近所の豊受神社の狛犬くんです。この神社は、小さいながらも歴史は古く、鳥居の年代を見るとどうやら明治時代からのようです。戦時中、在郷軍人からの寄贈を受けたようで、戦後は一時的に米軍の配慮から壊されたものの、その後修復されたと思われます。ご近所神社、ぼくもふくめ、お参りしている人は多いです。
Here's a photo of a Komainu (a guardian lion-dog statue) at a small but historic shrine in my neighborhood. This shrine dates back to the Meiji era. It appears that during wartime, it received donations from military personnel staying at home, which were not uncommon at that time. I speculate that due to the presence of the occupying U.S. forces after the war, the statue might have been temporarily dismantled out of consideration. However, it seems to have been restored in the years following. Such shrines and their guardian statues tell a fascinating tale of Japan's history and culture.
©️ 朽木鴻次郎 プロダクション黄朽葉
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