Ebisu

On January 10th, I went to a shrine near Namba for the Ebisu festival, a festival for prosperity or business. I go every year and like it a lot, but this time was the first time in a while I went there at night. I forgot how crowded it is there at night.

It was packed. But I found my way to the alter(praying area) and threw some money in the area and prayed. After I prayed, I bought a good luck ornament, which I also buy every year. Some years I buy a big one, and some years I buy a small one. It depends on my mood. And my wallet. This year a bought a medium-sized one. The following is the dialogue when I bought it at the outside stall.

Me: What do you have for XXX yen?

Old woman clerk: We have this, and also this.

Me: How about for XXXX yen?

Old woman: Ah, well...we have this one.

Me: Anything else?

Then, she asked Old Man(=the boss), "What else do we have at XXXX yen?"

Old man: We got this one. It is special. It is usually more expensive, it is made of special wood (blah, blah, blah) but I will give it to you for XXXX yen.

Me: Ummm. Actually I prefer one with a "rake thing"...but, Ok. I'll take it.

Then, when the old man was putting it in a bag and writing my receipt,

the Old woman said to him: Give him a discount. Only 500yen discount...

Old man: (looking at the woman like she was crazy...he whispered) NO.

CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!



Then, I changed my mind!

Me: No, I changed my mind. I don't want that one. I want this one, with the "rake-thing"

That's all folks.

p.s. I have a question. There is a picture of the Ebisu God on the can/bottle of Yebisu beer, so why does the beer Yebisu begin with a "Y" and not an "E" like the speeling of the festival?