Ozu Shrine

　　I wondered how many shrines there are in Japan. I found a shrine in the neighborhood of a hospital which I visited for assistance with surgery today. The shrine's name was Ozu Shrine. Its description says, it is said to have been built more than 1000 years ago and its accurate historical records have been preserved since the latter half of 15th century. Knowing that, I understood its sublime atmosphere. After some relocations, it was settled in the former Ozu village. "Zu" in the name of the village means a port. This place used to face the ocean before massive reclamation work and the shrine was expected to protect people from maritime accidents.
　　A renowned Japanese physicist and essayist at the same time, having been born in this city, seemed to frequently visit the shrine in his childhood. His museum apparently exists in the neighborhood. I'm going to drop in at the museum next time. The shrine is located in the center of Kochi city now, but it was surrounded by forest and calm. I was able to concentrate and brace myself for the surgery.

小津神社

一体日本にはどれだけ多くの神社があるのだろうか？今日も応援に来た病院の周辺を散策中に立派な神社を発見した。小津神社という。沿革を読むと、創建は１０００年以上前で正確な記録が残っているのは１５世紀後半から。数回の移転を重ね、小津村に鎮座。津という漢字は港を意味する。この場所に鎮座した頃はこの地は海に面しており、海の安全を守る神様として鎮座したと伝わる。

この地の出身の有名な物理学者、随筆家が子ども時代に足繁く通ったという記録もあった。高知市のど真ん中に位置しているが、森に囲まれ、ピンと張り詰めた静けさの中で数時間後に始まる手術に向けて、精神集中、気を引き締めることが出来た。