Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 3.43 Distribution of households joining a Togakushi association in the Shimo-ucchikawa
district, Yoshikawa City, 1997 (The author's fi eld survey in August, 1997)
At 9 a.m. on February 11, Ujiko members held a divine service called obisha
to pray for health and longevity at the house of the toban, who was called a
shuku . The shuku made a bow and arrow or a meal with kami for all members.
One or two households were selected as toban from each group on that year.
People made one big and one small bow, one small and one big target, and some
arrows out of bamboo and reeds gathered on the bank of Edo River. After lunch,
the ujiko members went to the Oiwa shrine at 1 p.m. A Shinto priest dedicated
a prayer, and each person shot an arrow at each target. A black circle on the
targets represents disaster, and the act of shooting symbolizes people's wish to
avoid disaster. After the rites ended at about 3 p.m., the group went to the Shuku
to have a meal with kami .
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