After drinks in Asakusa I took the subway from Takebashi and, with time to spare, saw Kaminarimon’s great lantern at Senso-ji — 3.9 m high, 3.3 m diameter, about 700 kg; impressive even at night with foreign tourists.
Many know it was newly dedicated November 18 after ten years — removed September 18 during gate repairs, a sheet with lantern art in its place for two months ＝photo trimmed, and now “the face of Asakusa” shines again.
Official name Fu Rai Jin Mon — Wind and Thunder Gods on right and left. Legend says the first gate was built when Heian governor Taira no Kimimasa, transferred to Musashi, donated a temple praying for peace and harvest. Burned in 1865 and long unrebuilt until 1960 — only half a century ago. Founder Konosuke Matsushita of Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic) donated; the company rededicates about every ten years. The shining “Matsushita Electric” plate on the lantern front ＝photo upper left unchanged since founding; first renewal since the 2008 rename to Panasonic, kept “out of respect for the founder.” “Konosuke Matsushita” remains on the back ＝photo right — legend says he recovered from illness after praying at Senso-ji; gate plaques and Panasonic’s site (http://panasonic.co.jp/news/topics/2013/118594.html) omit illness — perhaps myth.
Kyoto craftsmen built it — Tanba bamboo frame, Fukui kozo handmade paper, artisans on ladders shading letters with diluted ink — a year’s work.
