Tōjinbō

nihongo|Tōjinbō|東尋坊| is a series of surreal, eerie basaltic cliffs on the Sea of Japan in Japan. It is located in the Antō part of Mikuni-chō in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture. The cliffs stretch for Convert|1|km|ft|0|abbr=on. [http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/fukui/toujinbou.html Fukui | Tojinbo] . Japan National Tourist Organization. Accessed April 30, 2008.]

Formation

The cliffs' rocks were originally formed 12- to 13-million years ago during the Miocene Epoch due to various volcanic activities. Their shape has been formed through the years by erosion from sea waves.

Legends

One legend has it that a corrupt Buddhist priest from nihongo|Heisen-ji|平泉寺, a local temple, so enraged the populace that they dragged him from the temple to the sea and, at Tōjinbō, threw the priest into the sea. His ghost is still said to haunt the area.

An alternate legend says that the name Tōjinbō comes from a dissolute Buddhist monk. According to the legend, a Buddhist monk named Tōjinbō, who was disliked by everyone, fell in love with a beautiful princess named Aya. Tōjinbō was tricked by another admirer of Princess Aya and was pushed off these cliffs. The legend says that ever after that time Tōjinbō's vengeful ghost would go on a rampage around the same time every year at this place, causing strong winds and rain. Some decades later, an itinerant priest took pity on Tōjinbō and held a memorial service for him. After that, the storms ceased.

uicide

Tōjinbō is also a well-known place to commit suicide. Rōnin, high school students who fail the university entrance exams, have been known to particularly favor the cliffs. This is due to the fact that the cliffs face the sunset; therefore a suiciding person will jump as the sun sets in front of them. According to statistics, as many as 25 people suicide off the cliffs annually. Recently, a retired police officer, Yukio Shige, began patrolling the cliffs and has so far convinced 129 people to not jump and seek help; he keeps in touch with every one of them to this day. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zpRtPkEunA]

References