New Personnel Policy Committee!

 

As the 2010-11 PPC term comes to an end, I want to thank everyone for supporting the newsletter with your submissions. 

Congratulations to Brian W. and Ryan on becoming the PPC members for 2011-2012.  Good luck guys.

 

 

Exploring Creepy Japan...

by Matty

Fujinomiya mermaid       

For those of us who have been living in Japan for some time now, we have become accustomed to the curiosities. Toilets where you don’t know whether to face to bow or stern, boys with multi-coloured mullets on bikes reminiscent of a Mad Max film, and let’s not forget the illustrious, yet warm, greeting of the native children, the “Kancho”, just to name a few.

While this familiarity with the curious and quirky provides us with a sense of comfort and rationalization, it can make us all too complaisant to our surroundings.     So, over the past few years I have spent my time travelling to places that house relics of a time long forgotten. Places of the macabre, mysterious and, the outright ridiculous.

 First would have to be Japan’s long history and fascination of mummies. These include Buddhist priests, Mermaids, Kappa, Tengu and Raiju (A mythical “cat” demon)  Although most of the Japanese mermaid mummies have been discredited, they are still remarkable pieces of craftsmanship and tantalize the imagination.

At the base of Mt. Fuji in Fujinomiya, a small religious sect houses Japan’s largest mermaid mummy standing over 170cm tall. As the legend says, it originated from Lake Biwa around 600AD and was housed in the shrine as a warning to mankind to preserve wildlife and, against the destruction of nature. At around 500 yennies to enter, it is well worth a visit.     

Oita ogre mummy

 

I have regularly visited Kyushu and have had the pleasure of being taken to some of the more bizarre “tourist” traps available. (One of these including a Shrine and large grounds just outside of Miyazaki, which is dedicated entirely to the phallus.  Not so strange? The girlfriend’s mother took me there..........alone.)

 On display near Usa-Jingu, one of the last Jinguji left in Japan, after the Meiji Shinbutsu bunrei, is the mummified body of an ogre.

From appearances it looks as if a pair of Sicilian bricklayers built it, however, a curse is said to fall upon any who have the mummy in their possession. It was passed from family to family with a trail of bad luck following before being given to the temple for safekeeping.
Other mummified creatures are scattered all over Japan including, Tengu, Raiju (which look like mummified feral cats) and kappa. The most famous Kappa mummy is housed in Matsuura Sake Brewery, and was found in a wooden box in the ceiling when the building was undergoing reconstruction. It is now enshrined in the brewery to ensure those smooth delicate flavours that only a river god can ensure.

 Sokushinbutsu

 

Sokushinbutsu (即身仏), the only truly credible mummy in Japan.

 Believed to have been invented by a priest in Wakayama prefecture around 1000 years ago, the process involves eating of selected nuts and seeds, followed by consumption of only bark and roots of pine trees for a prolonged period of time, then, drinking of a tea made from the Urushi tree. (Commonly used as a lacquer in Japan.)

 Although it is estimated hundreds of these mummification rituals took place, only bodies in perfect condition were able to become Sokushinbutsu. (Kind of harsh considering the process that had to be undertaken to even be a “contender”) In total, approximately 6 of these mummies still exist in Japan and can be found in and around Yamagata and Niigata Prefectures.

The practice was made illegal in the late 19th century to prevent Buddhist monks from committing suicide.

The Shugendo sect of monks who practiced this, were also well known for their self-mutilation practices.

Something local, of which I have 3 more to complete, is Enshu nana fushigi (遠州七不思議)- 7 mysterious places in the Enshu region. (Of which there are actually 12 listed??!!)

                They include:

                                Yonakishi. A large stone where a pregnant woman was killed and, in the middle of the night, her cries can still be heard. (Kikugawa)

                                Sakura ga ike. Where a dragon appeared from the pond to assist a young man. (Ohama)

                                Koumare-ishi. A mysterious spherical stone that was “born” out of a man made wall. (Makinohara)

                                Awagatake, Awawa-jinja- For those who have been in the area, located in Kikugawa is a mountain with the kanji for tea (茶) on the side of it. On top of this mountain lies a Shrine with a well that is believed to make people rich if money is placed in it. Another legend is that if something is dropped into the well, it will mysteriously re-appear in a different location.

                The “7” mysteries of Enshu make for good local hiking or day trips to rural areas of Shizuoka, usually nestled in amongst temples and shrines. Although not always “mysterious”, the scenery surrounding these locations is worth the trip.

                There is some information that can be found on the net, but sadly, very little or with poor English translation.

And finally, for the truly adventurous, I recommend Honzaka tunnel and shrine located on the northern border of Hamamatsu and Toyohashi. Even word of this place strikes fear into the locals and, is a popular spot for youths to test their bravery.  Ghostly apparitions are believed to appear in the tunnel and urban myths report of people going missing in the tunnel. The shrine itself is rumoured to attract demons and going there at night is strictly off limits for believers. I went there with some friends late one night and although I did not see anything, there was definitely something unsettling about the area so, we didn’t outstay our welcome.

Happy hunting Halloweeners.

Halloween quote:  “Listen,….do you smell something?”

 

 

 

Upcoming Events...

 

 

 

Upcoming events...

Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu
November 3
Yumoto Hot Spring Town, Hakone, Kanagawa

A re-enactment of a
feudal lord’s procession with 170 locals dressed as samurai and
princesses.

 

 

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