A traditional custom in Fukui “Tenjinko”

January 25th every year, “Tenjinko” is held mainly in the northern region of Fukui Prefecture.
“Tenjinko” is the day which the people offer grilled flatfish in front of hanging scrolls depicting
Tenjin-sama（Michizane SUGAWARA）who is called “The God of learning”.

First of all, girls don’t have the hanging scrolls of Tenjin-sama.
Only when baby boys were born, the mother’s parents present one to their grandson.
So sometimes there are a couple of Tenjin-samas in a family.
Tenjin-sama’s face differs depending on the scroll and
seems like it comes to resemble the owner’s one.

Such traditions and the belief in Tenjin-sama has been inherited in Fukui.
Possibly, it is thanks to Tenjin-sama that students of Fukui have Japan’s top-level academic abilities. (H.S)