Sugamo Town, Toshima Ward. This area is located in the northwestern corner of Tokyo. The name originates from the ancient name of the Musashi Province's Toshima District, before Japan's abolition of the feudal domain system.
When Tokyo expanded its administrative zones, four towns that originally belonged to the northern Toshima District were merged into Tokyo, thus giving rise to the name "Toshima Ward."
Centuries ago, this area was home to many temples and shrines. Today, it hosts numerous traditional small shops and a wide variety of specialty stores. One can find all kinds of handmade crafts here.
The shops on both sides of the street cater primarily to elderly customers. Hot-selling items include thermal underwear, hearing aids, and health socks. Along the way, you pass all sorts of old-fashioned pharmacies, even two funeral companies, and a karaoke bar that looks straight out of the 1970s.
"This place really feels like a trip back in time," said Class President Nao, pushing up her glasses and taking the initiative to start a conversation.
"Yeah, it's like we've traveled through a time portal... Who knows how long these shops have been here," replied Souta Kiryuu as he observed the drastic contrast between this traditional street and the youthful vibe of Bunkyo Ward, where schools and young people gather.
"Tennyo, is this where you work part-time?"
"Hehehe~~"
"Even older than here," Tennyo Ei answered cheerfully, greeting the elderly people who passed by as she pointed ahead.
"Still about a thousand meters to go."
"Then I'll wait here," Akihi Sora said as she immediately stopped. Weak and prone to illness, and with a shut-in personality, she had no desire to continue walking—especially with the annoying Nao around.
"Want me to carry you?" Souta offered, worried about leaving her alone.
"Huh? I'm not a kid."
"Then let me carry your backpack."
Eventually, Akihi Sora gave in and handed over her bag to her brother.
"You two want help carrying yours too?"
"No need, Souta," said Nao.
"Hehehe~~ I definitely don't need it," added Tennyo Ei. Nao was the ace of the school swim team, and Tennyo Ei walked this route daily. Neither had any issues with stamina.
Twenty minutes later...
"Is Sora going to be okay?" Souta asked as they arrived at the base of a small hill, looking up at the long staircase ahead.
"I'll push her up," Tennyo Ei announced energetically, starting to push Sora's wheelchair uphill.
Geez, Sora, your stamina really is awful...
Souta briefly considered lending her some spiritual energy. The four of them climbed the staircase through the forest, and ten minutes later, they reached the top.
At the end of the stairs stood a vermillion torii gate with the character "開" (Open) written on it. Beyond it, a small shrine came into view.
"We're here, Sora~~" Tennyo Ei said as she skipped ahead and twirled around.
"Welcome to Inari Shrine."
A modest shrine stood before them. The approach was only a few meters long, flanked by two stone lanterns. The honden (main shrine), haiden (worship hall), temizuya (purification basin), and ema (votive plaque) stands all fit within an area smaller than a basketball court.
Though also called "Inari Shrine," it bore no connection to the famed Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, known for its endless rows of vermillion torii gates. Because Inari is the god of agriculture and commerce, there are over 9,000 Inari shrines throughout Japan.
"Is Tennyo the only one here?" Class President Nao asked in surprise as she looked around. The shrine was on a small hill with nothing else nearby. A great spot to visit, sure, but living here alone?
Just imagining it made Nao shudder.
"Of course," Tennyo Ei replied. "My grandpa used to live here with me. Ever since he passed, I've been taking care of the place on my own."
After leading everyone to wash their hands at the purification basin, Tennyo Ei had them sit down at the shrine office. She slid open the wooden door and disappeared inside.
"Tadaaa! Shrine maiden Ei has arrived~~"
A few minutes later, she came out full of energy, now dressed in the traditional white-and-red outfit of a miko (shrine maiden).
"Come on, let me give you a tour of the shrine."
"This is the haiden," she explained, pointing to the front hall used for worship and making wishes.
Nao and Sora each offered a 5-yen coin, symbolizing "good fate," clapped twice, pressed their palms together, and bowed to make their wishes.
I hope Sora accepts me... I hope the wicked woman leaves my brother...
After secretly wishing for opposite things, the two girls pretended nothing had happened and looked away from each other.
"Ahem, would you like to write an ema next? It's free."
"Ema" literally means "picture of a horse," as the original plaques had horse illustrations. Over time, they evolved. At Inari shrines, ema often feature foxes. On these small wooden plaques (around 15 cm by 10 cm), people write their wishes and hang them for divine blessings.
"That sounds expensive," Nao hesitated.
"No worries, I made them myself," Tennyo Ei replied immediately.
"You made these yourself?" Nao inspected the plaque handed to her. "They're beautifully crafted."
"Hehehe~~ My grandpa taught me how."
Nao and Sora each received one, but Souta did not take one. When Tennyo Ei looked puzzled, he smiled softly.
"My wish? Not something Inari can help with."
"Brother..."
"Souta, you shouldn't say that in a shrine," Nao scolded.
While neither Nao nor Sora truly believed in gods, saying that here—especially at Tennyo Ei's workplace—was a bit inappropriate.
"Sorry, Tennyo. I meant no disrespect. It's just that..."
As someone destined to plant the Divine Tree and traverse the universe with his physical body, Souta Kiryuu didn't believe there was anything in this world worthy of worship.
"It's okay. Shrines are places of spiritual comfort, after all."
"Praying for good harvests, thriving businesses, family health... In the end, they're just hopes for a better life."
And to make those hopes real, what matters is your own effort.
Tennyo Ei had understood this since childhood, having grown up as an abandoned orphan.
"Well said!" Souta gave her a thumbs-up.
"'As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement.' Tennyo, you really live with spirit."
"I'm not as amazing as you make me sound!"
After touring the tiny shrine, the group helped clean the grounds. This was usually Tennyo Ei and Nagisa Ichiyo's daily routine. Yes, that same rich girl visited here every day to help maintain the shrine, unless something urgent came up.
"Tennyo," Souta asked casually as they swept fallen leaves together, "if gods were real, what would you wish for?"
"Didn't you say you don't believe in gods?"
Still, in her red and white outfit, she tapped her chin with a finger and pondered.
"Honestly, I'm happy with life now. But if I had to pick a wish... maybe to graduate high school and college with Ichiyo and then watch her walk into a church~~"
"What kind of doting-mother wish is that?"
Unable to resist teasing her, Souta flicked his finger.
A thin white sheet of paper silently flew from his hand, slipping through the tightly closed main shrine door.
Inside, the shrine was empty—no statues or idols.
That was a defining trait of Shinto: non-iconic worship.
In Shinto, everything has a spirit, but gods are formless beings dwelling in realms apart from humans. A shrine is merely a place where a god might rest. Passing through a torii means entering divine territory, but that doesn't guarantee a god is present.
Instead of statues, some shrines house shinsentai (divine objects) like mirrors, magatama beads, or swords to represent the god.
This Inari shrine, however, enshrined a fox mask.
The sheet of paper drifted down and gently covered the mask.
And in the next second—
The mask stirred to life.