Station #8: At the entrance to the village are memorial stones. One, called the "Tiger Stone," commemorates Tora-go-zen's tears at the death of her lover, Soga-no-Juro. Juro was one of the Soga Brothers who avenged the death of their father. Her tears turned to rain on May 28, 1193, the day of the brothers' revenge, when Juro died in the attempt. It supposedly rains here every May 28th (Steve and I visited May 28, 2008 just after it rained). This print shows the town in rain against a yellow sky, or a "Tiger-rain." "Tora" means "tiger" and the title of the print is "Tora's Rain." Kabuki plays about the Soga brothers are always performed in January, to inspire loyalty and perseverence as people start the New Year.

Image Copyright: Minneapolis Institute of Art