Community Shrines

First Month–
on the crossroads Buddha
a red skullcap
–Issa

As you walk through neighborhoods in Kyoto,  you will encounter many small shrines. These are tended to by members of their communities.

In Japan there are strong local organizations and a strong sense of consciousness of “I am a resident of such-and-such a place,” people simply take responsibility for the area that they live in. They pay attention to what’s going on. They have a sense of belonging to the place, and they also have a sense of mutual obligation to the other people who live there. So, people tend to watch out for one another, and they tend to watch out for what’s happening in the area that they’re living.