In Japan it is though -in the sense that the way it relates to everyday life can be much more casual than what we see in the West. The following pictures are one such example: near the townhall of Taito Ward (the ward where Asakusa, Ueno and other interesting areas are) there is this small tenmple called Sounin (宋雲院) and which, for the record, was founded in the beginning of the Edo period, in 1611 and belongs to the Rinzai-shu sect, also known as "Rinzai Zen". This temple hosts handicraft bazaars; the event is held regularly enough to have its own name ("Tera de Marche" -"tera" means "temple") and its own website. On the day of the bazaar, the temple offers almost all its areas, indoors and outdoors to tens of artisans, professional and amateur who exhibit their creations and this, of course, brigns many people from the neighborhood there. And yes, I know that this might bring to mind to some the famous story about the whip and the Temple of Jerusalem -cultural differences, I guess...
(For a bigger version of these pictures both in color and black and white, check my "Japan Arekore" set on Flickr)
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