The cats are by far the most popular and loved pets in Japan. In fact, they are so beloved that several Shinto shrines are dedicated to them... One of these "cat shrines" is located inside the
Sengan-en garden in Kagoshima, established by Shimazu Yoshihiro, a famous general of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He built the shrine to honor two cats who accompanied him during an expedition in Korea.
As customary, the shrine has its own
ema votive plaques representing, of course, two very cute cats and most of the prayers written on them are asking for the health and well being of pet cats.
Cat shrine ema, Sengan-en, Kagoshima EXIF info:
Nikon Df
Lens: 24-70mm F/2.8G
Focal Length: 70mm
Aperture: F/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/4000s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 800