Walking Event in Okazaki

We hold a walking event (several kilometers) every month as we have Global Studies Café in Kosei, Okazaki as a starting point. Last week, we visited the 誓願寺 “Seiganji” temple in Okazaki city. We went across one of the big bridge called the矢作橋 “Yahagibashi”. The bridge was portrayed by ukiyo-e artist, 葛飾北斎 “Hokusai” and 歌川広重 “Hiroshige” in their ukiyo-e (wood block print) during the Edo period.

The temple we visited was established in 997 and it is said that the 浄瑠璃姫 “Joruri-hime” (the name of a rich man’s daughter who used to live in Okazaki ) and 源義経 “Minamoto no Yoshitsune” (Famous samurai) fell in love with each other there in 1117. Their love story has been passed on as a joruri (narrative storytelling form with the accompanied of 琵琶 “biwa” -four stringed Japanese lute), which emerged sometime after 1525 and later evolved into the 人形浄瑠璃 “ningyo joruri” (joruri performed by puppet dolls) in the Edo period.

The temple preserves Joruri-hime’s mirror and old flute which was given to Joruri-hime by Yoshitsune. Here you can enjoy the romantic history.