I visited Hida Takayama Jinya

On December 2nd, I went to “Takayama Jinya”. 

Previously I had read the Takayama City office’s leaflet which came with the Chunichi News Paper. That leaflet said that the Takayama City Office would give a ticket allowing Takayama citizens to enter almost all Hida Takayama sight-seeinng spots, including “Hida Jinya” for free. And I am one of Takayama's citizens.

So, I went to the Takayama City office’s reception desk, I asked a pretty woman for a free ticket.

Anyway, I went to “Takayama Jinya”.

I exchanged a few words with an elderly male member of staff of “Takayama Jinya”.  And then I felt he was very sociable.

I wondered that, even at these sight-seeing spots in Hida Takayama, lots of people are working every day. And some people might work to make ends meet. But I thought that he might be a former public servant, and that he is now receiving enough pension money. (Usually, local governments in Japan tend to hire former local public servants as local government employees. It’s one example of Japanese nepotism and “golden parachuting”.)

Someone, especially a local hero, must guard the happiness of a lot of local people.

At a certain point, a society needs warriors, super elite and heroes etc. So I have to contribute to “Hida Takayama” as a citizen. So I have decided to practice my guitar harder.

I am going to entertain Takayama people with my playing. But I am not a skilful guitar player. So I have to practice much more.

 About “Takayama Jinya”, I shall not comment. “Hida Takayama” is my home town.

And there is no industry here in Takayama city. The Japanese government is slashing subsidies to local governments. And two thirds of the revenue of the Takayama city budget comes from the central government. So, Hida Takayama’s future is jet-black, like space. But I don’t care!

I am not interested in history, but I am interested in Japanese Buddhist architecture and statues. So, I am not interested in old Japanese facilities like “Takayama Jinya”.

But it might be interesting for foreigners to visit to “Hida Takayama”. So, please come to “Hida Takayama”!  You might learn about Japanese culture, that is to say, the habits and behavior of people in the Far East.