I bought this omamori at Kan'ei Temple in 2009 on my family's first trip to Japan. Kan'ei Temple is out in the middle of a pond in Ueno park. It's funny. The first time I visited Ueno park, I didn't even know what it was called and I didn't know Japanese, not really. I had studied for only a year, and I could introduce myself, say I like sushi, and ask to go to the bathroom. I was visiting the National Museum and Ueno park with my host father. He was wonderful. But I spoke little Japanese and he spoke no English, so there were a lot of awkward silences. I had also developed the really bad habit of saying yes to things I didn't understand. My host father took my picture next to the pond with the lotus flowers in bloom. I still have that picture around my room somewhere...
When we were at Kan'ei Temple as a family in 2009, there was a festival starting up for the evening. My little brother ate grilled squid for the first time.
I chose this omamori because of the design. There's little geta (Japanese sandals), a priest's staff, and a bell. The theme here is pilgrimage. I love charms with the little details.
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