1,400 wind chimes sing wishes in Tokushima temple precinct

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:35 JST, June 22, 2022

TOKUSHIMA — About 1,400 wind chimes, each with a paper strip bearing a handwritten wish, hang inside the Dogakuji temple precinct in Ishii, Tokushima Prefecture, delighting the eyes of visitors.

The wind chime display is the main attraction of the temple’s Makemake Furin (wind chime) Matsuri festival, which continues through the end of July. “Makemake” is a local word meaning “an abundance of” and a pun on “maken maken” (won’t lose!). Wind chimes (furin) derive from futaku, ancient talismans against evil. And so the festival name means “never losing out to difficulties, thanks to an abundance of wind chimes.”

Pictures of fireworks, morning glories, goldfish and other objects evocative of summer are drawn on the furin. Visitors dedicate the furin and paper strips to the temple after inscribing the latter with their wishes, such as world peace and safety for one’s family.

“I hope the visitors will listen to the sound of wind chimes embracing their wishes and lead their lives peacefully,” said Ryucho Shiota, the head priest of the temple.