Japan’s tradituinal faith honors seven deities of good fortune.
Ebisu is one, and he brings prosperity to merchants’shops, and statues of him always feature a smiling face with narrowed eyes.
There is the place called Ebisu in Tokyo.
The name of this area comes from Yebisu, a brand of beer Sapporo Breweries produced in a local factory.
The melody of Yebisu beer’s commercial song is used to indicate a train departure at Ebisu station.
The honor the name, Ebisu Shrine was established there by transferring parts of the deity’s spirit from Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture.
Ebisu is enshrined at about 3,500 shrines nationwide.
The home shrine is Nishinomiya.
Commerce has flourished throughout the ages in Kansai, so people honor Ebisu.
Kansai people call him affectionately “Ebessan”.
