酉の市　熊手
１１月１７日は二の酉だった。お酉様は日本全国にあるが、東京では、浅草の鷲神社が知られている。場所は、観音様の北側、最寄りの地下鉄駅は入谷。今年は、１１月の５日・１７日・２９日と３回酉の市があった。　その二番目の酉の市で、二の酉。「酉」とは、子丑寅・１２支の１０番目、酉「とり」のこと。当日は日曜日で大盛況、大変な賑わいで、交通巡査が何人もで、歩行者の規制整理をしていた。
酉の市では、熊手を買う。小さな掌から肩幅の大きさ迄ある。熊手なので、柄が付いていて持ち安い。福を招き、富を集めると信じられている。私には、熊手は年末の大掃除、紅葉の落ち葉片付けも連想させる。

Open-air market at Otori shrine
The November 17th was a fair‘s day, 「Tori-no-ichi」at Otori shrine, second time of this year. There are many Otori shrines all over Japan. In Tokyo, Asakusa Otori shrine is the most famous one located at the northern side of Asakusa Kannon. The nearest subway station is Iriya station. This year, we have three times the fairs,the 5th,17th and 29th. So, this fair day is called the second Otori fair. It was a Sunday. There were so many people that many policemen conducted the way of pedestrians.
People buy special rake in the Otorisama market. The size of the rake variates from a small hand size to the width of man. It is a decorated rake with a stick handle, easy to carry. In Japan, people believe the rake collects happiness and wealth. The rake also reminds me cleanings and falling leaves collecting in the end of the year.