（２７２） Ｉ ｍｅｅｔ Ｋａｐｐａ ａｔ Ｕｓｈｉｋｕｎｕｍａ
文字数 2,497文字
Feb. 3rd is the Setsubun (節分), bean-scattering ceremony. At Chikatsu Shrine (千勝神社) in Tsukuba, people throw beans on Setsubun. Many people bring baskets to pick up the beans.
Chikatsu Shrine is a shrine where dogs can visit, but dogs are not allowed to enter during Setsubun because it gets too crowded.
I really wanted to go to Chikatsu Shrine on Setsubun, so it's a shame.
Chikatsu Shrine is near Ushikunuma (a swamp in Ushiku City), so we decided to go to Ushikunuma, which I had never been to, and headed for Ushikunuma Waterside Park, where we could see the swamp.
When we arrived, it was closed to the public because bird flu was found in the wild birds in the park.
So, we decided to go see the kappa stone monument at the former Ogawa Usen (小川芋銭) residence nearby.
Ushikunuma is famous for the Kappa legend.
(※Kappa is a river imp found in Japanese traditional folklore.)
The mascot character of Ushiku City is “Kyu-chan”, a Kappa. Ogawa Usen was a painter who was active from the Meiji period to the early Showa period. He is famous for drawing many Kappa paintings.
He passed away in 1938, but in 1952, a stone monument of Kappa was built by Usen's friend, Ikeda Ryuichi (池田龍一). A picture of a kappa drawn by Yayanagi Kyoji (八柳恭次) is etched on the monument.
The inscription on the stone monument reads, “誰識古人画龍心(Darekashiru Kojinga Ryushin).” This is what Usen answered when asked why he drew Kappa.
The Ushiku City Tourism Association interprets his words as follows:
“Just as people in the past drew dragons to express the greatness of the universe, I drew kappa to explore the great laws of nature of the solar system, the root of all things that transcend science. I'm trying to devote my life to it, but is there anyone who understands me?"
Many kappa live around Ushikunuma, but the kappa on this stone monument is the most famous.
After that, we also visited the nearby Ushiku City Tourist Iris Garden to meet another Kappa. The Iris flowers weren’t blooming, though.
①This is the Kappa monument.
②I’m in front of the kappa monument.
③It is a bronze statue of a child Kappa and a dog at Ushiku City Tourism Iris Garden. I’m wondering if Kappa get along well with dogs.
④This is a picture of the child Kappa and me.
⑤ An adult Kappa also lives there. I was going to get on the red spot and have Dad take a picture, but the red spot was a plant, so I couldn't use it as a foothold.
⑥I’m being held by Mom. My face started to resemble the Kappa's face, just a little bit.
Chikatsu Shrine is a shrine where dogs can visit, but dogs are not allowed to enter during Setsubun because it gets too crowded.
I really wanted to go to Chikatsu Shrine on Setsubun, so it's a shame.
Chikatsu Shrine is near Ushikunuma (a swamp in Ushiku City), so we decided to go to Ushikunuma, which I had never been to, and headed for Ushikunuma Waterside Park, where we could see the swamp.
When we arrived, it was closed to the public because bird flu was found in the wild birds in the park.
So, we decided to go see the kappa stone monument at the former Ogawa Usen (小川芋銭) residence nearby.
Ushikunuma is famous for the Kappa legend.
(※Kappa is a river imp found in Japanese traditional folklore.)
The mascot character of Ushiku City is “Kyu-chan”, a Kappa. Ogawa Usen was a painter who was active from the Meiji period to the early Showa period. He is famous for drawing many Kappa paintings.
He passed away in 1938, but in 1952, a stone monument of Kappa was built by Usen's friend, Ikeda Ryuichi (池田龍一). A picture of a kappa drawn by Yayanagi Kyoji (八柳恭次) is etched on the monument.
The inscription on the stone monument reads, “誰識古人画龍心(Darekashiru Kojinga Ryushin).” This is what Usen answered when asked why he drew Kappa.
The Ushiku City Tourism Association interprets his words as follows:
“Just as people in the past drew dragons to express the greatness of the universe, I drew kappa to explore the great laws of nature of the solar system, the root of all things that transcend science. I'm trying to devote my life to it, but is there anyone who understands me?"
Many kappa live around Ushikunuma, but the kappa on this stone monument is the most famous.
After that, we also visited the nearby Ushiku City Tourist Iris Garden to meet another Kappa. The Iris flowers weren’t blooming, though.
①This is the Kappa monument.
②I’m in front of the kappa monument.
③It is a bronze statue of a child Kappa and a dog at Ushiku City Tourism Iris Garden. I’m wondering if Kappa get along well with dogs.
④This is a picture of the child Kappa and me.
⑤ An adult Kappa also lives there. I was going to get on the red spot and have Dad take a picture, but the red spot was a plant, so I couldn't use it as a foothold.
⑥I’m being held by Mom. My face started to resemble the Kappa's face, just a little bit.
