Gunma Prefecture has a tradition of learning about local history and culture through karuta (a traditional Japanese card game), and Tsumagoi Village also has its own “Tsumagoi Karuta.”
One of the cards reads, “Kumano Shrine’s upside-down cedar.” This is my favorite cedar. When I first visited it with my husband (and our dog, too) two years ago, I was convinced that God was present in the sight of the mighty cedar tree growing in all directions. As we approached to say hello, thunder suddenly started to roar and we hurried out of the woods. It remains one of my most unforgettable memories of Tsumagoi.
Earlier this month, when my parents came to visit, we went to see it together. It was still just as impressive. This time it didn’t rain and we were able to take a leisurely look. My parents said that the cedar tree gave them energy, and they look at the photo every day with gratitude.
群馬県は、かるたで地域の歴史や文化を学ぶ伝統があり、嬬恋村にも「嬬恋かるた」があります。
こちらのかるたには「くまの神社のさかさ杉」とありますね。私の大好きな杉です。2年前、初めてここを訪れたとき、全方向に伸びている力強い杉の姿に神様が住んでいらっしゃると確信しました。近づいてご挨拶しようとすると、急に雷が鳴りだして、慌てて帰りました。嬬恋の忘れられない思い出の一つとなりました。
そして今月になって、両親が遊びに来たときに一緒に見に行きました。やはりすごい迫力です。今回は雨に降られず、ゆっくり拝見することができました。両親も杉から元気をいただけたと言い、毎日有難い気持ちで写真を眺めているそうです。
We climbed the stairs of Kumano Shrine and were surrounded by silence―although my bear bell was noisy.
熊野神社の階段を上り、静寂に包まれました。（自分の熊鈴がうるさかったですが…）
