Wishing Pool

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Open Space Ondi (Yanaka Area)

2019

In Asian countries, people put money into donation box in temple to make wishes, and Western people put money into wishing pool for the same purpose. The behavior of throwing coins has been related to some invisible power, as a spiritual sustenance.

"After the Meiji Restoration, the government promoted the Shinto-Buddha separation policy, and the number of funerals using the Shinto ceremony was increased. However, since many of the graveyards were owned by temples, it was necessary to build public graveyards." (wikipedia) The exhibition was hold in Yanaka area, which is one of the most famous public cemeteries in Tokyo built after Meiji Restoration. In other words, Yanaka area is a Heritage of both separation and integration of beliefs.

Visitors are invited to throw coins to the wishing pool and collected coins will be put into the donating box of the nearest temple.