九品仏 淨眞寺参道
Kuhonbutsu Promenade
Kuhonbutsu Promenade
地元民に愛される名所、九品仏淨眞寺の参道は、1日だけではもったいなかったので「声の記念碑」と共にもう一度まちあるきに訪れました。
ありがたいことに、この日は数名のボランティアが記念碑運びの手助けに駆けつけてくれました。当プロジェクトの翻訳担当でもある穂実さんが、当日の体験について振り返ってくれています
Because the Kuhonbutsu Sando is such a prominant and well-loved neighborhood site, we returned for a second day of walks with the Voice Monuments.
We were fortunate to have several volunteers help carry the Voice Monuments during the afternoon. Honomi san, who has generously served as the project’s cultural translator, shared her reflections about her experience that day.
ありがたいことに、この日は数名のボランティアが記念碑運びの手助けに駆けつけてくれました。当プロジェクトの翻訳担当でもある穂実さんが、当日の体験について振り返ってくれています
Because the Kuhonbutsu Sando is such a prominant and well-loved neighborhood site, we returned for a second day of walks with the Voice Monuments.
We were fortunate to have several volunteers help carry the Voice Monuments during the afternoon. Honomi san, who has generously served as the project’s cultural translator, shared her reflections about her experience that day.
記念碑運びの独り言
A Monument Mover’s Notes
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, just before a thunderstorm, we were back for another meditative walk on the Kuhombutsu Sando, strolling along with local visitors and families.As we carried the mirror-like, transparent objects one by one, people looked at us with curiosity, eyeing our unusual load.
「これは何ですか？」
“What are you carrying?”
「『津波石』ってご存知ですか？」
“Have you heard of tsunami ishi (stones)?”
記念碑の重みを腕から肩に感じながら、私は聞き返す。『つなみいし』ときいてすぐにピンとくる人には、世田谷ではあまり出会わない。この地域では、津波の危険にあまりさらされない。津波によって打ち上げられた岩を石碑として残し、また来るかもしれない津波の凄まじさを後世に伝えるためのもの、と説明すると「あー、聞いたことあります！」という返事が返ってくる。
Feeling the weight of the monuments, I respond with this question. Not many people we meet in Setagaya recognize the word “Tsunami ishi” right away. Tsunami storms are not common here. So I continued to explain that this refers to rocks that were heaved and deposited by tsunami, then left as a monument, warning descendents of destructive waves that may come again. To this, I almost always received the response, “Ooh! I’ve heard of something like that.”
さらにこの日のまちあるきには、近所に住む友人のスギモトさんも参加してくれました。まちあるき第１回目に訪れた、赤坂氷川神社のお祭りを支える１人である彼。今年もコロナの影響でお祭りが中止となってしまった為、なかなか法被を着る機会が無く寂しい思いをしていたそうです。赤坂氷川祭では、地域の神様を乗せる山車や神輿の巡行をサポートされています。
6月から7月にかけて続く日本の梅雨。歩き始めた頃は青空でしたが、だんだん怪しげな雲が垂れ込めてきました。意気軒昂なスギモトさんは、突然の雷と豪雨にもめげることなく「声の記念碑」を運んでくださいました！
Also on this day, our neighbor and friend Sugimoto san joined our walk. He is part of the volunteer festival crew at Akasaka Hikawa Shrine, the site of our first walk. Because this festival has again been cancelled due to the COIVD-19 pandemic, he was eager to wear his happi, the traditional short coat worn during festivals. During the festival, he helps carry the very heavy floats that honor local spirits and gods.
June and July are part of Japan’s summer rainy season. Though the day started out with clear skies, ominous clouds gathered by the early afternoon. The thunder and rain didn’t diminish Sugimoto san’s enthusiasm to carry the ‘Koe No Kinen Hi’ Voice Monuments!
6月から7月にかけて続く日本の梅雨。歩き始めた頃は青空でしたが、だんだん怪しげな雲が垂れ込めてきました。意気軒昂なスギモトさんは、突然の雷と豪雨にもめげることなく「声の記念碑」を運んでくださいました！
Also on this day, our neighbor and friend Sugimoto san joined our walk. He is part of the volunteer festival crew at Akasaka Hikawa Shrine, the site of our first walk. Because this festival has again been cancelled due to the COIVD-19 pandemic, he was eager to wear his happi, the traditional short coat worn during festivals. During the festival, he helps carry the very heavy floats that honor local spirits and gods.
June and July are part of Japan’s summer rainy season. Though the day started out with clear skies, ominous clouds gathered by the early afternoon. The thunder and rain didn’t diminish Sugimoto san’s enthusiasm to carry the ‘Koe No Kinen Hi’ Voice Monuments!
