“Tofukuji × SOU・SOU / Mami Koyama”

The other day, I went to Tofukuji.
The purpose was to go see SOU・SOU collaboration Handkerchief that I was in charge of!

Actually, I had never visited Tofukuji before... ever since I received the original Handkerchief from Mr. Wakisaka, I had decided to visit once the product was completed.

First, the main hall!
It's so big that it doesn't fit in the photo.
I was finally able to take a photo with self-timer take5.

The grounds of Tofukuji Temple are lined with national treasures and important cultural properties.
``This and that are national treasures...!!'' I was excited as I was walking around, and then I saw a sign with a familiar scenery on it!
When you look inside, you can see a store...
Ah!

ah!
Ah! Ta!
It's Handkerchief!

It was framed and beautifully displayed.
Now, let's go find this landscape and the cat that is the basis of Handkerchief!

The garden I was looking forward to right away was the ``Nationally Designated Place of Scenic Beauty, Tofukuji Honbo Garden''.
It was completed in 1939 by gardener Mirei Shigemori (1896-1975).
It is unique in that the gardens are arranged to the east, west, north, south, and around a building called the ``hojo'' (hojo), which is the residence of the monks.
The first thing that appeared on your right was the East Garden!
Apparently, the only condition presented when creating the garden was that ``all the materials in the main temple should be reused again without being thrown away.'' The stone isWakabayashi's trashIt seems that it is a leftover pillar stone that was used in "Toji" that appeared in .
[South garden] on the left!

[West garden] is ahead!
Finally [North Garden]!
Just like Handkerchief! The tension rises!

As I was looking at it, I lost track of time due to its beauty, and then I remembered something that I still haven't found yet.

“Speaking of which, where is the cat??”

I later learned that there are no cats in the temple. . .
I'm embarrassed now that I used to think that it was a temple's signboard cat.
This cat appears in a large painting called ``Tofukuji Great Nirvana'' that is displayed only on the day of Buddha's death.
For more information, please see Tofukuji's information page →Click here
It is extremely rare for a cat to be depicted in a painting of Nirvana, and it has been passed down as a cat that wards off evil spirits, and has become one of the symbols of Tofukuji Temple.
Although we were not able to see the cat on this day, the painting will be open to the public from 2024 is held, and you will be able to see the real thing.
The more you learn about Tofukuji Temple, the more interesting it becomes, Up and Down give it a visit?

(Oyama)