The legend of the “Gankake” in Usu-cho, Hokkaido

What does "Gankake"(GA-N-KA-KE) means?

"Gankake"(GA-N-KA-KE) means to

make a humble entreaty,

or in other words,

pray（or wish) to  God or  Buddha.

The legend  of the “Gankake”in Usu-cho.

(Jizo-do)

(Ojizo-sama)

A long long time ago,

Ojizo-sama drifted into the Usu Sea.

People built a "Jizo-do" in the place in which

"Ojizo-sama" drifted upon and worshiped it.

Someone wiped "Ojizo-sama"

wishing for their mother to get better.

After a while

Her mother get better.

Some people touched the cloth to their knees

after wiping Ojizo-sama's knees.

What a surprisel!

The pain disappeared.

As the word spread,

many peole came to wipe ojizo-sama.

Ojizo-sama is always wishing for

everyone's happiness.

Usu “Health”and “Good luck”Project

In 2015,

The Usu Vacation Village Projyect

started "MA-CHI-O-KO-SHI"

or in other words to revitalize the town.

photo Wipe-OMAMORI (Fuku-OMAMORI)

The wipe -OMAMORI(Fuku-OMAMORI),

is a product that has been prayed

for health and good luck at Usu-Zenko-ji.

Usu Zenko-ji Zen-chan's song is a song

https://youtu.be/64gt1oA1C2Y

that sings sbout the Ojizo-sama and was made

just for this project.

Ojizo-sama's temple is called Zenko-ji JIzo-do.

It is 15 minutes on foot from Usu-Zenko-ji.

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-Usu special products-

Blessed with lots of nature!

Please try our seasonal products!

Route 37

On Usu Melon road

Sold here are seasonal vegetables,

fruit, and seafood.

                                                                 Usu Melon road

Route 37

Direct sales stores of Melon Road

in Usu-cho

Purchasable items of each shop

Manabi no sato

Apple juice

Seaweed

Shellfish

fish

Sato farm

Apple juice

Apples

Watermelons

Vegetables

Hara farm

Melons

Watermelons

Apples

Vegetables

Fujikawa farm

Melons

Watermelons

Apples

Vegetables

Kumazawa farm

meloms

Pumpkins

Spring

Vegetables

・tomatoes

・Cabbage

・lettuce etc…

Seaweed

・GINNAN-SO

・Kelp

・Seaweed( Iwanori) etc...

Fish

・(Fish) overnight dried

Fruit

・Strawberries

Summer

Vegetables

・Tomatoes

・Cabbage

・Lettuce

・Japanese eggplants

・Corn

・pumpkins

・Mini Tomatoes  etc…

Fruit

・Watermelons

・ melons

・Apples

Fish

・(Fish) overnight dried

Autumn-Winter

Vegetables

・Pumpkins

・Corm

・Mini tomatoes

・Onions

・Cabbage

・Chinese cabbage

・Japanese eggplants etc...

Fruit

・Apples

Fresh and tasty

Special products of "Usu"

Usu Zenko-ji ZEN-chan's song

https://youtu.be/64gt1oA1C2Y

ZEN-chan's song lyrics

１）

ZEN-chan  lives in HOKKAIDO

A mascot of　Usu Zenko-ji

A big  head looks like the  roof of the temple

Everyone says to me

Why are your eyebrows  so big ?

Look at me !  carefully

It 's  just my big smile

USU O-JI-ZO-SAMA　is

where your wish will come ture

ZEN-chan  always

wishes for  everyone's happiness

２）

ZEN-chan  lives in HOKKAIDO

A mascot of　Usu Zenko-ji

A big face  big hands lovely mascot

Everyone will ask me

Why are you always sleeping?

Look at me !  carefully

It 's  just my big smile

USU O-JI-ZO-SAMA　is

where your wish will come ture

ZEN-chan  always

wishes for  everyone's happiness

Usu Vacation Village Project activities 2015-2018

2015

Lookup information about Usu-cho

Launched a website for information

   about Uso-cho

2016

Created a map of Usu

Opened a booth at Usu Zenko-ji

   Monzen market

Made wipeable charms

（Wipe-OMAMORI  Fuku-OMAMORI）

Created the Usu Zenko-ji mascot "ZEN-chan"

2017

Created a new map of Usu

（English version is being created right now）

Opened the MON ZEN CAFE

Started sales of ZEN-chan coffee

Created the Usu church mascot "Batch-kun"

2018

Planning for a woodblock print exhibition

　(Printmaker Nitta Tatsuya Offered)

Activity Expenses for the Usu Vacation Village

Profit from the sale of original products

Sales from the MON ZEN CAFE

We are tracking our own activity expenses

Good luck charm Fuku-OMAMORI

Good luck charm

Wipe-OMAMORI  Fuku-OMAMORI

The Fuku-OMAMORI sells at

Usu-Zenko-ji monzen market

and MON ZEN CAFE.

How to use Fuku-omakori

First

Wipe Obinzuru-sama(Usu-Zenko-ji)

using  Fuku-omamori.

Next

Wipe Ojizo-sama (Jizodo) the same way.

Be sure to make a wish while wiping

the statues.

After wiping….

You can use it as bandage（an athletic supporter） 

or an eye mask.

"Polo knot"

A small hill at the tip of Usu Bay

"Polo knot"

There is an observatory at the top.

There isn’t much snow in  Usu-cho,

so it is climbable all year round.

"Pomma"

The spot of a fine sunset.

Today I started climbing from "Pomma".

 

The "Polo knot” can be seen on the right.

From here you can reach the summit

in about 5 minutes.

"Poloｋnot Forest Park"

The start of the climbing point.

Spectacular big trees!

One minute after climbing

You can see the "Pomma"

from earlier down below.

These are the stairs to the observatory

at the steepest climb.

The first flight of stairs goes very high!

A superb view is waiting after a climb!

The beautiful sea known as "Usu Blue"

The shining Altri Cape can be seen from here.

Although there are steep climbs too.

These are recommended scenic spots all year round!

web　　　　http://www.e-usu.com

Story of ZEN in Usu 1

Nice to meet you.

My name is ZEN.

Here is a temple  built in Edo Period.

有珠善光寺は江戸時代に建てられたお寺です。

ZEN's hairstyle..

Form of thatched roof of Usu Zenko-ji Temple.

I like it.

Let me introduce you to my friend "Usu-wan" .

It's a swan can not fly living in Usu Bay.

This story is to be continued.