Hiroshige's Fox Gathering (Patreon)

While writing this book, I'm finding loads and loads of absolutely fascinating information, all these meandering side quests for me to get excited about. Some bits will make it into the chapters, but some just can't do to lack of room. Some I want to make episodes about, but some are tiny little scraps of goodness that I keep disturbing Richard with, "Hey! Did you know...!!??"

So for example, just now I was reading about kitsunebi (fox fires) and there is this iconic print from Utagawa Hiroshige, right? (Top Image)

In it a bunch of foxes have gathered under a hackberry tree on New Year's Eve to change into their formal attire before going to visit and pay their respects to Ōji Inari Shrine.

What I just learned was the original tree was chopped down in the early Shōwa Era (1925-1989) because of having to build more railroads. Unfortunately, in so doing they stirred up a curse and all sorts of mishaps and accidents occurred afterward. So many that a new tree was planted and beside it an new Inari Shrine built. (bottom left)

These days, there is an Ōji Fox Parade that begins on New Year's Eve and runs until New Year's Day. This event started in 1993 and today hundreds of people dress up in fox masks, carry lanterns, and parade through the night to the Ōji Inari Shrine. 

I don't have time to keep reading because I need to be moving on to something else, but it was canceled last year due to corona, I'm not sure if it's starting this year again or not. I don't see why not. 

A flyer of the route and things to do, see, eat and drink along the way.