Shrine for lovers...

On the way back home after visiting my parent, I stopped by at 露天神社 (Tuyuno Tennjinnsha) in Umeda. Many casually call it by お初天神 (Ohatsutenjin). It is located in 東梅田 (Higashi Umeda) , and there are so many restaurants, bars and Japanese style 居酒屋 (Izakaya) in 曽根崎新地 (Sonezaki Shinchi) area . 

I vaguely have a memory that I might have visited there once before, but I can recall any of image inside the shrine. Maybe I might have not ever visited there before... 

Occasionally, I come to this area to have drinks at one of my favorite Irish bars, "Blarney Stone Umeda" Just a few day before, I went there with my friends, James for drinks, and every time i have my foreign friends, I take them here. 

At night time, this area is alway lively for office worker after so-called "After 5".  Compared to 梅田新地 (Umeda Shinchi) area which is located in 西梅田 (Nishi Umeda), and it seems to be more casual and easy-going both in style and price to go out for drinks. 

This is one of the entrance to the shrine. However shrines normally have a 鳥居 (Torii) which is a sacred shrine gate. There is one another with the shrine gate at the opposite block, and so I dare went through the gate in proper manner. 

In the morning, the area is much much quieter and refreshing than the night's bustles and hustles. Maybe because of morning fresh air flowing through the area. 

Many lovers or people who is wishing to have a right one come visit this shine to make a wish because of 2 lovers who tried to prove their true love committed a suicide here almost 300 years ago.  And it became a famous drama piece, 曽根崎心中 (Sonezaki Shinjyuu) of 人形浄瑠璃文楽(Ningyou Jyoururi Bunraku) written by 近松門左衛門 (Chikamatsu Monzaemon).

When I visited there, it was still before 9 in the morning. However 2 young ladies who were seemingly tourists were making a wish at the shrine grabbing their carry bags. 

What about me? Did I make a wish for love? I did somehow, but I just simply wished a sincere guy with honesty and innocent heart. I was just wondering if I ever made a strong wish at shrines in the first place, anyway...

I'm a kind of guy who is always letting it be, and letting it flow as it is supposed to be. And it seems that I'm meeting people at right timings and places so far as I'm supposed. 

So I just better keep on living as I've been living so far....

In the shrine, I found a lovely colorful painting which looks similar to me with Marc Chagall. Maybe the artist might have been influenced and inspired by Chagall's pieces. 

Anyway, I liked this painting because the important elements such as Shine's alters, Shrine gate and holy animals are drawn with the background of modern buildings which is symbolizing that this shrine is located in the middle of a big town. 

Surround with a good energy vibe in the morning at the shrine, I was refreshed very much, and I left the shrine to visit one more shine on 御堂筋 (Midousuji street) by walk. 

Masami