Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

There is Shiomi guardian of children and travelers along the Sumida River at Minato 3-chome.
　
Located in one corner of Minatomachi Daiichi Children's Amusement Park, a small vermilion hall of about 4 tatami mats is a private house-style building with tin on the side. Surrounded by freshly overflowing potted plants, it is always kept clean.
On June 2, 2018, the Shiomi guardian of children and travelers memorial service was held.
　
There is a legend in this guardian of children and travelers.
Meiji period, a strange phenomenon occurred in this area, such as a voice saying "I want to get out of the water." So, when I dredged the bottom of the river, a single stone statue appeared.
At the same time, many human bones, teeth, and bones came out. The human bones were buried in the Kaikoin of both countries, and the teeth and bones were buried in this area along with stone statues and memorialized.
　
The stone statue stands on a pedestal with a height of about 55 cm and a height of about 70 cm, and it seems that teeth and bones are stored in this pedestal. The stone statue cannot be seen from the outside.

The history of Domae states that a large number of casualties were caused by the collapse of the Eitai Bridge on the day of the Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine Festival in 1807 (1807), the Great Fire, major earthquake, and the plague that struck Edo.

The reason why the teeth and bones of the victims came out of this point due to these disasters may be due to the shape of the Sumida River.
It is a Jizo-son with requiem and prayer for people.

In order to protect the stone statue, it is a concrete guardian of children and travelers that was built in 1930 with a height of 95 cm. This is also a very rare work. On the back, it is written as "Shiomi Jizoson 3,300,303 people, Funamatsucho Mori Jizo". Funamatsumachi is the current location of guardian of children and travelers Shiomi, Minato 3-chome.

The history continues like this.
"If a person with a tooth sick takes the salt in front of the shrine and soaks the mouth, the pain will be cured, and thanks to the practice of offering salt and toothpicks, we are collecting a great religion as a guardian of children and travelers."
Shiomi guardian of children and travelers is widely worshiped as the god of teeth.

In addition, this area was Minatomachi, which was reclaimed after the great fire of the Meiryaku era. As the center of Edo Minato, it has a history of gathering supplies from various countries here. Edo Minato, where many ships are anchored, is also depicted at Edo famous places such as Edo famous places.

As a god overlooking Edo Minato, he was also watching the safety of water transportation. As evidence, guardian of children and travelers used to be enshrined toward the Sumida River.
The memorial service is held around June 6 every year.
Shiomi Jizo-son is carefully protected by the town council.
　


Shiomi guardian of children and travelers
3-18-22, Minato, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

※　It's back street, but there is a lot of traffic and everyone is speeding up. Please be careful when visiting the shrine.

　


Chuo-ku Tourism correspondent Minatokko-chan

No. 17 June 10, 2018