Harimaya-bashi is a small but very famous bridge from downtown Kōchi, on the Shikoku Island. The two white kokeshi-like statues located next to the bridge represent the characters of a well-known local love-story, which took place about 150 years ago. The people from Kōchi were so impressed by the story that they are singing about it every year, during the Yosakoi Festival… Here’s the story:

Junshin, a young monk from the Chikurin-ji Temple, fell in love with a girl called Ouma. Of course, that was against the rules, but they managed to hide their relation until someone saw the monk buying a hairpin from a shop close to the Harimaya-bashi. People started rumors, the monk was sent away and the two never saw each other again…

Harimaya-bashi, Kochi, Shikoku

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Simply beautiful Japanese scenes, Sunrise over Tsukishima