Meguro is a special ward in Tokyo that was founded back in 1947.
Formerly two towns: Meguro and Hibusama, that were part of the former Ebara District of Musashi Province, the two were merged in 1932 into Meguro Ward.
Meguro (which translates to “black eyes”) is known for its major corporate offices, 15 foreign embassies and consulates, the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Japanese Folk Crafts Museum, and the home of Komaba campus of the University of Tokyo and for its shrines such as the Ryusenji (Meguro Fudo Temple), the Yuten-ji Temple and the Otori Shrine.
The Otori-jinja shrine in Meguro is known for having a huge festivals in September and their largest “Tori no Ichi” Festival in November. The location for weddings, rituals and even exorcisms.
Personally, unlike other shrines, the history of Otori-jinja shrine is not as pronounced as what is known is its appreciation for birds, the healing of the shrine. The history can be found here (in Japanese).
But the shrine is the oldest in Meguro, as it was built during the reign of Emperor Keiko (the legendary emperor), the 12th emperor of Japan (71-130).
Photos by Dennis A. Amith and Antonio Airoso
