【Adachi Mystery Hunter】 Solve a hidden mystery of the popular Goshuin in Adachi! ~ Tanka poem version of Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine ~

I, a mystery hunter received a request now and I came to the Kohoku area.
While I walked along the Arakawa Riverbank, it was hot. It's too hot.
I have already sweated heavily, but my destination "Kohoku Hikawa-jija Shrine" is just around the corner.​ ​

This time, Kohoku Hikawa-jija Shrine and Goshuin is my purpose.

Goshuin Girls also visit!? The popular shrine in Adachi, Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine

The other day, there was a phone call from the client, Adachi City Tourism and Exchange Association.

"Oh, Mystery Hunter, there is a matter I want you to investigate a bit...... Do you know Goshuin? Yes, it is something you can get at a shrine or a temple. You know, the red stamp of "Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine" is very popular. Apparently it is a little rare stamp.... Mystery Hunter, don't you want to know the reason for popularity? And now Goshuin Girls are also increasing in number... .... Well, you take it on!, thank you, then!"

That's the story.

Goshuin is a red stamp that given to visitors at shrines and temples.
A red stamp is sealed on the stamp book, but it is a boom now, because there are various charms such as collector's elements, many unique designs and artistic elements as well as the memory and record of the worship.

There are various kinds of Goshuin, such as pretty and colorful one and brilliant brushstroke one, but Goshuin of Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine is written a tanka or poem, which also changes every year.
I hear that it boasts especially high popularity among shrines and temples in Adachi.

This request is a secret related to the tanka of the red stamp.

That mystery, let me solve!

What is a hidden secret in the tanka, poem that changes every year...

"Excuse me, I'm an Adachi mystery hunter..."

A gentle lady welcomed me when I called.
She is Ms. Fumiko Yagi (Yagi Fumiko) who is the honorary chief priest of Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine.
When I asked her to tell me about a tanka of Goshuin, she willingly agreed.

 "Originally a tanka was not written. I wonder when it was 6 or 7 years ago, I got a request from a visitor, "Can you please write something?" I started writing since then. At first, I wrote different words for each visitor but it has become difficult as the number of visitors increased over 100. (laugh). So I made up my mind to change a tanka on New Year's Day once a year."(Ms. Yagi)

I see, Ms. Yagi has some knowledge of tanka and waka poems.
Otherwise, writing promptly cannot be done easily.

"I've neither had a knowledge nor learned it. (laugh). I write the words that came to mind because of a certain thing." (Ms. Yagi)

Hmm? What happed to her?

Many words that made me get over from a sad farewell

"My husband died at the young age of 39. he was spending the time as usual... ... It was a sudden thing. I was not able to accept the reality at that time since it was very sudden." (Ms. Yagi)

I was lost for words.

 "I spent many sleepless nights, but one day words came to mind. That word roused me and gave me courage, but I forgot them when I woke up in the morning. (laugh), so I put writing materials at my bedside and wrote it down." (Ms. Yagi)

In other words, the tanka and words written on Goshuin are Ms. Yagi's own words?

 "I'm embarrassed to say yes, but a certain person evaluated my words as Doka, or an ethical waka with a lesson." (Ms. Yagi)

I think Doka is a perfect expression.
Ms. Yagi is now talking broad-mindedly to me, but I can imagine she has sincerely faced many difficulties in her life, and the experience made her who she is today.​ ​
It is just focused when the word written on Goshuin is changed, but that word has such a story.
I felt I knew the reason why many people were touched by the word.

Goshuin of Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine points the way

And Ms. Yagi wrote me the 2018 word of Goshuin (Heisei 30).
One of the reasons why Goshuin of Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine is said to be unusual is that the word changes every year, as I mentioned above.
And another reason is that the word is written using two facing pages of Goshuin stamp book.

Many people visited because of the rare Goshuin, and 1,500 people have asked for it as of July this year.
In the Goshuin request book, visitors from overseas such as Taiwan and the United Kingdom were also listed.

The words of this year are as follows.

"Only you canovercome many difficultiesto try to openthe way of the human world "

 "This word is the first word that came to mind after my husband died. At that time, the subject was the first person, so I changed the second one when I write it. The stamp of the photo (at the lower right) has changed every season. It is a hydrangea stamp now, but it will be goldfish one soon." (Ms. Yagi)

This year's words are especially touched Ms. Yagi.
I can not imagine how deep I feel a sense of loss if my beloved person die. Moreover, I can not help feeling a deep grief beyond the word "to overcome many difficulties".

You can also buy Goshuin stamp book at Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine.
The design is closely related to the shrine, so let me introduce it.

The Arakawa river is flowing near Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine. Cherry trees along the Arakawa river is famous for cherry blossom viewing and attracts many people when spring comes.
This row of cherry blossom trees is called "Goshikizakura" because many varieties of cherry blossoms are in full bloom and can be seen in five colors. In 1912, young cherry trees were sent to Washington as a token of the friendship between Japan and America.

The Goshuin stamp book of Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine is designed Goshikizakura and a shrine on the cover and the National Parliament Building on the back.
This is the original Goshuin stamp book filled with history, so please pick it up when you visit.

! Points to remember when you get Goshuin!

It is only Ms. Fumiko Yagi, the honorary chief priest who writes Goshuin.
She is sometimes out of the shrine, so please be sure to call Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine in advance before visiting.

Information on Goshuin in Adachi

I could not see Goshuin girls, but I have checked some temples and shrines in Adachi where you can get a unique red stamp after appreciating the depth of Goshuin, so I would like to introduce a few of them.

Although I could not introduce so much this time, Seven Lucky Gods tour is held in Adachi, so it seems that there are more interesting Goshuin to be found.
I would like to introduce it in detail if there is a request.
To appreciate more the depth of Goshuin in Adachi!

Adachi Mystery Hunter / Hideo Nakanishi Interview Cooperation / Kohoku Hikawa-jinja Shrine the honorary chief priest Fumiko Yagi