Part 3 of "Masakado's Mound," five minutes from Palaceside Building in Takebashi, Tokyo.
Legends and lore surrounding the mound honoring the 10th-century warrior Lord Taira no Masakado never run dry. As noted before, in the heart of the office district, this spot alone feels somewhat bleak—yet around the monument sit many small frog figurines, which inevitably bring a smile and a little relief. Why frogs? Businessmen about to take up a post or go on assignment pray for "safe return" (kaeru). The root legend, as written before, is that Masakado's head, slain as an imperial enemy and paraded to the capital, flew through the sky back to the Kanto and fell here. Strangely, Wikipedia even notes a benefit of returning safely even if kidnapped. Perhaps this echoes the 1986 kidnapping of a Mitsui & Co. Manila branch manager (released unharmed in 1987) next to the mound. I counted at least five or six frog figures (some hold multiple frogs, so counting is tricky). Compared with photos from years ago, at least two small ones had been added on the right of the monument. They were not placed by the mound preservation society or Kanda Myojin, which honors Masakado as a deity—businessmen who wished to "return" seem to have donated them in devotion; one blog says someone "unauthorized" placed them after being posted to a regional office and returning to headquarters. Does prayer alone bring benefit, or must one make a proper "investment" (offering)? Gazing at the frogs, I found myself wondering.