will crush any person who has a malicious heart or has told a lie. Most local kids therefore run through here to escape the god's crush. Meoto-iwa 夫婦岩
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Of course, the Wedded Rocks is also good for married couples to maintain a good and happy marriage. Meoto-iwa 夫婦岩
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Wedded Rock sacred rope
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Inside Tarobogu's Honden main shrine. Surprisingly small building.
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Beautiful views from Tarobogu Shrine.
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Beautiful views from Tarobogu Shrine.
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Beautiful views from Tarobogu Shrine.
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Near the first torii in front of the train station.
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View from Tarobogu.
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Suzuka mountains.
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Statues of the gods of good fortune are scattered around.
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Benzaiten, goddess of music has her own little shrine. Not just a statue.
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Benzaiten, goddess of music and anything that flows. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.
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Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Pray here for success or victory.
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Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Pray here for success or victory.
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Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Pray here for success or victory.
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Ichigansha Shrine altar.
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Inside Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社).
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Ornate ceiling of Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社).
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Tarobogu's ema prayer tablets have a blank tengu goblin face. You draw the face yourself. How interactive.
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This way to see the Tengu statue.
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Another scenic path. Flat one.
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Small stone wall pillars donated.
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Walk around this post and another 50 meters away 100 times to eliminate your troubles.
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Walk around this post and another 50 meters away 100 times to eliminate your troubles.
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Pit for offering white stones
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White stones (which you can buy) written with your wishes or prayers.
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To go back, no need to go the way you came, take this flat path back.
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裏参道
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Way back.
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Interesting rock formation.
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Thus rest house has all these old paintings and objects.
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Tengu mask
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Biwa lute.
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Rest house
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To go back to the train station on foot, go down these stairs.
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Going down the steps from Tarobogu Shrine. Easy descent if you can walk.
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Lots of torii along the way.
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Quite pleasant with all the trees.
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Back down now.
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Nice visit to Tarobogu.
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The first torii is near the train station.
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On the day of the bonfire festival, they have shuttle buses going between the train station and Tarobogu Shrine. Highly recommend taking the bus.
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If you don't take the bus, it's 700 steps up from here.
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Get off the bus and here we are. A large clearing (shrine's parking lot) surrounded by a large crowd.
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Pile to be burned for the bonfire.
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Lighting the pile.
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The bonfire is used to burn about 100,000 goma prayer tablets collected from all over Japan. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.
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The fire's spiritual force supposed to ward off evil, accidents, and sickness and cleanse you. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.
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Kind of unique festival because it combines Shinto and Buddhist practices.
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The smoke can get very thick. People with a lung condition or clothing sensitive to smoke should not see this.
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Fanning the fire.
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Mountain ascetic priests chanting.
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Mountain ascetic priests chanting.
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Mountain ascetic priests chanting.
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Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire.
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Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire.
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Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire.
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Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.
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After the smoke is gone...
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Toward the end, there is fire-walking on the hot embers. 火渡り
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Toward the end, there is fire-walking on the hot embers.
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