Passionate otaku have been festooning yet another sacred Shinto site with the iconography of 2D goddesses; this time with ita-ema (votive prayer plaques offered to the gods) of the K-ON! girls, showing us once again that devoted otaku are indeed worthy of that name.
You may be familiar with this otaku practice from pictures of the epicenter of such otaku rituals, Washinomiya Shrine, perhaps better known as the home of the Lucky Star cast.
The main shrine in question is 今宮神社 / Imamiya Shrine, naturally located in Kyoto:
Camera-toting passerby have taken several photos of the hanging ema, apparently gaining in number at the shrine.
The first of these, as well as the image above, apparently come from students of nearby Ryukoku University:
“(I pray) that Yui will enroll in Ryukoku University!!”
“I pray for Mio to become my bride.”
The ema pictured above is somewhat easier to translate.
The frequency of such offerings is said to be increasing, as this recent photograph will attest:
One poster on 2ch brought up the similarity to Washinomiya, which after having become a focal point for Lucky Star fans following such events as the Lucky Star Mikoshi (a portable shrine said to serve as a vehicle of a god) festival now looks to have the majority of its once anime-less ema offerings now appear so:
Another Shinto shrine that has seen a number of its own otaku pilgrimmages is Nagi-sama’s shrine from the Kannagi series.
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At least pray for things that aren't 100% impossible...
"(I pray that) Yomi my waifu! Yomi my waifu! Yomi my waifu!"
there.
"I pray to marry a woman as beatiful and moe as Mio." How abouth that?
“(I pray) that Yui will enroll in Ryukoku University!!”
Yui in real life would have beaver teeth, fetus hands and abnormally large eye sockets. If I ever saw anybody like that in my university I'd run away.
"Not Racial Facism,
But National Facism
will bring us Eternal Peace!"
Now that's just silly.
I think I'm gonna convert to this religion now.
"i pray that azusa will relax and stop being such a whiny little bitch. or die."
And this is how the K-on Holy War started.
i wouldn't mind going to temple here if they have those
O_O
This is money making than a real religion practise. Geez... time to set things straight and not to crash these two different culture.
Despite the fact that I am a Yui/Azusa fan when it comes to religion itself I can't tolerate such behavior.Even though I am a japanese myself I can't do this kind of thing because religion is the most important thing we have and the best we can do is to respect it
it will become a SERIOUS religious BUISNESS...
Konata is mai waifu
Nagi-sama is mai waifu
Mio is my waifu
Whats next? lol
GOD IS ANGRY AT THIS! DIE PERVERTS!
Your God doesn't exit in this cyberworld.
That looks more like Kana instead of Azusa...
the hair looks a little like Kana's XD but their eyes are different~
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3918/kon0804.png
"maybe" the artist had based his drawing on this screencap lol
Lol true. Also, the fact that the picture's black and white makes it look like she's actually wearing Kana's seifuku..
kvlt :D
Haha, lovely tradition they have there. Mine: "I pray for Yomi to become my bride." (`ﾟ w ﾟ´ )
Actually I like it! I mean, this people pray for something that is actually cool :P After all taking religion seriously is a harm to humanity XD
Lame. =/
I regret myself of being Christian after seeing this and Lucky Star.
Took you that long?
You have Evangelion. :)
Then start praying every night!
The ita-ema, they're everywhere, soon will appear in bible near you.
There's already an anime and manga of the Old and New Testaments, so it's only a matter of time...
There will soon be a Bible Black.
Here at my country there are mangas from Biblic histories. I wonder how they will tell about King David and his wives/lovers... :3
I wouldn't be surprised if hentai starts appearing on those.
lol, anime offered for the gods
i shall take your vengeance ^^
*Sent to hell*
these can let us know that there's a number of otakus...
fucking otakus
>>fucking otakus
>>posting in Sankaku Complex
cool story bro
It is interesting. Do you think that the people who run the shrines are annoyed? Or perhaps they see it as people are atleast visiting?
Either way I'd be interested to see what they think.
Funny how "outcasts" like otaku are much more sincere and respectful than the "normal" visitors.
They have already commented and they have said that they welcome the increased number of visitors to the shrines. They also observed that the Otakus were respectful and that's all they could ask for.
Well.. this is awkward.
I won't do it.
Although....
*thinks of Azusa*
I can only imagine what you are thinking.
lol your avatar fits nicely
“I pray for Mio to become my bride.”
I'm speechless XD!
Yeah me too... that poor little guy doesn't know that she's already my waifu...
._. it doesn't harm anyone, so what's wrong?
I'm speechless...
Maybe someday there will be a Shinto sect devoted for anime characters... what a grim future >_>
I'm Shinto and I think this is pretty cute actually. It's a laid back religion so as long as you aren't stomping all over us, we don't really mind what you pray for.
And hey it brings more visitors and revenue to the shrines, which is always a good thing.
Would be funny if Shinto becomes a major religion worldwide because of anime.
hey, the guy who prayed for second season, whoever you are, THANK YOU!!!
God is pleased.
Is Haruhi pleased? Or the dorm-mother from Maria+Holic? xD