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'Benzaiten' statue before and after repair

OTSUCHI, Japan - The repaired statue of "Benzaiten," a Japanese goddess originated from the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is shown on the right in Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture, on Aug. 31, 2014, a far cry from the tattered figure (L) pictured in May 2013 after it was damaged by the devastating 2011 tsunami.

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Repaired 'Benzaiten' statue unveiled in Iwate Pref.

MORIOKA, Japan - The statue of "Benzaiten," a Japanese goddess originated from the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is displayed in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on Aug. 31, 2014, after repairs from damaged caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami were completed. It was originally enshrined at the town's gourd-shaped Horai Island (L back), regarded as the model of the island in the TV puppet show "Hyokkori Hyotanjima."

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Benten Pond,Zojoji Temple,Shiba

Shinobazu Pond at Ueno Park is viewed from the east. This location used to be a cove of Tokyo Bay. To the right is Nakajima where shrine to Benzaiten (deity of music and art) stands. This pond was famous for its lotus flowers, and it was a popular attraction for the people of Edo and later Tokyo.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number92‐7‐0]

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Autumn tints of Takinogawa, Oji

This seems to be Otonashi River (Shakujii River near Kongoji, the autumn colours temple. A bridge with a romantic atmosphere is said to have spanned a bend in the river. There was a bridge with a pleasant atmosphere. The deity Benzaiten was enshrined in a hollow in the rock near the bridge. A teahouse once stood on the hill. The river merges into Sumida River (formerly Arakawa), which flows northeast. Taken in the mid-Meiji Period.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number88‐35‐0]

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The Benzaiten (the Indian-origin Goddess of fortune),Enoshima Island

Photographer unknown. Entitled ENOSHIMA. 523. The small shrine visible in the centre could be the one located in the middle of Hongu Iwaya, or the small shrine worshipping tennyo (heavenly maidens). The Illustrated Map of Enoshima, Kugenuma, Zushi, and Kanazawa published in 1898 mentions the existence of two small shrines and a washroom.==Date:unknown, Place:Enoshima, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number85‐18‐0]

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Cherry trees by Shinobazu Pond

Nakanoshima is an artificial islands in Shinobazu Pond built by Mizutani Isenokami Katsutaka using a small existing island and enlarging it with soil from a hill in Ueno. The Buddhist priest Tenkai built Benten-do to worship Benzaiten of Chikubushima at Lake Biwa, and it was visited by many people over the years. The shrine was destroyed in a 1945 air raid on Tokyo.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number83‐30‐0]

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Enoshima coast

Photographer unknown. Entitled L25 Enoshima. The structure on the left could be a fisherman's shack. The name Enoshima appears in Azumakagami (chronicle of the Kamakura Shogunate) as follows: Mongaku built the Great Benzaiten at Enoshima on April 5th, 1182. Apparently Benten worship spread among commoners and samurai alike and many people visited the site.==Date:unknown, Place:Enoshima, Photo:A. Farsari, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number82‐20‐0]

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Inokashira Benten

The back of the photograph carried the inscription, Taken at Benten, Inokashira, Tokyo in September 1913. This must be Inokashira, the origin of one of Edo's water supplies. Many trees were planted around Inokashira Pond to preserve the water resources. Inokashira Benzaiten (one of the seven deities of luck) is on a small island called Nakanoshima in the western part of the pond. A Taisho-Period postcard shows Benzaiten with a beautiful thatched roof by a pond. The lack of a pond in this photograph and the simple structure of the house suggest that this is not Benzaiten but a teahouse nearby.==Date:1913, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number72‐23‐0]

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Sensoji Temple

The five-story pagoda and Niomon (gate) seen from Benten Pond. Taken by Felix Beato, this is one of the oldest existing photographs of Sensoji Temple. Benten Shinto Shrine dedicated to the deity Benzaiten is simpler and looks slightly different from the one portrayed in photographs #2414 and 4440. The one in this photograph is older. Legend has it that the huge gingko tree in the centre grew from a pair of chopsticks left behind by Minamoto Yoritomo. The tree unfortunately perished in the air raids of 1945.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:F. Beato, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number62‐34‐0]

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Benzaiten

Benzaiten==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images)

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The approach to Benzaiten,Shinobazu Pond

Deai-jaya (teahouses for dating) lined the approach to Nakanoshima until 1877. The circumference of Shinobazu Pond was filled in in 1868. The fact that this work is yet to be completed in this photograph indicates that it was taken before that year. The torii gate of Toshogu Shrine is visible in the centre back.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number55‐24‐0]

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Shinobazu Pond

Benten-do on Nakanoshima and the path to it are seen at Shinobazu Pond. The Buddhist priest Tenkai modeled the pond after Lake Biwa and built the shrine to worship the deity Benzaiten of Chikubushima. The stone bridge was built between 1789 and 1801. Numerous dead lotus stems remain in the water, indicating that the season is winter.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number47‐1‐0]

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Benten Pond,Zojoji Temple,Shiba

Benten or the Benzaiten is also the God of Water, so many of the lakes and marshes in Japan are named Bentenike. This is one of them.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:Suzuki Shin-ichi, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number41‐24‐0]

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Shrine at enoshima

The Enoshima Shrine is said to have been built by Jikakudaishi in 853. It is one of the three biggest Benzaiten in Japan, and consists of Oiwaya and Sannomiya. The photo is that of Nakatsumiya, a shrine dedicated to Ichisushimanohimemiko.==Date:unknown, Place:Enoshima, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number24‐17‐0]

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Enoshima Island

This is probably a scene near the photo numbered 4-14. The village in Enoshima can be seen clearly. Enoshima is mentioned in Azuma Kagami when Minamoto Yoritomo recommended the construction of a Benzaiten there in 1182. There is said to have been an oracle from the Enoshima Myojin on January 15, 1216. The seas turned into a road and people profited, so the Shogun at that time, Yoritsune, came to worship at the shrine in 1228.==Date:unknown, Place:Enoshima, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number13‐30‐0]

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Repaired 'Benzaiten' statue unveiled in Iwate Pref.

MORIOKA, Japan - The statue of "Benzaiten," a Japanese goddess originated from the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is displayed in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on Aug. 31, 2014, after repairs from damaged caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami were completed. It was originally enshrined at the town's gourd-shaped Horai Island (L back), regarded as the model of the island in the TV puppet show "Hyokkori Hyotanjima." (Kyodo)

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'Benzaiten' statue before and after repair

OTSUCHI, Japan - The repaired statue of "Benzaiten," a Japanese goddess originated from the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is shown on the right in Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture, on Aug. 31, 2014, a far cry from the tattered figure (L) pictured in May 2013 after it was damaged by the devastating 2011 tsunami. (Kyodo)

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Temple takes on 'moe' anime flavor

TOKYO, Japan - Ryoho Temple's chief priest Shoko Nakazato (L) and Toromi (R), wearing the costume of the Benzaiten anime character ''Toro-Benten,'' stands in front of a figure of the character dedicated at the temple in Tokyo's Hachioji on Dec. 5, 2010. Behind is the real Benzaiten enshrined in the temple. (Kyodo)