今回の東京滞在も本日帰還で終了であります。昨日は午後からの用件に向けて移動中、新橋に立ち寄ったので、恒例（笑）の神社参拝として烏森神社へ。
　東京での広告企業勤務時代はおおむね銀座から新橋への「ガード下」屋台群にご厄介になる生活だったので、その一帯の歓楽業関係の崇敬を一手にご引き受けいただいている天鈿女命＜アメノウズメ＞の御利益に与って生きていたと言えるでしょうか。
　天鈿女命＜アメノウズメ＞とは。
　アマテラスさまが弟神の須佐之男命が天上界に久しぶりに帰ってきたとき大暴れしたことに立腹して天岩戸にお隠れになってしまい、光が世界から失われてしまった。困った天上界の人びとが一計を案じて天岩戸の前で大宴会を開いたとき、肌も露わな姿態で踊りを舞われ、大いに人びとが盛り上がって喧噪にあふれた。その様子をアマテラスさまが不審に思って天岩戸を開けてしまった瞬間、力自慢のタヂカラオ（天手力男命）が岩戸を閉めさせずに、無事に世界に光明が再来した、という神話上の故事の大主役。その故事に由縁して歓楽産業の主要神に祀られていて、この新橋・烏森神社の祭神になられているのですね。日本社会のユーモア感覚を伝える貴重な神話故事。
　昨日まで東京渋谷の無機質大都会化を憂いていましたが、ここサラリーマンの聖地・新橋ではこの神さまが無事ご健在ということでひと安心。心安らかに手を合わせておりました。
　変貌を続ける大都会東京ですが、そのなかでも「時間差」はこのように感受することができますね。いや、むしろこうした街区ごとの「個性」の違いこそが日本の首都のオモシロさであるのかも知れません。失われるモノがあり、同時に深まっていくモノもある。鴨長明は「方丈記」で、吉田兼好は「徒然草」で、世相という情報世界を現代人にまで「伝えて」くれていますが、ただ厭世的になるのではなく淡々と世を見続け、光明を見出していく姿勢も重要なのかと、腑に落ちていました。
　さて本日帰還。留守中、ヒグマがわが家の2-3km近くで人を襲ったニュースも。
　大都市東京も、北の自然と共生する地方都市も、多事多難。

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English version⬇

【Shinbashi’s Karasumori Shrine, Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto in fine health (lol)】
The entertainment district protected by this star of Japanese mythology thrives. Each block’s unique preservation and development efforts are fascinating. Now, what about the northern lands facing brown bear threats? …

　My Tokyo stay ends today with my return home. Yesterday, while heading to an afternoon appointment, I stopped by Shimbashi and paid my customary (lol) visit to Karasumori Shrine.
　During my time working at an advertising agency in Tokyo, I mostly lived off the street food stalls under the elevated tracks between Ginza and Shimbashi. So, I suppose I lived under the protection of the blessings of Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, who is revered as the patron deity of the entertainment industry in that area.
Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto.
　When Amaterasu-sama became furious upon her brother Susanoo-no-Mikoto returning to the heavenly realm after a long absence and causing a huge disturbance, she hid herself away in the Heavenly Rock Cave. Light vanished from the world. The troubled inhabitants of the heavenly realm devised a plan and held a grand banquet before the cave entrance. There, she danced in a revealing state, greatly exciting the people and filling the air with noise and revelry. Suspicious of the commotion, Amaterasu opened the cave door. At that very moment, the mighty Tajikarao (Tajikarao-no-Mikoto) prevented the door from closing, allowing light to safely return to the world. She is the central figure in this mythological tale. Because of this story, she is enshrined as a major deity of the entertainment industry and is the principal deity at this Shinbashi-Karasumori Shrine. A precious mythological tale conveying Japanese society’s sense of humor.
Until yesterday, I was lamenting the impersonal urbanization of Tokyo’s Shibuya. But here in Shimbashi, the sacred ground of the salaryman, knowing this deity remains safely and robustly present brings me relief. I bowed my head in quiet peace.
Though Tokyo continues its relentless transformation, one can still sense these “time lags” within it. Or rather, perhaps it is precisely these distinct “personalities” of each neighborhood that make Japan’s capital so fascinating. Some things are lost, while others deepen. Dogen in his Hojoki and Yoshida Kenko in his Tsurezuregusa have “passed on” this world of social phenomena to us modern people. But it struck me: rather than just becoming pessimistic, the attitude of calmly observing the world and finding light within it is also important.
　Well, I’m back today. While I was away, there was news of a brown bear attacking someone just 2-3 km from my house.
Both the metropolis of Tokyo and regional cities coexisting with northern nature face their share of trials and tribulations.

●Notice
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Available on Amazon.

Posted on 9月 28th, 2025 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類