The offering box at Mainichi Shrine on the rooftop of Palaceside Building in Takebashi, Tokyo, was overflowing with donations. The box measures 11 cm high, 18 cm wide, and 11 cm deep—small, yet close inspection reveals thousand-yen notes among the coins. The Mainichi Newspapers, which manages the shrine, empties the box once a year; it was cleared last July. This time it filled in about seven months, with nearly twice the amount collected in the previous year through July. A one-cent coin was found inside as well.
As noted in the January 26 blog, Mainichi Shrine was enshrined in 1939 (Showa 14) when The Mainichi Newspapers aircraft "Nippon" set out on a round-the-world flight, for a safe journey. "Nippon" departed Haneda (Tokyo), flew eastward, visited major cities along the way, covered 52,860 km in 194 hours total, and returned safely to Haneda.
It was a finish after countless hardships. "Absolutely will not fall!" Students and job-seekers who read the January 26 blog and prayed here for exam success say offerings increased, hoping for the same blessing. The rooftop is open weekdays from 11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (closed in rain or bad weather). Why not pray for success at a shrine of "never-fall" wishes?