Hyogo Shrine
It seems the hopes and prayers of residents of the Kansai region centering on Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto are reflected in the festival of ‘Ebessan (Ebisu-san),’ the deity of commerce, which opens Jan 9.
There are good-luck talismans well known all over the country as guardians of common people who wish for good fortune, prosperous business and the well-being of their families.
‘kumade’(a bear’s paw) bamboo rake.
‘kumade’(a bear’s paw) bamboo rake.
They include ‘daruma-san,’ a plumpy, red-painted doll (in the shape of Bodhidharma) with a white face, a decorative ‘maneki-neko’ cat with its paw raised in a beckoning gesture, and a ‘kumade’(a bear’s paw) bamboo rake.
Widely known among talismans in the Kansai region, including Osaka, is a decorated bamboo branch known as ‘fukuzasa,’ particularly the one available at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Naniwa Ward, Osaka City, that has become a symbol of hopes for flourishing business.
