Once more I report to you the news of my day, but this time we are going to talk about yesterday. If you remember correctly, yesterday's post was about my Sunday. For that reason, today, I shall post about my Monday. However, I decided not to post about my entire day, but only for the most interesting part of it, which happened in the afternoon.
The placed was called Futami.
According to the legends, this town was called Futami, ''second look'', thanks to Yamato-Hime's (Princess Yamato) visit, 2 000 years ago. It's said that the scenery of this land was so beautifull, that, when the princess left, she gazed upon it a second time.
This town is mentioned in many tourist guides because of its many attractions like the Hinjitsu Inn (see in the Photos section), the Futami Sea Paradise (marine zoo), Azuchi-Momoyama Theme Park, beach and specially the Meotoiwa.
You might have seen this picture before in many japanese related issues; two rocks tied together by a Shinto rope (Shimenawa). For those who don't know, this two rocks represent the relationship between a man and a women, in many different ways. It can be seen has a romantic symbol, since they call Futami the ''Town of Marriage'', but it is also a Shinto symbol that calls upon the story of the first two Kami, a couple, that created the islands of Japan, Izanami and Izanagi.
It is said that during the summer solstice, the sun rises precisely in the middle of the two rocks, which calls for the relation father-daughter, between Izanagi and Amaterasu-Ômikami (Kami of the sun). However, during the winter, you can also see the moon rising in between the two rocks, which, once more, calls for the relation father-son, between Izanagi and Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto (Kami of the moon). Last, but not least, both stones are in the sea, which can also be seen as a sign of the relation father-son, between Izanagi and Susanoo-no-mikoto (Kami of the seas and storms). The presence of the 3 main Kami, that were created by Izanagi in the japanese legends, can be seen clearly around the Meotoiwa.
Obviously, such a famous place for Shinto couldn't remain without a proper shrine around it.
Futami Okitama Shrine, is the name. According with the information that was provided to us, this Shrine, besides being dedicated to the Meotoiwa, it also arranges marriages and exorcism rituals to ban evil. Do not think about these exorcisms like the ones you may have already seen in movies. Actually, these ones take form of festivals or purification, like the Misogi, and other ''less-violent'' rituals.
If you stand on the bridge, that you can see in one of the pictures above, and you stare at the Meotoiwa, in a clear sky, it is also possible to see Mount Fuji far far away in the distance.
Without a doubt, one of the most famous symbols of Ise and Shinto which distinguishes itself from others, not only because of the meaning that lies around it, but also because it's one of the rare symbols near the sea.
I appologise for the existance of videos in this post. Unfortunately by batteries ran out, suddenly.
It was a very pretty day indeed but the wind was unnaturally strong and cold, in my perspective. But, indeed, it was a small price to pay for the beautifull blue sky, compared to the previous rainy day. Hope you've enjoyed this post as much as I did.
Tomorrow is a special day, because we are going to.....Almost told you guys where I was going! The hint? Well, it is a place that I mentioned a lot, before in ''outter'' posts.
Diogo here, thank you for reading and stay tuned for more!
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