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Bridging Arima's Bridgestone!
Hello. This is a correspondent RIEdel who is always walking around the city to solve the lack of exercise.
The other day, when I was invited by the cheerfulness of early spring and walked around, I found a kind of azalea called "Kurumetsuji" in the planting of the Tsukishimakawa green promenade.
According to the explanation tag, it is a variety improved by the Kurume clan to late Tokugawa shogunate.
Well, I thought there was a place related to Kurume in Chuo Ward, so I went there after a long absence.
Places related to Kurume Part 1: Suitengu Shrine
Speaking of places related to Kurume in Chuo-ku, everyone knows "Suitengu".
It is a god that benefits safe delivery, water shortage, and hydraulic sales, and its headquarters is Suitengu in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
It is said that Suitengu Shrine in Tokyo began when Yorinori Arima of Kurume feudal lord recommended a spirit in the Edo mansion in Mita during the Edo period. It was actually after the Meiji era that Suitengu moved to its current location.
So, the story went back to the Edo period. At that time, it was in the residence of the Kurume clan, so ordinary people could not worship. However, the Edo children's religion for Suitengu was serious, and there were no endless people throwing money through the fence. On the right side of the figure below is the Arima Family Residence of the Kurume Domain during the Edo period, but you can imagine how high the fence of the mansion was compared to those who came and went in front.
"Toto Famous Shiba Akabane Zojoji Temple" Hiroshige
In such a situation, the Arima family's mansion was opened for worship only on the 5th of every month. From this, the passion of Suitengu and the Arima family was born, called "Suitengu of Arima".
Yes, here is the Chuo-ku sightseeing test~ (laughs)
It was the one who donated komainu in Suitengu…？
By the way. When I tried to leave the precincts after finishing my worship at Suitengu Shrine, I suddenly saw Mr. komainu, who was standing up the stairs. When I look at the pedestal, there's a surprising name.…。
Yes, it's "Shojiro Ishibashi". Speaking of Shojiro Ishibashi, you are the founder of Bridgestone Tire. Well, why is the Bridgestone founder donating such a fine komainu to Suitengu? ？ I wondered, but the mystery was later revealed in a certain place.
Places related to Kurume Part 2: Artizon Museum
One place is the Artizon Museum, which opened last year in 2020.
The Ishibashi Foundation, which runs the Artizon Museum, was founded by Shojiro Ishibashi. And Shojiro Ishibashi was from Kurume City.
Profile of Shojiro Ishibashi, located at the Artizon Museum.
And it seems that Shojiro's full-scale collection of art was to protect the works of painters from Kurume.
Shojiro studied painting from Hanjiro Sakamoto, who later became a painter in elementary school. After becoming an adult, they met again, and at that time Sakamoto appealed to buy and build an art museum so that the works of Kurume genius painter Shigeru Aoki, who died young, did not dissipate, and from there Shojiro's art collection has begun. That's why the works of painters from Kurume, such as Tsune Aoki and Hanjiro Sakamoto, are still common at the Artizon Museum.
Shojiro Ishibashi, who was asked by a teacher from his hometown Kurume, embarked on collection of works of art.
Just like the Arima family, who opened Edo's upper house to the general public, Shojiro must have been a loving personality.…I imagined it.
Access Information
■Suitengu Shrine
〒103-0014 2-4-1, Nihonbashikakigaracho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
A 1-minute walk from Suitengumae Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line (Exit 5).
6-minute walk from Ningyocho Station (Exit A1) on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.
http://www.suitengu.or.jp/
■Artizon Museum
〒104-0031 1-7-2, Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
A 5-minute walk from Kyobashi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line (Exit 6 and 7).
5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro, Ginza Line, Tozai Line, Toei Asakusa Line, Nihombashi Station (Exit B1).
https://www.artizon.museum/