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Do you know the Tsukiji Honganji worship memorial card?
This blog has often been talked about, but it is a card designed for Tsukiji Honganji and you can get it when you visit.
The features are that it has the shape of a flower shape in the shape of a petal and that the design changes every month (Click here for past articles).
I think some people visit every month to collect cards ^^

What is the design of this month's visit commemorative card?...Grotesk (Grotesque)!

When you hear "grotesque", you tend to think of the words "grotesque" and "grotesque" used to describe "terribly strange", "soundy and unpleasant", but the grotesque here is a little different.
As explained in the explanation, grotesque refers to "art style with curved patterns on strange people, flora and fauna originating from ancient Romans", especially in old buildings in Western Europe.

As a personal matter, I really love grotesque in this art style ^^
The motifs of each design will be examined later, and every time you see it, "What is this, an interesting face (laughs)" and its cuteness will be blurred.

(Glotesque everywhere in U.K. Oxford!)

Even at the cathedral where I was volunteering while studying abroad, you can see the grotesque around the ceiling and walls of the Romanesque style about 900 years ago.
These grotesques are truly the sculptures of strange humans, animals and plants!

(Glotesque near the ceiling known to those who know it)

I was very surprised that there is also a grotesque with such a European image in Tsukiji Honganji!
It is said that the grotesque, the important worship commemorative card, is located on the stairs on the south side of the main building....
I remembered that a senior correspondent, Kozaru, told me that there was an interesting sculpture on the railing of the stairs, so I decided to go to that place.

Then there was a rare beast like eating a stair railing in that place...
"It looks different and isn't it different from the grotesque on the worship memorial card?...When I tried to leave the place with '`.
This rare beast seen from the front with different angles is the same as that grotesque!

According to those who often come to Tsukiji Honganji, this is not a railing but a grotesque tongue.
There seems to be some theories, but I thought it was interesting to be able to interpret various ways.♪

There are a lot of such sculptures in Tsukiji Honganji.
On both sides of the stairs to main hall, two winged lion statues greet you.
At the entrance of main hall, there are sculptures of cows, horses, lions, elephants and peacocks, as well as sculptures of monkeys, phoenixes, blue dragons, Suzaku, white tigers, and Xuanwu.

In addition, there are sculptures of peacocks and elephants that support bells and pillars, not sculptures as decorations, so why not look for them on rainy days?
You can enjoy it regardless of men and women of all ages!
Also, because there is a grotesque, if you guide people from Western Europe, you will be able to see it more closely and interestingly ^^

[Related Articles]
Mr. Kozaru has written an article about buildings and places where animal sculptures and decorations can be seen in Chuo-ku.
When I was just a correspondent, Mr. Kozaru taught me where the 32 lions were located in Nihonbashi, a famous bridge after the bridge (8 × 4) ^^
Please refer to the following article.
・“Earthly Branches Soro Step-Tsukiji Eto Building” (January 2019)
・“ZOO, Chuo-ku” (May 2018)

Last month, a senior correspondent Sumida fireworks introduced hydrangea of Akashicho and St. Luke's, but hydrangea can be seen here in Tsukiji Honganji.
Even on the premises of Tsukiji Honganji Temple, it blooms close to the Tsukiji Outer Market, and you can enjoy it from the sidewalk (Shin-ohashi-dori St.) along with the statue of Shinran Saints.

Many of the hydrangeas seen here are heart-shaped, and if you find them, you will feel a little happy even in the rain!
Because of its cute appearance, I just captured it in the picture ^^*

It's best to see such a hydrangea now.
Please drop in if you are near you.