About
In a corner of Tateishi, Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, quietly nestled within a peaceful residential area, lies Tateishi Children's Park. At the back of this small park, a sacred space surrounded by a torii gate and a stone fence unfolds. Enshrined there is the "Tateishi-sama," which is also the origin of the area's name.
This stone is made of Bōshū stone, transported from the area near Mount Nokogiri in Chiba Prefecture during the Kofun period, and is believed to have originally been used as material for building a stone chamber in a burial mound. After the Nara period, it was repurposed as a milestone along the ancient Tōkaidō road that ran from Sumida to Koiwa, serving as a landmark for travelers. (tesshow.jp)
During the Edo period, it is said that more than 60 centimeters of the stone were exposed above ground, and it became an object of local faith. Due to the mysterious phenomenon where the stone would chip away in winter and return to its original state in summer, it was also called the "Living Stone." (tesshow.jp)
In the second year of Bunka (1805), the village headman, Shinemon Shimada, and others built a stone shrine and began to enshrine it as "Tateishi Inari Daimyojin." (jinja.tokyolovers.jp)
Currently, only a few centimeters of Tateishi-sama protrude above the ground, but its presence remains as strong as ever.
Around Tateishi-sama, townscapes reminiscent of the Edo period spread out, with lively shopping streets full of downtown atmosphere and historic shrines and temples scattered throughout.
Tateishi-sama is a presence deeply rooted in people's hearts across the ages, quietly moving those who visit.