A symmetrical world arose, with the cityscape clearly reflected on the polished wall

Townscape reflected on the wall of a building

The Sanko Inari Shrine in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, appears to be a large shrine with a long history, but the shrine of the same name in Nihonbashi Horidomecho is so small that it would be inappropriate to compare the two. If it weren't for the Torii gate in the alleyway in front of the shrine, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was someone's home.

It is said that if you visit this shrine when your cat is missing, it is believed that your cat will return safely. The many waving cats on the shelves next to the shrine are dedicated by their owners.

It is a joy to see a stray cat returned to its owner, even if it is not your own cat. However, it is a little frightening to see cats standing in a row with one hand raised in the air and a blank expression on their faces, not happy to be back with their owners. This is the precinct of a shrine in the middle of a valley of buildings, out of sight of everyone. No one would notice the waving cats, even if they wriggled around unnoticed. When I was not paying attention, I felt as if the cats, which had the same pose as totalitarianism, were creeping around in different poses, and it bothered me even when I was praying with my front closed.

After a safe visit to the Shrine, I walked down the alley-like approach to the Shrine and found a world of symmetry with polished building walls. Perhaps this was another spiritual experience of the shrine.

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