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THE GOD OF BUSINESS

Today Echo and I drove across the mountains into Kyoto and visited a yuba restaurant where we had a fine lunch comprising mainly, and not surprisingly, yuba, that healthful mouth-ambrosia skimmed from soy milk that originated in the temple kitchens as an essential part of shojin ryori (monks' food) and can be made into so many nice traditional foodthings from soup to dessert, and is so rich in clean proteins and other nourishment. We were on our way to visit Ebisu Jinja down in Gion, Kyoto's entertainment district, a very traditional and very photogenic place where each year at about this time all the folks doing business in the area come and pray to Ebisu, the God of Business (among other things), for success in the coming year. Prayers were tied everywhere. What a crowd, from geisha and maiko (apprentice geisha) to grandmas and and grandpas, tourists and romantic couples, the young women dressed in kimono finery. The day was fine, the food was fine, there were smiles everywhere.
Our return was via the famous walk past Kyoto's icon Yasaka pagoda to Maruyama Park; along the way, stopped in at one of my favorites among the many tiny wonderful shops that line the narrow streets, and from the sweet elderly lady who sits there on the tatami surrounded by thousands of amazing animal dolls of all sizes from the very small to the very very small, bought a splendid 3cm New Year ram that was in the window.